Few autistic adults perceive that health and social care professionals have good understanding of autism. The countywide Autism Champion Network evaluated here, is an equal partnership of both staff across sectors (Autism Champions) and individuals with lived experience. Autism Champions take knowledge gained back to their teams to support…

The impact of Australian disability policy reform, known as the National Disability Insurance Scheme, on the capacity of rural health and human service organizations to facilitate higher education has been poorly investigated. This study explored how health professionals perceive the impact of the National Disability Insurance Scheme on nursing…

Background: The research aim of this study was to analyse aspects of job satisfaction in daily work with people with intellectual disability (ID) in schools, social services and health care. Method: With a comparative approach we collected data via a digital questionnaire with in total 333 respondents. The empirical material was analysed through a…

This study presents a critical exploration of one of the "ACRL Framework" concepts by examining it in the context of professional practice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with health and human service professionals at a community health centre to explore how information literacy (IL) is experienced in the workplace. Value…

Part-time postgraduate students make up a significant proportion of the student population, yet their experience remains poorly understood. In this article, a multi-phase, explanatory mixed-method study conducted within Tasmanian health and human services provides some answers. Students reported improved job performance, self-esteem and increased…

Following Beacroft & Dodd's (2009) audit of pain recognition and management within learning disability services in Surrey, it was recommended that learning disability services should receive training in pain recognition and management. Two hundred and seventy-five services were invited to participate, of which 197 services in Surrey accepted…

Delivering essential health, education and human services in rural and remote communities remains a critical problem for Australia. When professionals have mandatory responsibilities (e.g. in child protection, law enforcement, education or mental health), tensions can arise between workers and the communities in which they live. This paper reports…

The cost of health care services and supports for mental health and addictions is important to know. In order to calculate it, one must know "who" is receiving "what" is being provided by "whom" at what "price". Without tracking these types of data, it is difficult to know the cost of the activities being…

The International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP) assessed the therapy status of fluency disorders, service opportunities, and education of logopedists (speech-language pathologists) with a mail survey in Eastern Europe. Information was collected on the following aspects: incidence, prevalence, availability of information,…

The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 was designed to address the wide variation in local authority provision for care leavers and to promote a more multi-dimensional approach to the process of leaving care. Care leavers are likely to be at greater risk of mental health difficulties than other young people and the transitional period from leaving…

In the rural regions of Nova Scotia, the Network for Children & Youth of Eastern Nova Scotia is attacking the problem of service fragmentation. The network addresses the multiple factors of health that contribute to the well-being of populations by coordinating the efforts of the 37 member agencies. Accomplishments and practical rules for…

A program was introduced by the provincial government of Alberta to meet the special needs of children from birth to eight years of age and their parents. The program plan was to coordinate the agencies which provide educational, home based health and resource services to young children and their families. (SE)

This study reports on a rural developmental project based on local coordination and Addiction Research Foundation (A.R.F.) community consultation. The purpose of the project is to develop addiction services and general community awareness in a small, northern, rural setting in Hastings County, Canada. The effect of the effort has been the…

Canada's deinstitutionalization and decentralization of mental health services has confronted communities with many problems. Families of the mentally ill are being required to do major caregiving without being provided with the necessary resources, as this case study illustrates. Counselors and health care professionals involved with families…

This proceedings contains approximately 100 conference papers and workshop summaries on rural health, education, and community development. The majority of the papers are concerned with conditions in rural Australia; about 20 examine rural issues in the United States; while a smaller number cover Canada, New Zealand, and European countries. A…