A shared vision for health in Western Victoria
WVPHN and Deakin have a shared interest in improving the health outcomes and health experience of the people of Western Victoria. Much of the partnership’s work is aimed at keeping people out of hospital and well in the community.
This successful partnership model focuses on developing and evaluating innovative models of care to reduce avoidable emergency department presentations, strengthening chronic disease prevention and management, and building research and education capacity to improve primary care delivery.
It has strengthened research capacity within WVPHN, is enabling innovative responses to the health and wellbeing challenges faced in Western Victoria, and is ensuring research is grounded in practice and local need.
Driving change through embedded research
The partnership has secured over $5 million in research funding, focused on generating evidence to support primary care research and capacity building. Deakin embedded researchers including student researchers are contributing across multiple areas, including data analysis, cardiovascular disease prevention, ADHD research and models of care that deliver effective and cost-effective primary care.
WVPHN Senior Manager Health Analytics and Research, Jamie Swann, says the partnership is helping to address a number of complex health issues, including those linked to the remoteness of health services in Western Victoria and an ageing population often beset by chronic conditions.
He says the ability to form direct connections between primary health networks and the broader academic community has been “the greatest impact” of the Network’s collaboration with Deakin University.
“It means that research is more informed by on-the-ground knowledge,” Mr Swann says. “The partnership exemplifies how academic institutions and healthcare providers can collaborate to address complex health challenges. By combining research, data analytics, and practical implementation, it serves as a model for integrated healthcare, particularly in rural and regional settings.”
Research projects with real world impact
A further key example of this shared commitment to improving healthcare outcomes is an evaluation conducted by the Institute for Health Transformation (IHT) into the effectiveness of Priority Primary Care Centres in Ballarat, Geelong and Warrnambool.
Led by Professor Suzanne Robinson, the Director of Deakin Health Economics at IHT and Andrew Giddy, Executive Director Strategy and Engagement from WVPHN, the ongoing academic evaluation aims to measure the centres’ effectiveness in reducing emergency department wait times, as well as improving the timeliness and quality of patient care.
“The direct partnership with IHT is a crucial tool for the Network as it works to transform the efficacy of its health systems”, says Andrew Giddy.
“These are the sort of partners you need,” he says. “You need the evidence base to make the changes, but you also need to partner, so that you can actually do the translation on the ground. That’s where the magic happens.”
The partnership also fosters hands-on learning and research opportunities for students. Postgraduate students from Deakin Health Economics can take a placement with WVPHN, gaining practical experience whilst offering research support around real-world problems.
These student projects are increasingly diverse, reflecting the breadth of healthcare challenges in the region. Recent initiatives include a scoping review of value-based care and alternate payment models in general practice, evaluation of the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic, and investigations into improving disability care and support in primary and community settings. Further projects have explored WVPHN’s role in supporting best practice for people with a disability and the drivers of effective chronic condition service delivery.
The arrangement brings both organisations even closer together, believes Deakin placement student Srishti Antil. “One of the reasons to do the placement with Western Victoria Public Health Network is that they are looking for amalgamation for health economics as well as for the researchers, in order to have a great impact on the healthcare system,” she says.
Driven by people, united by purpose
Prof. Robinson says the backbone of the successful partnership is its people. “Partnerships are about people, not about buildings, and we’ve had the right people in this partnership,” she says.
“Lots of energy and enthusiasm, and this shared vision of wanting to improve the population health, focus on equity, and care for some of our most vulnerable groups across Western Victoria.”
