Taking Murrumbidgee health intelligence to the national stage

At a glance 

• 3 MPHN abstracts accepted for presentation at the 18th National Rural Health Conference to be held in September 2026 

• Research spans community voice, chronic disease and youth mental health 

• MPHN is using research to turn regional data and lived experience into stronger evidence for planning, investment and advocacy 

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network’s (MPHN) growing health intelligence capability is helping turn what the organisation knows about the Murrumbidgee into evidence that can shape healthcare locally and contribute to conversations nationally. 

In 2025-2026, three abstracts developed by MPHN’s Health Intelligence team were accepted for presentation at the 18th National Rural Health Conference in Adelaide.  

Together, the abstracts demonstrate the breadth of evidence MPHN can draw on. Listening as evidence explores how community field notes gathered through local engagement can become a systematic source of evidence for rural health planning. A second abstract uses linked general practice data for chronic disease surveillance, while the third combines modelled and linked data to better understand youth mental health need and service use across the Murrumbidgee.  

For Ryan du Toit, Senior Manager Health Intelligence, research is not something that sits apart from the work. It is how MPHN builds the evidence to understand changing health needs, decide where resources go, and make the case for regional communities.   

“We have GP data, commissioning data and LUMOS data,” Dr Du Toit said. “If we take all that data, we can build a very strong case for what mental health looks like for young people in our region.”  

Having all three submissions accepted also demonstrates that research generated within a regional PHN can contribute meaningfully to national conversation on rural health.  

“For a small team, we punch above our weight,” Dr Du Toit said. “When we take this work to a national audience, we’re demonstrating that MPHN has the data, the regional knowledge and the capability to contribute to much bigger conversations about rural health. It builds our credibility with universities, researchers and other health organisations, opens the door to new partnerships and gives us a stronger platform to advocate for the Murrumbidgee.”