Partners in Health: A collaborative partnership between DHHS and UTAS FHS Aims & Rationale: Working together to improve the health and well being of Tasmanians through workforce education and development, quality service delivery and health research 1. Tasmania’s health care workforce is vital The Healthcare workforce delivers health services to the people of Tasmania – our customers. Tasmania is experiencing health workforce challenges; • Attracting and retaining skilled health professionals, • An ageing health professional workforce, • Uneven distribution of some key professional groups within the State, • Issues mirrored at a national level, • Demand for the health workforce is high. Teaching, training and education are core elements of the health system; • Contributes to a culture of inquiry, learning and reflection, • Crucial for workforce quality, • Future availability of a skilled workforce, • Assists with professional satisfaction, • Recruitment and retention. 2. Partners in Health (PiH) 3. PiH Governance Structure PiH Corporate Client UTAS Senior Executive Vice Chancellor PiH Corporate Client UTAS/State Government Partnership Management Group PiH Corporate Client DHHS Agency Executive Committee Secretary PiH Management Committee 2 We will continue to work together to develop an educated, trained and skilled health workforce to meet the needs of the Tasmanian Health Sector Regional Reference Groups PiH Project Groups Line of authority Monitoring and reporting 4. Future Directions Future Directions is a strategic document which identifies the long term strategic objectives and sets out the priority outputs of the partnership over the next 3 years (2008-11). The fundamental Principle of the Partnership is; Links to Tasmania Together, the Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Tasmania and the State Government, Tasmania’s Health Plan and University of Tasmania’s EDGE2. A strategic and operational partnership - seen throughout DHHS and UTAS in training, development and education of existing and future health staff. Also visible in Tasmanian health research settings. 1 We will work together to strengthen the Partnership and working relationship between the University of Tasmania, Department of Health and Human Services and external agencies when necessary PiH Project Officer Partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the University of Tasmania (UTAS) Faculty of Health Science (FHS). “To work together to contribute to the health and well being of the people of Tasmania through workforce education and development, quality service delivery and health research”. 5. Future Directions sets out six strategic objectives Partners in Health can assist both parties to make a significant contribution to their own strategic priorities. 3 We will work together to actively support staff in the engagement and publication of health research 4 We will work together to assist in the development and evaluation of Tasmanian’s new health services and systems 5 We will work collaboratively to assist in the development of workforce planning and strategies that will help to address Tasmania’s future health workforce needs 6 We will work together to actively communicate the work of Partners in Health to staff, key stakeholders and the wider community. Projects to Achieve Strategic Objectives: Partners in Health projects being undertaken in partnership. 1. Strategic Objective One We will work together to strengthen the Partnership and working relationship between University of Tasmania, Department of Health and Human Services and external agencies when necessary. • PiH Strategic Direction 2008-2011 – Future Directions: The main strategic document for the Partnership. • UTAS Health Services and Workforce Education Unit – A specific Unit within UTAS which is the strategic development arm of the PiH Agreement. • PiH Governance Framework - A clear Governance Framework for the Partnership and Terms of Reference for the Management Committee. 3. Strategic Objective Three 5. Strategic Objective Five We will work together to actively support staff in the engagement and publication of health research. We will work collaboratively to assist in the development of workforce planning and strategies that will help to address Tasmania’s future health workforce needs. •Social Capital and Health in Rural Communities Primary Health Care Scholarship – 3 research projects focused on primary health in rural Tasmania. •Conjoint Appointment Policy and Procedure – Redeveloped Policy and procedure to govern the appointment of conjoint appointees. •Conjoint Appointees Contribution – Conjoint Appointees between DHHS and UTAS are continually contributing to health research, teaching and practice in both UTAS and DHHS. •Graduate Nurse Transition Project – creating a supportive environment for Graduate nurses. It builds upon the knowledge and skills already gained at University to further develop graduates’ confidence and competence to practice in the health care environment. • PiH Program Management Approach - Based on Tasmania Government Project Management Guidelines, this framework provides a process for all PiH Projects. 2. Strategic Objective Two We will continue to work together to develop an educated, trained and skilled health workforce to meet the needs of the Tasmanian Health Sector. •Environmental Health Education Project - development of a new course offered by the School of Human Life Sciences - Bachelor of Health Science (Environmental Health). •Clinical Psychology Placements Project - exploring options for the development of an agreement between UTAS and DHHS for students seeking postgraduate clinical psychology placements in DHHS. •Paramedic Education Project - the development of pre-employment paramedic and related higher education programs in Tasmania. •Physiotherapy Workforce Education Project – exploring the opportunities for physiotherapy education in Tasmania. Oral Health Workforce Education Project – working together to provide innovative and integrated dental and oral health education in Tasmania. 4. Strategic Objective Four We will work together to assist in the development and evaluation of Tasmanian’s new health services and systems. 6. Strategic Objective Six We will work together to actively communicate the work of PiH to staff, key stakeholders and the wider community. •c u @ home Young Parent Nurse Home Visiting Program – evaluation of the effectiveness of a new service. •PR and Communications Project – communicating to staff in both agencies and other stakeholders. •Primary Health Clinical Education Centre – a project to develop Clarence ICC as an Education Centre. •Website Re-development – www.partnersinhealth.utas.edu.au •New PiH Graphic. •Primary Health Chronic Disease Demonstration Service Project – evaluation of a new chronic disease service in the North of Tasmania. •PiH Media Protocol – governs media relations between the two agencies. Debbie Schofield-Gavin Project Consultant Statewide System Development Department of Health & Human Services deborah.schofieldgavin@dhhs.tas.gov.au