Selection of Completed CHRP Projects
Click on the links below to view current CHRP projects in each of the priority research areas.
Community Development and Community Capactiy Building
Psycho-oncology and Palliative Care Approaches
Research to Enhance the Health and Welfare of Service Systems
Mental Health
Child and Adolescent Well Being and Development
Other
Community Development and Community Capacity Building
Recreational Alternatives To Gaming through a Community Partnerships Program
Project Title: Community Participation and Recreational Alternatives to Gaming in the Ballarat Area
Funding Organisation: Department of Human Services, Local Community Partnership Projects
Principal Investigators: Dr Andrew Cooper; Ms Deneale Skewes
Year Completed: 2006
Project Summary: The project was designed and initiated by the Ballarat Responsible Gambling Committee (BRGC). The BRGC was established seven years ago and during this time it has endeavored to bring together the diverse parties involved in gaming in the Ballarat area and maintain a constructive dialogue between all parties aiming to maximize responsible gaming practice in the community.
The project was funded by the Department of Human Services Local Community Partnership Projects Grant Scheme and was directed on behalf of BRGC by Dr Andrew Cooper and Deneale Skewes of the Centre of Health Research and Practice (CHRP).The project was supported by City of Ballarat and other BRGC members, including representatives from Gambler’s Help, Tabcorp, Tattersall’s and other local counseling and welfare services.
The overall goal of the project was to provide a primary information hub for people wanting to access information about healthy recreation alternatives in the Ballarat area. Centralised and easily accessible information can benefit both community members looking for activities in their area, and clubs and organisations looking to recruit new members. A particular focus of the project was on those most at risk for developing problem gambling behaviour; it was hoped they would benefit from reliable and accurate information on recreation alternatives in the Ballarat area. It is widely recognised that having a variety of recreation interests helps maintain physical and mental health, and increases sense of belonging in the community. In relation to gambling, it is expected that those individuals with a healthier balance of recreation interests will be less likely to engage in problem gambling behaviour.
The project was officially launched on June 21, 2006.The project was carried out by project officer Deneale Skewes and centered on the formation of a community based website (www.activities4me.com). The website was designed to act as a hub for information on recreation alternatives in the Ballarat area and provide some basic information on gambling help services. The website contained an extensive range of links to other websites and organizations that covered a large range of accessible recreation options within the local area.
In addition to development of the website itself, a community advertisement campaign was designed. The website was advertised within local gaming venues and a select number of other community venues. The advertising material included flyers, posters and drink coasters. These materials promoted positive health messages about the importance of community involvement and belonging. The promotion of physical and mental health benefits was designed to be a key feature of the project.
Evaluation of the project involved collection of basic website traffic information and uptake of advertising information within venues, as well as qualitative and quantitative feedback from relevant community stakeholders. The project evaluation is currently being finalised, however preliminary data and feedback indicate positive endorsement of the project by Gambler’s Help and gaming industry representatives, as well as other stakeholders. The data also suggest improvements for the provision of recreation information in the Ballarat area that could be implemented in the future.
Psycho-oncology and Palliative Care Approaches
Psychosocial Supports for Cancer Patients in the Grampians Region
Project Title: An investigation of the psychosocial support services and needs of cancer patients residing in the Grampians region.
Funding Organisation: Grampians Integrated Cancer Services
Principal Investigator: Dr Suzanne McLaren
Student Investigator: Ms Denise Corboy (Master by Research student)
Project Status: Completed in 2008
 Final Report to Grampians Integrated Cancer Service
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Research to Enhance the Health and Welfare of Service Systems
On-Line GP Mental Health Care Plan Support Tool
Project Title: Pathways to Mental Health Care Project.
Funding Organisation: Ballarat and District Division of General Practice
Principal Investigators: Associate Prof John McDonald; Ms Alison Ollerenshaw; Mr Andrew MacLeod
Project Summary: CHRP is currently undertaking the Pathways to Mental Health Care project which has been funded Federally by the Dept of Health and Ageing through the Ballarat and District Divison of General Practice (BDDGP). The project is assisting the implementation of the new Better Access to Mental Health Care (BAMHC) program within the Ballarat region by developing, piloting and launching an on-line GP Mental Health Care Plan support tool. This support tool assists GP’s decision making in the treatment, management and referral process for patients presenting with mental health issues.
Two key tasks associated with this project have been the collation of relevant mental health content and the construction of a local, on-line resource for GPs hosted through the BDDGP website. The support tool contains detailed information about the Better Access to Mental Health Care program and provides GPs access to a service directory of local psychiatrists and allied mental health care professionals from across the region. Currently, the directory contains a listing of over 70 psychiatrists and allied mental health care providers. Another unique feature of this on-line resource has been the development of the actual decision support component of the tool. This provides GPs with the option of accessing a sequential, 7-step support tool that can assist them in making decisions and accessing appropriate resources and assessment procedures in the early intervention and management of patients with a mental health disorder
This project has provided an opportunity to work closely with the Ballarat and District Division of General Practice, as well as across Centre’s, within the University. The Centre for Electronic Communication and Commerce (CECC) has also been closely involved in this project and has provided considerable expertise and support with all aspects of the on-line resource, including the support tool and service directory.
Construction of the new on-line resource is now complete and was recently piloted at the Ballarat & District Division of General Practice with a group of local GPs. At this session GPs freely navigated the on-line resource and were asked to comment on the support tool and the usefulness of the local service directory. The feedback from GPs was very positive, and importantly, provided the project team (comprising John McDonald, Director, and Alison Ollerenshaw, Research Officer with CHRP, and Andrew MacLeod, Technical Manager, CECC) with valuable feedback about the convenience and ‘user-friendliness’ of the resource. This has since prompted a few minor changes to the on-line resource which is evident in its final presentation. The tool was launched in December 2007 and can be accessed via the Ballarat and District Division of General Practice website.
Wimmera Evaluation Project
Project Title: Evaluating the 'Managing Rural Change' Project
Funding Organisation: Wimmera Uniting Care
Investigators: Dr Suzanne Blume; Dr Lynne Gleeson
Year Completed: 2007
Mental Health
Ride.Life Mountainboarding Program for Rural Adolescent Males
Project Title: Ride.Life Mountainboarding Program for Rural Youth
Funding Organisation: Windermere Foundation
Principal Investigator: Dr Candice Boyd
Project Summary: Suicide rates among rural adolescent males in Australia are high and increasing, yet stoic attitudes and fear of social stigma prevent these young men from engaging in traditional mental health programs. Sense of belonging to a community offers protection against depression; however, rural adolescents with mental health issues often feel isolated, lonely and socially excluded. This project aims to engage at-risk rural youth who would otherwise not seek help in an innovative program which will link them to a broader sporting community. The project also aims to strengthen leaders of this community to act as mentors for these young people.
Child and Adolescent Well Being and Development
Evaluation of New CAST School Project
Project Title: Evaluation of the CAMHS 'Cool At School Together' (CAST) project in the Central Highlands Region.
Funding Organisation: Department of Human Service, Mental Health Branch
Investigators: Ms Denise Corboy; Associate Prof John McDonald
Year Completed: 2006
Project Summary: An external process evaluation of the CAST (CAMHS and Schools Together or Cool at School Together) program in the first twelve months of implementation in Victorian primary schools was conducted. The aims of the evaluation were to focus on the implementation of the project, the success of collaborative relationships established, and to consider and make recommendations regarding the transferability and sustainability of the service model.
Semi-structured individual and group interviews were conducted at the 14 primary schools that ran CAST during 2005. The sample of sixty school personnel interviewed included Principals, Assistant Principals, Primary Welfare Officers and Junior Years teachers.
Qualitative data generated by the interviews was thematically analysed, revealing 5 key themes: high satisfaction with CASEA personnel and resources; challenges with in-school communication, support and classroom follow-up; varied levels of parental engagement; benefits to participants, teachers and their classrooms; and the need for ongoing support from CAMHS.
The CAST program was well received by an overwhelming majority of schools interviewed. It was effectively implemented in most schools, and the collaboration between the schools and CAMHS was rated as successful. Recommendations for transferability and sustainability of the CAST program centred on CAMHS providing ongoing support for schools to run the program, improved inter-agency and inter-school communication, and improved internal school support for in-school co-facilitators and teachers. All schools interviewed were eager to capitalise on the opportunity CAST presented for successful collaboration, and with ongoing support and some modifications, will continue to run the program in some form in the future.
Review of Student Needs in Catholic Schools in the Ballarat Diocese
Project Title: Review of Services to Meet the Health, Welfare and Educational Needs of Students in the Ballarat Diocese.
Funding Organisation: Catholic Education Office, Ballarat
Investigators: Associate Prof John McDonald; Ms Alison Ollerenshaw
Year Completed: 2005
Project Summary: The Centre for Health Research and Practice was commissioned by the Catholic Education Office (Diocese of Ballarat) to review the current model of Student Services to meet the health, welfare and educational needs of primary and secondary school students across the Diocese. This review was largely instigated by a recommendation in the 2005 Action Plan to review Student Services programs in light of the welfare needs of students attending Catholic Schools in Victoria.
Conducted over a four month period in 2005 (July – November), the review (a) reviewed evidence from previously published reports, literature and research, (b) analysed the extant database of referrals to Student Services maintained by the Catholic Education Office (Diocese of Ballarat) and (c) consulted with key stakeholders from the Catholic Education Office (including Student Services staff, school principals, special needs coordinators, secondary welfare coordinators, personnel from the Catholic Education Office Melbourne) and other service agencies.
Some of the key findings of this review are:
- Across the Diocese of Ballarat, there has been an escalation in the number of students requiring services, and a marked rise in those who are presenting with complex and significant needs. These needs span across the health, welfare and educational domains.
- Families, too, are under increasing pressure. Many more are looking to schools – particularly primary schools – for assistance.
- The number of referrals to Student Services continues to rise.
- School are reporting high levels of stress among staff as they struggle to cope with burgeoning demands.
- There are some exemplary practices, programs and structures in place at individual schools. Student Services have been instrumental in helping to set these up.
Other
Evaluation of Adult Day Centre Programs
Project Title: Project Evaluation of Ballarat Health Services Adult Day Centres
Funding Organisation: Ballarat Health Services
Investigator: Dr Angela Murphy
Year Completed: 2006
Project Summary: Throughout December 2005 and January and February 2006 the Centre for Health Research and Practice at the University of Ballarat conducted an external evaluation of four Adult Day Centre Programs run as part of the Community Programs portfolio of Ballarat Health Services. The study involved a number of requirements including the need to:
- review the literature evidence around program development and delivery for adult day services;
- review organisational, management and program processes and their impact on service delivery;
- assess levels of user satisfaction while identifying factors promoting and inhibiting program outcomes; and,
- determine potential developmental targets for the programs into the future.
Data collection involved: interviews and focus groups with 74 participants comprising 4 Management staff, 23 Day Centre staff, 23 carers, 19 clients and 5 volunteers; distribution of a written survey to all agencies referring to the Day Centres and/or who worked with clients utilising Day Centre services; analysis of program documentation across all Ballarat Health Services Day Program areas; and, participant observation.
The literature review process identified a number of key themes relevant to the study. While there is a paucity of empirical work or systematic reviews relating to programmatic processes specific to day centres, a significant body of evidence is available identifying that:
- Social support of the type that is available through day centres has a significant impact on achieving improved physical health, decreasing mental health problems and delaying admission to nursing home care.
- Day programs play a significant role in maximising the capacity of caregivers to maintain care-giving support for extended periods, managing difficult situations and maintaining better physical and mental health during the care-giving process.
Additionally, valuable insights were gained in relation to potential programmatic responses for older people with dementia and the knowledge gained provided the basis for comparisons between the literature and service delivery at each of the four Ballarat Health Services Day Centres.
The data analysis, when reviewed against the literature, found that the Ballarat Health Services Adult Day Services program provides important and valuable services across the aged and disability sector. While there are a number of operational issues that need to be addressed to maximise the effectiveness of service delivery, service provision through the centres has notable benefits in the areas of physical and cognitive health and well being, delayed admission to residential care, social support, dementia care support to clients and caregivers and, ultimately, the overall quality of life of many service users.
Moorabool Shire Project: Stage 1 - Local Area Planning
Project Title: Identifying the health needs of the residents of the Moorabool Shire, and mapping the health services provided in the Moorabool Shire.
Funding Organisation: Department of Human Services & Moorabool Shire Council
Principal Investigators: Dr Bev Blaskett; Mr Craig Marshall; Associate Prof John McDonald; Ms Alison Ollerenshaw
Year Completed: 2006
Project Summary: The Centre for Health Research and Practice undertook a comprehensive analysis of the demographics, health and welfare service system and priority health needs for the Moorabool Shire. The project was completed in the second half of 2006 and was officially launched in April 2007. The final report will be used for major strategic redevelopment of services in the municipality.
Moorabool Local Area Planning Report
Evaluating a Strengthening Communities Program
Project Title: Strengthening Generations Project Evaluation
Funding Organisation: City of Ballarat
Investigators: Dr Angela Murphy
Year Completed: 2006
Project Summary: Throughout November and December 2005 and January, February 2006, the Centre for Health Research and Practice conducted an external review of the first three years of the Strengthening Generations: Ballarat Communities that Care® project. Commissioned by the Strengthening Generations CORE (Key Leaders) Group, the evaluation was shaped by a clear Project Brief which established the purposes of the process as being:
- In accordance with the agency funding agreement, to undertake a process and impact evaluation of the Strengthening Generations program to date; and
- To assist the CORE Team and Community Action Teams with identifying future initiatives and funding opportunities for the next stages of the Strengthening Generations Ballarat Communities that Care program.
A third purpose was to utilise the evaluation report to promote the progress and achievements of the program.
Data collection involved: interviews and focus groups conducted with 53 Strengthening Generations Project stakeholders comprising 9 CORE group representatives, the Strengthening Generations Project Coordinator, 23 representatives from the Sebastopol/Delacombe community and Action Teams and 10 from Wendouree; the development and distribution of a written survey to all interview and focus group participants; and, analysis of program documentation to map project development and key issues relevant to project implementation
The focus of analysis was on the extent to which the project had achieved funded outcomes in the three years since project establishment, the issues arising from project implementation and the potential for sustainable community strengthening benefits that had arisen as a direct result of delivery of the Strengthening Generations Project in the communities of Wendouree and Sebastopol/Delacombe. Insights gained during the course of the evaluation were assessed as having the potential for transferability in informing extension, at a National level, of the model into the future. The evaluation identified a number of specific outcomes related to competency development and community connection, building an evidence-based for decreasing risk and increasing protective factors, networking and service integration.
The Project was found to have achieved a number of long term sustainable community strengthening benefits through a number of key initiatives including:
- The commitment of the City of Ballarat to fund the project coordination of the Strengthening Generations Project on an ongoing
basis.
- The adoption of an annual recreational out of school hours program available to young people throughout the Ballarat area.
- The completion of the Connecting Wendouree Arts project.
- The establishment of the Delacombe Community House.
- The completion and documentation of the Community Resource and Strengths Collection.
- Undertaking the Health and Well being surveys with the Centre for Adolescent Health involving 1300 students from Wendouree and Sebastopol/Delacombe.
- The development and distribution of Community Prevention Plans identifying risk and protective factors, and localised responses, across the Wendouree and Sebastopol/Delacombe communities.
- The selection of localised and externally evaluated programs for delivery over an extended timeframe.
- Extensive networking at the inter-agency, inter-sectoral and community levels.
- The beginning of service integration and planning to incorporate evidence gathered through the Strengthening Generations Project.
- The funding of the Delacombe Community Renewal Project
While additional funding is needed to maximise the ability of the project to implement all strategies set out in the Community Prevention Plans, the community mobilisation, evidence-based data collection and service system networking that has occurred as part of the project development has ensured that the project has the capacity to continue into the future.
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Preparing Health Professionals for Practice: Pedagogical Innovation
Hand Hygiene Practices in Hospital
Project Title: An investigation of Hand Hygiene Practices of Nursing, Non-Nursing and Medical Staff at a Regional Hospital.
Principal Investigator: Associate Prof Cecil Deans
Year Completed: 2006
Project Summary: In August 2004 a regional Australian hospital implemented new guidelines that advise the use of alcohol-based hand-rubs and hand hygiene to protect patients against cross infection in all health care settings. The new hygiene guidelines are part of an overall strategy to reduce cross infections and to promote patient safety. The guidelines mandate how hand hygiene is to be performed. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the implementation of the new hand hygiene Guidelines in a regional hospital setting.
The first stage of the study involved observing medical, nursing and non-medical [food and domestic services] staff performing hand hygiene before and after contact with a patient in four selected clinical areas. The observational stage was followed by a survey conducted on staff throughout the hospital. The survey was designed to identify and describe several key issues pertaining to hand hygiene among staff. It examined issues such as access to policies and information on hand hygiene, knowledge of effective hand hygiene practices, perceived compliance levels with effective hand hygiene and barriers to performing effective hand hygiene.
Overall, the study found that staff compliance with effective hand hygiene practices is not satisfactory with a significant number of staff, including medical, nursing and non-medical staff failing to understand the importance of good hand hygiene. Staff reported that they had insufficient knowledge about hand hygiene procedures. A number of barriers were identified including lack of time, lack of resources, insufficient knowledge and skin sensitivity among the most important ones. As a consequence of the study, and following the introduction of a new government hand hygiene program (implemented prior to completion of the study), significant changes for improved hand hygiene and infection control have been implemented in the hospital in which the study was conducted.
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