Community-University Partnerships - Reflections on Collaboration between Galway Simon Community and the Department of Occupational Therapy, National University of Ireland, Galway
Linda Connell (NUI Galway), Neifinn Ni Dhufai Boltuin (NUI Galway), Ashleigh Waldron (NUI Galway), Margaret McGrath (NUI Galway)
Abstract
Additional Authors: Myles Murphy, Trish Moran, Noel Daly - Galway Simon Community
Background:
There are an estimated 5-6,000 homeless people in Ireland (Simon Community, 2007). The Galway Simon Community aims to ensure that ‘any person who is homeless or at risk of homelessness is given every opportunity to realise their potential to live a fulfilled life in an appropriate home of their own’ (Galway Simon 2005). In 2008/2009 Galway Simon and the Department of Occupational Therapy, National University or Ireland, Galway collaborated to develop occupational therapy programmes for service users within a continuing care project. This was the first time that both partners had worked together in order to provide occupational therapy input for services-users and we were keen to evaluate the process of collaboration from the perspective of Galway Simon Community, University students and University staff.
Method:
We conducted interviews with staff of Galway Simon Community, academic staff from the University to explore their perspectives of this project. Student experiences were gathered via reflective journals which were kept throughout the project.
Outcomes:
Data collection is still ongoing, however, a number of themes have emerged from our initial work including: (i) challenges in communicating between university, students and community organisations; (ii) limited time available for students to work with community partners; (iii) differences in approach to treatment/care of clients; (iv) terminology surrounding concepts of service learning and civic engagement; (v) professional skill development; (vi) sharing of knowledge between Galway Simon and the Occupational Therapy Department.
Conclusion:
This was the first time that Galway Simon Community and the Department of Occupational Therapy had worked together to provide an occupational therapy service for service-users in Galway Simon. Overall the partnership was successful with both students and Galway Simon benefiting from this collaboration. However there are a number of challenges associated with this type of student learning which needs to be addressed in order to ensure ongoing success of this work.
