Population Health and Strategic Direction

Centre for Population Health - Projects

Workforce Development

Rationale

“Workforce development refers to a process initiated within organisations and communities, in response to the identified strategic priorities of the system, to help ensure that the people working within these systems have the abilities and commitment to contribute to organisational and community goals.”

Workforce development therefore builds the capacity of the workforce to deliver population health by
a) improving ability through skills development and by
b) developing commitment through supportive environment strategies such as mentoring and management support through performance development.
As staff capacity to promote health improves, the quality and quantity of health promotion outcomes increases exponentially.
The work of improving health outcomes and reducing health inequities requires a collaborative approach and therefore a wide range of health staff and health funded non government organisations need to be provided with opportunities to build their capacity in population health.
NSW Health circular no: 82/139 clearly articulates a financial commitment to Health Promotion Workforce Development in 3. 3.3.
Other Evidence based documents:
- Core Skills in Health Promotion Outcome Evaluation Study, Final Evaluation Report December,1999, Heather Yeatman, Trish Nove & Michelle Irving, WSAHS
- Evaluation of Workforce Development Support Strategies, (Presentation) Trish Nove, Kirsti Brennan, WSAHS, 2001
- Capacity Building Education Dissemination Project, CBED, Working Party Final Report,July, 2002, WSAHS, Centre for Public Health.
- Reorienting health services with capacity building: a case study of the Core Skills in Health Promotion Project, H.R. Yeatman and T. Nove, Health Promotion International, Vol. 17. No.4

Strategies

Calendar of learning opportunities twice yearly
Integrate Workforce Development strategies into all population health strategic plans
Lunch time seminars/site kits maintained/orientation guide revamped
Respond to state wide initiatives at the local level and profile the work of SWAHS
Maintain Population Health Workforce Development Group
Support Aboriginal Workforce undertaking Population Health
Implement, monitor & evaluate a framework for performance development
Establish a population health mentoring program
Coordinate a Health Promotion seeding grants program
Co-ordinate the Area Health Promotion Network
Develop and maintain partnership with University of Western Sydney
Develop & maintain the Centre for Population Health orientation package and program
Maintain the Operational Guide to Quality practice to an up-to-date level
Integrate Evidence based Practice into all programs work using protocols and guidelines integrated into planning proformas
Assist staff with familiarity of Equity in health and an Equity approach within their work

Workforce Development Outcomes: Case Studies of Health Promotion Practice

An annual presentation day is held to profile the health promotion practice of staff involved in the Workforce Development Program. This is not only educational for staff in general but provides positive feedback to managers and team leaders encouraging their support for staff professional development – a public health advocacy strategy. Links are available to Project details, presentations and contacts. An overview of the following programs which have been developed through either the Seeding Grant or VETAB accredited Course in Health Promotion Programs. These can be accessed via links to their titles

Seeding Grant Projects

2004

Aboriginal Safety Promotion program – this project is a Workforce Development Pilot Project to help build the capacity of both indigenous and non - indigenous workers to work with the community to address safety needs in the Blacktown LGA.

Aboriginal Environmental Tobacco Smoke, ETS, Program – this is a project to address the community’s needs in SWAHS, around ETS, specifically in relation to children.

Mental Health Nutrition Project – this project aims to improve the nutritional status of multicultural health clients accessing the mental health rehabilitation services. It also aims to create sustainability by embedding the program within SWAHS, mental health rehabilitation services.

Arabic Men’s Support Project – this project aims to improve the capacity of Arabic men in SWAHS to access appropriate services and improve their health and well- being.

2003

Alternative Parenting Project - this project was set up to meet the parenting and family needs of the Pacific Island community in the Blacktown LGA and was conducted as a partnership between members of the community, the Centre for Public Health and staff from both the Doonside and Mt. Druitt Primary Care Teams.

Indigenous Prevenar Promotion Project - this is a collaborative project between Aboriginal Health workers and the Centre for Public Health through the Aboriginal Health Partnership, (old WAHS area, old WSAHS area and Daruk), to encourage the uptake of immunisation for protection against pneumococcal disease.

Sexual Health/Needle Syringe Program Project - this project is a partnership between Sexual Health Promotion and the Needle Syringe Program in the Parramatta LGA, to improve access to sexual health services for all those attending the Needle Syringe Program.

Aboriginal Staff Mentoring Project - this project aims to establish a mentor program for Aboriginal staff to enable them to feel more confident in working with and for their community in WSAHS.

Community Rehabilitation Services Exercise Project - this project aims to explore the extent of the relationship between physical activity and mental health, through the provision of an exercise program for those accessing their rehabilitation services.

2002

Hills Community Health Centre Breastfeeding Project (Presentation) (Final Report)- a project conducted by early childhood nurses in collaboration with the Baulkham Hills Shire Council to encourage a baby , ( breastfeeding) friendly environment in the local community through incorporating provision for clean mother’s rooms in all new developments over a certain size.

Auburn Breastfeeding Project (Presentation)– a sustainable project aimed at promoting breastfeeding amongst the Chinese community in Auburn. This project is in Stage 2 and is now liaising with Council. Original Seeding Grant awarded in 1998.

Body Image program (Presentation) conducted at Doonside Technological High School by members of the Western Area Adolescent Team (WAAT) team at Mt. Druitt to improve self esteem, challenge myths for young women at the school.

Handling Violence project – a project for young people using circus skills to help young people build confidence and challenge negative peer pressure. This project was once again conducted by the WAAT team in Mt. Druitt.

Preventive Drug project – this project was conducted by staff at High Street Youth Service to provide a safe and supportive environment using policy and OH&S strategies, for all those attending the service.

Chinese Elderly Gardening project – this project was conducted by multicultural staff at the Hills CHC to improve physical and mental well being of older members of the Chinese community accessing the Centre, through the participatory development of a garden at the Centre.

Boys and Parents Project (Presentation) – this project was set up by members of Mt. Druitt’s Child and Family Team to assist young boys at risk to more effectively handle their aggression and develop self esteem and well being. The project was conducted in partnership with staff of the WAAT team, one of whom acted as the soccer coach.

Child Self Esteem Project – this project was conducted by staff from the Blacktown CHC to improve young children’s self esteem. It was an outreach project which involved staff attending shopping malls and other settings to access the young people.

Multicultural Men’s Health project (Presentation) – this project was conducted by multicultural staff from both Merrylands CHC and Mt. Druitt CHC to improve access to health services for men from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Gentle Exercise for Frail Elderly project – this project was set up to support frail elderly attending Blacktown Aged Respite Service in maintaining gentle exercise to prevent falls and maintain health and well-being. A gentle exercise tape is available in a number of languages besides English, on request.

Home Based Exercise program – this program is conducted from Willyama Cottage Aged Respite Service to support frail elderly in sustaining an exercise regime at home. A video and audio tape is also available.

Course in Health Promotion Project Examples

Cervical Screening for New Arrivals – a project conducted in partnership between NSW Cervical Screening Program and the Australian Centre for Language, to develop a cervical screening resource framed within the curriculum of Certificates of Spoken and Written English targeting new female arrivals.

Improve Access to Hills CHC by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Communities – a project conducted from the Hills CHC to effectively implement the principles of the EAPS project and develop a model that can be used across the Area.

TB Screening, Healthier Environment, Healthy Workplace – a project to enhance and protect Area staff health, through TB awareness raising and screening program.

Improve Quality of Life for Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service (BIRS) Clients – this project is conducted by staff of Westmead Hospital BIRS program to improve self esteem and well being of those accessing their service.

PH&SD