Background

The International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health is held once every 3 years, with the aim of promoting the development of social work in health and mental health, and to encourage the international sharing of information and resources regarding education, research and practice. The 5th International Conference will be held in Hong Kong in December 2006. The Organizing Committee views that the International Conference as a means to promote more evidence-based social work practices in Hong Kong.

Following to the Forum on Evidence-based Practice ~ Social Worker and Academic Collaboration which was held in December last year, the Committee is delighted to announce the first of a series of workshops which will be held at the beginning of April, 2005.

One-day Workshop on “Practice Research for Social Workers in Health and Mental Health"

In this one-day workshop, Dr. Joubert will discuss the academic-frontline workers practice research partnerships. She will emphasize the importance of practice research in professional development, new skills (data base management, research design, evaluation models, the research process, data analysis, report writing), ability to present to colleagues, staff retention, gaining respect from other colleagues, changes in work place procedures and recording, and increased enthusiasm and motivation for practice.

This workshop will pay special attention to the Clinical Data Mining technique which is a powerful yet highly feasible research method for practitioners. Clinical data is a readily available dataset that contains rich practice information. Clinical Data Mining provides a systematic approach in making sense of this valuable, but often ignored dataset. Not only the method can generate useful research findings, the study process itself can also promote intra- and inter-disciplinary collaborations which very often are as fruitful as the final results.

Half-day Workshop on “Collaborative Research in Healthcare Settings"

A recent Allied Health Review at St Vincent's Health, Melbourne, Australia promoted collaboration in practice research amongst the professions involved. This is in line with international trends in the systemic involvement of allied health professionals in health service delivery development and implementation. This field laboratory requires theoretical models of research that not only embrace traditional scientific models and inferential statistical analysis, but also integrate these with innovative approaches that access the broader systemic issues that impact on quality care and outcomes. These include integrated quantitative and qualitative methodologies, focus groups, ethnographic approaches, grounded research, program logic and data-mining. These initiatives reflect the transition of the allied health professions from a position of being informed largely by practice wisdom and theory, to practice informed by reflection and evidence.

This workshop targets at both social workers and allied health professionals such as nurses, physiotherapies, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, special teachers, vocational rehabilitation trainers, etc.

About the Speaker

Dr. Lynette Joubert is a Lecturer in the School of Social Work of the University of Melbourne, Australia. Trained in both social work and clinical psychology, she teaches subjects like Social Work with Individuals and Families, Social Work Practice Research and Social Work in Mental Health. Dr. Joubert has also been providing consultancy on Practice Research in social work in a number of hospitals in Melbourne since year 2000. She has presented her works in many conferences since 1981, including previous International Health and Mental Health Social Work Conference in Quebec and Finland.

Date and Time
One-day workshop on “Practice Research for Social Workers in Health and Mental Health" 1st April, 2005 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Half-day Workshop on “Collaborative Research in Healthcare Settings"
2nd April, 2005 from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm

Venue
Room 103, Duke of Windsor Social Service Building
15 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong

Registration Deadline
28th March, 2005