Moorabool Shire project : Stage 1 - Local area planning
- Authors: Blaskett, Beverley , Marshall, Craig , McDonald, John , Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Report
- Full Text:
- Description: This project was funded by the Victorian Government Department of Human Services and the Moorabool Shire Council and is currently being used to inform future health and welfare service provision in the Moorabool Shire.
- Description: K1
- Description: 2003002861
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.
13 days and counting : A mutual support model for young, homeless women in crisis
- Authors: Green, Rosemary , Mason, Robyn , Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Youth Studies Australia Vol. 23, no. 2 (2004), p. 46-50
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- Description: An innovative program in rural Victoria matches young homeless women with older homeless women and provides them with a range of support services.The result is more stability in the accommodation setting, mutual benefit and satisfaction for clients, and impressive rates of permanent housing outcomes.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000964
The emergence of water markets in Australia and implications for rural social work
- Authors: Mason, Robyn , McDonald, John , Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Social Work and Community Practice Vol. 11, no. (2006), p. 6- 17
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- Description: The aim of this paper is to consider the implications for rural social work practice of the widespread and severe drought coupled with the emergence of water markets in Australia. The National Water Initiative was signed at the June 2004 Council of Australian Governments meeting with the aim of producing a nationally-compatible, market, regulatory and planning-based system of managing water resources to optimise economic, social and environmental outcomes. The National Water Commission and the National Competition Council have since assessed progress on the implementation of the initiative: none of their reports gives adequate consideration to the impact of water reform on rural communities. In this paper, we draw upon previous research and written submissions made to the Commission and the Council to examine the social and political consequences of the drought and the emergence of water markets. We discuss the implications for rural practice, and conclude by proposing seven recommendations to assert the role of rural social workers as change agents. This role could encompass community education and advocacy, piloting schemes such as community water banks, reinstating community development in social work curriculum, and facilitating collaborative rural partnerships.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001997
Priority setting in primary health care : A framework for local catchments
- Authors: McDonald, John , Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural and remote health Vol. 11, no. 2 (2011), p. 1714
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Managers and staff in primary health care partnerships in local catchments, particularly in regional areas, are periodically required to work collaboratively to set health priorities. Setting priorities involves making decisions about which health needs are most important and what programs will be funded to address them. There is no universally agreed set of decision-making rules for setting priorities. Dominant approaches prioritise health economics, and have favoured expert knowledge drawn from technical-rational methodologies rather than consumer involvement and community action. However, research reveals that setting priorities is a complex, value laden, contested process buffeted by competing objectives and political interests. As such, an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach is called for. Using reflective practice from a priority setting project for a primary care partnership in a local, regional catchment in Victoria, Australia, a conceptual framework for priority setting is presented that identifies 13 interconnected factors spanning economic, political, policy, epidemiological, moral, evidentiary and evaluative domains. This interdisciplinary framework extends current knowledge about the considerations and trade-offs in setting priorities among collaborating primary health care agencies. It offers a potentially valuable heuristic tool for healthcare decision-makers in rural areas.
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.
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
- Full Text: false
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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.
Internet tool box for rural GPs to access mental health services information
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural and Remote Health Vol. 9, no. (2009), p.
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- Description: Introduction: Rural GPs play a significant role in the mental health care of their patients. It is therefore crucial that they have access to reputable support and advice that enhances their existing knowledge. This article outlines a recent project initiated by the Australian rural Ballarat and District Division of General Practice (BDDGP) to develop and implement an online resource to facilitate local implementation and delivery of the ‘Better Access to Mental Health Care’ (BAMHC) program. This 12 month project was initiated in response to a request from local GPs for additional information about and support in using the BAMHC program. The project is the culmination of significant collaboration among key stakeholders that includes local GPs, GP advisors from BDDGP, BDDGP staff, and two University of Ballarat research centres (the Centre for Health Research and Practice, and the Centre for Electronic Commerce and Communication). This article documents the key stages involved in the project from initiation to implementation, and reports on the use of this resource 12 months after its launch. Method: The BDDGP represents 107 GPs and six GP registrars and covers a large rural/semi-rural area of 7300 km2 and a catchment population of more than 120 000. The format and design of the project entailed four distinct but interrelated stages of development: (1) developing the program specifications and localising it to the BDDGP catchment; (2) constructing a decision-making support tool with 7 sequential steps comprising key questions and links to detailed answers; (3) developing and populating an online service directory of local allied health professionals; and (4) constructing the website for easy access and navigation for GPs and other service providers. Results: The website was publicly launched in December 2007 and is hosted by BDDGP. Since then it has received strong support. In the 12 months since its launch the website received regular and continuous visits (2847 visits/11 500 pages accessed). In addition, anecdotal evidence and other feedback (positive comments; requested changes to entries in the service directory from allied mental health professionals) indicate that the website is being recognised as an important resource of and hub for local information relating to the BAMHC program for GPs and allied health professionals. Conclusions: Integral to the website’s success and sustainability is the close and continued monitoring and updating of the information provided. A formal, longitudinal evaluation 18 months to 2 years after the website’s launch is recommended to provide a more rigorous assessment of the tool, and examine possible improvements. While the project does not address the problem of the supply of allied mental health providers in rural areas, it does provide assistance with responsive service system expansion and the provision of a localized tool for accessing appropriate information about mental health services.
Dimensions of pastoral care: Student wellbeing in rural Catholic schools
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison , McDonald, John
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 12, no. 2 (2006), p. 137-145
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- Description: This paper investigates the health and welfare needs of students (n = 15,806) and the current service model in Catholic schools in the Ballarat Diocese of Victoria, Australia. Catholic schools use a service model underpinned by an ethos of pastoral care; there is a strong tradition of self-reliance within the Catholic education system for meeting students' health and welfare needs. The central research questions are: What are the emerging health and welfare needs of students? How does pastoral care shape the service model to meet these needs? What model/s might better meet students' primary health care needs? The research methods involved analysis of(1) extant databases of expressed service needs including referrals (n = 1,248) to Student Services over the last 2.5 years, (2) trends in the additional funding support such as special needs funding for students and the Education Maintenance Allowance for families, and (3) semi-structured individual and group interviews with 98 Diocesan and school staff responsible for meeting students' health and welfare needs. Analysis of expressed service needs revealed a marked increase in service demand, and in the complexity and severity of students' needs. Thematic analysis of qualitative interview data revealed five pressing issues: the health and welfare needs of students; stressors in the school community; rural isolation; role boundaries and individualised interventions; and self-reliant networks of care. Explanations for many of these problems can be located in wider social and economic forces impacting upon the church and rural communities. It was concluded that the pastoral care model-as it is currently configured-is not equipped to meet the escalating primary health care needs of students in rural areas. This paper considers the implications for enhanced primary health care in both rural communities and in schools.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001995
Learning through multimedia : the roles of prior knowledge and approaches to learning
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 1999
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
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- Description: The effects of text-supplementing illustrations have been generally well etablished (Mayer, Bove, Bryman, Mars & Tapangco, 1996). However, these effects are not universal, and are influenced by learner factors including student approaches to learning and prior knowldge (Ollerenshaw, Aidman & Kidd, 1997)....
- Description: Master of Applied Science (Psychology)
Literacy Trails : A whole-of-community program to encourage literacy and numeracy awareness for children in preschool and early primary
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Journal of Early Childhood Vol. 37, no. 3 (2012), p. 147-153
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This article describes the evaluation outcomes of an innovative, communitybased educational initiative to enhance and promote the awareness of literacy and numeracy in young children in two regional communities in Moorabool Shire, Victoria. With the support of committed educational and community partners (through the Moorabool Best Start Partnership), the Moorabool Literacy Trails were first established in 2006 to promote and nurture children's awareness of literacy and numeracy, and to encourage active participation in the Trails by facilitating local community involvement. In 2010 an evaluation of the program used a mixed, qualitative and quantitative methodology (surveys and interviews with teachers, parents, community participants, program partner representatives) to examine the program's effectiveness in promoting literacy and numeracy awareness for children in their early years, and also whether the program is an effective catalyst for increasing community awareness and capacity. There was strong evidence that the project achieved its aims, as quantified by the continued interest in the program through the large numbers of children participating and the continued commitment to the project by its partners and the local community. This whole-of-community approach helps to promote important educational principles for children and their parents. This program has large appeal at many different levels and offers great potential for similar educational programs to be adapted and/or transferred to other communities and regions.
- Description: 2003011111
Towards good dementia care : Awareness and uptake of an online Dementia Pathways tool for rural and regional primary health practitioners
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison , Shee, Anna Wong , Yates, Mark
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Rural Health Vol. 26, no. 2 (2017), p. 112-118
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: OBJECTIVE: To explore the awareness and usage of an online Dementia Pathways tool (DPT; including decision tree and region-specific dementia services) for primary health practitioners (general practitioners (GPs) and nurses) in regional Victoria. DESIGN: Quantitative pilot study using surveys and Google Analytics. SETTING: A large regional area (48 000 square kilometres, population 220 000) in Victoria. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and sixty-three GPs and 160 practice nurses were invited to participate, with 42 respondents (GPs, n = 21; practice nurses, n = 21). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary care practitioners' awareness and usage of the DPT website usage. RESULTS: Survey respondents that had used the tool (n = 14) reported accessing information about diagnosis, management and referral. Practitioners reported improvements in knowledge, skills and confidence about core dementia topics. There were 9683 page views between August 2013 and February 2015 (monthly average: 509 page views). The average time spent on page was 2.03 min, with many visitors (68%) spending more than 4 min at the site. This research demonstrates that the tool has been well received by practitioners and has been consistently used since its launch. Health practitioners' valued the content and the availability of local resources. CONCLUSION: Primary health practitioners reported that the DPT provided access to region-specific referral and management resources for all stages of dementia. Such tools have broad transferability in other health areas with further research needed to determine their contribution to learning in the practice setting and over time.
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
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- 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.
Beyond the call of duty : The integral role of rural local government in emergency management
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison , Graymore, Michelle , McDonald, Kelsey
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Society Vol. 25, no. 3 (2016), p. 185-203
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: As Australian state and federal governments extol the importance of resilience-building in rural communities to mitigate the effects of natural disasters, understanding the contribution of local government in supporting communities during natural disaster is required. This research examines the role and responsibilities of rural local government following a natural disaster to identify how learnings have informed subsequent disaster response planning. Framed by the local government capability requirements for managing natural disasters [Kusumasari, B., Alam, Q., & Siddiqui, K. (2010). Resource capability for local government in managing disaster. Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, 19(4), 438–451] this study uses survey data from affected community members, and interviews with representatives from emergency response and recovery organisations. This data provides insights from the 2011 floods and landslides in the Grampians, Victoria and demonstrates the integral role of local governments in supporting the community. Participants acknowledged the outreach provided by local government as intensive, far reaching, and ongoing while human resourcing and institutional capabilities were limited. Findings provide guidance on best practice for natural disaster planning and response. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
The relationship between business incubator services and the psychological capital of tenants
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: Business incubators (BI) provide a supportive environment for new tenant businesses to grow to independence. Incubators offer characteristic services including (a) space, physical resources, and infrastructure; (b) business support services, (c) networking; and, (d) structured selection, entry, and exit. Despite the global growth in incubator facilities, complemented by extensive research, knowledge gaps remain. Little research has examined the relationship between the characteristic services at incubators and tenants’ psychological capital; a higher-order construct representing an individual’s positive psychological state of development that includes hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. Preliminary examination of the characteristic services at business incubators show analogies with interventions for developing psychological capital. Two research studies were designed to examine these relationships. In the first study, survey (n = 30) and interview data (n = 12) were collected from incubator tenants to examine the existence of a relationship between the four characteristic services at business incubators and tenants’ psychological capital, their hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. The survey data confirmed the existence of a relationship between three incubator services – space, physical resources, and infrastructure, business support services, and networking – and tenants’ psychological capital. Tenants’ narrative experiences confirmed that these same three incubator services support tenants’ hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. This finding implies that the three incubator services contribute to, and augment tenants’ positive psychological states, which is then manifest in their positive behaviours and attitudes towards their business. To further elucidate these relationships a second study was conducted. Data from surveys (n = 75) and interviews (n = 28) with incubators managers also confirmed that space, physical resources, and infrastructure, business support services, and networking were analogous with methods that support tenants’ hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. These findings infer that incubator managers are not only instrumental in delivering these three characteristic services at incubators but are integral in optimising these services to benefit tenants’ hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. This current research provides robust evidence that three characteristic services at incubators are associated with tenants’ psychological capital, hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. These research findings are novel, and the implications for the incubator industry wide-ranging, with evidence indicating that the three characteristic services at incubators are analogous with interventions that support tenants’ psychological capital, and that incubator staff are integral to the delivery of these characteristic services. New directions for the incubator industry are proposed that include establishing a consistent approach to delivering the characteristic services at incubators that support incubator tenants’ businesses, and their positive psychological development.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Increasing the digital literacy skills of regional SMEs through high-speed broadband access
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison , Corbett, Jennifer , Thompson, Helen
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Small Enterprise Research Vol. 28, no. 2 (May 2021), p. 115-133
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Universal challenges exist for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in regional and rural areas to utilize digital technologies for entrepreneurial advancement. Barriers include insufficient understanding of digital technologies and a lack of skills necessary for digital adoption. In Australia, training programs were introduced to enhance the digital uptake for the business and community sectors. Research was conducted to examine the impact on participants’ perceived digital literacy awareness and knowledge of online services, and their skills development. Survey data was collected from program participants (n = 101) comprising SMEs and not-for-profit organizations (NFP), and from program mentors/facilitators (n = 9). The findings show that training supports knowledge transfer, learning and skills development, fostering confidence about digital technologies. It is recommended that ongoing training is delivered regionally so that SMEs and NFPs can exploit digital innovations within their businesses and organizations.
Online pathways for dementia care
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Family Physician Vol. 44, no. 7 (2015), p. 510-513
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Background: Dementia is one of the fastest growing diseases in Australia. General practitioners (GPs) are at the forefront of dementia diagnosis and management. However, the disease is complex and this can prevent timely diagnosis. A recent initiative in the Grampians region, Victoria, is addressing some of these challenges through a comprehensive, intuitive, online tool. Objective: The aim of this article is to describe the process of developing and reasons for implementing the Dementia Pathways Tool, in the Grampians region, Victoria. Discussion: Designed in collaboration with GPs and practice nurses, the Dementia Pathways Tool promotes awareness of the first signs of dementia. It offers an informed approach to diagnosis, referral and ongoing management of people with the symptoms of dementia. This Tool provides practitioners - irrespective of their practice location - with access to an intuitive, online web-based repository of information. The Tool is publicly available and therefore accessible to all practitioners and the general public. Initial indications from statistics of the website are positive, but an evaluation will help inform the potential for broader applications of this Tool in the future. © The Royal Australian College of General practitioners 2015.
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.
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- 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
Health justice partnerships: Initial insights into the delivery of an integrated health and legal service for youth in regional Victoria
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison , Camilleri, Marg
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural and Remote Health Vol. 17, no. 2 (2017), p. 1-6
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Introduction: This article presents interim findings from research examining the implementation of a health justice partnership (HJP) focusing on the legal and health needs of regional young people. HJPs provide an innovative service model offering an integrated health and legal service for the community. HJPs are a relatively new service model for Australia, yet the program is well suited to meet the needs of particular population cohorts, including young people and those in regional locations experiencing complex legal issues. Methods: Funded by the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner, an HJP in partnership with three organisations was established in a large regional area in Victoria, Australia. Research is being conducted alongside the program to examine its impact on young people, and the implications on practice for staff in the partner organisations. Results: Findings provide preliminary support for the HJP model with a number of young people - from predominantly disadvantaged backgrounds and with varying legal issues - having been referred to the program in the first 6 months. Referrals were received from both partner agencies and external agencies. Initial client and staff survey responses indicate that the legal problem of the young people was affecting how they feel. Conclusions: While these findings provide preliminary support for the HJP further research will offer longer term insights about HJPs within the Australian context, particularly rural and regional settings. © A Ollerenshaw, M Camilleri, 2017.
A health justice partnership for young people : strategies for program promotion to young people and youth workers
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison , Camilleri, Margaret
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 29, no. 5 (2023), p. 422-427
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Health justice partnerships (HJP) are innovative models for delivering integrated health and legal services to people experiencing complex issues. An HJP was established in regional Victoria, Australia, for young people. Promoting the program to young people and workers was essential for program uptake. There is a dearth of published information about strategies that support program promotion for young people and workers. In this practice and innovation paper, three promotional strategies were employed: a dedicated program website, secondary consultations, and legal education and information sessions. Each strategy is examined, with information presented about why and how these strategies were implemented alongside this HJP. The strengths and limitations of each strategy are explored, with some strategies appearing to engage audiences with the program more than others. The insights about each of the strategies established for this program may inform other HJPs with their planning and implementation for increased program awareness. © 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)).