Social Worker in General Practice Project Overview

Posted Thursday 22 May 2025 | Northern Queensland Primary Health Network

General practitioners see the impact of social determinants such as housing issues, financial stress, mental health, and social isolation every day on their patients’ health and overall wellbeing. However, dealing with these issues takes more than a quick consult, and there’s often no time or resources to deal with these pressures properly. That’s where social workers can make a real difference with their focus on holistic wellbeing grounded in social justice and human rights.

With funding from NQPHN, James Cook University has expanded its Social Work in General Practice project, placing qualified social workers in five GP clinics across Townsville and Cairns. These professionals support patients with complex needs and chronic conditions, ease pressure on clinical staff, supervise student placements, and contribute to research directly grounded in practice.

Join us for a special presentation featuring Dr Michael Clements, Dr Tarun Sen Gupta, practice managers, and social workers who are part of the project. We’ll cover what’s worked, what’s been challenging and what’s changing for practices that have embraced a more holistic care model.

Whether you manage a practice or are on the front line of patient care, this is a chance to see how integrated social work can improve outcomes for your patients and your team.

Facilitated by Associate Dean, Research Dr Ines Zuchowski.