title: The Building Partnerships Program: An Approach to Community-Based Learning for Medical Students in Australia.
abstract: The Building Partnerships Program at the University of Queensland, Australia seeks to address the dual challenge of preparing doctors who are responsive to the community while providing a meaningful context for social sciences learning. Through partnerships with a diverse range of community agencies, the program offers students opportunities to gain non-clinical perspectives on health and illness through structured learning activities including: family visits; community agency visits and attachments; and interview training. Students learn first-hand about psychosocial influences on health and how people manage health problems on a day-to-day basis. They also gain insights into the work of community agencies and how they as future doctors might work in partnership with them to enhance patient care. We outline the main components of the program, identify challenges and successes from student and community agency perspectives, and consider areas that invite further development.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Primary Health Care School of Population Health University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Frances M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Primary Health Care School of Population Health University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: T Natasha
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Posner
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Primary Health Care School of Population Health University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Allyson J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mutch
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Primary Health Care School of Population Health University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Farley
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Primary Health Care School of Population Health University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Primary Health Care School of Population Health University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne-Louise
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Nilsson
keywords: Education; Medical; Non-profit;; Organizations; Primary Health Care;; Self-Help Groups;; Undergraduate