Health Justice Partnership - Multi-Disciplinary Practices: Research Evidencing Working Ethically to Ensure Reach to Those in Most Need & Improve Outcomes

This paper will examine the emergence of Health Justice Partnerships (HJP) in Australia and will discuss some action research evaluations that embedded in services from start-up that being undertaken by Dr Curran. The evaluation research not only measures service effectiveness but also examines and measures positive outcomes and any progress in the social determinants of health as a result of the intervention. As the research is gathered what is emerging is the elements leading to effectiveness for lawyers working in integrated models. Non legal professionals such as allied health and health professionals work with lawyers on site with a focus on problem solving a client/patients often complex and multiple problems. The paper will explore how they have found ways to not just work ethically but building a mutual capacity and an awareness of ethical boundaries as well as 'work arounds' that ensure ethical practice but also focus on client outcomes. This has seen a building of understandings of different roles and duties of different professionals, a breaking down of barriers and stereotypes of lawyers and closer co-operation and respect emerging. The paper will flag the types of lawyer and lawyering that are evidently helpful in ensuring multi disciplinary teams can work together more holistically and systemically to achieve better outcomes for clients and community