The Albanese Government is investing $16 million to support 11 innovative healthcare projects in rural and remote Australia that aim to provide a range of innovative models of care, including:
- better care for chronic disease,
- specialist geriatric services for older Australians,
- culturally safe maternity care for First Nations families,
- outreach to reduce liver disease among First Nations communities,
- child health outreach to small rural communities,
- mobile primary care clinics,
- better collaboration between general practice and pharmacy,
- better training and support for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
Projects are supported in every Australian state and the Northern Territory. This funding will support healthcare professionals to work together across disciplines in new ways, to meet the needs of people in rural and remote communities.
Trials will be undertaken by:
- Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network in rural Queensland (QLD) and New South Wales (NSW)
- Geriatric Care Australia in rural NSW, QLD and Victoria
- Menzies School of Research in the Northern Territory (NT)
- Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation in the NT
- YArnhem Model in the NT
- The North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health in rural QLD
- Mareeba and Communities Family Healthcare in far north QLD
- Northern Eyre Peninsula Health Alliance in rural South Australia
- Primary Health Tasmania in central and southern Tasmania
- Dame Pattie Menzies Centre in rural Victoria, and
- Amity Health Connected Communities Project in rural Western Australia.
Further information on the trial projects can be found on the Department of Health and Aged Care website. https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/imoc-program
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“Trialling new and innovative ways of providing health services is essential, so that we can find new ways to bridge the service gap and ensure people in rural and remote areas get the care they need.
“These trials will lead to better health care and better health outcomes, while also providing important data on the most effective ways to provide health care to rural and remote communities.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McBride:
“Our government wants to achieve better health outcomes for the 7 million people living in rural and remote communities across the country.
“These trials will help build a stronger rural healthcare system, and provide better care, closer to home, for people living in the bush.”