Strengthening primary health care : Building the capacity of rural communities to access health funding
- Authors: McDonald, John , Brown, Leann , Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian journal of rural health Vol. 10, no. 3 (2002), p. 173-177
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- Description: Present health funding models can place onerous pressures on rural health services. Staff may lack the time, resources, access to data, and the expertise needed to complete complex and lengthy funding submissions. This present study describes an innovative capacity-building approach to working with Victorian rural communities seeking to access health care funding through the Regional Health Services Program. This approach used several strategies: engaging stakeholders in targeted rural communities, developing an information kit and running a workshop on preparing submissions to the Regional Health Services Program, facilitating community consultations, and providing ongoing support with submissions. Six rural communities were supported in this way. Four have been funded to date, with a combined annual recurrent budget for new primary health care services of over $2.5 million. Each community has developed a service delivery model that meets the particular needs of their local area. This capacity-building approach is both effective and replicable to other health funding opportunities. The definitive version of this article is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com
- Description: 2003000079
Clinical health practice in a remote setting : The impact of local community relationships
- Authors: Murphy, Angela , McDonald, John
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2004 Annual Conference of TASA, Beechworth, Australia : 7th - 8th December, 2004
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- Description: This paper reports on an empirical research about the way in which local community relationships influence clinical health decision-making in a health service in a remote town in Victoria, Australia. Evidence-based practice is now widely promoted as the most effective and efficient basis for making clinical health decisions. However, little is known about its use in rural and remote settings. To date, researchers have assumed that the uptake of evidence-base practice among health care practitioners is primarily a function of the levels of training, resources and support provided to them. Drawing upon qualitative data from individual and group interviews with health care practitioners and managers, this research revealed that strong community relationships profoundly influence clinical decision-making. Community influence was evidenced through the blurring of health practitioner professional and private roles, the extent of community ownership and control of the health services, and the politicisation of health service delivery. The results show how local community relationships can influence clinical practice in a remote town. This advances our understanding of the determinants of the uptake of evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice may be usefully viewed as a site of political contestation. Introduction
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001298
What is evidence-based practice anyway? A rural survey
- Authors: Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Canberra : 1st - 4th March, 2003
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- Description: Health service system developments in recent decades have, both nationally and internationally, been increasingly focused on quality service delivery and the attainment of improved health outcomes. Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been promoted as a central mechanism through which to achieve improved quality and safety in health service delivery (World Health Organisation, 1999; Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council,1996).
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000515
Ballarat health consortium : A case study of influential factors in the development and maintenance of a health partnership
- Authors: McDonald, John , Murphy, Angela , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2001
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 7, no. 2 (2001), p. 75-82
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- Description: Intersectoral partnerships in health have a central role in current policy and programs. Partnerships are seen to be an effective strategy for maximising health outcomes. However, theoretical models of health partnerships are underdeveloped. Moreover, the research literature contains inconsistent findings about their effectiveness, and there has been very little evaluative research on health partnerships in this country. This paper reports on a case study of an intersectoral consortium using a health promotion approach to cardiovascular disease. A model of partnership formation and development is presented. From this, a research strategy was devised and carried out. Results indicate that the health consortium was formed inresponse to a critical health issue, and as a separate legal entity without recurrent funding, it has been sustained through the commitment of individual members. Project funding has, in large part, dictated its operations. The case study reveals the strengths, vulnnerabilities and achievements of this consortium over five years. To produce sustainable health outcomes, the researchers conclude, partnerships require strategic management to capitalise on individual endeavours, organisational alignments, and government or funder priorities. Ideological zeal for intersectoral health partnerships must be balanced by rigorous evaluation; together with more sophisticated indicators for measuring success in partnerships in health promotion. Theoretical development of models of health partnerships will also contribute to their enhanced effectiveness.
- Description: 2003004325
Power, status and marginalisation : Rural social workers and evidence-based practice in multidisciplinary teams
- Authors: McDonald, John , Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Social Work Vol. 57, no. 2 (2004), p. 127-136
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- Description: 2003004268
When urban policy meets regional practice : Evidence based practice from the perspective of multi-disciplinary teams working in rural and remote health service provision
- Authors: Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: "In the main, contemporary research on Evidence Based Practice (EBP) has taken place within metropolitan locations, and has offered urbocentric solutions and insights. However the transferability of these developments to rural services is untested empirically. In addition, evidence development and studies on the implementation of this evidence have tended to be discipline-stream-specific; there has been very little research into either the development of multi-disciplinary evidence guidelines or the implementation of EBP from the perspective of individual practitioners working within multi-disciplinary teams. This research shortfall has provided the rationale for this study...."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Still on the outer edges? Progress towards and prospects for the development of a rural and remote evidence base for clinical practice
- Authors: McDonald, John , Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 8th National Rural Health Conference, Alice Springs, Australia : 10th - 13th March, 2005
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- Description: One of the most significant issues in clinical practice for rural and remote Australia is the need for improved evidence about the most effective and appropriate interventions. Clinical research is fundamental to effective evidence-based practice. This paper assesses the extent to which an Australian rural evidence base for clinical practice has emerged over the past five years. The methodology for this study involves an analysis of one input (research funding) and one output (published evidence) concerning Australian research that specifically addresses rural health issues and includes rural, regional and/or remote populations in clinical research. The first project involves the analysis of extant databases of rural clinical research funding and funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) research allocated during the period 2000 to 2004 by two major national organisations: the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and the National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS). Data are analysed in terms of the number of grants allocated and the level of funding. The results show that, of the 5995 grants (exceeding $1.3 billion) awarded by the NHMRC, only 126 grants (2.1%) amounting to $21 million (1.6% of the total dollars) were allocated to rural/regional/remote and ATSI research. NICS has funded one rural/remote clinical research project, and has commissioned a literature review and conducted a workshop on the use of evidence by rural and remote health practitioners.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001235
WAND : An Activity Program for Women in a Rooming House
- Authors: Grace, Marty , Malone, Jennifer , Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Affilia - Journal of Women and Social Work Vol. 31, no. 1 (2016), p. 84-97
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- Description: Rooming houses are often considered last resort accommodation for people affected by homelessness. However, some rooming houses aspire to provide safe, affordable, good-quality accommodation. This article reports on research into an activity program Women Achieving New Directions (WAND) in one such rooming house for women in Melbourne, Australia. Women-only homelessness programs are important because of women’s specific, gendered experiences of homelessness. Five main themes relating to program impact and structure were identified from the data, namely, reducing isolation, the importance of leaving choice to the women, the vital role of staff support, the emerging sense of program ownership, and experiences of building community connection. © 2015, The Author(s) 2015.
Leading the way : The integral role of local government within a multisector partnership delivering a large infrastructure project in an Australian growth region
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison , Murphy, Angela , McDonald, Kelsey
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Local Government Studies Vol. 43, no. 2 (2017), p. 291-314
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- Description: Multisectoral partnerships with local government have emerged as a strategy for solving wicked' problems in communities, although research about these types of public-private partnerships is limited. Available evidence suggests that differentials in power and status, value bases and perspectives on priorities have been problematic in partnership building with community. This paper examines the role of local government as the funded, lead organisation, in a public-private partnership for planning, designing and constructing a business accelerator in one of Australia's growth regions. Partnership scope, role and outcomes were measured against a conceptual framework mapping success indicators. Findings show core principles for successful partnership were achieved and supported by the role, capacity and commitment of local government to forming strong working relationships with consortium partners. Relationship building and commitment to collective project outcomes were pivotal to success. Further research is needed to assess whether emerging trends hold and consolidate over time.
Making the invisible visible : The impact of federating groundwater data in Victoria, Australia
- Authors: Dahlhaus, Peter , Murphy, Angela , MacLeod, Andrew , Thompson, Helen , McKenna, Kirsten , Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Hydroinformatics Vol. 18, no. 2 (2016), p. 238-255
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- Description: The Visualising Victoria's Groundwater (VVG) web portal federates groundwater data for the State of Victoria, Australia, thus making legacy data, government datasets, research data and community sourced data and observations visible to the public. The portal is innovative because it was developed outside of the government and offers real-time accessto remote authoritative databases by integrating the interoperable web services they each provide. It includes tools for data querying and 3D visualisations that were designed to meet end-user needs and educate the broader community about a normally invisible resource. The social impact of the web portal was measured using multidisciplinary research that employed survey instruments, expert reference groups, and internet analytics to explore the extent to which the web portal has supported decision making by governments, industry, researchers and the community. The research found that single access, multiple data set web portals enhance capacity by providing timely, informed and accurate responses to answer queries and increase productivity by saving time. The provision of multiple datasets from disparate sources within a single portal has changed practices in the Victorian groundwater industry. © 2016 The Authors.
Children, youth and families act (2005) : Implications for regional governance and service delivery
- Authors: Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Report
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- Description: 2003007990
Citizen science in Australia’s waterways : investigating linkages with catchment decision-making
- Authors: Bonney, Patrick , Murphy, Angela , Hansen, Birgita , Baldwin, Claudia
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Journal of Environmental Management Vol. 27, no. 2 (2020), p. 200-223
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- Description: Citizen science can be a viable mechanism to foster productive linkages between community and government for sustainable water resource management. In Australia, this potential has longstanding policy support but research into program extent, characteristics or impact on decision-making processes has been lacking. This article draws on a temporal analysis of data records from two citizen science programs and a nationwide survey of 47 program coordinators representing 43 freshwater and estuarine citizen science programs to examine these knowledge shortfalls. Results indicate that program activity has contracted in Victoria but increased in the ACT, with additional evidence indicating a nationwide contraction. Survey results revealed programs operating nationwide and largely implemented as a community-government partnership, combining data and educative priorities. Despite 70 per cent of programs having goals to inform catchment decision-making, data use was verified for less than half of programs. Program coordinators reported several social, organisational and technical barriers that limit this uptake. In highlighting these issues, we make three recommendations for enhancing linkages between citizen science and catchment decision-making: (1) increasing institutional support; (2) improving coordination and embracing new possibilities for collaboration; and (3) demonstrating and communicating program achievements. © 2020, © 2020 Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand Inc.
- Description: This research is supported by the Regional University Networks Water Futures Fund and the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend and RTP Fee-Offset Scholarship through Federation University Australia.
A community-wide approach to reducing risky drinking cultures in young people in rural Australia
- Authors: Murphy, Angela , Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Rural Health Vol. 31, no. 2 (2023), p. 204-217
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- Description: Objective: This study evaluated the impact of a multi-faceted, harm minimisation program addressing youth alcohol change and risky drinking behaviours in rural Australia. The role and influence of a multi-tiered community approach to changing alcohol cultures is examined. Setting: An alcohol culture change project for young people (12–18 years) was implemented in rural Victoria. It was informed by the Alcohol Cultures Framework, comprising community-wide events and youth-focused activities, co-designed with young people. The approach aimed at maximising engagement and reducing alcohol-related harm by targeting the shared activities and drinking practices of young people, parents and the community. Participants: Participants (n = 446) provided feedback specific to three key program activities for promoting alcohol change. Design: Mixed methods: Feedback sheets were collected, and interviews and focus groups were conducted with program participants. Results: Participants indicated that the program had informed their understanding of the way people in their region drink, and the social norms and practices around alcohol that encourage risky drinking. It influenced their short- and medium-term reactions, learnings and activities relating to alcohol consumption. The impact of the program was greatest in adults than young people although reflective learning and some behaviour change were evident across all age groups and community clusters. Conclusion: Community-wide health promotion events offer participants a deeper understanding of the ways in which dominant alcohol cultures inform the practices and activities of young people within a broader community context. Ensuring health promotion programs within a whole-of-community approach are established longer term, is recommended. © 2022 The Authors. Australian Journal of Rural Health published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of National Rural Health Alliance Ltd.
Historic urban landscapes and visualising Ballarat : Citizen participation for sustainable urban planning and design
- Authors: Murphy, Angela , Dahlhaus, Peter , Thompson, Helen
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 3rd Annual Conference of Research@Locate, R@Loc 2016; Melbourne, Australia; 12th-14th April 2016; published in CEUR Workshop Proceedings
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- Description: Technological innovation has provided enhanced capacity for knowledge building, for connection and for improved infrastructure planning in the development of the modern city. In parallel to the building of technology supported urban planning and design capacity, a debate has emerged around the need to maximise citizen participation in urban planning. The role of identity, culture and social context has been assessed as being as integral to sustainability in urban planning as is infrastructure management. In 2011 UNESCO, through the mechanism of the recommendation for Historic Urban Landscapes (HUL), created an imperative for the overt recognition of the role of culture, place and identity in sustainable urban planning. The City of Ballarat, Victoria, was the first of a series of international cities to pilot HUL and commit to inclusive citizen based collaboration in urban planning. Through online technology, a platform for partnership building was established. Developed and supported through the Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation at Federation University Australia, the HUL and Visualising Ballarat portals track the diversity of urban landscapes-from built environment to geomorphology to cultural identity-and facilitate their inclusion in planning and resource allocation. Crowdsourcing was promoted as pivotal in this process, while spatial innovation provided a means through which to bring to life the notion of distinctiveness, identity and place. Through mapping intangibles across complex and diverse groups within community, the potential for improving the quality and management of the planning process was found to be enhanced. Local Area Planning provided a mechanism for a conceptual alignment of past and present and the voice of community has gained a stronger (and more disruptive) voice in determining what communities' value within their lived environment. This shift was assessed as playing an important, and increasingly recognised, role in sustainable urban planning and design.
- Description: CEUR Workshop Proceedings
Use of digital technology for research data and information transfer within the Australian grains sector : a case study using Online Farm Trials
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison , Murphy, Angela , Walters, Judi , Robinson, Nathan , Thompson, Helen
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Agricultural Systems Vol. 206, no. (2023), p.
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- Description: CONTEXT: Agriculture is experiencing rapid change with the widespread availability of industry-specific technological and digital innovations. One example of this is Online Farm Trials (OFT), a user-facing web portal that systematises on-farm and field-based cropping research trial data for Australia's grains industry. The portal delivers access to research data, including legacy data, from thousands of grains trials projects that have been supplied by industry contributors. The portal is well established, having been informed by regular stakeholder input that has guided and informed the continued improvement of the portal from its development and implementation to continued operations. OBJECTIVE: Research was conducted across three time-points to assess the usage and application of OFT, and to examine its perceived impact on users to facilitate access to information supporting on-farm decision making and practice change within the Australian grains industry. METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative data (portal usage and website analytics, surveys, in-depth interviews) were collected at three time points over 6 years with the aim of examining the usage and application of the portal. Portal users, data contributors, and other stakeholders from the grains and agriculture industries participated in this research. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Over the three time points, a total of 89 surveys were completed and 49 interviews were conducted. Portal usage data confirms consistency in the number of visitors over time; most users of the portal were from Australia, with many accessing the portal on multiple occasions. Survey and interview data demonstrate that OFT is valued, widely used, and that the data on the portal are being broadly applied. Access to information and data through the portal (including legacy data) is used to support knowledge and to make sector-relevant decisions, and is assisting portal users in their workplace and work practices. The availability of data and information through the portal is increasing connections between industry and stakeholders across the grains sector. However, the trust and quality of contributor data has been consistently raised as a point of discussion by some portal users. SIGNIFICANCE: This research demonstrates the contribution that this data portal has on usage, adoption and application within the Australian grains industry. The insights and learnings about the application of digital technology for data and information access for the grains sector may be applicable to other agricultural sectors. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd
Digital data and practice change: the impact of innovative web portals on user knowledge building and decision-making processes
- Authors: Murphy, Angela , Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Online Information Review Vol. 47, no. 4 (2023), p. 732-748
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- Description: Purpose: The impact of innovative web portals on users, from access to application, is gaining interest as the global call for increased data availability gains momentum. This study reports on the perceptions of portal end users about usage and access to digital data across a range of fields of practice. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected and analysed from interviews (n = 132) and email feedback (n = 235) from end users of interoperable spatial knowledge web portals. Findings: Data reveal that users attribute importance to ease of access and applicability, and to confidence and trust in data. The acquisition of data assists with reducing knowledge silos, facilitates knowledge sharing and decision-making. Digital data portals enable the building of stronger collaborations between different groups of individuals and communities leading to improved outcomes and more positive developments across varied discipline and practice areas. Practical implications: Recommendations for developing online portals to optimise knowledge transfer and associated benefits, for users, are offered. Originality/value: By collecting extensive qualitative data drawn from the experiences of end users of digital data portals, this paper provides new insights, thereby addressing a knowledge gap in the published literature about the use of technology uptake and the application of online data for practice and industry benefit. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.