This study combines conceptual and empirical review of the literature around interuniversity collaborations to identify known models and applications, and enablers and barriers impacting on their sustainability, to inform development of a collaborative public health teaching programme in Australia. A range of literature was explored in this study, including commentary on appropriate theoretical frameworks, exploratory studies, descriptive analyses and specific case study investigations. There was a dearth of literature that compares the factors that ultimately lead to success or failure of the models of collaboration identified. Further research investigating how different types of collaboration affect particular barriers and enablers, and how certain types of collaborations are more sustainable than others, is required.