Associate Professor Social Prescribing and Integrated Care
Southern Cross University and PCCS
Introduction
Social prescribing is increasingly recognised as a vital approach to holistic health, yet there is currently no international standard to guide its design, delivery, and evaluation. The International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee Ageing Societies provides the opportunity to design an International Standard on social prescribing. This presentation aims to bring together practitioners, researchers, and community leaders to co-create the foundations of an international standard in social prescribing.
Method
The presentation will explain the process of developing an international standard and the key considerations focussing on social prescribing. We will identify core principles, essential components, and minimum reporting standards for social prescribing interventions. Attendees will be invited to comment and identify core principles, essential components, and minimum reporting standards for social prescribing interventions as well as describing the net benefit for the community.
Expected Outcomes
By the end of the presentation, attendees will:
1. Have a basic understanding of international and Australian standards development
2. Have shared cross-country experiences and identify common enablers/barriers to social prescribing.
3. Be able to contribute to a draft proposal for an International Standard on social Prescribing, including referral pathways, equity principles, and evaluation metrics.
4. Be able to join a to be established a group of interested experts to progress the development of a proposal to develop an international standard beyond the conference.
Discussion
This presentation offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of social prescribing globally. Outputs will ideally feed into an ongoing international collaboration to formalise and publish consensus-based standards, ensuring that social prescribing is scalable, sustainable, and impactful across diverse health systems.