---

Bibliography - Reference Groups

The NFDCCA Quality Assurance Research Project at a glance.
Jigsaw no.6 Spring 1997: 6-7

The National Family Day Care Council was funded by the Commonwealth government to provide a report which identifies the underlying values and critical elements of quality care in family day care settings which would need to be considered in the development of a quality assurance system for family day care. This article describes the project including reference groups, consultants, contact people, timeline and perceived outcomes.

Anders, J
A common assessment and referral system to achieve earlier intervention with high risk adolescents.
In: Teesson, M. et al, eds. No one is an island: contemporary TheMHS in mental health services: book of proceedings, 11th annual TheMHS Conference, 29-31 August 2001, Wellington, New Zealand. Balmain, NSW: The Mental Health Services Conference, 2002, p108-116, figures

The author tracks the development of the High Risk Adolescent Reference Group, formed in the Gippsland area of Victoria to address the lack of co ordination between support services for high risk adolescents. The Group was formed to provide early identification and support for adolescents who may have had a psychotic episode. The author discusses the group's establishment and then analyses data collected from the system to monitor its effectiveness. The data is also used to analyse the outcomes of referrals.

Antrum, M
EnAct reference group.
Rights Now (Newsletter of the National Children's and Youth Law Centre) Jul 1999: 4

This article presents a draft strategic plan of EnAct, an implementation reference group, established to assist the government and the NSW Department of Community Services with the implementation of new care and protection legislation in NSW.

Beaumont, M
Women's Health Victoria: now that the dust has settled!
Healthsharing Women v.8 no.1 Aug 1997: 18-20

Women's Health Victoria is a statewide health information service which work with human service providers and is instrumental in policy development. This paper outlines the birth of Women's Health Victoria at the Queen Victoria Women's Centre, its committee of management, future strategic direction and funding options. The urgent need for a statewide women's health plan is recognised.

Blanchard, M & Feller, M.
The YACVic youth reference group: providing meaningful participation for young Victorians.
In: VCOSS Social Policy Congress: developing visions for new ways forward: proceedings 2002. Melbourne, Vic: Victorian Council of Social Service, 2002.

The Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) advocates on young people's issues. The organisation and its objectives are outlined and why it is important to involve young people and how to involve them. The work of the Youth Reference Group, a group of young people who meet to discuss issues and to advise YACVic's Board of Governance and Secretariat, is described.

Bourke, L
Health consumer participation in coordinated care: a case study in the Goulburn Valley.
Australian Journal of Primary Health v.8 no.1 2002: 37-44, tables, figures

Consumer involvement is at the heart of improving health care, but involving consumers is difficult. This paper documents a process of developing a consumer reference group in northern Victoria to assist in developing a proposal for a coordinated care trial. The Goulburn Valley Consumer Reference Group was developed, maintained and able to meet its objective of developing a model of coordinated care. The group developed good relationships, which fostered commitment, open discussion and debate, and input from all group members. The group identified key issues in rural and regional health care, including access, information, staff shortages, cost, communication and coordination. Although the group is not 'representative' it includes the perspectives of some who do not typically have high rates of participation in health. The success of and problems raised by this process can be used to inform models of consumer participation in health. (Journal abstract)

Brazier, J; Killey, C; Promnitz, J
Inter-agency responses to sexual assault.
Canberra, ACT: Australian Institute of Criminology, Previous Conferences - Paper presented at the conference The Character, Impact and Prevention of Crime in Regional Australia, Townsville, August 2001, 5p, Online only (19 KB)
http://www.aic.gov.au/conferences/regional/killey.pdf

The Sexual Assault Response Reference Group in Townsville was established with a number of purposes in mind: to co-ordinate an integrated approach for survivors of sexual violence; to provide input into, and feedback on, government policy and legislation, and to work pro-actively on prevention strategies. This paper outlines the history of the group's establishment, and describes the inter-agency relationships, protocols, and achievements, which include the production of a training video, action taken to deal with drug facilitated rape, and community education.

Casey, W
Cultural empowerment: partnerships of practice.
In: Dudgeon, P., Garvey, D. and Pickett, H. eds. Working with Indigenous Australians: a handbook for psychologists. Perth, WA: Gunada Press, Curtin Indigenous Research Centre, Curtin University of Technology, 2000, p403-410, figures

A transcript of an interview in Broome with Wendy Casey, this paper describes the background to and rationale for an Aboriginal professional mental health network, addressing issues of: cross cultural training for non Aboriginal mental health practitioners; establishing a critical reference group; partnership in professional practice; mental health facilities and mode of early service delivery; use of traditional healers; healing and empowerment; juveniles; grief and loss; and drug and alcohol issues.

Elefsiniotis, J, comp.
Share Care best practice project 2000: Share Care's respite care service standards.
Abbotsford, Vic: Share Care, 2001, 36p, illus.

Share Care is a small foster care program providing regular respite care for local children. The standards outlined in this publication are for Share Care's service environment in which respite foster care occurs. These standards are statements of good practice, which reflect current knowledge, principles and values. They provide a clear guide for fieldworkers, volunteer caregivers and members of Share Care's management committee, as well as a basis for the continual improvement of the service.

Ford, G
Involving consumers on committees.
Health Issues no.66 Mar 2001: 18-20, tables

Health services are increasingly recognising the benefits of actively involving consumers in service planning, policy development and program evaluation. One of the most common ways consumers participate at this level is through membership of steering committees, reference groups and advisory groups. To help health services successfully involve consumers in such committees and groups, this article outlines five points for service providers to consider. For simplification, the word 'committees' will be used throughout the article, however, the information also applies to working groups, reference groups and advisory groups. (Journal abstract)

Koch, Susan & Nay, Rhonda.
Reducing abuse of older people with dementia and their carers.
Australasian Journal on Ageing v.22 no.4 Dec 2003: 191-195

The objective of this study was to identify and investigate the issue of elder abuse amongst older people with dementia and their carers. An expert reference group was established and a comprehensive literature review was undertaken. Discussion forums and in-depth interviews were held with interested stakeholders to identify issues regarding abuse, and any related strategies that are currently in place, being developed or required. It was found that attempting to develop one concise definition of abuse can be unhelpful, and cases should instead be assessed in relation to their unique contexts. Participants expressed a need for better education and availability of information about elder abuse related to dementia. Strategies to reduce abuse were identified. The authors concluded that participants clearly identified that a preventative approach is integral in the successful reduction of abuse and that any formal intervention needs to reflect the unique set of circumstances pertaining to abuse of each person with dementia and/or their carers. (Journal abstract)

Kristensen, E & Gilhotra, J.
Developing a strategic plan for a mental health service: how we got there and some of the challenges.
In: Issakidis, C. et al, eds. There's no health without mental health: contemporary TheMHS in mental health services. 12th annual TheMHS Conference, 20-22 August 2002, Sydney, NSW: book of proceedings. Balmain, NSW: The Mental Health Services Conference Inc. of Australia and New Zealand, 2003, p235-240

The NSW Health Department expects that all mental health services should have a strategic plan. The authors describe how they developed the plan for the Western Sydney Area Mental Health Service, which they commenced in late 2000. The steps in the process included: discussion paper; reference group; statistics analysis; working group; consultations about input; report on consultations; first draft plan distributed and revised; and a priority setting exercise. The authors explain how they addressed several challenges that arose.

La Trobe University. National Resource Centre for Consumer Participation in Health
Committees that involve consumers: issues for service providers to consider.
Melbourne, Vic: National Resource Centre for Consumer Participation in Health, La Trobe University, 2002, 6p, (Fact sheet no.3), Online (89 KB)
http://www.participateinhealth.org.au/ClearingHouse/Docs/nrcfactsheetcommitteesmay2002.doc

Consumers of health services, carers and representatives from consumer organisations are often asked by service providers to join committees and groups to provide information, advice, feedback and direction. The aim of this Fact Sheet is to provide information to service providers who have existing structures that involve consumers, or who are planning to involve consumers on committees and groups. It involves types of committees, the role and authority of committees, ensuring a committee is effective, terms of reference, how participants should be recruited, budget, whether consumers be paid a sitting fee, evaluation, and representation.

La Trobe University. National Resource Centre for Consumer Participation in Health
Consumer and provider partnerships in health project: improving consumer participation in the health system in Central Australia: final report.
Melbourne, Vic: National Resource Centre for Consumer Participation in Health, La Trobe University, 2001, 21p, Online (109 KB)
http://www.participateinhealth.org.au/ClearingHouse/Docs/cappsimprovingconsumerparticipationweb.doc

The Central Australian Division of General Practice Consumer Reference Group (CRG) was established in 1996 after two public meetings. This report outlines the process of the establishment of this Consumer Reference Group, how it was established, and the broader role it adopted as a consumer advocate than its previous one within the Central Australian Division of General Practice. The project was funded by the Department of Aged Care as part of a Consumer and Provider Partnerships in Health Project (CAPPs) which was designed to further develop the evidence base underpinning effective consumer participation.

Macdonald, C
Lessons to be learned from the Queensland Government Youth Policy Project.
Transitions v.2 no.2 Jun - Sept 1992: 4-9

The Queensland Government has been working on a Youth Policy since March 1991. In December 1991 community based representatives were appointed to a Youth Policy Reference Group and have been involved in the Government's process since that time. The Youth Policy Project is currently engaged in community consultations. It is useful at this time to consider the pitfalls and positives of the policy development process so far and to reflect on what lessons might be learned for both the remainder of this project and future policy development processes. Here Corrie Macdonald, observer on the Youth Policy Reference Group, suggests a number of issues for consideration by both Government and the community sector.

Oke, Greg.
Towards a user rights culture.
Parity v.17 no.1 Feb 2004: 33-34

For change in the homelessness sector to be effected, the author argues, there must be a strong commitment to change and consultation with all participants in the sector. He describes his experiences in interviewing service users who often had a grievance that was not being treated seriously. He makes recommendations as to what changes need to take place.

O'Neill, C; Cleak, H; Brown, G; Goodman, H
Getting started, getting feedback, and getting finished ... practice research in action.
Australian Social Work v.52 no.2 Jun 1999: 27-34

This article outlines the purpose, definition and usefulness of social work practice research and then describes a training program conducted by a group of social workers in the Australian Association of Social Workers (Victorian Branch) Practice Research Special Interest Group. These workshops offered practitioners the opportunity to explore a research idea with a group of colleagues which acted as a reference group over a period of six months. Two models of practice research workshops are described and their outcomes presented. (Journal abstract)

Pollock, Sue.
Six months along: capacity building project for Hunter Family Support Services.
Developing Practice: The Child, Youth and Family Work Journal no.9 Autumn 2004: 49-55

The capacity building project for Hunter Family Support Services aims to find the best ways to support family counsellors and coordinators in their consultations with families with drug or alcohol problems. The author charts the progress of the action research project and discusses worker participation, financial remuneration, formation of a reference group, defining the boundaries and purpose of the project, child protection issues, and counsellor training.

Price, P; Leane, K
The impact of the impact evaluation: evaluation of the HIV/AIDS women's project 1998.
Australian Journal of Primary Health - Interchange v.5 no.3 1999: 65-70

The HIV / AIDS Women's Project (Women's Health Statewide) was established under the auspices of Women's Health Statewide and is supported by a reference group which meets monthly to oversee the work of the Project. The role of the Project is to enhance the health and wellbeing of HIV-positive women and their families in South Australia. In 1998 a consultant was employed to review the role and effectivness of this Project in the HIV / AIDS sector. The evaluation soon evolved beyond its review and evaluation roles, identifying the complex work of the Project and broadening the understanding of women's perspectives in the context of the HIV / AIDS epidemic in South Australia. This paper explores the evaluation process and comments on the effects that participation in the review process has had on both HIV-positive women who participated in the evaluation and on the future work of the Project. (Journal abstract)

Rice, J
Reference groups that really work.
ALAR Journal: Action Learning and Action Research v.7 no.1 Apr 2002: 37-45, tables

Reference groups refer to a group of people drawn from the community, fulfilling the roles of both a steering committee and an advisory committee. This paper draws on the author's experiences as a consultant running reference groups over the past few years. The author outlines the aims and usefulness of reference groups, and how to ensure that reference groups are effective.

Sparks, V
Youth consultation project.
YACVic Bits Dec 1997: 8-9

There have been a number of developments over recent years that have impacted upon the decision making processes that affect the lives of young people. In response to this the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) has developed the Youth Consultation Network, which is outlined in this article. It has three interrelated components: a data base of interested individuals and organisations across Victoria; the Youth Reference Group, and the Young Media Spokesperson position.

Struthers, K
Managing the future: collaborative community management models.
Kelvin Grove, Qld: Queensland Council of Social Service, 1998, 12p (Community services issues paper no.4)

In Queensland, community service providers and managers are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and maintain suitably experienced management committee members, especially in regional and remote areas. The legal, financial and other responsibilities involved are considerable and community members are reluctant to take them on. There are also the added pressures of new funding arrangements, competitive service delivery approaches and performance measurement methods that governments are introducing. The author presents several management models which address these problems. The management models focus on: 1. greater co-operation amongst services in management tasks and favour amalgamation and/or co- locations and, 2. a model of collaborative governance that enables local and service focussed management and delivery with higher level governance functions being pooled at a regional or collective level.

Swaby, M; Biesot, A
A framework for best practice health promotion in primary health care.
Australian Journal of Primary Health v.7 no.1 2001: 101-105, figures

ISIS Primary Care provides health and welfare services to the municipalities of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Wyndham. An organisational commitment was made to establish an integrated approach to health promotion that would result in best practice health promotion within the community and in partnership with other agencies. To achieve this it was necessary to develop internal organisational skills and processes as well as formalise the relationships with agencies within the catchment. A 'framework for best practice health promotion' was developed with a number of interrelated components occurring concurrently at several levels within the organisation and externally. This encompasses a structural framework with a Health Promotion Reference Group of key intersectoral stakeholders, as well as six Health Promotion Working Groups across the organisation each focussing on identified health issues. The strategic framework is a procedural document outlining processes for planning, implementation and evaluation of health promotion at an organisational level. The supporting framework includes detailed program planning and evaluation guidelines and workforce development. The implementation of this framework has resulted in a coordinated and sustainable approach to health promotion across the catchment with opportunities for successful partnerships, capacity building, resource sharing and increased program reach in meeting the perceived needs of the community. (Journal abstract)

Victoria. Department of Health and Community Services. Primary Care Division
Information Services Strategy: a review of information needs in primary care.
Melbourne, Vic: Child and Adolescent Health Promotion Unit, Primary Care Division, Department of Health and Community Services, 1996, 31p, tables, figures

The Children's and Family Services Redevelopment: Scoping Review (1993) outlined deficits in the existing system and made recommendations which led to the Primary Care Division Executive deciding to initiate a review of Primary Care information systems and products. Undertaken by the Child and Adolescent Health Promotion Unit, the project involved the participation of a reference group to provide advice and strategic directions. This document is a summary of the full report, with the findings consistent with some of those in the scoping review. The recommendations presented relate to policy environment, child and adolescent health information, service information, information system, development, distribution, and promotion. Key research questions addressed by the project are identified: what is the current role of Primary Care Division in the provision of child and adolescent health and service information? ; What child and adolescent health and service information is currently available to consumers and professionals?; and, how is child and adolescent health and service information developed, distributed and promoted? The target groups, methodology, projected outcomes organisational review and product audits are outlined.