Peter's primary role with UDRH is the coordination of the Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development Program and graduate supervision. In addition, he has a joint research appointment with the Rural Clinical School in which he is responsible for conducting research into rural ageing.
Although Peter's most recent academic qualifications are in the discipline of Sociology, he has a long background in laboratory medical science. He is therefore comfortable within both the quanititative/experimental and qualitative research paradigms and favour mixed methodology research approaches.
Career Summary
After 25 years as a practicing medical laboratory scientist, Peter returned to tertiary study and completed an undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology and a PhD in sociology. His PhD looked at regional adaptation to globalisation. He begun work as a Research Fellow in the University Department of Rural Health in 2000 and has been employed there since including several years as Manager of the Research and Evaluation Theme Area.
Research Interests
Peter's major research interest at present is in successful ageing, particularly in the rural context. He is currently involved in research projects and funding applications around the the development of policy and services to support rural ageing, social and community engagement among older people and social models of eating for older people. He also has a longstanding interest in finding new approaches to fostering community participation in, and ownership of, community health services. At present, he is engaged in trialing a new 'dialogue' model of community participation.
Selected Publications:- Orpin P, 2003, ''Program evaluation: a tale of lost opportunities', ', 7th National Rural Health Conference, Hobart 1-4 March
- Orpin P, 2003, ''A Time for Every Purpose - Patience is a Virtue in
Affecting Change', Guiding Us Forward:
Melbourne 12-14 November 2003
', National Chronic Condition Self Management Conference
- Orpin, P, 2002, '‘Capturing the Ripples: Charting the flow-on effects of a facilitation and coordination approach.’ Hobart 9-10 December.
', Sharing Health Care Initiative ‘Early Wins’ workshop
- Orpin, P, 2002, '‘ Making the Connection: Closing the Gap between Needs Audits and Strategy in Community Controlled Healthcare’, Naked and Clueless?
Remote Health Conference.', Remote Health Conference, Mt Isa 6-8 September
- Orpin, P, 2002, '‘Searching for Legitimacy in Health Care Systems Research’,
Auckland New Zealand 7-9 May 2002.
', Health Policy, Practice and Research in the 21st Century Conference
- Orpin, P, 1996, 'Contributing author - Regional Forest Agreement
(RFA) Social and Economic Report.
', Report Part D
Full Publication List Current and Supervised Project/s:
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