Inter-sectoral policy partnerships: a case study of South Western Sydney’s Health and Housing Partnership

Abstract

The evidence linking human health and housing is overwhelming. However, less focus has been on collaborative action between the sectors to improve health. Focussing on social housing adds an important equity lens to the housing and health partnership literature. Since 2009, a unique formal partnership between a State Health Service, State Social Housing Organisation and a research organisation has existed. The partnership aims to realise potential benefits of integrating health considerations into asset and social planning within the housing sector and to empower residents to lead on outcomes they identify for the community and themselves individually. The partnership has a shared vision of working together to improve the health and wellbeing of social housing communities in one of Australia’s most disadvantaged regions. This paper presents an analysis of over a decade of the partnership work. We present the history of the partnership, overview outcomes to date, and describe key mechanisms and contextual factors that have enabled action. We present our findings using two frameworks, one a practice focussed partnership toolkit and the other a theory informed approach to health focussed governance. Both frameworks enable us to present findings linking the practical successes and challenges of this partnership work with deeper insights from theory.