title: Intersectoral collaboration to implement school-based health programmes: Australian perspectives.
abstract: Understanding the processes and the factors influencing intersectoral collaboration is vital for the ongoing success of programmes that rely on effective partnerships between sectors, such as the school-based immunization programme, the school dental health programme and health promotion interventions delivered in school settings. We studied school-based health programmes delivered by partnerships between health, education and the local government sectors. We used purposive sampling to identify 19 people working in school-based health programmes and interviewed them about the barriers and enablers of successful collaboration. Data were analysed thematically. We found that collaboration between complex systems was a skilled endeavour which relied on a strong foundation of communication and interpersonal professional relationships. Understanding the core business, operational context and intersectoral point-of-view of collaborative partners was important both for establishing good intersectoral programmes and sustaining them as contexts and personnel changed. Aligning divergent sectoral agendas early in the collaborative process was essential for ensuring that all partners could meet their core business needs while also delivering the programme outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tooher
authors.affiliation: Vaccinology and Immunology Trials Unit, Womens and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Braunack-Mayer
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: S Rachel
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Maree
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, SA Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Vaccinology and Immunology Trials Unit, Womens and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Helen S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D000070516:Intersectoral Collaboration; D009111:Local Government; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: collaboration; education; health; interviews