Making Invisible Networks Visible: Understanding the Value of Southern Grampians Glenelg Primary Care Partnership in the Context of the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Southern Grampians Glenelg Primary Care Partnership (SGGPCP) is committed to working together to mobilise community-led action to build healthy, resilient and thriving communities. During the coronavirus pandemic, SGGPCP quickly pivoted to lead a range of networks and activities to create a space for health and community agencies to learn from each other, unpack the impacts of the pandemic on local communities, and work together to respond. SGGPCP identified the increase in participation in SGGPCP facilitated networks and activities in comparison to before the pandemic. Hence, SGGPCP partnered with Swinburne University to understand the the value of SGGPCP’s partnership facilitated networks and activities during the coronavirus pandemic. Project participants were recruited from groups facilitated by SGGPCP throughout the pandemic. Participants were 38 representatives from 20 partner agencies and stakeholders. Participants represented diversity within agencies with participants from direct care and practitioners, managers and directors. Participants who participated more than twice in any SGGPCP meeting or nominated activity were invited to complete a survey. The survey asked participants to respond to a series of questions relating to their connections to other network participants, lists of other groups with whom they share resources, the benefits they have gained by participating in SGGPCP meetings, inter-organisational trust between their organisation and SGGPCP, demographic information, openended questions about benefits regarding collaboration with SGGPCP and barriers to collaboration with SGGPCP.