The demonstration projects were funded through the Commonwealth’s Rural Health Multi-Disciplinary Training Program and designed to strengthen Work Integrated Learning opportunities for health students in Tasmania and in turn, drive workforce expansion and health improvements in the community. The overarching objective of the two sites (New Norfolk and East Devonport) is to support the expansion of rural training opportunities based on a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) model, for health students in Tasmania and in turn, drive workforce development, and improve health care delivery, and health outcomes in the community. The sites were selected based on an assessment of rural health needs and proximity to areas of greater rurality.
The evaluation was conducted in two distinct phases:
The evaluation found that there were high levels of support for the vision of the demonstration sites. All stakeholders engaged with the evaluation considered that demonstration sites had potential to deliver longer term benefits in terms of improved health and wellbeing of their rural communities. The demonstration sites were found to have established a presence at both locations and completed formative stakeholder engagement activities.
Recommendations were made to further support implementation and future impact. An outcomes evaluation framework will allow the program to measure impact, acknowledging that while these demonstration sites have the intention of supporting improved outcomes for their respective populations, the influences on population health outcomes are multi-factorial and complex.
I want to commend your team on a comprehensive report. It will really set us up for the next couple of years.
We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the Country on which we live, work and play and honour their connection to Country and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
