Deb Russell

1.   Sexual and reproductive health
2.   Mental health
3.   Facilitating the delivery of high quality primary care services.

I joined the School of Rural Health in December 2008, with a background of 10 years experience in general practice, predominantly in the private sector in Bendigo.  This was followed by the commencement of my Masters of Clinical Epidemiology in 2006.  I am currently half way through meeting the requirements of this post graduate study, which to date has been purely course work.  I anticipate continuing part-time study whilst developing and enhancing practical research skills at the School of Rural Health.

'Workforce retention and the sustainability of small rural and remote health care services.'
This national study will identify indicators and develop benchmarks for measuring workforce retention.  It will develop a framework that can be used by primary health care services to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of measures designed to improve workforce retention.  With this information primary health care providers can plan and implement strategies that produce a sustainable primary health care service workforce.