NINCo Conference 2024 Highlights: Driving Innovation and Collaboration in Primary Healthcare 

The National Improvement Network Collaborative (NINCo) Conference 2024 marked a significant milestone in the pursuit of consistent, data-driven quality improvement in primary healthcare. Since its inception in 2018, NINCo has brought together a diverse network of 209 members, 97 of whom are actively engaged in NINCo streams. This vibrant community is united by a common goal: to improve patient outcomes and advance general practice through evidence-based practices and innovative healthcare solutions. 

With a vision to create a unified national approach to quality improvement (QI), NINCo empowers Primary Health Networks (PHNs) with the tools and knowledge necessary to drive impactful changes across the primary care sector. The conference celebrated these achievements, offering a platform to share progress, foster collaboration, and discuss strategies for addressing the challenges of healthcare reform. 

Conference Themes and Key Insights

The NINCo Conference 2024 focused on several key themes aimed at advancing primary healthcare through innovation, data, and collaboration:

1. Driving Transformative Healthcare – Emphasizing the importance of innovative practices in reshaping primary care.
   1. Stakeholder Engagement – Sharing strategies for building meaningful partnerships to drive collective impact.
   1. Data-Driven Quality Improvement – Leveraging data to enhance healthcare outcomes and promote evidence-based practices.
   1. Exploring QI Methodologies – Understanding and applying practical QI methodologies such as PDSA cycles.
   1. Networking and Collaboration – Fostering connections and shared learning to improve healthcare systems.

Keynote Speakers and Highlights 

The conference featured a stellar lineup of speakers from across the healthcare sector, including Dr. Joanne Tester, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Health, who kicked off the event with a keynote on primary care reforms and leadership strategies for fostering cohesive, transformative healthcare teams. Attendees also heard from a diverse group of thought leaders, including Dr. Walid Jammal, Dr. Paresh Dawda, Conan Liu, and Dr. Anthony Davidson, among others. 

Day 1 of the conference focused on updates to chronic conditions management, stakeholder engagement, and insights from Australia’s largest GP data initiative. On Day 2, the focus shifted to leadership, stakeholder engagement, and interactive workshops, providing attendees with practical tools to enhance QI efforts in their regions. 

NINCo’s Achievements and Program Updates 

The conference showcased NINCo’s ongoing efforts in advancing primary healthcare through various streams: 

• Stream 1: Focused on developing a unified QI framework, including essential toolkits, data-driven insights, and a dedicated data quality toolkit. 

• Stream 2: Highlighted the completion of the “Improvement Science in Action” (ISIA) training program, along with the development of the QI101: Peak Practice program, which aims to enhance healthcare improvement education across PHNs. 

• Stream 3: Introduced resources for MyMedicare Voluntary Patient Registration and the GPACI QI Toolkit, alongside collaboration efforts for continuous feedback and improvement. 

PHN Posters and Community Engagement 

The conference also featured 22 PHN poster displays across three categories: 9 ISIA projects, 12 community initiatives, and 3 PHN collaborations. These posters provided insights into key elements of each project, from context and implementation to measurement and system-wide impact, offering attendees a chance to learn from each other’s experiences and successes. 

International Forum on Quality & Safety in Healthcare 

In partnership with IHI and BMJ, the conference also hosted an international forum on quality and safety in healthcare, which included dedicated PHN sessions and collaboration with international speakers. Attendees had the opportunity to network with QI professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region, further strengthening global collaboration and knowledge sharing. 

Looking Ahead 

As NINCo continues to pioneer data-driven, evidence-based approaches to improving primary healthcare, the conference provided an opportunity for members to reflect on past achievements, share insights, and look forward to the future of quality improvement. The 2024 conference emphasized the importance of innovation, collaboration, and a unified national approach to advancing healthcare delivery in Australia. 

We thank all attendees, speakers, and partners for their invaluable contributions, and we look forward to continuing this journey together as we strive to improve the healthcare system for all Australians.