STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

SHAPE is a formally constituted non-profit organisation coordinated by an Executive which has representatives from each state and country involved. The Executive is elected at the Annual General Meeting. Terms of office are for two years and duties are undertaken on a voluntary basis.

The main activities of SHAPE include an annual symposium, periodic international conventions,  leadership and advice on education and research issues at local national and international level and facilitation of collaborative research and educational publications. A website is also maintained.

Annual Symposium

SHAPE holds an annual symposium within the region. Planning and logistical arrangements are shared between the SHAPE Executive and the Members in the State or country hosting the workshop.

Each Symposium provides opportunities for:

 Reports on educational developments from each of the Member Programs
 

- Reports on collaborative SHAPE research and educational activities
- Presentation of Member research
- Discussion of major policy and management issues facing health service managers and educational providers
- Discussion of educational issues
- Discussion of State and Regional issues
- Collaboration with the Australian College of Health Service Executives (ACHSE) and other professional Colleges on topical educational and professional development issues
- Presentation of the Dr Mary Harris Student Prize
- Networking and support

SHAPE attempts to keep the costs of the annual symposium at an affordable level to encourage attendance. Generally smaller, less expensive conference facilities accommodation are preferred.

At each Annual Symposium, SHAPE arranges guest speakers from the government, policy, health industry or education sector to update Members on topical and to discuss the implications for health service management education.

International Conventions and Seminars

Periodically SHAPE collaborates with other organisations or one of its Member Programs to organise special seminars and an International Convention. Generally the SHAPE Annual Symposium forms a component of these conferences that Members gain from the economies which can be achieved by running two activities together.

Networking

It is hoped that the web-site will encourage additional and more frequent news-sharing between programs and of events in each State and Country.

Collaborative Research and Educational Publications

Since its inception, members of SHAPE have undertaken a number of collaborative research projects. Some of these projects have also involved the Australian College of Health Service Executives ACHSE. Past projects have included:

The Changing Roles and Careers of Australian and New Zealand Health Service Managers: a collaborative workforce study involving members of The Society for Health Administration Programs in Education, The Australian College of Health Executives and The New Zealand Institute of Health Management.

"Managing Health Services - Concepts and Practice" - Mary G Harris and Associate.  A joint Publication of SHAPE  and ACHSE. (2 Editions: 2006 and 2008).
 More information available on front page of SHAPE website 

"Medicine Called to Account: Health Complaints Mechanism in Australia" - 2002. An Australian studies in Health Services Administration (ASHSA) publication in association with SHAPE.
 

Associate Professor Godfrey Isouard, National President
 

 

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