The MoU was announced today by Provost of Logan and Gold Coast campuses, Professor Max Standage, and Queensland Health’s District Manager, Dr Mark Mattiussi.

The MoU recognises the important role that each organisation plays in supporting and delivering health services, practices and programs to the approximately one million people who live in the Southside Health Service District.

Professor Standage said this partnership recognised that the University had a lot to contribute to the health of local communities.

"Universities play a key role in preparing the new health workforce, but we can also contribute new knowledge about solutions to contemporary health problems," Professor Standage said.

Dr Mattiussi said the two organisations would share responsibility for negotiating and developing enhanced delivery of health care along with other government and non-government organisations.

"The District already has close links with Griffith University through clinical student placements and the recruitment of more than 100 graduate nurses and other health professional in the past two years. In addition, some of our clinical staff hold joint positions at the University, thus bridging the gap between the actual delivery of health care and the academic environment," Dr Mattiussi said.

Dr Mark Mattiussi said in late 2007 the District and Griffith University joint-funded a research project that would play a critical role in evaluating the effectiveness of the larger Chronic Disease Place Based Initiative.

"The Initiative is a major partnership involving the public sector, non-government organisations and the community with a Queensland Health commitment of $3.3 million in recurrent funding for new services. By creating sustainable partnerships with existing service providers in the Southside Health Service District, the project will help manage and prevent chronic disease in the region.

"This is the largest single initiative to date bringing together academics, GPs, community health carers, non-government agencies, and both local and state governments, to plan for local health needs," Dr Mattiussi said.

Professor Elizabeth Kendall at Griffith’s School of Human Services said this project was making research relevant to practitioners.

"This partnership is allowing researchers to apply their knowledge to real-life health. It is very satisfying to know that our research is actually making a difference to people’s health," Professor Kendall said.

As an example of the cooperation that already exists between the two organisations, Griffith University provides input and facilities to the Early Years Initiative of the Place Based Initiative for Chronic Disease. This program is currently delivering activities and support for parents of 0-8 year olds who live in the Crestmead, Jimboomba and Pimpama areas.

Some of the other projects that will be jointly run include health promotion scholarships, the Logan-Beaudesert Coalition, Eat Well Be Active, Health Community Councils and Journeys of Healing for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.