Trailblazer in primary care: Tracey Johnson honoured with APNA President’s Award

Tracey Johnson received the APNA President’s Award on Friday 25 July 2025, in recognition of her innovation, advocacy and impact on primary health care nursing.  

Tracey Johnson is the CEO and Company Secretary of Inala Primary Care, a charitable, multidisciplinary teaching and research-active general practice located in one of Queensland's most disadvantaged suburban areas. 

For over a decade, Tracey has been a key figure in advancing healthcare through her leadership at Inala Primary Care, using her background in health economics to improve how general practice operates and delivers care. 

Tracey has been a strong advocate for nurses, recognising their vital role in multidisciplinary teams. She has not only shaped how nursing is integrated into care at Inala but has also worked with the government to promote better funding models that accurately reflect the value nurses bring to primary healthcare. 

Innovation can often be found at the core of what Tracey does. She co-founded Cubiko, a software company that helps general practices better understand how to make the most of their teams, especially nurses, to improve both care and efficiency. 

Tracey has led the development of integrated care models tailored to meet the needs of her community. This includes establishing a dedicated Women’s Health Centre and designing innovative approaches to managing chronic disease—especially for people who are ageing, living with disabilities, from refugee backgrounds, or experiencing mental health challenges. 

Beyond her work in clinical care, Tracey helped create the Office of Health and Medical Research within Queensland Health and led the state’s efforts to attract global healthcare investment. Her expertise has helped shape national health policy across different governments, including through her roles on the Evaluation Committee for the Healthcare Homes Program, briefing the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce, being a member of the Expert Panel which Reviewed General Practice Incentives and After Hours Payments and providing submissions to many other reviews.  She is currently Deputy Chair of the AIHW Primary Care Advisory Group and a founder of the Brisbane based Health Equity Coalition. Her work as a health services researcher, speaker and mentor means her views reach thousands of people annually. 

Under Tracey’s leadership, Inala Primary Care has become a recognised centre of excellence in healthcare, education, research and advocacy for health system reform. 

APNA is pleased to present this award to Tracey Johnson as her work continues to influence how care is delivered across Australia. She is a trailblazer in the field, worthy of recognition for her continued work in shifting how the healthcare system values the role of nurses in primary care.