Advancing Equity in Implementation Science

Wanting to achieve equitable outcomes but unsure how to turn your programs into real impact?

This three-day interactive short course introduces equity-driven implementation science to
support meaningful and lasting change in health, social care, and community settings. Participants gain insights rarely covered in traditional implementation science training and develop a clear understanding of how equity can be embedded into real-world practice. With a strong practical focus, the course equips participants with knowledge, tools and approaches that can be applied immediately in both research and practice to improve impact, fairness, and sustainability.

Advancing equity in implementation science starts with building strong skills in the people who design, deliver and evaluate programs. This course gives participants a clear understanding of “how” to embed equity into their implementation research and practice, so they can advance the science of implementation and/or improve the health and social care outcomes of the people they serve in their own organisation.

Led by a team of researchers recognised internationally in equity-centred implementation science, the program introduces practical theories, strategies and approaches that strengthen intervention design, delivery and evaluation. Participants learn how to apply the course learnings directly into their research and practice-based implementation challenges, whether they work in health services, community organisations, government, policy or research settings.

Course structure

DAY 1

• What equity means and how it differs from equality
• Reflecting on values, bias, and power
• Working respectfully with people with lived experience
• Understanding intersectionality and diverse needs
• Reaching the right participants for equitable outcomes
• Mapping implementation partners and building trust
• Introduction to Implementation Science and its role in addressing inequities

DAY 2

• Foundations and history of Implementation Science
• Moving beyond individual behaviour change approaches
• Embedding equity in program and intervention design
• Involving lived experience voices in co-design
• Introduction to Intervention Mapping with an equity lens

DAY 3

• Equity-focused implementation and evaluation planning
• Frameworks, methods, and measures for equity
• Measuring impact and unintended consequences

Learning Outcomes

• Distinguish the key concepts of implementation science and equity
• Assign contemporary approaches to working with industry partners and community members to a project context
• Integrate living and lived experience into implementation research and practice throughout project design and planning
• Design an equity-centred implementation plan using appropriate theories, frameworks and methods of implementation science and equity
• Design an equity-centred implementation evaluation plan using appropriate theories, frameworks and methods of implementation science and equity

Who should attend?

This course is designed for professionals who are involved in planning, delivering, or evaluating programs, services, or policies, and who want to ensure their work is equitable, effective, and responsive to real-world needs. No prior knowledge of equity or implementation science is required.

It is suitable for:

• Health, social care, education, and community sector professionals
• Policymakers, program managers, and project officers
• Researchers and practitioners working with communities or service users
• Industry professionals involved in implementation, evaluation, or service improvement
• People working alongside communities, including those engaging lived and living experience
No prior knowledge of equity or implementation science is required. The course is practical,
accessible, and relevant to a wide range of workplace and industry contexts.

Accelerate your learning (Microcredentials)

Eligible participants who complete the assessed version of this short course can receive 6 credit points towards the Master of Public Health (M6024), Master of Clinical Research (M6028) or Master of Health Management (M6008). Valid for 7 years.

Important note: Completion of the assessed version of the short course does not guarantee admission into an award course. For further information regarding admission into the award courses, please contact: pgradenq@monash.edu

Course facilitator