Health Evaluation Services

This project designed and implemented a pilot model of shared cancer care evaluation between hospital-based oncology teams and primary care providers. It aimed to improve care coordination, enhance patient experience, and promote system integration across various settings. The model was co-designed with clinicians and tested in real-world environments, yielding findings that demonstrated feasibility, safety, and strong support from both patients and providers. Insights from this pilot are essential for future community health initiatives, as they inform efforts to embed shared care models into routine cancer services while also considering the social emotional wellbeing of patients.

This project supported primary health organisations in metro, regional, and remote areas to enhance their internal evaluation capability, particularly in the context of cancer care evaluation, through the co-design of practical tools such as program logics, indicators, and survey templates. 

Following implementation, a systems lens was applied to identify the elements that had enabled evaluation in community health initiatives. This reflective phase helped uncover conditions for sustainability and informed broader strategies for embedding evaluation into routine practice, particularly focusing on social emotional wellbeing.

This project involved the design and implementation of an evaluation framework for a social emotional wellbeing (SEWB) service, which aligns with broader community health initiatives. Working alongside service staff, we co-developed a program logic that reflects local priorities, followed by the design of survey tools and qualitative interview guides. Quantitative and qualitative data were synthesized to support shared sense-making, ensuring that cancer care evaluation was integrated effectively. The evaluation process was embedded into the service’s annual cycle of planning, delivery, and review, ultimately strengthening internal capability and fostering a culture of continuous reflection and improvement.

This pilot study tested the feasibility of integrating electronic patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) into routine oncology care, contributing to a comprehensive cancer care evaluation. As part of the study team, we conducted recruitment, cognitive interviews, and analyses to assess the clarity, relevance, and acceptability of PROM items for cancer patients. These insights informed refinements to the tool, supporting its integration into clinical workflows and enhancing community health initiatives focused on social emotional wellbeing, ultimately enabling more patient-centred, data-informed care.

This cancer care evaluation examined the reach, acceptability, and perceived impact of community-led physical activity and nutrition initiatives. Using a mixed-methods approach, the project drew on staff interviews, client surveys, and community yarning sessions to explore participation, enablers, and barriers within community health initiatives. Findings informed both program improvements and a broader strategy to communicate and increase awareness of available services, ultimately supporting greater engagement and enhancing social emotional wellbeing in local health capacity.

This project explored how to improve cancer communication by addressing patients' health literacy needs, a crucial aspect of effective cancer care evaluation. Drawing on patient interviews and stakeholder engagement, the team identified key barriers to understanding and acting on cancer information, which are essential for community health initiatives. By designing and analysing qualitative interviews, it surfaced patient preferences, emotional responses, and communication challenges that impact social emotional wellbeing. The findings informed a practical framework and recommendations to support clearer, more person-centred cancer communication across the system.

This evidence review examined the effectiveness of cancer education interventions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia, contributing to the broader field of cancer care evaluation. Drawing on peer-reviewed and grey literature, the review explored the features that support knowledge exchange, community engagement, and behavioural change within community health initiatives. It highlighted the importance of cultural relevance, trusted messengers, and supportive service environments that promote social emotional wellbeing. The findings offer a foundation for strengthening future cancer education.

This cancer care evaluation explored the experiences of clients and staff with a chronic care model. Through interviews and surveys, the project assessed the acceptability of integrated care pathways, which included referrals between chronic care, allied health, and the wellbeing centre. By utilizing qualitative insights and a systems-informed analysis, the evaluation revealed how trusted relationships, cultural safety, and coordinated internal processes influenced outcomes. These findings highlighted enabling conditions within the service system and supported future planning that is grounded in clients' and staff's real experiences, contributing to broader community health initiatives and enhancing social emotional wellbeing.

This cancer care evaluation is currently underway across multiple Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in NSW, aiming to strengthen participation in community health initiatives focused on healthy ageing programs. My involvement concentrated on the early to mid stages of the work, including Phase 1, where we engaged in yarning to understand community-related barriers and enablers to engagement, and Phase 2, which involved facilitating community workshops to develop priority engagement strategies for enhancing social emotional wellbeing. This foundational work has informed the subsequent phase of the project, which will be led and completed by the service.