In a 2023 tutorial, ‘How to start a health justice partnership’, Health Justice Australia’s Research Director Suzie Forell answered a question we often hear – ‘What’s your advice about the collection of data when you’re beginning a health justice partnership?’ Here is Suzie’s response.
Before you consider the question of what data to collect, it’s important to discuss with your partner what you each need to learn about your HJP and how you will use that information.
For example:
- Are you and your partners interested in learning from the implementation of the partnership and improving as you go?
- Do you need information or data to tell your funders that the partnership is on track? What does ‘on track’ look like to them?
- Do you want to know what difference the partnership will make, to each of your services and to your clients? What data or information would indicate the outcomes you are expecting?
- If you are interested in ‘improvement’ what does the situation look like now and do you have ‘baseline’ data to show that?
If you read the above questions and you think you need all of it, we understand! But it’s important to prioritise what makes the most sense given where you are at right now. Consider documenting how things are now, so you can show change later. Consider what data each partner is already collecting, and what that might tell you.
Our best advice is to keep your data collection modest and manageable – with a really clear sense of why and for whom you are gathering the information.
If you need more support, please email partnerships@healthjustice.org.au.
