DR LEON CARP AWARD
About the donor
This gift, from the UHG Foundation, is made in honour and recognition of Dr Leon Carp.
Dr Leon Carp graduated medicine at The University of Melbourne in 1958 and spent his early years at Prince Henry Hospital. He explored a number of medical specialties but was ultimately attracted to the wonderful variety that general practice offered. He worked in the inner Melbourne suburb of Prahran as the owner of High Street Medical Clinic for almost 60 years where he was revered and loved by his patients.
Leon was the quintessential general practitioner, looking after families from cradle to grave. Seven days a week Leon would be available for his patients whether it was in his clinic, visiting them at home or delivering thousands of babies at Margaret Cole's Maternity wing of the Alfred Hospital, Cabrini Hospital and other smaller hospitals. He also looked after workers in the local factories doing short anaesthetics for his peers. He retired from clinical practice in 2019 at the age of 85 years.
This award is in honour and recognition of Leon’s dedication and service to the community and to the field of general practice. Through the establishment of this award, Leon will continue to make a meaningful impact on general practice for many years to come.
About the award
As a result of a generous donation to The University of Melbourne, the Department of General Practice and Primary Care is able to offer an annual award to general practitioners interested in undertaking research to advance the practice of primary care through innovation (‘research field’) and improve health outcomes for patients in Australia.
This award is ideal for general practitioners and general practitioners in training who wish to learn more about undertaking research to drive innovation in primary care practice and policy from a solid evidence base and thereby improve human health.
The award is for general practitioners who:
- Wish to develop their academic skills in research, scholarly approach to general practice education or leadership skills to have an impact in primary care, or
- Have an innovative idea that they believe could benefit primary care, and
- Are willing to work with and be supervised by The University of Melbourne primary care research or teaching staff, and
- Will maintain an honorary position with The University of Melbourne following the award.
The successful applicant will have access to research infrastructure and specialist research expertise (e.g. biostatistician). Regular research meetings and training are part of the research skill building program. Successful applicants can expect to develop or extend research skills and explore possibilities of further qualifications and potential career options as primary health care researchers.
Research theme areas
Ideally, applicants’ proposed area of research should fall within the current research themes of the Department of General Practice and Primary Care as detailed on the website. However, other areas will be considered and can be further discussed with the Director of Research Training and/or the Research Theme Leaders before applying.
Benefits
The value of these awards range from $15,000 to $18,000 per annum, depending on the level and time commitment required. Payment methods, terms and conditions will be in accordance with University policy and procedure.
Eligibility
The award is open to general practitioners anywhere in Australia who are:
- GPs at any career stage, who are research novices or have limited current experience in research and are not currently engaged in research or academic development/work with other universities or research institutes.
- Early career GP researchers who are not currently engaged in research or academic development/work with other universities or research institutes.
Application Process
All applicants should apply by sending:
- A cover letter, stating
- How the award would contribute to your research/leadership skills and/or personal goals
- How your innovative research or idea would benefit primary care*
- Proposed time commitment to research (e.g. one day per week for nine months, two days/week for three months)
- A brief curriculum vitae, including name, phone number, email address, tertiary qualifications, experience in primary health care and any prior research experience.
Submit application to: gp-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au with the subject header: ‘Dr Leon Carp Award Application’.
Application period
Applications close 30 November of each year.
Successful applicants will start their placement in the following February for a period of 9-12 months.
Enquiries
If you have any questions about this award, please email gp-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au
2026 Dr Leon Carp Award Winner
Dr Simone Craig
Dr Simone Craig is currently working as a General Practitioner at Andrew Place Clinic in Bundoora as well as managing the Victorian Government's Doctors in Secondary Schools (DiSS) program within the Department of General Practice and Primary Care at The University of Melbourne. Simone is passionate about working with young people, supporting diverse and vulnerable populations, preventative care, sexual and reproductive health, mental health and wellbeing.
About Simone's Research
Developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed and culturally-safe adolescent consultations begin with engagement, addressing confidentiality, and once rapport is gained, progress from less to more sensitive topics such as psychological and sexual health, substance use, body image and identity, safety and abuse.
Current experiential methods for upskilling clinicians in youth-appropriate care involves practicing with trained adolescent actors in a simulated consultation. Although this method is highly rated, it requires a high degree of support from educators to select, train and support adolescent actors. There are also potential risks of psychological harm if the adolescents are inadequately supported.
Simone's research will design, test and evaluate a novel communication skills training tool, called “Y-Sim". “Y-Sim” is a Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) "chatbot" system featuring a virtual adolescent patient and virtual educator. The chatbots will be co-designed with adolescents (aged 16-24) and clinicians skilled in adolescent medicine practice and teaching.
GPs participating in the trial will use the “Y-Sim” tool in a simulated consultation to take a biopsychosocial history from a youth chatbot, identifying risk and protective factors and obtaining performance feedback from an educator chatbot.
This project addresses two research gaps: whether a GenAI chatbot tool is a suitable simulation training tool for primary care clinicians; and whether involving adolescents in the co-design will increase appropriateness, authenticity and learning impact.
Prof Lena Sanci will be providing supervision and support for Simone's research project.
Fun Facts
When she is not working, you will find Simone hanging out with her loved ones, running, riding or coaxing fruit and vegies out of her garden.