January 16, 2025The Virtual Communities in Healthcare event, held in December, highlighted the transformative power of digital platforms to connect people, ideas, and expertise across professions and borders.
The event was a collaborative initiative led by RMIT University in partnership with Northern Health. Coordinated by the Northern Health Library, it aimed to build a network of virtual communities to tackle critical healthcare challenges.
The event brought together over 35 participants, including researchers, health professionals, and digital technology experts, to explore how virtual communities can foster collaboration, improve access to knowledge, and drive innovation.
Expert speakers Dr Leah Li (RMIT University), Professor Wanda Stelmach (Northern Health), and Associate Professor Anthony Gust (Northern Health) shared insights on leveraging digital technologies to support healthcare professionals and provide social support to individuals with chronic illnesses and disadvantaged groups, particularly CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) communities.
This partnership exemplifies how combining academic expertise with patient-centered care can make a tangible impact. Together, Northern Health and RMIT University are co-creating frameworks that strengthen support systems for healthcare professionals and improve equity in healthcare delivery.
Virtual communities are also proving to be powerful tools in reducing health inequities and addressing social determinants of health.
Northern Health’s Health Literacy Coordinator, Jo van Dort, explained, “Health equity is a fundamental principle in healthcare. Virtual communities for healthcare delivery have significant potential to address health inequalities and social determinants of health.”
The program featured a dynamic panel discussion that encouraged participants to share insights, ask questions, and collaborate.
Tania Barry, Director of Library and Information Literacy Services at Northern Health, said, “Bringing together expertise from communication, digital health and applied health disciplines, this workshop showcased how virtual communities can enhance health service delivery and management.”
As we look to the future, the outcomes of this event will pave the way for stronger networks, enhanced healthcare delivery, and innovative partnerships that bridge the gap between academic research and real-world healthcare challenges.
For more information or to stay connected with ongoing initiatives, please contact the Northern Health Library team.
