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
Promoting resilience in young people : Progress in implementing a framework in schools
- Authors: McDonald, John , Hayes, Louise
- Date: 2001
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Health Promotion Journal of Australia Vol. 12, no. 3 (2001), p. 261-264
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Issue addressed: The Framework for Student Support Services (FSSS) in Victoria aims to foster resiliency among young people through an emphasis on prevention and early intervention. This study examined the implementation of the first 18 months of the Framework in a rural region. Methods: A process evaluation was conducted involving eight focus groups with student welfare staff and a survey of 79 schools. Results: Participants reported frustration with delays in professional development, a perceived lack of resources and difficulty engaging the community welfare and health sectors. The survey revealed that schools were targeting primary prevention activities. Conclusion: The student welfare system is successfully introducing some early intervention services. However, the system is still largely constrained to work clinically with individual high risk students. Staff are attempting to introduce a whole-school approach to promoting resiliency. There is significant variation between schools in their efforts and successes. So what?: The Framework is an ambitious, long term program. It presents major challenges for reorienting the priorities and activities of the student support system. Implementation could be improved through a statewide evaluation and learning from research on the delivery of other whole-school approaches to student support. (author abstract)
- Description: 2003004328