Early childhood service development and intersectoral collaboration in rural Australia

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.

Effects of Sectoral Diversity on Community Coalition Processes and Outcomes

“…Another way of overcoming an imbalance toward disproportionate communication within certain sectors is intentionally distributing decision making across different sectors, which may build shared trust (Brown et al, 2013; Jones, 2004). In general, participatory decision making may also build coalitions’ capacity for intersectoral cooperation (Johns, 2010). …”

“…Here, the logic is similar to that for coalition processes; that is, that more contact between individuals from different sectors should overcome initial unfamiliarity, lack of trust, and hesitancy to exchange information (Johns 2010), thus helping coalitions to create synergy that capitalizes on their diversity strengths. In community collaboratives, communication frequency has been positively associated with community engagement, policy engagement (Ramanadhan et al, 2012), and systems change (Nowell, 2009).…”

Editorial Issue 1 2010. Driving change

“…Understanding service networks that go beyond health care is needed for developing a new model of refugee health (Kay et al 2010a), and for strengthening hearing services in a rural community (Lower et al 2010). Susan Johns (2010) describes primary health care collaborations in rural Australia, while Preston et al (2010) question some of the assumptions around community participation in rural primary health care. Boyer et al (2010), in the paper 'Partner or perish', describes how reform depends on researchers, policy makers, service providers and community members overcoming the many challenges of collaboration.…”

Growing health partnerships in rural and remote communities: what drives the joint efforts of primary schools and universities in maintaining service learning partnerships?

“…Understanding context is important in exploring cross-sectoral programmes (Halliday et al ., 2004; Jones et al ., 2015). A conceptual framework is also important in understanding cross-sectoral programmes (Polivka et al ., 2001; Dowling et al ., 2004; Casey, 2008; Johns, 2010). We adopted an evidence-based framework, the Continuum of Joint Effort (COJE) developed as a result of surveying partners working in Victoria, Australia in cross-sectoral programmes involving health services (Victorian Council of Social Services, 2009; VIC Health, 2011).…”