Building a systems thinking prevention workforce

Area of Science:

• Public health systems
• Workforce development
• Systems thinking in practice

Background:

• Healthy Together Victoria (HTV) implemented a large-scale systems approach to prevention.
• The initiative aimed to build the capacity of an inexperienced workforce in systems theories and practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the development of systems practice capacity within the HTV intervention.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to workforce capacity-building in a systems approach.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research utilizing 31 semi-structured interviews.
• Deductive thematic analysis informed by a workforce development framework.
• Causal loop diagrams were developed from coded data.

Main Results:

• Training facilitated practice change but lacked coordination and broad participation.
• Governance, policies, funding, leadership, and team support strengthened the systems approach.
• Unspecified theory and funding cuts hindered capacity-building, leading to knowledge loss.

Conclusions:

• Capacity-building necessitates a holistic approach addressing individual and environmental factors, particularly organizational culture.
• Effective training must impart practical systems thinking skills.
• Embedding practice change requires consideration of policies, resources, and stakeholder needs.