Help improve team-based primary health care- Ocean Study

Join the OCEAN Study - Help Shape the Future of Team-Based Care in General Practice 

We invite general practices to participate in the OCEAN Study (Occasions of Care Explained and Analysed), a national research project led by the University of Sydney, with the University of Wollongong and the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners. This study aims to strengthen multidisciplinary team-based care in general practice by collecting important data on the roles and clinical activity of non-medical health professionals.

What’s Involved?

• Wave 1: Your practice representative (e.g., Practice Manager or Practice Principal/owner) will be asked to complete a Practice Profile survey (approx. 20–30 mins) to describe your practice and list health professionals working there.
• Waves 2: Health professionals in your practice – including general practice nurses, nurse practitioners, physiotherapists, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners – will be invited to complete a Professional Profile survey (approx. 20-30 mins) about their qualifications, skills, and scope of practice.
• Wave 3: A random sample of general practice nurses, and all participating nurse practitioners, physiotherapists, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners, will be invited to record details of 100 consecutive, consenting patient encounters using the secure OCEAN platform. 

This data will be de-identified and used to understand real-world clinical activity. 

Data collection for Waves 1and 2 are under way. Your practice has been sent an invitation letter and/or email, and the study team will contact you by phone to discuss the study. 

Benefits for Your Practice and Team

• Receive individualised feedback reports comparing your practice and professional profiles with national data.
• Help fill critical gaps in knowledge about primary care teams and improve support for multidisciplinary care, so that future workforce and funding decisions can be based on real practice.

How to Get Involved 

Learn more about the project by visiting ocean.sydney.edu.au or by contacting the research team by phone or email. 
For enquiries, contact Dr Christopher Harrison or Dr Julie Gordon at ocean.study@sydney.edu.au, or 1800 626 326 (1800 2 OCEAN)