IFIC Australia

News and Blogs

In 2021, Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) participated in the IFIC Autumn School. Over the week, a group comprising SLHD staff, NSW Department of Communities and Justice Housing staff, non-government agencies, social housing tenants and other community members were tasked with designing an integrated care intervention to better support the health and wellbeing needs of residents of the Waterloo social housing estate, in inner Sydney NSW, and improve communication between services and residents.

The Waterloo Health and Wellbeing Peer Education Program

Workforce Development in Integrated Care a Global Perspective Recruitment invitation

Workforce Development in Integrated Care a Global Perspective Recruitment invitation

The twin challenges of last summer’s bushfires, swiftly followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, have exposed critical bottlenecks and vulnerabilities in the Australian health system

Value-based care: why it matters so much now

First, what is integrated mental health care- it is a mental health care system that should encompass clear and seamless care pathways that match the intensity and type of care with the severity and complexity of the illness that people experience over time. For most people living with mental illness in Australia these care pathways are often difficult to find and often unaffordable. Improving mental health care services has been a focus of the Bupa Health Foundation since its beginnings some 15 years ago.

Is integrated mental health care hard to achieve?

In June 2020, the International Journal of Integrated Care celebrated a further growth in its impact factor rating to 2.753 - it's highest rating to date. This reflects a growing level of citations for the Journal that have risen from 341 in 2012 to 1,245 in 2019.

Australian contributions a factor in boosting IJIC’s impact rating

Integrated care systems and communities provide greater resilience in adapting and coping with such urgent and complex problems. The COVID 19 pandemic may prove to be a catalyst in rethinking how health and care systems work in ways that better protect the vulnerable and are better prepared to cope with emerging systemic shocks.

Realising the Value of Integrated Care in Australia: Beyond COVID19

In October 2018 researchers and service providers met in Orange NSW to consider the challenges in addressing consistently poor mental health outcomes in rural and remote Australian communities. They concluded that rural mental health services are not working, despite increases in government funding.

The Orange Declaration

A ship without a compass? The case for a more intimate relationship between research, policy and practice to enable the more successful adoption of integrated care

The case for a more intimate relationship between research, policy and practice

Congratulations to Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) for taking out the Collaboration Award in the 2019 Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Sector Management. The ‘Creating Healthy Homes and Neighbourhoods’ initiative delivers cross-agency care coordination to ensure vulnerable families have their health and social needs met, and are connected to society.

Congratulations to Sydney Local Health District

From a global perspective the Australia health system is considered to be high quality, accessible and innovative delivering good patient outcomes.

Thinking global while acting local

I am delighted to be writing this blog as the new Chair of IFIC Australia and, in so doing, to pay tribute to our outgoing Chair – Peter McGeorge – for his commitment and enthusiasm over the past 2 years

A note from the Chair – Building New Opportunities for Integrated Care

A core objective of IFIC Australia is to help support the effective implementation of integrated care in policy and practice. The IFIC Australia initiative reflects the growing focus at State and Federal level on person-centred integrated care as a means to promote better value in the way health and care services are delivered

How to Take Integrated Care Forward in Australia

IFIC Australia welcomes its new consortium Partner, comprising Sydney LHD, South Eastern Sydney LHD and Central and Eastern Sydney PHN.

IFIC Australia welcomes Sydney consortium as Platinum partners

We all know that personal development takes time. It is a lifelong experience that allows us to incorporate new skills and qualities so that we can better face current and future challenges.

Building Community Nests

On June 4th 2019, IFIC met with the steering committee of the Transnational Forum on Integrated Community Care (TransForm) in Brussels.

Value Based Health Care: Setting the scene for Australia

On the 17th April 2019, Nick Goodwin hosted a seminar at the University of Newcastle’s Sydney Campus to examine the international evidence and experience in coordination of care to older people with complex needs in the home environment.

Coordinating care to older people at home: what works and how can we improve care delivery?

There are many innovations in integrated care ongoing in Australia and worldwide, but most often there is a lack of awareness or appreciation of these projects in how they have been designed and implemented and the impact they have made.

IFIC to Launch International Mapping Exercise of Innovations in Integrated Care

With regret this is my last newsletter as Chair of IFIC Australia, as I stepped down from the role at our last Partners meeting in April.

A final note from Peter McGeorge, Chairman of IFIC Australia

The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) is Australia’s national peak body for public and not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare providers.

Dr Nick Goodwin and Dr David Perkins write for Health Advocate Magazine April Edition

Integrated care is a well-established concept amongst health policy makers and system leaders in Australia. However it is still considered by many to be a means of improving outcomes and experience of care for older adult populations. Children and young people are often left out of the conversation.

Dr Dana Newcomb reflects on CHQ’s case studies

Integrated care is increasingly present in the priorities of Australia’s healthcare, from the work of our primary care services to the policy settings within government.

Health Justice Australia comes on board as a partner

Coordinated and integrated care is a critical part of a fit for purpose 21st century healthcare system that meets the 21st century needs and expectations of Australians. The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) has worked extensively with members and the broader health sector to articulate a vision for value-based, outcomes-focused and patient centred care,

IFIC Austalia are delighted to announce partnership with AHHA

When IFIC Australia was founded in November 2015, one of its core objectives was to provide a platform through which to develop and exchange ideas to advance science and knowledge in Australia and on an international stage.

IFIC sees significant growth in Australian academic output in 2018

Prof. Nick Goodwin, co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the International Foundation for Integrated Care, has accepted the appointment as Director of the Central Coast Research Institute (CCRI) that will be based within the Health and Wellbeing Precinct on the Gosford Hospital campus. Developed in partnership between the University of Newcastle and Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD),

Nick Goodwin to be appointed as Professor and Director of the Central Coast Research Institute

Led by IFIC Australia’s co-directors - Prof. David Perkins and Prof. Nick Goodwin - this round-table session is designed to bring together delegates from Australia and the Asia-Pacific to learn more about IFIC’s approach to developing collaborative centres and networking activities across the Region.

Taking forward Integrated Care in Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region

The Central Coast LHD is one of three demonstrator sites of the NSW Health Integrated Care Strategy that took place from July 2014 – June 2017

Formative Evaluation of the Central Coast LHD’s Integrated Care Programme

Hi all. The end of the year is approaching rapidly so it's time to reflect on how IFICA has progressed over the course of past months and to take a peek at what's planned for next year.

Work plan and events taking shape for 2019

In the inspiring landscape of Orange, at the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health of the University of Newcastle a group of integrated care enthusiasts gathered on Monday, 29 October, to start a week-long Accelerated Learning Course on “Designing and Implementing Integrated Care”.

The ICA© on the road: teaching integrated care design and implementation in rural New South Wales

On the 9th November, IFIC Australia hosted a symposium at NSW Parliament House examining international evidence and experience in the organisation, funding and evaluation of integrated care. Led by Dr Apostolos Tsiachristas (Oxford University), Dr Liz Schroeder (Macquarie University), and Dr Viktoria Stein (IFIC) the symposium explored trends and approaches in the organisation of care services to improve population health and sought to put the debate in the context of the Australian reality.

Organising Care at a Population Level: Reflections from the IFIC Australia Workshop at NSW Parliament House

The International Foundation for Integrated Care has developed global reach in the last few years and now boasts a network of approximately 19,000 individuals and organisations across more than 50 countries worldwide. This growth has been particularly strong in the Asia-Pacific region where IFIC has been undertaking conferences

Prof. Nick Goodwin visit’s Taiwan to sign a new knowledge partnership agreement with the IAIC

The Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy (MUCHE) is based in Sydney, Australia. It is a University led strategic initiative to undertake innovative research on health, ageing and human services.

Evaluating integrated care at Macquarie University’s Centre for the Health Economy (MUCHE)

Our CEO, Dr.Nick Goodwin, reflects on the prospects for the development of alliances in Australia following the Transformers 3 workshop programme held in Byron Bay and Coffs Harbour between 5th and 8th November 2018 in partnership with the Centre for Healthcare Knowledge and Innovation.

Promoting Better Value in Care Provision through Alliancing: Prospects for Australia

A joint Primary Care and Hospital Sector program for heightened care for high-risk patients through the 2017 influenza season in Northern NSW has led to ongoing refinement for 2018 and beyond.

Winter Strategy care for high risk patients; 2017 and beyond

Economic evaluation for integrated care is a peculiar task, perhaps not unlike tunnelling through spaghetti in a black hole, or aptly described by Tsiachristas et al as ‘a stairway suspended somewhere between heaven and hell’

The complex task of Health Economic Evaluation in Integrated Care in New South Wales

A number of families living in our community experience many barriers to accessing health and social care. The problems that these families face are highly complex, often spanning over generations, and cannot be addressed by one agency alone.

Healthy Homes and Neighbourhoods (HHAN) Integrated Care Initiative in Sydney

Greetings! The past quarter has been a time of steady progress in the development of IFIC Australia (IFICA). Following on from what was a highly successful IFIC conference in Utrecht in May, a teleconference meeting of the Partners was held in June while, expressions of interest from new partners are being followed up, IFICA Webinars commenced and planning for an Accelerated Learning Program during the week of Oct 29th this year has been advanced.

Steady progress in the development of IFIC Australia

Health services globally are under pressure from rising demand and associated fiscal pressures. It has been clear for some time that simply investing in our current hospital focused model of care is not the answer. To realise true value for investment and improve health outcomes we need to work differently.

Integrated care for children, young people and families

As I write, the Australian media has been focussing in depth on drought in Australia for two weeks. It is as if those in metropolitan Australia have suddenly realised that rural farmers and communities are experiencing hardship and are at risk of psychological distress and mental illness.

Towards integrated mental health services in a rural community

IFIC Australia’s knowledge partner The Centre for Healthcare Knowledge & Innovation (the Centre) has a new look. On July 1, the North Coast Primary Health Network initiative transitioned to a consortium of some of the most effective and progressive service providers on the North Coast.

Third Transformers Special Event Series Announced

Nine international faculty members, 23 participants from 16 countries, 16 World Cup matches and five days of glorious summer sunshine in Oxford. This was the recipe for the 2018 International Summer School on Integrated Care held at Wolfson College, Oxford, UK in June 2018.

Health Librarian Suzanne Lewis shares her perspective, highlights and learnings from ISSIC 2018

IFIC Australia co-hosted an International Summer School in late March, aimed at supporting organisations to implement their integrated care strategies. Developed in partnership with North Coast PHN and the Centre for Health Care Knowledge and Innovation, this event in Kingscliff was a sell-out, with a waiting list.

Dr Hazel Dalton reflects on the Australian Summer School

IFIC Australia signed a new Partnership with Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) aimed at strengthening its commitment to Integrated Care in New South Wales.

New Chapter for IFIC Australia

An increasing number of organisations are looking to affiliate and partner with us, joining the growing ranks of the SW Sydney LHD and PHN, Western Sydney PHN and LHD (see below), North Coast PHN and Centre for Health Knowledge and Innovation, Central Coast LHD, NSW Agency for Innovation (ACI), Children’s Health Queensland and the Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland Centre for Health System Reform and Integration.

IFIC Australia Chairman’s update by Peter McGeorge

Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) is proud to be a new member of the International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC). Improving the way health and social policy service partners work together to improve the health and wellbeing of our population is a high priority in western Sydney

New Chapter for IFIC Australia

The workshop examined the challenges for taking integrated care forward in Australia through the use of various assessment frameworks. Delegates attended from across Australia that included a diverse group of persons ranging from LHDs and PHNs to provider organisations and the university sector

Integrated Care in Australia at a Low Level of Maturity

I’m writing this blog following a week’s visit to the NSW Central Coast by our friends and colleagues from IFIC Australia and IFIC. These times are strongly valued by our Local Health District and partners because they provide the opportunity to educate our teams, reflect on our integrated care journey to date and to plan the next steps

A reflection on the on the CCLHD evaluation report

As a hospital librarian, I have a particular interest in approaches to searching for published literature on complex topics. And Integrated Care is the most complex topic I have tackled to date! In 2015 the Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) in NSW, Australia, where I work, became a demonstrator site for the NSW Ministry of Health Integrated Care strategy and I was asked to do searches of the biomedical literature to support a number of projects.

Integrated Care Search Launch

IFIC’S CEO Dr Nick Goodwin and Director of Education and Training Viktoria Stein are mid-way through a visit to Australia to support the movement for change towards integrated care. This work forms part of the growing IFIC Australia collaborative centre co-hosted with CRRMH, University of Newcastle and with support from local Partners.

Driving Integrated Care in Australia

IFIC Associate Robin Miller, also Joint Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Integrated Care, will be in the country in June to deliver a masterclass on ‘Creating high quality integrated care that delivers outcomes’.

Integrated Care: A Global Phenomenon

Chairman of IFIC Australia Professor Peter McGeorge introduces our inaugural newsletter which will be published quarterly and will keep members, partners and colleagues up to date on all our IFIC news. Prof McGeorge is also a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Universities of NSW and Notre Dame (Sydney) and St Vincent’s Health Network.

Peter McGeorge, Chairman of IFIC Australia introduces inaugural newsletter

Bronwyn Thirkell, Senior Project Officer at the North Coast Primary Health Network, discusses November’s Transformers II, a series of event aimed at analysing some of the area’s encouraging health care solutions.

TRANSFORMERS II – Transforming The Healthcare System For The Better

IFIC Australia is as a Collaborative Centre between IFIC and the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (CRRMH) at the University of Newcastle, NSW. The core mission of IFIC Australia is to develop capacity and capabilities in Australia and the Asia Pacific Region in the design and delivery of integrated care.

IFIC Australia meets in Brisbane

The NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) and IFIC Scotland held a joint workshop at the recent 1st Asia Pacific Conference on Integrated Care in Brisbane. The session titled ‘It’s All About Outcomes’ explored how to record and use personal outcomes to improve outcomes based consultations. The workshop also discussed how to use Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and outcomes based conversations to enhance the experience and outcomes of care in different care settings and health systems.

It’s all about outcomes! Mel Tinsley explains the important work taking place in NSW in measuring outcomes that matter to patients

IFIC Australia has been working on a new search tool to help support easier access to internationally published work on different aspects of integrated care. IC Search is due to be launched in April to coincide with next committee meetings and workshops led by IFIC CEO Dr Nick Goodwin and other IFIC senior staff.

Integrated Care Search Filter will launch in April

A joint project to evaluate the Central Coast Integrated Care Program in New South Wales, is coming to an end, with papers in preparation and a final report near completion. Researchers from the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health and the IFIC Faculty were awarded a competitive tender to undertake the formative evaluation last year.

Joint project to evaluate the Central Coast Integrated Care Program in New South Wales concludes

IFIC Australia will co-host an International Summer School aimed at supporting organisations to implement their integrated care strategies.

From Concept to Reality – International Summer School in Australia

The Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (CRRMH) facilitated the first work of IFIC Australia with the delivery of two key workshops on the Central Coast in February. Dr Nick Goodwin (CEO and founder of IFIC) and Prof Anne Hendry (Clinical Lead for Integrated Care, Scotland and IFIC Associate) brought their international integrated care expertise to the workshops.

An exciting start for IFIC Australia