While value-based health care (VBHC) is transforming Australia's health system, with its focus on patient-centred care and outcomes, it cannot transform Australia's health without policy action to address the social determinants of health. Australia is moving towards a wellbeing economy, but governments have not been explicit in the methods by which the health system will contribute to the development of a wellbeing economy at a macro level. It is also unclear how governments will ensure that approaches to valuing wellbeing will complement current health care innovations in defining and evaluating value in relation to health outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective This study explored approaches of government policymakers to health policy evaluation (HPE) in Australian rural and remote settings. Methods Semi-structured interviews captured experiences and insights of 25 policymakers in the Northern Territory Department of Health. Data were thematically analysed using an inductive approach to coding and theme development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Health systems are complex and continually changing across a variety of contexts and health service levels. The capacities needed by health managers and leaders to respond to current and emerging issues are not yet well understood. Studies to date have been country-specific and have not integrated different international and multi-level insights.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Public health education strives to transform and empower students to engage in policy and practice improvement. However, little is known of the nature of such change among students, especially when studying Aboriginal health and wellbeing, which may involve disrupting long held assumptions and prejudices. This article reports findings regarding the feasibility, specificity and sensitivity of the Growth and Empowerment Measure (GEM) in the evaluation of two innovative Australian 13-week postgraduate public health electives focused on Aboriginal health and wellbeing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Globally, health service leaders and managers have a critical role in strengthening health systems. Competency frameworks for health service managers are usually designed to describe expectations of good performance of a health manager within a country-specific health sector context. However, a growing number of health service management roles operate beyond a country-specific level, with managers requiring a global perspective and the skills and knowledge to work effectively across a range of countries and contexts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Master of Health Administration program at UNSW was extensively revised in 2006 to ensure that it effectively meets the challenging and dynamic environment of health service managers in local and global health contexts. This paper describes the innovative approach to the redesign of the health management program within the Faculty of Medicine. It outlines the method and considerations undertaken, particularly in identifying and embedding new graduate capabilities within the program.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF