The Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) and the University of New England (UNE) have announced the winners of the inaugural David Briggs Rural Health Research Prize, honouring the late Dr David Briggs AM’s exceptional legacy in rural health.
Dr Briggs, a UNE Alumnus and Adjunct Professor with the Faculty of Medicine and Health, was a dedicated researcher and served as Director and Deputy Chair of the HNECC PHN Board.
Passionate about sustaining and enhancing rural primary healthcare, he was a tireless advocate for better access to services in rural and regional Australia.
“David’s leadership significantly shaped the PHN’s impact, particularly in rural access, Better Health for the Bush, community engagement, research, evaluation, and partnerships.” said HNECC PHN Chief Executive Officer Richard Nankervis.
“His dedication, hard work, and passion were evident in his active participation in community and stakeholder events. David was a steadfast advocate for the PHN’s role in addressing inequities in access to health care and improving primary care delivery. His remarkable contributions will always be remembered and appreciated.”
To honour his life’s work, the PHN Board and UNE established the David Briggs Rural Health Research Prize, awarded annually to a current UNE PhD student or a recent graduate (within three years) for published research related to rural health. Up to two prizes of $5,000 each are awarded, with eligibility open to students located anywhere in Australia.
2025 Inaugural Prize Recipients
Julie Clark
Mrs Clark’s PhD research focuses on improving mental health literacy and help-seeking among young people experiencing disadvantage. One key study involved qualitative interviews with young rural males disengaged from education, offering valuable insights into how professionals, services, and policymakers can adapt approaches to better engage this group and encourage help-seeking behaviour.
Dr Marisa Barnes
Dr Barnes’ PhD explored the psychosocial wellbeing of rural Australians with cancer and their caregivers. Her research revealed significant disparities between rural and urban experiences, highlighting an urgent need for cancer support and intervention programs in rural areas. She also adapted a widely used psycho-oncology tool, producing the Mini-MAC-R, a revised version of the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale tailored for the Australian context.
The prize will continue to be awarded each year, reflecting Dr Briggs’ lifelong dedication to rural and regional health research and his enduring impact on the communities he served.
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