Chair Reports -
May 2026

Research and Evidence-Led Leadership at GPSA

As medical practitioners, we rely on evidence to guide our decision-making and inform clinical guidelines – it is part of our professional DNA. At GPSA, research is equally embedded in who we are. It has long been a core part of our identity and a key component of what we offer our supervisor and practice management members. However, many members may not be fully aware of the breadth of GPSA’s research activity, and I felt that our May e-News was an ideal opportunity to highlight this important work.

Research at GPSA is not academic for its own sake. It is practical, purposeful, and firmly grounded in the realities of general practice. In a period of significant change and ongoing pressure across GP training and supervision, this year has reinforced the importance of evidence-informed leadership to support quality training, supervisor wellbeing, and workforce sustainability.

GPSA’s current research spans a diverse portfolio, including the development of the General Practice Clinical Learning Environment (GPCLE) tool; research championing and empowering women GP supervisors; monitoring wellbeing across the GP and rural generalist supervisor community; the First Nations Scoping Project; and our Annual National Supervision Survey.

We are also tremendously proud to have welcomed Dr Danielle Couch to GPSA as our Director of Research and Policy. Dr Couch’s appointment reflects GPSA’s clear ambition to lead nationally in evidence-based supervisor support and to strengthen the connection between research, advocacy, and policy influence.

As the sector continues to evolve, GPSA remains committed to investing in research that elevates the voice of supervisors, informs decision-making, and strengthens the foundations of Australian general practice—now and into the future.

In other GPSA news, we are delighted to welcome three new Board members, each bringing valuable insights from their previous experiences to help guide GPSA’s direction and purpose. Please join us in welcoming Tim Wilson, Dr Meryl Nicol and Dr Lisa Hall.