Australasian Interprofessional Practice and Education Network (AIPPEN)
Background
Health care and health workforce challenges are cross sectoral and involve multiple stakeholders – patients, carers, practitioners, managers, institutions such as universities and the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, companies and governments. The best outcomes and the best quality of care happens when all the players work in a collaborative way. One element of this collaboration is provided by interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional practice (IPP). The outcome is interprofessional learning (IPL) which evolves from collaboration experienced through interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional practice (IPE).
Australasian educators and health care practitioners have been working to implement IPE and IPP in their institutions and work places. They have been guided in this work by British, European and North American colleagues, especially by the work of The UK Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education (CAIPE). CAIPE has defined interprofessional education as occurring ‘when two or more professions learn with, from and about each other to improve collaboration and the quality of care’ (CAIPE 2002). IPP is when the results of this learning are put into practice in the health workplace and in the community.
During the ‘All Together Better Health Conference in London’ (April 2006) a group of Australians and New Zealanders interested in the development of IPE and IPP formed an embryonic Australasian network: AIPPEN.
What is AIPPEN
AIPPEN is a network of individuals, groups, institutions and organisations committed to researching, delivering, promoting and supporting IPL (IPE and IPP).
Purpose
The primary aim is to promote better health care outcomes and enhance IPE and IPP through IPL in Australia and New Zealand by developing a network to promote communication and collaboration among members.
Objectives
Promote the development of a network that can link health professional education and care sectors, universities, VET sector, government, practitioners and service users (patients)
Organise a series of seminars and conferences to share information and experiences
Influence workforce policy and practice change in Australia and New Zealand
Encourage research, evaluation and collaboration between different teams that can demonstrate the health care and economic advantages of IPL
Disseminate information on IPL
Action
ACT Health IPL thinktank – 3 November 2006
Sydney University Conference 2007 – Proposed launch of AIPPEN
All Together Better Health 1V in Stockholm 2008 – Proposed International launch of AIPPEN