To investigate factors that enable or challenge the initiation and actioning of health and wellbeing policy in Australian local governments using political science frameworks. An online survey was distributed to staff and elected members of Australian local governments. The survey sought responses to a range of variables as informed by political science frameworks. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and results were compared between local governments of different geographical sizes and locations using Kruskal–Wallis non-parametric testing. There were 1825 survey responses, including 243 CEOs, representing 45% of Australian local governments. Enablers for local government policy initiation and action included the high priority given to health and wellbeing (44%), local leadership (56%) and an organizational (70%) and personal obligation (68%) to the community to act. Less true is a favourable legislative environment (33%), leadership from higher levels of government (29%) and sufficient financial capacity (22%). Cities are better positioned to initiate and action health policy, regardless of the broader legislative environment. Health and wellbeing is a high priority for Australian local governments, despite lack of funding and limited lobbying and support from other sectors and higher levels of government. The insights from political science frameworks assist to understand the policy process, including the interrelatedness of enablers and challenges to initiating and actioning health and wellbeing policy. Further understanding the policy drivers would support practitioners and researchers advocating to influence local health and wellbeing policy.

ObjectivesThis review aimed to identify factors in the policymaking environment that influence a Health in all Policies approach in local government, how these vary across different municipal contexts, and the extent that theories of the policy process are applied.MethodsA scoping review was conducted to include sources published in English, between 2001 and 2021 in three databases, and assessed for inclusion by two blind reviewers.ResultsSixty-four sources were included. Sixteen factors of the policy process were identified, expanding on previously reported literature to include understanding and framing of health, use of evidence, policy priority, and influence of political ideology. Eleven sources applied or referred to theories of the policy process and few reported findings based on different local government contexts.ConclusionThere are a range of factors influencing a Health in All Policies approach in local government, although a limited understanding of how these differ across contexts. A theory-informed lens contributed to identifying a breadth of factors, although lack of explicit application of theories of the policy process in studies makes it difficult to ascertain meaningful synthesis of the interconnectedness of these factors.

Introduction: There is limited evidence examining large group occupational therapy telehealth practice education and the associated learning benefits. The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of occupational therapy students in a large telehealth group placement, within the occupational therapy degree at an Australian regional university. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological research design, using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, was used to explore the lived experience of students who completed the telehealth placement. Results: Eleven students participated in individual or group structured interviews. Five themes and twelve codes were identified during data analysis. Key themes were; the placement provided opportunities to link theory to practice, becoming a professional, positive and negative aspects of large group placement, assessment driven, and telehealth shaped the learning and clinical experience. Conclusions: This study provides initial evidence from the student perspective regarding the benefits of a large group placement and offers the potential to be used as a transition in preparing students for future client interactions, and application of clinical reasoning and occupational therapy theory. Adaptations for future practice have also been identified. Further research exploring the ideal group size is needed.