South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) Population Health has had a long-term interest in and partnerships with local councils in the district. The LHD and four local councils have developed and are implementing MoUs with co-funded positions to support implementation of joint objectives that sit within each council and the LHD.

This current piece of research, a joint project between CHETRE, the Healthy Places Unit, Health Promotion Services, and the four councils, will be a world first in taking a sophisticated real time approach to action research to better position intersectoral partnerships for health within local government.

Project description

This two-part project will evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between SWSLHD and four Local Councils (Fairfield, Liverpool, Wollondilly and Campbelltown). Specifically, the project will evaluate:

• The ability of the MoUs to result in sustainable health and wellbeing outcomes

• The role of health partnership MoUs in building reciprocal capability and collaborative advantage between two different organizations

• The functioning and support for co-funded positions between SWSLHD and four local councils in South Western Sydney to maximise their effectiveness and impact on Council and Local Health District business

• In addition to the co-funded positions, identify what else is required to maximise the impact of the MOUs

The project involves stages across 2 phases.

Phase 1: Establishing theory of change

• Stage 1. Review of literature

• Stage 2. Review of documentation

• Stage 3. Program logic development

• Stage 4. Reporting and dissemination

Phase 2: Developing and conducting an action research evaluation.

• Stage 1. Evaluation design and protocol: data collection and analysis against the theory of change

• Stage 2. Conducting the evaluations

• Stage 3. Revisiting and refining theories of change

• Stage 4. Comparing findings

• Stage 5. Reporting and dissemination

Phase 1 was completed in 2022. Phase 2 is currently underway.

Related Publications

Evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of the Memoranda of Understanding between SWSLHD and Local Councils Phase 1 Report: Realist Scoping Review & Document Review

Partner organisations

SWSLHD Population Health

SWSLHD Healthy Places Unit

SWSLHD Health Promotion Services

Wollondilly Shire Council

Campbelltown City Council

Fairfield City Council

Liverpool City Council

Project team

Patrick Harris, Project lead

Karla Jaques

Contact person

Karla Jaques