Policy Analysis: Victorian Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Plan 2014-2018 - Term Paper Example

POLICY ANALYSIS: VICTORIAN REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKERS HEALTH PLAN 2014-2018 Name Professor Institution Course Date Policy Analysis: Victorian Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Plan 2014-2018 Introduction Policy analysis is one of the essential aspects in relation to understanding the importance and influence of the policy. This is through effective and efficiency understanding of the purpose, goals, mission, and vision of the policy in accordance with the expectations and demands of the target audience. Policy analysis comes out as the final step within the policy process, which is ideal in the determination of the value and usefulness of the policy. The objective of policy analysis is to determine the influence and potentiality of the existing policy in addressing the demands and expectations of the public with reference to the general welfare of the citizens. From this perspective, policy analysis is essential in offering decision makers with important information on how policies work in practice, as well as their effects on economic, environmental, social, and other factors. The purpose of this research is to execute an extensive analysis in relation to the Victorian Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Action Plan 2014-2018 with the intention of determining its effectiveness and efficiency in the achievement of the goals and targets. The policy is essential in offering long-term strategic direction or guideline for the Victorian healthcare system with a statewide approach to early health assessment and follow-up care for numerous refugees and asylum seekers. The purpose of the policy/plan is to offer guidance, as well as support to people from refugee backgrounds and individuals working within the Victorian health system to facilitate effective and efficient response to health and mental health needs. Criteria for Analysing Policy In the course of analysing this policy, the study will focus on utilisation of the following criteria: Goals In this context, the study will focus on determination of the explicit stating of the goals in the development, documentation, and presentation of the policy. In addition, the analysis will seek to evaluate whether the policy spells out the goals and objectives in accordance with the desired outcome. Secondly, the analysis will seek to evaluate whether the goals are concrete enough for further evaluation or assessment (Cheung, Mirzaei, & Leeder, 2010). This is through examination of the ability of the analysis to examine the goals qualitatively and quantitatively in relation to the desired goals and targets. The third aspect of this criterion will focus on the clarity of the goals with reference to its intent, as well as mechanism, which is appropriate in the achievement of the desired goals, yet does not attempt to prescribe in detail the aspect of change. Furthermore, it is critical to assess whether the policy centres on improvement of the health of the population. Similarly, it is essential to determine whether the policy enjoys support from the evidence of external consistency in logically drawing a health outcome from the goals, as well as outcome of the policy. Finally, it is ideal to determine the influence of internal validity in offering support for the policy outcome. Resources In this context, the analysis will focus on the assessment of the ability of the policy to address financial resources (Cheung, Mirzaei, & Leeder, 2010). This is through mentioning of the cost of condition to community, estimation of the financial resources, allocation of financial resources, and illustration of rewards/sanction for spending the allocated resources on diverse programs. The analysis will seek to assess the ability and potentiality of the policy/action to address human resources, as well as the organisational capacity. Monitoring and Evaluation In this context, the analysis will seek to determine and address the following questions: i. Does the policy indicate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms? ii. Does the policy nominate a committee or independent body to perform the evaluation? iii. Does the policy identify outcome measures for each of the explicit, as well as implicit objectives? iv. Does the policy illustrate or describe data for evaluation, collected before, during, and after the introduction of the new policy? v. Does the policy integrate follow up criteria after sufficient period to allow the effects of policy change to become evident? vi. Does the policy identify other factors, which could produce valuable change other than the policy? vii. Does the policy illustrate adequate and clear criteria for evaluation process? Obligations In the course of analysing the policy, this criterion will seek to determine the following sections: i. Does the policy specific or identify the obligations of the various implementers or relevant stakeholders in the course of implementing the action? ii. Does the policy specify existing duties of the health professionals in the course of addressing the desired goals and targets? iii. Are scientific results compelling for action or policy? iv. Are health professionals obliged to the population to act in the area? Accessibility In this aspect, the analysis will consider evaluation of the accessibility of the policy document with reference to hard copy or online platforms. This will be essential in assessment of the potentiality of the target audiences to access or gain substantial information concerning the policy, goals, and evaluation aspects (Cheung, Mirzaei, & Leeder, 2010). The approach is also ideal in examination of the effectiveness and efficiency of the policy to enhance the awareness of the target audiences on the goals and targets of the action with reference to improvement of the health conditions of the population. Analysis of the Policy: Victorian Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Plan 2014-2018 Goals Victorian Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Plan 2014-2018 action plan focuses on articulating the commitment and action of the Victorian Government with the intention of improving the physical and mental health of refugees, as well as asylum seekers. The plan describes Victoria’s partnership approach focusing on the delivery of responsive, as well as appropriate healthcare in the right setting at the right time with the intention of maximizing health and wellbeing outcomes. In the course of achieving these purposes, the action plan contributes through outlining five priority action areas to facilitate the achievement of the goals and targets: accessibility, service coordination, expertise in refugee health, cultural responsiveness, and health literacy and communication. From critical analysis of the policy, it is essential to note that the action plan does not illustrate the goals clearly. Nevertheless, it is possible to understand the goals and targets of the policy through evaluation of the overall outcomes following implementation and integration of the policy. For instance, the policy focuses on improving access to essential health and mental healthcare on arrival in the region while enhancing understanding the relationship between health services and support services in the Victoria work (Department of Health, 2014). Another goal of the action plan is to increase expertise to screen, identify, treat, and manage illness with the intention of maximising opportunities for the disease prevention. In addition, the action plan seeks to attain the goal of reducing barriers with access through delivery of healthcare in clinically- and cost-appropriate settings. It is possible to evaluate the goals qualitatively and quantitatively after implementation of the action plan, thus effective and efficient for monitoring and evaluation process. Accessibility The policy/action plan is accessible through hard copy and online platforms. This level of accessibility is essential in enabling people or target audiences to grasp and understand the concepts and elements of the policy in accordance with the expectations or goals at the end of the strategic period. In addition, the level of accessibility provides the opportunity to monitor and evaluate the progress and success of the action plan/policy in addressing the goals and objectives at the end of the strategic implementation period. Resources The policy document highlights financial components in relation to the achievement of the goals and targets at the end of the strategic period. This is through development and documentation of an investment table highlighting on the need to improve refugee and asylum seeker health. Presentation of the financial statements and aspects of the policy is essential in determination of the feasibility of the policy in addressing the goals and targets with reference to demands and expectations of the target audiences (Department of Health, 2014). Nevertheless, the policy focuses on illustrating diverse roles and obligations of HR departments as the relevant components of Victoria’s approach. For instance, the policy is vital in illustrating mainstream health services with reference to community health services, dental health services, general practice, specialist health services, aged care services, local government services, and vision and hearing services. These elements are essential in the achievement of the goals and targets of the policy with reference to improvement of delivery of health products and services to refugees and asylum. The policy also illustrates specialised CALD and refugee programs, as well as initiatives with the intention of understanding the resources for the achievement of the goals and targets. The policy demonstrates partners and sector support with the objective of illustrating resources for execution of the action plan. Monitoring and Evaluation In the first instance, the policy document does not integrate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in relation to adoption and implementation of the policy to address the goals and targets with reference to demands and expectations of the target audiences. The policy does not nominate a committee or entity, which might be vital for monitoring and evaluating the progress of the policy. In addition, the policy does not provide mechanisms or techniques in relation to collection and analysis of data with reference to monitoring and evaluation of the progress of the policy or action. On the other hand, the policy provides the opportunity for the target audiences and decision-makers to assess the progress of the policy through evaluation of the overall outcomes of the action plan (Department of Health, 2014). These attributes are essential in understanding the progress, as well as desired state of the policy or action plan. The policy/action plan does not incorporate clear or adequate approach and mechanism for evaluation of the progress, thus limiting the effectiveness and efficiency of its implementation. Obligation The policy is vital in illustrating the obligation of diverse sectors and partners in the course of addressing the goals and targets. For instance, the policy is vital in illustrating the functions and roles of the community health services, dental health services, general practice, specialist health services, aged care services, local government services, and vision and hearing services. The policy is also appropriate in illustrating the roles and obligations of the healthcare practitioners to facilitate the achievement of the goals and targets at the end of the strategic period (Department of Health, 2014). Evaluation of the Health Promotion Capacity of the Policy According to Ottawa Charter, health promotion relates to the process of enabling people to increase substantial control over, and to improve, their health (WHO, 1995). In addition, the process must incorporate elements of enabling people to achieve a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing through identification and realisation of aspirations for satisfaction of the needs while changing or coping with the environment. From this perspective, health promotion is not just the responsibility of the health sector, but goes beyond health lifestyles to wellbeing. It is essential to note that the health promotion action means building healthy public policies, which goes beyond health care. From this perspective, it is essential to note that the Victorian Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Plan 2014-2018 is appropriate in promotion health within the region of interest. This is because of the ability of the policy to integrate health on the agenda of the policymakers in all sectors at all levels. Health promotion concentrates on integration of concrete and effective community action in setting priorities, making decisions, planning strategies, and implementation of the attributes to achieve better health within the community (WHO, 1995). This policy focuses on the reduction of the barriers to access through delivery of healthcare in clinically and cost-appropriate settings. This is through incorporation of more effective service coordination and information sharing and communication between diverse clients and service providers under the influence of appropriate language services. The policy is vital in understanding the role of the diverse sectors in relation to the improvement or promotion of the public health while adopting and implementing appropriate mechanisms and techniques. This is through implementing diverse elements of interest to address healthcare issues and problems affecting the refugees and asylum seekers within the context of Victoria. These attributes or elements are in line with the perception of the Ottawa Charter in relation to health promotion within the community. Conclusion Policy analysis is the final step within the policy process, which is ideal in the determination of the value and usefulness of the policy. Policy analysis is essential in offering decision makers with important information on how policies work in practice, as well as their effects on economic, environmental, social, and other factors. This report focused on executing an extensive analysis in relation to the Victorian Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Action Plan 2014-2018 with the intention of determining its effectiveness and efficiency in the achievement of the goals and targets. From the above illustrations, the policy is appropriate in handling the demands and expectations of the target audiences with reference to improved healthcare among the refugees and asylum seekers in the case of Victoria. List of References World Health Organization. 1995. Health promotion: Ottawa Charter= Promotion santé, Charte d'Ottawa. Department of Health, 2014, “Victorian Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Action Plan 2014- 2018.” Impact Digital, Brunswick. Cheung, K. K., Mirzaei, M., & Leeder, S. 2010. Health policy analysis: a tool to evaluate in policy documents the alignment between policy statements and intended outcomes. Australian Health Review, 34(4), 405-413. Read More