title: The use of secondments as a tool to increase knowledge translation.
abstract: This paper discusses the use of secondments as a tool to increase knowledge translation between academics and policy makers by developing individual capacity. A case study is presented of a reciprocal secondment between a government department and a university. Enablers of knowledge translation included flexibility and support, a prior relationship between the two organisations, and a government culture that values use of research in policy making. Barriers included the lack of a planned approach with agreed outcomes, and a lack of evaluation at the end of the secondment. Recommendations for future secondments include establishing ongoing secondments between organisations; trialling different types of secondments; and having a detailed plan at the beginning of a secondment, including how the success of the secondment will be measured, and a formal evaluation at the end.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, lily.jenkins@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Donoughue Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT.
authors.forename: Kaarin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Anstey
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D018672:Community Health Planning; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*