Practice Partners Program

The Practice Partners Program is a Health Issues Centre funding and support intitiative that allows us to support innovation in consumer-centred health care.

Health services can improve the quality of their care by ensuring that i) the voice of consumers is actively involved in improving health care pathways, and ii) consumers participate with confidence in the management of their health. The Practice Partners Program aims to stimulate thinking, explore new possibilities and implement innovative new ways for consumers to have highly valued and meaningful roles in improving health outcomes. 

Through the program the Health Issues Centre partners with heath services to deliver innovative projects allowing the voice of consumers to improve health service delivery and outcomes. This involves HIC working with health-related organisations on consumer engagement projects though provision of:

• In-kind contributions of HIC staff expertise and support
• Funding (grant) for the project

Grants will be up to a total value of $12,000. 

Applications are open once per year, with the next round of applications to be opened for the 2019 round.

What are the key criteria?

• Consumer involvement in project design, governance and implementation
• New and innovative
• Scalable and replicable
• A commitment to sharing the project broadly across the sector
• Small, rural and regional services prioritised
• Projects featuring less-represented consumers will be prioritised

When are the next round of applications open?

The 2018 funding round is now closed, the next round will be opened in 2019.  

How do I apply?

Please refer to the application guidelines and download an application form.

Past recipients

2017 recipients

The recipients of the 2017 HIC Practice Partners Program grants were:

• Link Health and Community
  Overcoming the barriers limiting access to health services amongst the Rohingya refugee community
   
• Yarram and District Health
  Using video to help older patients access information about health care
   
• North Richmond Community Health
  ‘Conversations about Care’: A conference to share the health care experiences of North Richmond’s diverse community with health care professionals.

2016 recipients

The recipients of the inaugural 2016 Practice Partners Program grants were:

• Grampians Integrated Cancer Service
  Podcasts that provide newly diagnosed cancer patients with reliable, important and easily accessible information about cancer treatment.
   
• Kyabram District Health Service
  Using the CARE Model to engage and involve individuals, groups and communities who are often less represented
   
• Peter MacCallum Cancer Service
  Increasing the engagement of culturally diverse consumers with the Peter Mac Wellbeing Program
   
• Swan Hill District Health
  Learning from consumers: A video project to share experiences and improve service delivery

For more information

Please contact Health Issues Centre