We’re hearing that secondary consultation – both formal and informal – is an invaluable way of maintaining relationships and building trust when practitioners are not able to work together face-to-face. Having regular consultations can help to navigate changes in referral patterns, and can also help ensure appropriate and timely referrals.
We’ve spoken with a number of experienced HJP practitioners about what secondary consultation looks like in practice. One of the key things we’ve heard is the importance of secondary consultation as both a method and a measure of engagement: counting the number of secondary consultations indicates that practitioners know about the partnership and that they understand the referral pathways. As one legal practitioner explained, ‘low numbers (of consults) might indicate knowledge gaps, which could lead to valuable professional development or CLE opportunities. The number of consults and the topics raised might also help to identify systemic issues or law reform or advocacy opportunities’.
So, if you’re looking at ways to maintain engagement and referrals with your partners, why not reach out to them and discuss the value of secondary consultation and how it might be used in your own HJP?
You can find further insights into secondary consultation in health justice partnership in Health Justice Australia’s resource Secondary consultation in health justice partnership – insights from practice.
If you need more support, please email partnerships@healthjustice.org.au.