Healthcare Management Advisors Helping create better health services
Evaluation of the Simulated Learning
Environments Programme: Project Summary
Purpose of the project summary
This summary provides information about the Evaluation of the Simulated Learning Environments (SLE) Programme
sponsored by the Department of Health (the Department). Healthcare Management Advisors (HMA) has been
engaged to conduct the evaluation.
Background and Project Objectives
Health Workforce Australia (HWA) established the SLE Programme in 2010. The SLE Programme provided funds
nationally to develop the evidence on simulated learning, enable the adoption of simulation and expand simulation
capacity.
HWA closed on 6 August 2014 and the functions of HWA transferred to the Department. The Department is
responsible for initiating the SLE Programme evaluation and specifying the evaluation objectives.
The objectives of the SLE Programme evaluation are to assess:
• the extent to which the programme aim and objectives have been met,
• the effectiveness of the SLE Programme in increasing clinical training/placement capacity including in rural and
remote settings, and
• the identification of barriers and enablers to the implementation of the programme and what improvements could
be made to maximise its value.
The Approach
HMA is undertaking the project in five stages, described below:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Project initiation: A detailed project plan has been agreed with the Department.
Situation analysis and scoping assessment: HMA will review existing information that will set the context
for the evaluation data collection process. From the information gathered HMA will develop an Evaluation
Implementation Plan.
Data collection and analysis: HMA will undertake a range of consultations with accreditation bodies,
professional associations, eight ‘flagship’ projects (from the capacity building projects) and SLE leads in each
jurisdiction. In addition, HMA will complete a desktop analysis and/or stakeholder consultations on the other
SLE programme elements; SimNET, NHET-Sim, embedding simulation in clinical training research, the quality
framework, simulated learning curricula projects, and other capacity building projects including the capital
projects.
Synthesis and critique against the evaluation objectives: this stage will involve analysis, synthesis and
critique of SLE Programme activities against the evaluation objectives.
Prepare final report: HMA will prepare the project final report.
Project Timelines
The project commenced in April 2015 and is to be completed by late August 2015.
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Healthcare Management Advisors Helping create better health services
Project Team
HMA is based in Melbourne but works nationally. HMA has undertaken a wide range of health workforce evaluation
and planning projects.
Wayne Kinrade, Managing Director will lead the project team and be responsible for the delivery of all aspects of the
project. Dr Deborah Roczo (Associate Director), Catherine Elvins (Specialist Associate) Hannah Hogarth (Senior
Consultant) and Zu Aung (Office Manager and Data Analyst) will support Wayne in undertaking the project.
In addition, HMA will engage the expert advice of our associates:
• Dr Kris Battye, Dr Catherine Sefton, Jan Veitch from KBC Australia (they will provide support with consultations)
• Dr Saravana Kumar, Senior Lecturer and Research Leader, International Centre for Allied Health Evidence,
University of South Australia, who will give advice on the academic content for SLEs and its application to clinical
placement development, and
• Paul Marriott, MKM Consulting, who will give advice on e-health components of the project.
If you would like further information regarding any aspect of the current project, please contact:
Wayne Kinrade
Ph: (03) 9998 1949
waynekinrade@hma.com.au
Catherine Elvins
Ph: (03) 9998 1955
catherineelvins@hma.com.au
Dr Deborah Roczo
Ph: (03) 9998 1953
deborahroczo@hma.com.au
Hannah Hogarth
Ph: (03) 9998 1946
hannahhogarth@hma.com.au
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