Evaluation of the Murray–Darling Medical Schools Network – Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
The Murray–Darling Medical Schools Network (MDMSN) was established under the Stronger Rural Health Strategy to provide end-to-end medical training in rural areas of NSW and Victoria. HMA and KBC were engaged to undertake a deep dive into the implementation of the MDMSN in the broader context of Regional Training Hubs (RTHs) and other end-to-end medical training programs in rural Australia. In addition, the project aimed to establish an evaluation framework to be embedded into the programs of all universities participating in the MDMSN. HMA/KBC developed a mixed-methods approach for the evaluation, including quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques. Key tasks for this project included:
- Establishment of an expert reference group to provide guidance throughout the life of the project
- A situation analysis, including review of policy, program documentation, previous evaluations, and published literature
- Development of an implementation evaluation framework
- Case studies at MDMSN university sites and other local stakeholders, including health services, regional training hubs, Primary Health Networks, students and consumers
- Comparator site visits at universities with other end-to-end programs and representatives from all 26 RTHs
- Stakeholder consultation with peak bodies, colleges, university deans and data custodians
- Triangulating data and preparing an implementation evaluation report
- Data scoping exercise and consultation with universities and other data custodians to inform potential indicators and data sources for an outcomes evaluation monitoring framework
- A ‘strawman’ outcomes evaluation monitoring framework and workshop with MDMSN universities to inform a draft outcomes evaluation monitoring framework
- Finalising the outcomes evaluation monitoring framework and working with universities to embed evaluation implementation processes at each site.
This project will inform future policy direction on end-to-end training programs and, through the monitoring framework, ensure the Department has robust information and data to assess the success of the program and inform future program design. The project commenced in June 2023 and was completed in June 2025.
