Development of a Pilot Web-Based Interprofessional Education Site

Interprofessional Education (IPE) is the process whereby students learn with, from, and about other healthcare professions.  An important objective of IPE is to break down stereotypes.  One study found that students already arrive at university with established stereotypical views of other healthcare professions. It is important that such stereotypes be broken down if these different professions are to work constructively together in teams once they have graduated and entered the workforce.  These outcomes can be achieved because IPE has the ability to foster collaboration in the workplace by helping students to learn, not only about healthcare professions other than their own, but how to work with them.  The recognition that collaboration and teamwork is now a major focus of the Australian healthcare system where interprofessional healthcare teams work to optimise patient outcomes.  However, evidence shows that undergraduates are not well prepared to work interprofessionally when they graduate. To date, no peer-reviewed publications appear relating IPE and web-based education have been located. Therefore the aim of this project is to develop a pilot website to enhance IPE opportunities and evaluate an "IPE tool kit" that can be rolled-out to educational institutions and other agencies that provide practice education fieldwork for students.

Project Members

• Dr Mal Boyle
• Mr Brett Williams
• A/Prof Lisa McKenna
• A/Prof Ted Brown
• Dr Claire Palermo
• Dr Liz Molloy

Project Contact

Mal Boyle