Building Innovative Partnerships Develops Future Leaders in Healthcare

A collaboration between St Vincent's and Mater Health Sydney (SVMHS) and two arms of the University of New England (UNE), UNE Partnerships and the Graduate School of Business (GSB) has resulted in the development of a program for leaders at SVMHS who are leading, or will lead the organisation into the future. It represents a model of partnership between a large organisation, an RTO and a university that provides many benefits. The Graduate Leadership Program (“the Program”) caters for leaders at SVMHS, and builds on an existing leadership training framework within SVMHS. The Program is practical, workplace-focussed, and delivered in a blended learning mode by UNE Partnerships, incorporating graduate units from UNE's GSB. The Program is designed around themes of People, Strategy, Systems and Practice, encompassing foundation leadership and management modules from the Advanced Diploma of Business Management, and two graduate units from the GSB. It is conducted over a 24 month period, and consists of a one-day orientation, followed by eight 2-day enrichment workshops, with further study by distance learning mode. Participants create individual and group projects that apply learning to their immediate workplace context and contribute to the strategic directions of SVMHS. Phase One consists of a two year program of study leading to dual qualifications in Advanced Diploma of Business Management, and Graduate Certificate of Management. The UNE Partnerships Advanced Diploma provides two units of credit to the Graduate Certificate, and an additional unit of credit is carried forward into the Graduate Diploma of Management in Phase Two. Final progression occurs in Phase Three to a full Masters in Business Administration (MBA). The first cohort of students will finish at the end of 2008.