From Referral Thinking to Health and Social Integration: Strategies for Teaching Adult Learners Collaborative Care

Date: Friday, 25 September 2026 | Time: 1120 - 1250 | Venue: Duke-NUS Amphitheatre

Track Type: Symposium

Speaker(s):

Overview:

Healthcare delivery is increasingly moving toward integrated health and social models of care. However, many educational programmes continue to prepare learners within professional silos or emphasise referral pathways rather than shared accountability across sectors.

This 90-minute panel symposium presents practical strategies for teaching adult learners to practise collaborative care across healthcare, social services, and community ecosystems. Drawing from experience in specialist diploma education, volunteer management training, and interprofessional curriculum design, the session explores how educators can intentionally develop relational competence, systems thinking, and cross-sector collaboration.

Four speakers will address complementary domains:

• Reframing collaborative care beyond healthcare silos toward health–social integration
• Designing a Specialist Diploma in Health and Social Integration to prepare workforce-ready practitioners
• Educating healthcare professionals in volunteer management as a key integration capability
• Applying adult learning principles to engage diverse, mid-career learners in complex systems education

The session concludes with a moderated panel discussion exploring implementation challenges, faculty development needs, and adaptation strategies for different institutional contexts.

This symposium aligns with the Interprofessional Education and Education Excellence themes of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Education Masterplan by advancing pedagogical innovation that prepares professionals for integrated, person-centred care delivery.

Participants will leave with adaptable curriculum frameworks and facilitation strategies to strengthen collaborative care education in their own settings.

Learning Outcome(s):

By attending the symposium, the participants will be able to

1) Explain key educational principles for preparing adult learners in health–social integrated care.
2) Design curriculum strategies that foster collaborative practice across healthcare, social services, and volunteer sectors.
3) Apply facilitation techniques that support psychological safety and reflective dialogue in diverse learner groups

Target Audience:

Healthcare educators, programme directors, clinical supervisors, allied health educators, and leaders involved in interprofessional or health–social integration initiatives.
Participants should have foundational knowledge of teaching and learning principles. The session is particularly relevant for educators working with mid-career or workplace-based adult learners.