RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS DRIVING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE
Our commitment to evidence-based practice helps ensure high quality care . We actively partner with other organisations in research and evaluation to improve our services , operations and contribute to sector-knowledge .
This year included two major projects :
We partnered with Swinburne University of Technology , Bendigo Community Health Services , Connect Health and Community , Peninsula Health and Star Health in Australianfirst research to improve health outcomes for people in social houses .
Together , we undertook real-time research into the lived experiences of social housing residents and managers during the pandemic , as part of the Victorian Government ’ s High-Risk Accommodation Response ( HRAR ).
The resulting report Actions to address health literacy and equity in social housing , Victoria ’ provides unabashed insight to the challenges many vulnerable Victorians faced and eight recommendations for government and health services to improve health literacy and equity for residents .
The research has already improved outcomes for many .
We also partnered with Murdoch Children ’ s Research Institute to evaluate the Family Foundations program , including outcomes for family health , wellbeing , relationships and parenting . The findings reported in The Journal of Family Studies showed positive results and support for telehealth delivery .
Further research will assess the longer-term outcomes for families , comparing the different service delivery models ( telehealth , home-based and group based ).
INTERPRETER SUPPORT FOR OUR DIVERSE CLIENTS
To better service our diverse clients we provide interpreter services , with options for phone , face-to-face or video support . This helps ensure our services are culturally responsive and meet individual needs .
See more page 53 .
“ Collaborative problem-solving is one of the more effective ways to tackle our big social issues .
This research provides eight tangible actions for us to rethink and reimagine how we actively engage and communicate with community to reduce healthcare inequity .”
– Chief Operating Officer , Nessá Wright
Residents and artwork by health worker participants in the HRAR research project
MERRI HEALTH / ANNUAL REPORT 2022
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