Our Work

Evidence-informed health policies and programs

Client: National Health & Medical Research Council

This project aimed to determine the implications of providing a ‘fit-for-purpose definition’ for ‘discretionary foods and drinks’ to the Australian Dietary Guidelines. The outcomes of this project informed the NHMRC on how to improve the clarity of the guidelines. ehc conducted an international scoping review of peer-reviewed and grey literature to examine how other countries, comparable to Australia, differentiate between ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ foods and drinks for application in nutrition policy actions. This project was led by Professor Amanda Lee from The University of Queensland and ehc worked collaboratively with a group of academics.

Client: Hunter New England Local Health District

ehc conducted a scanning review of evidence on obesity prevention interventions set in primary schools. We specifically focused on the implementation practices that were common to effective school-based interventions or policies. We analysed the evidence against the existing NSW policy ‘Life Live Well @ School’ framework. This project provided a strong evidence base for NSW State government decision makers to review and update the framework to support successful school-based strategies.

Designing programs with propelo™

Client: Mater Mother’s Hospital

ehc are supporting the implementation of txt4two with clinicians from the Mater Mother’s Hospital. txt4two is a personalised text message-delivered program that supports women through their pregnancy. Its aim is to support women to achieve their dietary and exercise goals through regular communication through texting, links to quality online information, videos, and recipes developed by Mater Dietitians, Physios, Midwives and Obstetricians. ehc have been involved in the refinement of the evidence-based txt4two program and in deploying it to propelo to enable wide-scale delivery.

Client: Hunter New England Local Health District

ehc are supporting the development of a text message delivered program to support postnatal women in first 2,000 days of their child’s life. We are working with staff from the Hunter New England Local Health District to conduct user engagement activities to design a tailored program that sits within their broader service delivery framework. We’re listening to postnatal women, mapping their journey and understanding their reactions to proposed text messages. We’re also talking with midwives and child and health nurses to understand how the program can support and extend the reach of the care they provide for these women.

Health service and program evaluations

Client: Cancer Screening Unit, Queensland Health

ehc was selected to conduct a review of cervical screening and women’s health services across rural and remote Queensland. The review has seen ehc conduct extensive consultation with nurses and managers of the Mobile Women’s Health Service and the Outreach Clinics offered by TRUE Relationships & Reproductive Health. We have also audited services using state-wide data on Cervical Screening Tests and STI screening tests. Equity to health services is essential, especially in Queensland where women are living in rural and remote areas. This project will make recommendations on how to strengthen the service to improve effectiveness, equity, efficiency and sustainability.

Client: Share the Dignity

‘Share the Dignity’ is an Australian charity bringing dignity to women and girls experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and period poverty through the distribution of sanitary items. ehc worked with Share the Dignity to help them understand how they could approach an area they’re passionate about: supporting menstrual health and hygiene for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Through interviews with key stakeholders, literature reviews and analysis of charity’s current practices, we highlighted key areas that require work before they can make meaningful contributions to this area of need. ehc also worked with Share the Dignity to review the ways in which they collect and use data. We helped them design a strategic approach to how the charity can harness the data they collect to drive and refine their vision.

Community Consultation

Client: Ipswich City Council

ehc supported ROSS Planning on the Ipswich City Council’s Analysis of Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity project. We consolidated multiple sources of data from the Ipswich community and analysed a community survey of over 1,500 residents. The outcomes of this project will help Ipswich City Council to plan much needed infrastructure, programs and policies to support healthy, active living of their community.

Client: UQ Healthy Living Centre (UQHLC)

ehc worked with academics from The University of Queensland (UQ) to inform the translation of an evidence-based intervention into practice. ‘Activate’ is a text message-delivered program designed to extend the care offered through clinical contact between allied health professionals and their clients. ehc ran consultation processes with clients and staff of the UQHLC. We also audited the clinical processes of UQHLC to understand the client journey. Whilst clients and staff are motivated to embrace an adapted version of Activate in the clinic, there are foundational service adjustments required first. ehc are working collaboratively with UQHLC and UQ academics to take the next steps together on enhancing the reach and impact of the healthy living services.

Professional Development

Client: Cancer Screening Unit, Queensland Health

The state-wide Quality Group for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program met for a capacity building workshop. Brianna Fjeldsoe and Sheleigh Lawler (School of Public Health, The University of Queensland) facilitated a 4-hour session. We surveyed workshop attendees before the session to learn about their existing experiences and knowledge and to under what they wanted out of the workshop session. Based on these survey responses, the aims of this workshop were for attendees to: understand the need for evidence-based practice;  understand and be able to apply the current evidence on cancer screening participation strategies; develop an ‘in-progress’ program logic model for attendees’ NBCSP Participation Plan; and, build confidence in their ability to use tools and resources to make the most of the new funding opportunity. Twelve health promotion officers from across the State attended the workshop, and eight attendees completed the feedback survey. Feedback on the session was very positive. Attendees reported a common key learning from the workshop was: “evidence is evidence, on the ground doing what we do is evidence!”

Client: ROSS Planning

We conducted a 2-hour professional development workshop with staff from ROSS Planning on: “Where is physical activity headed?” Before the session we surveyed attendees to understand what they wanted to gain from the workshop. Based on this the workshop covered four main topics: Defining and measuring physical activity; Overweight and obesity in Australia; Case studies of active communities; Queensland’s opportunities. Six staff attended the session. The session was interactive, free-flowing and generated a lot of energy and discussion among ROSS Planning staff.