International Health - Aims
Our International Health programs’ primary aim is to build the
capacity of healthcare workers, hospitals, pathology laboratories
and other health facilities in their own communities. Rather than
providing services for our near neighbours, we work closely with
Governments, health officials and Non Governmental Organisations
(NGOs) to improve facilities, equipment and working practises.
Central to our
commitment to International Health is a sustainable approach that
means we build the capacity of healthcare organisations and workers
so that they become self-sufficient in managing their own health
and wellbeing. We are committed to assisting developing nations
over the long term but we are focused on ensuring local people can
manage their own health systems when we eventually depart. Thus we
are committed to development programs rather than providing aid or
short term medical care.
Delivering sustainable change
To achieve the aims of our International Health programs, we place
a strong emphasis on training local healthcare professionals and
sharing our expertise, which has been developed over many decades
delivering high quality health services in Australia and New
Zealand.
Rather than providing training through staff deployed on a
fly-in, fly-out basis we provide long-term placements wherever
possible with experienced expatriate nurses, pathology scientists
and other professionals residing permanently in the country where
our programs are based. This ensures ongoing technical expertise
and sustained continuous practise.
Where relevant, we also employ local people, developing their
skills to equip them to oversee improvements in health and
wellbeing for years to come.
Measuring outcomes
Our International Health programs have a wide range of intended
outcomes, delivered through nursing, pathology, drug and alcohol
support, professional development, community education and
training. The impact of our programs is measured against specific
criteria which are assessed at various intervals, often over long
time frames due to the developmental nature of our operations. See
the information on our individual programs for further details
about how our outcomes are measured.