Building effective partnerships for rural health service (Staff)

Project completion date:

Details

This project comprised two parts: Part A–Partnerships between rural communities and health services, and Part B–Partnerships and integrative practices among providers of health services for rural communities.

Summary of project

Part A replicated in the health sector a project undertaken in the education sector on rural school–community partnerships, titled More than an Education: Leadership for effective rural school-community partnerships. A copy of this report can be downloaded at: http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/HCC/02-055.pdf

Part A addressed the following research questions:

1. What are the indicators of processes that are effective in developing partnerships between rural Tasmanian communities and health services that enhance well-being for the community or some groups within it?
2. What partnerships exist between rural Tasmania communities and health services?
3. What processes have established effective partnerships between rural communities and health services in 2 Tasmanian rural communities?
4. How and to what extent could these processes be applied in other community health partnerships?

It used a case study approach to examine partnerships in two small rural Tasmanian communities. Outputs from the pilot were two case studies, and a journal article highlighting overarching themes in relation to the partnership development process between rural communities and health services.

Part B of the project was closely related to Part A. It addressed the following research questions:

1. What are the indicators of processes that are effective in developing partnerships and integrative practices among providers of health services for rural communities, that enhance well-being for the community or some groups within it? Indicators may include:
   • Relationships between services
   • Relationships between services and community groups
   • Relationships with services located outside the community
2. What partnerships and integrative practices exist among providers of health services for rural Tasmanian communities?
3. What processes have established effective partnerships and integrative practices among providers of health services in rural Tasmanian communities?
4. How and to what extent could these processes be applied in other community health partnerships?

•  Deloraine Case Study [41KB]
•  Oatlands Case Study [41KB]