QUM Connect is a member of the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance, which has been awarded health professional education and consumer health literacy grants by the Australian Government.
The grants will cover four topics or priority areas. These topics have been chosen around groups of medicines where potential quality and safety issues have been identified for consumers:
o Atopic dermatitis (or eczema)
o Gout
o Antidepressants in older people
o Oral anticoagulants (blood thinning medications).
Together with our partners, we will develop and deliver free, high-quality, evidence-based health professional education and consumer health literacy resources and activities. The Quality Use of Medicines Alliance will collaborate with a wide range of health and consumer organisations over two years under this grant, until August 2025.
QUM Connect will contribute extensive expertise in developing and implementing quality use of medicines initiatives to improve health outcomes in line with the objectives of the grants. This includes governance, stakeholder consultation, implementation science, behaviour change, health education, marketing, communication and evaluation.
The Quality Use of Medicines Alliance
The Quality Use of Medicines Alliance includes:
Medcast: a nationwide provider of independent education for a range of health professions
Health Care Consumers’ Association: a peak health consumer organisation working to improve the quality and safety of health care
QUM Connect: a specialist consultancy with experience and expertise in creating and implementing quality use of medicines initiatives to improve health outcomes
Wiser Healthcare: a research collaboration involving the University of Sydney, Bond University, Monash University and the University of Wollongong, with a special interest in research in the areas of rational test ordering and quality use of medicines
Eczema Support Australia: a national support network advocating for people living with eczema
Arthritis Australia: the leading national arthritis charity supporting people living with all types of arthritis
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia: the national peak professional pharmacy body representing Australia’s 36,000 pharmacists across all sectors and specialisations
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners: Australia’s largest professional general practice organisation responsible for maintaining standards for quality clinical practice, education and training, and research in Australian general practice
Helping consumers and health professionals make safe and wise decisions about medicines and diagnostics.
Funded by the Australian Government through the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology Program.