Prof Caroline Laurence
Professor
School of Public Health
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Caroline Laurence is a health services researcher and educator in the School of Public Health at the University of Adelaide. She is a recognised expert in the area of health workforce planning, particularly for the primary care sector. Her research has contributed to a greater understanding of the workforce pipeline in Australia including career decision making, workforce maldistribution, retention issues, changing workforce profiles and workforce policy analysis. In 2012, she was a recipient of the highly competitive and prestigious ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award and she has used this funding to develop for the first time in Australia, a needs-based approach to planning the GP workforce in South Australia. This research has now been extended to Western Australia, Australia and the practice nurse workforce.She has more than 75 publications and a Scopus H-Index of 21. In 2011 she was awarded the AAAPC Travelling Fellowship and was a visiting Scholar at the University of Melbourne Department of Primary Care. She has received the General Practice Education Training Regional Training Provider Staff Excellence Award in 2005, The Wyeth/Medical Journal of Australia Award for the best research article published in 2009, the 2009 Sir Richard Stawell Memorial Prize and the Australian Association for Academic General Practice Most Distinguished Paper Award (2010).She has generated more than $15m in research funding through competitive schemes and contract research and has strong track record in working with industry partners, resulting in funding of more than $12m.
Research interests
- Health workforce planning
- Health workforce policy analysis
- Access to health services
- Primary care
Current research projects in the areas of:
- Understanding career pathways of AGPT program graduates
- Estimating the future requirements of the health workforce
- Embedding cost and benefits in health workforce planning models
- Health care provision in developing countries
The Health Workforce Planning Group offers a number of research opportunities for students at a variety of levels including PhD, MPhil, Honours, MPH Coursework Thesis and Dissertation, MClinSci and Summer Vacation Scholarships. Details of the projects that are available for students in the health workforce planning can be found in the School of Public Health Student Research Project Handbook. The link to the Handbook is provided below.
For details on projects available please view the following booklet: School of Public Health Student Projects
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | Professor | University of Adelaide, Adelaide |
| 2018 - ongoing | Professor | University of Adelaide |
| 2016 - 2019 | Head of School | University of Adelaide |
| 2015 - 2016 | Interim Head of School | University of Adelaide |
| 2015 - 2015 | Deputy Head of School | University of Adelaide |
| 2013 - 2017 | Associate Professor | University of Adelaide |
| 2002 - 2013 | Research and Development Manager | Adelaide to Outback GP Training Program |
| 2000 - 2012 | Research Fellow | Universtiy of Adelaide |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Award | School of Public Health Academic Leadership Award | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2012 | Award | Faculty of Health Sciences International Conference Award | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2011 | Award | School of Population Health & Clinical Practice Best Early Career Research Publication | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2011 | Award | AAAGP Most Distinguished Paper Award | Australian Association for Academic General Practice | - | - |
| 2011 | Fellowship | AAAPC Travelling Fellowship | Australian Association for Academic Primary Care | Australia | - |
| 2009 | Award | Wyeth/Medical Journal of Australia Award | Medical Journal of Australia | Australia | - |
| 2009 | Award | Sir Richard Stawell Memorial Prize | - | Australia | - |
| 2007 | Achievement | ARI Pty Ltd Bonus Funding | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2005 | Award | Regional Training Provider Staff Excellence Award | General Practice Education and Training Ltd | Australia | - |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD | |
| Flinders University | Australia | Masters of Health Service Management | |
| University of Adelaide | Australia | BA | |
| University of Adelaide | Australia | BA(Hons) |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Mandegani, P. P. D., Wright, L., & Laurence, C. (2022). The impact of universal health care coverage on maternal health in Indonesia. In BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY Vol. 129 (pp. 217). WILEY. |
| 2014 | Powell, K. J., Stocks, N., Gill, G., May, E., Laurence, C., & Aylward, P. (2014). Is integration an add-on or a new way of working for health professionals in co-located medical practices?. In INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE Vol. 14 (pp. 2 pages). UBIQUITY PRESS LTD. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Luc, I., Dadich, A., & Laurence, C. (2023). Estimating the future need for palliative care in Australia: implications for the current workforce. Poster session presented at the meeting of 2023 Oceanic Palliative Care Conference. |
| 2017 | Gill, G. F., Stocks, N., Powell, K., Laurence, C., Aylward, P., & May, E. (2017). Supports and hindrances to the integration of co-located services in multiple models of primary health care delivery Integration in co-located primary health care services. Poster session presented at the meeting of INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED CARE. UBIQUITY PRESS LTD. DOI WoS1 |
| 2014 | Laurence, C., Lorimer, M., Chittleborough, C., Parrella, A., & Karnon, J. (2014). Developing and testing a needs-based approach to determining the future level of service by family practitioners in South Australia. Poster session presented at the meeting of 42nd North American Primary Care Research Group Annual Meeting. New York. |
| 2013 | Laurence, C., Karnon, J., Lorimer, M., & Chittleborough, C. (2013). Linking population health need to level of GP services: one part of a needs-based model of planning the GP workforce. Poster session presented at the meeting of 8th Health Services and Policy Research Conference. Wellington, NZ. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Elliott, T., & Laurence, C. (2022). The financial costs and revenue associated with teaching and supervision in General Practice. Adelaide: GPEx. |
| 2020 | Laurence, C., & Elliott, T. (2020). GP Graduate Tracking Study Phase 1 Final report: combined analaysis. Adelaide. |
| 2020 | Laurence, C., Hanson-Easey, S., Elliott, T., Bain, R., & Pitot, M. (2020). Medical speciality decision-making study: final report. |
| 2020 | Laurence, C., & Begum, M. (2020). GP graduate tracking study: Phase 1 report GP Synergy. |
| 2020 | Laurence, C. (2020). GP graduate tracking study: Phase 2 report NTGPE. |
| 2020 | Laurence, C. (2020). GP graduate tracking study: Phase 1 report NTGPE. |
| 2020 | Laurence, C., & Williams, S. (2020). GP graduate tracking study: Phase 3 report GPEx. |
| 2019 | Laurence, C., & Williams, S. (2019). GP graduate tracking study: Phase 3 report WAGPET. |
| 2018 | Laurence, C., & Edwards, S. (2018). GP graduate tracking study: Phase 2 report Victoria (MCCC). |
| 2018 | Laurence, C., & Edwards, S. (2018). GP graduate tracking study: Phase 2 report South Australia. |
| 2018 | Laurence, C., & Edwards, S. (2018). GP graduate tracking study: Phase 2 report Western Australia. |
| 2018 | Laurence, C., & Edwards, S. (2018). GP graduate tracking study: Phase 2 report Tasmania. |
| 2018 | Laurence, C., & Edwards, S. (2018). GP graduate tracking study: Phase 1 report Victoria (MCCC). |
| 2018 | Laurence, C., & Edwards, S. (2018). GP graduate tracking study: Phase 1 report South Australia. |
| 2017 | Laurence, C., & Edwards, S. (2017). GP graduate tracking study: Phase 1 report Western Australia. |
| 2017 | Laurence, C., & Edwards, S. (2017). GP graduate tracking study: Phase 1 report Tasmania. |
| 2015 | Laurence, C., & Heywood, T. (2015). Estimating the future general practice workforce in Western Australia: Alternative rural classification report. |
| 2015 | Laurence, C., & Heywood, T. (2015). Estimating the future general practice workforce in Western Australia. |
| 2015 | Laurence, C., & Karnon, J. (2015). Developing a needs-based simulation model for planning the general practice workforce Final report. |
Competitive Research Funding
National Competitive Schemes
| Date | Project/No. | Investigators | Funding Body | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Improving access to and delivery of palliative care for under-served populations | Elliott J, Harvey G, Gunn K, Crawford G, Laurence C, Chur-Hansen A, Walters L, Dadich A, Lakhani A | The Hospital Research Foundation | $2.25m |
| 2021 | The financial costs and revenue associated with teaching and supervision in general practice | Elliott, T Laurence CO, Hickson H | Education Research Grant Royal Australian College of General Practitioners | $150,000 |
| 2016 | Customising pathways to self-management support for people with osteoarthritis | Hoon E, Frank O, Gill T, Hill C Laurence CO | The Arthritis Australia and State/Territory Affiliate Translational Grant, Arthritis Australia National Research Program | $40,000 |
| 2012-2013 | Developing a needs-based simulation model for planning the general practice workforce | Laurence CO, Karnon J | HWA Strategic Research Program | $79,990 |
| 2012-2015 | Planning the primary care workforces: developing and implementing a needs-based approach (DE120101502) | Laurence CO | ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award | $375,000 |
| 2011-2012 | Turning evidence into practice: implementing and evaluating models of teaching in general practice to maximise benefits for all participants | Laurence CO | Education Integration Project, GPET | $242,000 |
| 2011-2013 | Increasing the rural medical workforce: investigating personal traits to enhance our understanding and improve training for rural registrars | Eley DS, Laurence CO, Wilkinson D, Walters LK, Cloninger CR, Young JL, Kitchener SJ, Black LE | ARC Linkage Grant | $116,272 |
| 2008-2009 | Enhancing the quality use of pathology for GP Trainees | Laurence CO, Glastonbury B | Quality Use of Pathology Program, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing | $170,000 |
| 2006-2007 | Pre-vocational General Practice Placement Program (1 grant) | Laurence CO, Black L | Royal Australian College of General Practitioners | $213,000 |
| 2004-2007 | Pre-vocational General Practice Placement Program (3 grants) | Laurence CO, Black L | Royal Australian College of General Practitioners | $643,200 |
| 2004-2007 | Pre-vocational General Practice Placement Program (2 grants) | Laurence CO, Black L | Royal Australian College of General Practitioners | $423,600 |
| 2003 | Point-of-care testing for the management of atrial fibrillation in general practice | Howell C, Laurence CO, Holton C | RACGP Cardiovascular Research Grant in General Practice | $20,000 |
| 2003 | Management of acute myocardial infarction by GPs in a rural setting | Ponte L, Baig Z, Laurence CO, Beilby J | RACGP Cardiovascular Research Grant in General Practice | $25,000 |
| 2002 | Improving the integration of asthma management in a rural setting | Beilby JB,Laurence CO | Asthma Innovative Management Project, Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing | $60,000 |
| 2002 | From medical student to GP Supervisor: establishing a framework for vertical integration in a rural area through a clinical teaching program | Laurence CO | Innovation grant, General Practice Education and Training Inc | $95,000 |
| 2002 | Bridging the gap: online tutorials for Registrars and Supervisors | Laurence CO | Innovation grant, General Practice Education and Training Inc | $60,000 |
State Competitive and Intramural Schemes eg UoA interdisciplinary grants
| Date | Project/No. | Investigators | Funding Body | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Australian Trained International Medical Students | Laurence COM, Laven G, Turnbull D, Fleming J, Elliott T | PHC RED | $12,500 |
| 2003-2004 | Piloting a practice based research co-ordinator | Laurence CO | PHC RED | $30,000 |
Contract Research Funding
| Date | Project/No. | Investigators | Funding Body | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Review of GP supply and demand Model | Laurence CO, Karnon J, Taylor D, Pincombe A | Department of Health and Aged Care | |
| 2022 | Hospitals at night: Exploring junior doctors’ after-hours workloads | Laurence CO, Chur-Hansen A | Northern Area Local Health Network | $88,425 |
| 2019 | Medical Specialty career decision making study | Laurence CO | GPEx and Country Health SA, | $107,000 |
| 2019 | GP Graduate Tracking Study - Phase 3 | Laurence CO | GPEx, WA General Practice Education and Training (WAGPET) | $61,458 |
| 2018 | GP Graduate Tracking Study - Phase 1 & 2 | Laurence CO | Northern Territory General Practice Education Inc. | $26,490 |
| 2017-18 | GP Graduate Tracking Study - Phase 2 | Laurence CO | GPEx, Murray City Country Coast GP Training, Eastern Victoria GP Training, General Practice Training Tasmania | $20,748 |
| 2017 | GP Graduate Tracking Study - Phase 1 | Laurence CO | WA General Practice Education and Training (WAGPET), GPEx, Murray City Country Coast GP Training, Eastern Victoria GP Training, General Practice Training Tasmania | $32,500 |
| 2015 | Estimating the general practitioner workforce in Western Australia – Additional analysis | Laurence CO | WA General Practice Education and Training (WAGPET) | $12,715 |
| 2015 | Forecasting the general practitioner workforce in Western Australia | Laurence CO | WA General Practice Education and Training (WAGPET) | $86,049 |
| 2011 | General practice recruitment implications of the variation in AGPT applications from Australian medical schools | Young D, Spike N, Temple-Smith M, Naccarella L, Laurence C, Bingham A | GPET Tender | $75,000 |
| 2010 | Rural and remote GP workforce participation and medical practice composition in South Australia. Analysis of RDWA 2009 GP and rural practice survey. | Laurence CO | Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (RDWA) | $84,000 |
| 2009-2010 | Sustainable teaching in general practice in Western Australia | Laurence CO | WA General Practice Education and Training (WAGPET) | $120,000 |
| 2008-2011 | National Health Workforce Planning and Research Collaboration - Joint Submission: Australian Health Workforce Institute (University of Melbourne, University of Queensland, Price Waterhouse Coopers and University of Adelaide | National Health Workforce Taskforce | $4.5M | |
| 2007-2008 | The feasibility of establishing a state-wide system to track medical graduates in South Australia Phase 1 | Laurence CO | Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (RDWA) | $45,000 |
| 2007-2008 | Partner perceptions of the attractiveness of rural communities (PpARC): an exploration of the concerns of the families of GP Registrars in participating in a rural placement | Laurence COM, Black L | Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (RDWA) | $60,000 |
| 2009-2012 | Playford North GP Super Clinic | Taylor G, Laurence C, Kettler L, Beilby J | GP Super Clinics Program, Department of Health and Ageing | $7.5M |
| 2007-2009 | Provision of vocational training services - Adelaide to Outback GP Training Program Tender | Black L, Laurence CO | General Practice Education and Training Inc | $12M |
| 2006-2007 | Unsuccessful applicants to the medical school at the University of Adelaide | Laurence COM, Turnbull D, Stocks N, Robertson J | Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (RDWA) | $39,000 |
| 2006-2007 | What do new GP graduates deem important in their selection of a rural practice in South Australia? A stocktake of views from recently recruited or soon to be recruited rural GPs | Laurence CO, Stocks N | Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (RDWA) | $34,000 |
| 2004-2007 | Year 12 Medical Intention Project | Jones A, Newbury J, Laurence CO, Laven G, Baillie S | Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing | $147,000 |
| 2003 | Characteristics and career determinants of Interns in South Australian in 2003 | Laurence CO, Black L, Sumner K | Department of Human Services | $30,000 |
| 2005 | Trial Manager/Evaluator, Point of Care Trial in a general practice setting | Beilby J, Laurence CO, Worley P, Shephard M, Tideman P, Tirimacco R | Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing | $3.8M |
| 2002 | Adelaide to Outback GP Training Program Tender | Beilby J, Wilkinson D, Laurence CO | General Practice Education and Training Inc | $1.17M |
I teach in undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences.
Bachelor of Health & Medical Sciences
- PUB HLTH 3008 Health care systems: structure, policy and people (Course Coordinator)
- Research Placement - Public Health (Supervisor)
Master of Public Health
- PUB HLTH 7092 Health care systems, systems thinking & advocacy for change (Course Coordinator)
- PUB HLTH 7091 Knowing what works: Public health evaluation
Bachelor of Medical Studies (BMS) and the Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Health and Society Domain Lead
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Co-Supervisor | Strengthening Viral Hepatitis Management in Aboriginal Health Services | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Mr Michael Larkin |
| 2018 | Principal Supervisor | Tobacco Smoking and mental Illness Among Young People in Australia | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Ms Kimberley Amanda Martin |
| 2018 | Co-Supervisor | Strengthening Viral Hepatitis Management in Aboriginal Health Services | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Michael Larkin |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - 2023 | Principal Supervisor | Addressing the Growing Burden of Concomitant Illnesses in Pregnancy in Indonesia | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Dr Lareesa Marie Ryan |
| 2018 - 2022 | Principal Supervisor | Application of Primary Health Care Principles in National or Large-Scale Community Health Worker Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Dr Shagufta Perveen |
| 2015 - 2018 | Principal Supervisor | Quality of Care in Family Planning Services in Ethiopia | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Dr Gizachew Assefa Tessema |
| 2014 - 2016 | Principal Supervisor | Setting Basic Standards in a Developing Ambulance Service: A qualitative description of the impact of the Intermediate Ambulance Care course on prehospital care practice in Penang, Malaysia | Master of Philosophy (Public Health) | Master | Full Time | Mr Matt Perry |
| 2013 - 2014 | Co-Supervisor | Collaborative prescribing within the opioid substitution treatment program in South Australia | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Dr Phi Le |
| 2011 - 2014 | Co-Supervisor | The regulation of non-invasive medical devices in Australia: a case study of breast cancer imaging devices marketed direct-to-consumer | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Mr Thomas Dion Vreugdenburg |
| 2010 - 2014 | Co-Supervisor | Medical Students’ Motivations for Studying Medicine: Changes and Relationship with Altruistic Attitudes, Expectations, and Experiences of Learning at University | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Maoyi Xu |
| Date | Role | Board name | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 - ongoing | Board Member | Adelaide Unicare Pty Ltd | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 - 2020 | Member | MBS Review Taskforce General Practice and Primary Care Clinical Committee | Department of Health | Australia |
| 2016 - ongoing | Chair | Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Admissions Committee | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2016 - 2017 | Member | University of Adelaide Negotiating Team, Enterprise Bargaining 2017. | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2016 - ongoing | Advisory Board Member | ARCPOH Expert Advisory Committee | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2015 - ongoing | Member | Faculty Executive Team, Faculty of Health Sciences | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2015 - ongoing | Chair | School Executive Committe, School of Public Health | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2014 - ongoing | Member | Academic Promotions Level B&C Faculty of Health Sciences Committee | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2014 - 2014 | Chair | Program Management Committee, School of Population Health | University of Adelaide | - |
| 2013 - 2015 | Chair | AOGP Research Committee | Adelaide to Outback GP Training Program | Australia |
| 2013 - 2014 | Member | Faculty Program Approval Committee | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2013 - 2013 | Member | Advisory Committee, Feasibility of Intern Training for Community Health Project | University of Melbourne | Australia |
| 2012 - 2013 | Member | ReCenT Research Management Committee | Valley to Coast GP Training Program | Australia |
| 2012 - ongoing | Member | NHMRC Postdoctoral Reference Group | National Health & Medical Research Council | - |
| 2012 - ongoing | Member | Theo Murphy High Flyers Think Tank | Australian Academy of Sciences | Australia |
| 2012 - 2014 | Member | HWA Technical Advisory Group | Health Workforce Australia | Australia |
| 2009 - 2014 | Chair | Learning and Teaching Committee, School of Population Health | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2009 - 2013 | Member | Faculty Learning and Teaching Committee | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 - ongoing | Member | North American Primary Care Research Group | United States |
| 2013 - ongoing | Member | Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand | Australia |
| 2012 - ongoing | Member | Association of Medical Educators in Europe | United Kingdom |
| 2010 - ongoing | Member | Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators | Australia |
| 2004 - ongoing | Member | Australian Association for Academic General Practice | Australia |
