Leading a Learning Health System in the Asia Pacific

Leading a Learning Health System in the Asia Pacific

Leading a Learning Health System (LLHS) is a flexible program for health professionals working in the health system with a focus on the Asia Pacific.

The Program aims to develop leadership capabilities that enable the health workforce and strengthen health systems through use of data, quality improvement and implementation research. Based on a Learning Health System framework leadership model promotes the integration of research, policy, and practice to drive locally led, continuous health system improvement.  It aims to increase Learning Health System literacy and capability in the countries which serve to benefit most from this approach.

Participants include hospital staff (doctors, nurses and allied health), University academics and staff from Ministry of Health in our partner countries – Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Fiji and Vanuatu. With an initial focus on paediatrics and women, we have expanded inclusion across a diverse range of health and education professionals. Since 2023 we have built a network of more than 800 individuals across the region.

Delivered by The University of Melbourne Department Paediatrics as part of Melbourne Children’s Global Health (MCGH) - a collaborative group that spans The University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne – the program draws on expertise from all partners across clinical, education and research domains.

What does the program cover?

The program is delivered in flexible formats to meet participant and partner needs.  Our content and offerings are shaped by our partners, for our partners, through ongoing evaluation and feedback.

• The core program is a one-year longitudinal program which aims to build and support leadership development through practical application over the year, combining intensives in Melbourne with activities in participant home countries and mentoring in a Community of Practice.
• One, two or three-day workshops have been delivered in participant home countries with content shaped around local needs.
• Webinars and lectures have been provided to support ongoing professional development of participants and to share expertise with a broader audience.

Core program

The Program includes two in-person weeks with continuing engagement through an online Community of Practice and virtual mentoring or professional development sessions with Australian experts.

In the first week, participants engage in an intensive and interactive leadership course based on the Learning Health System framework, focusing on fostering a culture of continuous learning, utilising data to drive care improvements and lead change. Tailored observerships across the Melbourne Children’s Campus can be arranged and links are made with experts on our Campus to help grow professional networks.

On return to their home countries participants undertake a quality improvement project they have developed during the intensive, with remote support through online forum to discuss problems and progress.

During the second in-person week, the program digs deeper into strategies for quality improvement, behaviour change and implementation research. The content emphasises practical frameworks, engagement with consumers, and methods for evaluating implementation activities to understand their impact. Over the course of the week projects are discussed and refined

What do our participants say?

“Before boarding the plane, I questioned, ‘This course is about leadership, but will it truly make me a leader?’ After experiencing the week, I can confidently say, I am both honored and privileged to have attended this course. It is absolutely worth every dime invested. One take away that resonates with me is ‘the course empowers agents of positive change.’ This is not just a statement; it’s a powerful call to action.”

“I would like to thank DFAT for giving me the opportunity to attend this course that brightens my knowledge and shows opportunities to do better in my place of work. To be able to share and connect with other colleagues from other countries doing the same thing - to make things better for our people and country and across the globe.”

How can I get involved?

Our core program in Melbourne has been supported through DFAT Australia Awards Fellowship between 2023-2025. Having heard from our participants about the power of bringing people together from different countries we are keen to continue this program and are currently exploring funding avenues.

Many in-country custom workshops have been supported by local institutions and partners. If participant and venue costs can be covered locally, our team will support our own costs travel and facilitate the program.

If you are interested in exploring options for delivery, please reach out to us at paeds-general-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au.