Elizabeth Meggetto returned to study her PhD alongside her work as a health executive in  regional Victoria with Latrobe Community Health Service and Central West Gippsland Primary Care Partnership, leading the development of partnerships in health promotion and the integration of health systems. Informed by this experience, her PhD research explored Organisational Health Literacy.

Elizabeth describes Organisational Health Literacy (OHL) as being about ensuring health services are easy for people to access, navigate, understand, and use. The focus of her research was to understand the complexity of a health system, and to investigate what works for whom, in what circumstances, and why. Elizabeth described the need for a whole of organisation approach to build OHL in an organisation.

“This research has elucidated the need for multiple supporting contexts and other factors to exist simultaneously to achieve the desired OHL outcomes and developed a series of implementation patterns that can guide health services to implement OHL. The research discovered that it is important for organisations to prioritise securing executive commitment for OHL as it is critical for getting the workforce trained and OHL embedded in practice.”

The research developed a series of implementation patterns that can guide health services to implement OHL such as getting the workforce trained, having executive commitment for OHL and embedding OHL in policy and practice.

Undertaking her research, Elizabeth was confronted with a number of barriers to completing her studies.

“As an emerging field, there was a notable lack of research into the impacts and outcomes organisations had achieved as a result of undertaking organisational health literacy activities.

Additionally, managing the time and workload associated with conducting research while meeting other commitments, such as work and family, was demanding. However, through careful planning, effective time management, and seeking support from my supervisor and peers, I was able to navigate these barriers successfully.”

The ongoing impact of Elizabeth’s research has been promising, providing valuable insights into the significance of organisational health literacy and how organisations can achieve better health literacy outcomes. The study findings been shared in the Journal of Health Organisation and Management and the Australian Health Review as well as various presentations, helping to inform both researchers and practitioners about potential ways to enhance health literacy within organisations.

During her studies with Monash Rural Health, Elizabeth was grateful for the support she received.

“Throughout my research journey with Monash Rural Health, I felt supported by a nurturing environment that encouraged collaboration and knowledge sharing. My supervision team were all incredibly highly experienced and brought an extensive wealth of knowledge to the team, creating an invaluable support network to learn from.”

Elizabeth found undertaking her PhD instrumental in shaping her career and future prospects, enhancing her expertise in the field of OHL, opening up opportunities for collaboration and further research in academia and industry. Her research skills developed through the course contributed to obtaining employment as a Senior Research Fellow with Charles Darwin University, supporting the delivery of the Realist Research Masters unit and conducting realist reviews and evaluations nationally and internationally in health, justice and international development sectors.

Elizabeth offered this advice for this considering undertaking a PhD..

“A PhD offers exciting opportunities to make a substantial contribution and tangible impact on your research field. However, it is essential to be prepared for the challenges that come with conducting research, such as managing time, accessing data, and maintaining motivation. Seek support from your supervisor and peers, stay focused on your research objectives, and be open to collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches. Remember that the journey may be demanding, but the knowledge and expertise gained, along with the potential impact of your research, make it a rewarding and fulfilling experience.

Learn more about research degrees in rural health