Power, Collaboration, and Strategies for Improving Public Health across Albury and Wodonga

Assignment Scenario

Albury in New South Wales and Wodonga in Victoria are twin cities separated geographically by the Murray River and politically by a State border, in Australia. It also houses the Albury-Wodonga regional cancer care hospital. According to the 2016 Census of Population, there were 47,974 people in Albury and 39,351 people in Wodonga. Wodonga has a long-standing commitment to creating a healthy and well community. The council believes and strives for equal right to good health, safety, equitable access to inclusion and participation. The council focuses on Family violence issues and inclusion strategy. It also addresses obesity issues through healthy food connect programs. Albury focuses on reducing the local impact of drugs and alcohol, by engaging with organisations and community groups on local projects and identify opportunities to improve its services. It also focuses on food safety regulations along with NSW food authority; working with food businesses through inspections and seminars. The council is involved in public safety through environment monitoring and control including fire safety, mosquito control, asbestos removal etc.

The 2 city councils have decided to put together community groups that will work across the two cities in the region, with 2 mandates

1. Increase the immunisation rates across the cities by 5% in one year. (As of 31st December 2014, Albury Council is no longer providing immunisation services).

2. Increase cancer screening rates in the region and report back to the cancer care hospital independently with interventions.

3. Assess the risks inherent in both cities in regard to population health and report back to both city councils with potential recommendations for change. In your groups:

1. You are a community group, based in one of the cities (with a strong affiliation to one city).

2. The team members will assume that they have their professional strengths (real background) and values as well as personal leadership strengths (So if you a medical background you assume this in the team, etc).

3. Your group needs to deal with communities in both cities, stakeholders in the government (local) and federal, hospitals, organisations, public health entities and programs. Consider people, strengths and weaknesses in each city.

4. Focus on also how to facilitate changes in the group and in the dealings with the stakeholders.

5. Undertake wide research in the geographic regions and its politics before proposing potential interventions. Considering these, you will address 3 parts of the presentation:

1. Power

• In the context, what type of power do you have as a team?

• Over whom do you have this type of power? (Eg. City council, Hospital, particular city/population??)

• What values should you hold, and what ethical considerations should you be aware of? (Hint: Think about the focus in each city in relation to
Public Health and also the political affiliations).

2. Collaboration and empowerment

• With whom do you need to collaborate as a team?

• What strategies (plans of action) can you use to facilitate collaboration?

• How can you empower the people you lead?

• How can you have good governance (sharing responsibility, accountability and power)?

3. Change

What strategies (plans of action) could you use to facilitate change to respond effectively to the scenario?

1. Power In the context (scenario provided), what type of power do you have as a team?Over whom do you have this type of power? What values should you hold, and what ethical considerations should you be aware of?

2. Collaboration and empowerment: With whom do you need to collaborate as a team? What strategies (plans of action) can you use to facilitate collaboration? How can you empower the people you lead? How can you have good governance (sharing responsibility, accountability
and power)?

3. Change: What strategies (plans of action) could you use to facilitate change management to respond effectively to the scenario?
Note: It is mandatory that each group member will present (speak).

Assessment Criteria

Your assessment will be assessed against the following criteria:

• Effectively explains the relationships among leadership, power, ethics and values in different leadership roles (25%)

• Effectively applies strategies to facilitate collaboration and empowerment of others and governance (including accountability) (25%)