Use of mobile phones as a vehicle to increase internet use to improve health and wellbeing in South Australia

A report on research conducted under the Health in All Policies Health Lens Initiative for the Department of Health South Australia and the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & TechnologyThis report is written to help inform policy directions to achieve the Broadband Usage target in the South Australian Strategic Plan while supporting improved population health under the SA Government’s Health In All Policies program. This report details potential solutions to increase broadband use via mobile phones for lower-income and socioeconomically disadvantaged South Australians. Solutions were suggested in late 2009 by 30 Adelaide residents in three focus groups (age range 25 to 55). Additional solutions come from an associated project in late 2008 with 55 Adelaide residents on general digital technology use, and from a literature scan in late 2009 of solutions to increase mobile internet use elsewhere in the world, particularly for lower-income and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups

Digital technology use among disadvantaged Australians: implications for equitable consumer participation in digitally-mediated communication and information exchange with health services

The considerable variation in ICT access and use within lower income and disadvantaged groups must be acknowledged and accommodated by health initiatives and services when delivering digitally-mediated consumer-provider interaction, online health information, or online self-management of health conditions. If services require consumers to participate in digitally-mediated communication exchange, then we suggest they might support skills and technology acquisition, and/or provide non-ICT alternatives, in order to avoid exacerbating health inequities

Vicious cycles: digital technologies and determinants of health in Australia

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Health promotion International following peer review. The version of record [Baum F, Newman L, Biedrzycki K (2014), ‘Vicious cycles: digital technologies and determinants of health’. Health Promotion International, 29 (2), 349-360.] is available online at: http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/The use of digital technologies continues to bring rapid changes to personal and institutional forms of communication and information. Digital technologies are becoming increasingly important as ways to gain access to most of the important social determinants of health including employment, housing, education and social networks. However, little is known about the impact of the new technologies on opportunities for health and well-being. This paper reports on a focus group study of their impact on people from low socio-economic backgrounds. It uses Bourdieu’s theories of social inequities and the ways in which social, cultural and economic capitals interact to reinforce and reproduce inequities to examine the ways in which digital technologies are contributing to these processes. Six focus group discussions with 55 people were held to examine their access to and views about using digital technologies. These data are analysed to determine what factors facilitate access to digital technologies and what the implications of exclusion from the technologies is likely to be for the social determinants of health. The paper concludes that some people are being caught in a vicious cycle whereby lack of digital access or the inability to make beneficial use reinforces and amplifies existing disadvantage. The paper concludes with a consideration of actions health promoters could take to interrupt this cycle and so contribute to reducing health inequities

Digital technology access and use among socially and economically disadvantaged groups in South Australia

This paper explores digital technology access and use (computers, Internet and mobile phones) among lower income and disadvantaged groups in Australia. It reports focus group research which identified wide differences in frequency and quality of use, and in skills, confidence and trust. It identifies pathways to digital use (or non-use) related to existing socioeconomic inequities which mean that lack of (or limited) digital access or use creates further barriers to improving the underlying determinants of that use. Technological solutions to the digital divide must therefore be accompanied by a broader digital inclusion approach.South Australian Department of Health; South Australian Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & Technology. National Health & Medical Research Institute; Australian Research Counci

Early Childhood Development (ECD) services in the Southern Adelaide Health Service region.

This report documents the findings of a review conducted by the South Australian Community Health Research Unit (SACHRU) at the request of the Southern Adelaide Health Service (SAHS) into the provision of Early Childhood Development services in southern Adelaide. This review was undertaken between June and December 2006 and overseen by a Project Management group consisting of representatives from the SAHS, the primary health services managers, practitioners, an acute service manager and the researchers. The review examined the early childhood services provided by primary health services across the region, the models used, intake procedures and referral pathways. The findings were to be used for future service planning, implementation and resourcing

Families empowered: a strengths based approach. An evaluation of FEAT, Families Empowered to Act Together.

The South Australian Community Health Research Unit undertook an evaluation of the FEAT program to track the progress of a number of families through the Families Empowered to Act Together (FEAT) program and capture the experiences and perspectives of children, families and stakeholders. Interviews were undertaken with carers and children both currently in the program and those recently exited. The evaluation also documents the development of the FEAT model of service and its aims and objectives; relates the operation of FEAT to understandings in the current literature regarding best practice principles and models for family support programs; and identifies other agencies, programs and services that the FEAT program links with in order to meet the needs of referred families. The evaluation adopted an action research framework employing qualitative and quantitative methods, and has encouraged participation by key stakeholders in the research process

A rapid appraisal case study of South Australia's Social Inclusion Initiative

This Rapid Appraisal Case Study of South Australia’s Social Inclusion Initiative was undertaken to contribute to the work of the Social Exclusion Knowledge Network (SEKN) of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH). The CSDH was established in 2005 by the World Health Organisation to investigate ways in which international, national, regional and local bodies could take action on the social determinants of health. The knowledge networks are one of the main mechanisms by which the CSDH is gathering evidence. This report provides a rapid assessment of the ways in which South Australia’s Social Inclusion Initiative has originated and operated. The report’s layout follows guidelines developed by the SEKN and draws on documentary and interview evidence. The project was conducted between March and June 2007 by researchers at Flinders University of South Australia, in conjunction with senior staff at South Australia’s Social Inclusion Unit, Department of the Premier and Cabinet. South Australia is a State within a federal system of government and has a population of 1.6 million. The population’s average health and well-being are high by world standards but the State continues to record significant levels of inequality for certain groups and areas, and particularly for its Aboriginal population

Partnership in knowledge creation: lessons learned from a researcher–policy actor partnership to co-produce a rapid appraisal case study of south australia’s social Inclusion Initiative

This paper describes a partnership between researchers and policy actors which was developed within a short time-frame to produce a rapid appraisal case study of a government policy initiative - South Australia’s Social Inclusion Initiative - for the Social Exclusion Knowledge Network of the international Commission on Social Determinants of Health. The paper does not focus on the case study findings or content, but rather on the researcher-policy actor partnership which developed in the process of producing the case study and its report. The paper is set against the broader literature on researcher-policy collaboration and is written to share lessons that may help others quickly establish or improve researcher-policy partnerships. It sets out six key elements for success in a framework for partnership which can meet policy rather than academic time frames and which can effectively co-produce knowledge that meets both research and policy objectives

The Headroom Model: a conceptual and practical description

In April 2008 the Centre for Health Promotion (CHP), Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service (CYWHS) contracted the SA Community Health Research Unit (SACHRU) to undertake this project to document the Headroom model of youth participation. In order to capture the development and evolution of the model, interviews were conducted with key stakeholders including program staff and members of the core youth group. Organisational and professional commitment to youth participation; skills development of both staff and young people; and an underlying belief that youth participation will result in better outcomes were identified as key principles underpinning the program. These principles have supported the development of trusting and meaningful relationships with young people. They have also provided a foundation for the development of flexible processes and a meaningful journey for program participants

YWCA of Adelaide: Big Brothers Big Sisters Program Evaluation Report 2010

This report discusses the findings and the implications of the evaluation of the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) program of the YWCA of Adelaide. The evaluation has explored a range of factors around the success and challenges of the BBBS mentoring program by examining the roles and experiences of mentors, the experiences and outcomes for mentees and their families, and the experiences and ideas of staff. The aims of the evaluation are to explore the development of protective factors for 'at-risk' young people, the quality of mentor-mentee relationships, the engagement of volunteer mentors, factors affecting recruitment and retention of mentors, opportunities for parents/carers to build parenting skills and reduce isolation, and implementation of BBBS program processes