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Queensland Health – a leadership development journey: A case study

Meagan Crethar (Healthcare Culture and Leadership Service, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Australia)
Jan Phillips (Healthcare Culture and Leadership Service, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Australia)
Paula Brown (Healthcare Culture and Leadership Service, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Australia)

Leadership in Health Services

ISSN: 1751-1879

Article publication date: 4 October 2011

2181

Abstract

Purpose

This paper is a descriptive case study which seeks to outline how leadership development is being utilised across Queensland Health (Queensland Department of Health, Australia) to achieve improvements in workplace culture and ultimately improvements in clinical care and patient outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Queensland Health has been implementing a comprehensive organisation‐wide suite of leadership development programs since 2006. This includes a range of specific leadership development programs conducted over a period of time for clinical and non‐clinical staff. It also includes specialist leadership development workshops of shorter duration, online leadership modules, web‐based support, executive coaching and 360‐degree feedback. The programs are based upon experiential learning which engages participants in critical thinking and self‐reflection based upon in‐context experiences relevant to themselves. Ongoing leadership program development has been evidence‐based and identified through 360‐degree feedback outcomes, staff opinion survey outcomes and program evaluation outcomes.

Findings

The 360‐degree feedback survey results of participants have improved. This demonstrates that the leadership development programs have impacted positively on participants' workplace behaviour. The culture and climate survey results have improved which demonstrates positive cultural change has taken place. The programs have been evaluated very highly by participants.

Originality/value

This is one of the most comprehensive and innovative leadership development initiatives ever undertaken within the Australian health sector, with over 10,000 participants to date.

Keywords

Citation

Crethar, M., Phillips, J. and Brown, P. (2011), "Queensland Health – a leadership development journey: A case study", Leadership in Health Services, Vol. 24 No. 4, pp. 308-324. https://doi.org/10.1108/17511871111172358

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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