Centre for Research Excellence in Integrated Quality Improvement
ABOUT US
Our vision for the Centre of Research Excellence in Integrated Quality Improvement (CRE-IQI) was to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes by accelerating and strengthening large-scale primary healthcare quality improvement efforts. Continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiatives are increasingly seen as an effective way of achieving this goal. Integrated quality improvement embeds CQI approaches into the core business of an organisation, creating a culture of improvement and systems that support it.
Led by the University of Sydney’s University Centre for Rural Health, the NHMRC funded CRE-IQI (2014-2019) involved a collaboration between researchers, policy and service delivery partners who have a long-standing commitment to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
Work carried out by the CRE-IQI was crucial in securing funding for the Centre of Research Excellence in Strengthening Systems for Indigenous Health Care Equity (CRE-STRIDE) 2020–2024 (NHMRC #1170882). CRE-STRIDE has exceptional Indigenous leadership and collaborative strengths. Service providers, policy makers and researchers will come together in a research program that aims to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health by embedding CQI knowledge into practice supported by policy, and by expanding the use of CQI to address the social and cultural determinants of health. The program is built on shared principles that support Indigenous leadership and strengthen Indigenous research capacity. Using Indigenous methodologies, participatory action research, and systems thinking approaches, the research will build new knowledge for: + increasing community engagement in quality improvement processes + strengthening health system capacity for quality improvement + applying quality improvement approaches to social and emotional wellbeing + quality improvement in health promotion and prevention. For more information, visit CRE-STRIDE.
An Innovation Platform
The CRE-IQI was established as an ‘innovation platform’. An innovation platform is a network of stakeholders who come together to exchange knowledge and develop joint action to bring about change. Innovation platforms help to break down siloes and create environments in which knowledge and innovation can thrive. They play a role in coordination, identification and addressing institutional and policy constraints and scaling up and out of best practices and learnings from experience.
Our Collaborators
- The George Institute for Global Health
- Menzies School of Health Research
- James Cook University
- Central Queensland University
- Hunter Medical Research Institute
- Northern Territory Department of Health
- The Lowitja Institute
- Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory
- Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
- South Australia Health and Medical Research Council
- Apunipima Cape York Health Council
- Southern Queensland Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (Inala Indigenous Health Service)
- Queensland Aboriginal & Islander Health Council
- Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia
- National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
- Queensland Health
- The University of Queensland
- The University of South Australia
OUR RESEARCH
Our Research aimed to:
- Refine and build new processes and tools;
- Improve data reporting systems;
- Improve use of CQI data in clinical governance, management and practice;
- Build CQI capacity in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce; and
- Monitor and evaluate the impact of the CRE-IQI Innovation Platform.
FLAGSHIP PROJECTS
- Engaging stakeholders in identifying priority evidence-practice gaps and strategies for improvement (‘ESP Project’). Project lead: Ross Bailie (University Centre for Rural Health) – View ESP project reports here
ALIGNED PRIORITY PROJECTS
EMERGING PRIORITY PROJECTS
OUR PEOPLE
CHIEF INVESTIGATORS
- Professor Ross Bailie, University Centre for Rural Health
- Professor David Peiris, The George Institute for Global Health
- Dr Frances Cunningham, Menzies School of Health Research
- Professor Sarah Larkins, James Cook University
- Professor Christopher Doran, Central Queensland University
- Professor Alan Cass, Menzies School of Health Research
- Ms Lynette Feeney, University Centre for Rural Health
- Associate Professor Roxanne Bainbridge, Central Queensland University
- Dr Paul Burgess, Northern Territory Department of Health
- Professor Komla Tsey, James Cook University
ASSOCIATE INVESTIGATORS
- Ms Kerry Copley, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory
- Professor Alex Brown, South Australia Health & Medical Research Institute
- Ms Louise Clark, Menzies School of Health Research
- Associate Professor Andrew Searles, Hunter Medical Research Institute
- Associate Professor Mark Wenitong, Apunipima Cape York Health Council
- Professor Deborah Askew, Southern Queensland Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care
- Associate Professor Janya McCalman, Central Queensland University
- Dr Ru Kwezda, University Centre for Rural Health
- Dr Elizabeth Moore, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory
- Professor Sabina Knight, James Cook University
- Ms Jenny Brands, Menzies School of Health Research
CRE-IQI STAFF BASED AT THE UCRH/USYD
- Ross Bailie (Director of UCRH and Chief Investigator)
- Veronica Matthews (Research Fellow, Epidemiology)
- Jodie Bailie (Research Fellow, Evaluation)
- Kathleen Conte (Research Fellow)
- Alison Laycock (Research Fellow, Translation)
- Kerryn Harkin (Project Officer)
RESOURCES
For more information about the CRE-IQI contact Jodie Bailie: jodie.bailie@sydney.edu.au or Kerryn Harkin: Kerryn.harkin@sydney.edu.au
