title: Interprofessional health education in Australia: three research projects informing curriculum renewal and development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper reports on three interrelated Australian studies that provide a nationally coherent and evidence-informed approach to interprofessional education (IPE). Based on findings from previous studies that IPE tends to be marginalized in mainstream health curriculum, the three studies aspired to produce a range of resources that would guide the sustainable implementation of IPE across the Australian higher education sector.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine national universities, two peak industry bodies and a non-government organization constituted the study team. Data were gathered via a mixture of stakeholder consultations, surveys and interviews and analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An important outcome was a curriculum renewal framework which has been used to explore the implications of the study's findings on Australian nursing. While the findings are pertinent to all health professions, nursing is well placed to take a leading role in establishing IPE as a central element of health professional education.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine Fremantle, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, 6959, Australia. Electronic address: carole.steketee@nd.edu.au.
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steketee
authors.affiliation: Adjunct Professor Curtin University and Auckland University of Technology, Visiting Professor University of Derby and Chichester University. Electronic address: Dawn@ilmd.biz.
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, 2007, Australia. Electronic address: Roger.Dunston@uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dunston
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, 2007, Australia. Electronic address: tagrid.yassine@student.uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tagrid
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yassine
authors.affiliation: Ageing, Work and Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia. Electronic address: lynda.matthews@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lynda R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, The University of Western Australia, Perth, 6009, Australia. Electronic address: rosemary.saunders@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: School of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, 6009, Australia. Electronic address: pam.nicol@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nicol
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, 6959, Australia. Electronic address: Selma.Alliex@nd.edu.au.
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alliex
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards
keywords: Australia; Collaboration; Curriculum development; Nursing; Teamwork