Less is more: consolidating and targeting health promotion efforts to improve health outcomes in rural Victoria — Agentur Pty Ltd
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  3. Less is more: consolidating and targeting health promotion efforts to improve health outcomes in rural Victoria

Less is more: consolidating and targeting health promotion efforts to improve health outcomes in rural Victoria (19)

Rebecca Murphy 1 , Nicole Dalle Nogare 2 , Renata Spiller 2 , Jay McGough 3
  1. Lower Hume Primary Care Partnership, Seymour, VIC, Australia
  2. Goulburn Valley Primary Care Partnership, Shepparton, VIC, Australia
  3. Upper Hume Primary Care Partnership, Wodonga, VIC, Australia

Background: Primary Care Partnerships (PCP), a Victorian State funded framework, support organisations to deliver the Integrated Health Promotion (IHP) program. A 2009 Hume region audit encompassing four PCP catchments identified 13 priorities across 62 IHP plans, a lack of integrated planning between organisations, and limited activities targeted to the most disadvantaged population groups.

Methods: The Hume Region Health Promotion Strategy (HRHPS) was developed in 2012 to consolidate resources through the identification of a single priority for the region. The strategy aimed to embed a strong focus on vulnerable population groups when planning and selecting interventions. PCP staff provided leadership, using decision making tools to guide organisations and facilitate the process of developing catchment plans.

Results/Discussions: Introduction of the HRHPS reduced the number of IHP plans from 62 to four, reflecting a single health promotion priority across four PCP catchments. The coordinated planning process led to development of IHP plans that reflect a focus on the most disadvantaged population groups. Core principles of reducing social inequities and injustice were regularly emphasised in planning workshops. Key indicators reflected through use of equity checklists and decision making tools guided selection of priorities and interventions. A regional partnership planning approach across PCP catchments strengthened organisational ability to adopt a ‘big picture’ understanding of the health promotion sector, generating inter-organisational goodwill and improved resourcing across a large rural region.

Conclusions/implications: This strategic approach to health promotion has been a strong catalyst for regional consolidation of resources, improved planning processes, and focus on evidence based practice. This presentation identifies leadership capacity of PCPs to strengthen and facilitate a targeted approach to health promotion in a rural context, and one which contributes to broader discussions on promoting health equity through partnerships.

#equity14