Early childhood service development and intersectoral collaboration in rural Australia
Susan JohnsUniversity Department of Rural Health, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1372, Launceston, Tas. 7250, Australia. Email: susan.johns@utas.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 16(1) 40-46 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY09050
Published: 17 March 2010
Abstract
There is a paucity of research into the development of intersectoral collaborations designed to support early childhood development in rural communities. Drawing on findings from a qualitative study conducted in three small rural communities in Tasmania, this paper will examine community-based intersectoral collaborations involving government and non-government organisations from the health and allied health, education and community service sectors. The paper analyses the process of developing intersectoral collaborations from the perspective of early childhood health and wellbeing. The specific focus is on collaborations that build family and community capacity. Findings indicate that three groups of factors operate interdependently to influence collaborations: social capital, leadership and environmental factors. Each community has different leadership sources, structures and processes, shaped by levels of community social capital, and by environmental factors such as policy and resources. Effective models of early childhood development require strong local and external leadership. Rural communities that are able to identify and harness the skills, knowledge and resources of internal and external leaders are well positioned to take greater ownership of their own health and wellbeing. The paper provides guidelines for developing and enhancing the capacity of rural communities at different stages of collaborative readiness.
Additional keywords: leadership, social capital.
Acknowledgements
This PhD research was supported by a Partners in Health scholarship, which is jointly funded by the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services, and the Faculty of Health Science at the University of Tasmania. The researcher would like to acknowledge support provided by her supervisors, Professor Sue Kilpatrick, Pro Vice Chancellor Rural and Regional, Deakin University, and Professor Joan Abbott-Chapman, Faculty of Education, University of Tasmania. The paper is based on an earlier presentation titled ‘The ABC of primary health care collaborations in rural Australia’ at the GP & PHC conference, Melbourne, Australia, 15–17 July 2009.
Edwards R,
Jumper-Thurman P,
Plested B,
Oetting E, Swanson L
(2000) Community readiness: research to practice. Journal of Community Psychology 28(3), 291–307.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[Verified 24 February 2010]
Nelson RF
(2005) The impact of ready environments on achievement in Kindergarten. Journal of Research in Childhood Education 19(3), 215–221.
[Verified 15 April 2009]
Woolcock M, Narayan D
(2000) Social capital: implications for development theory, research, and policy. The World Bank Research Observer 15(2), 225–249.
