About the initiative
The IMOC Program objectives are to:
- trial new multidisciplinary primary care models designed to reduce chronic workforce shortages and improve patient access in a range of locations (including remote towns)
- learn from trials that are under way and incorporate learnings into new trials
- evaluate trials to discover which models work, where they work and whether they are financially sustainable.
Communities are rural or remote if they are in categories 3–7 of the Modified Monash Model (MMM).
IMOC aims to attract and keep rural health professionals. It also encourages:
- health professionals working to their full scope of practice
- multidisciplinary team-based models of care
- different employment models for healthcare professionals
- sharing of healthcare resources between small, connected communities.
The program has funded over 20 organisations nationally:
- In 2020–21, funding was awarded to the New South Wales Rural Doctors Network for 5 trials across Western and Southern NSW (Round 1).
- In 2021–22, funding was awarded to GP Down South to trial a model of care in the Warren Blackwood region of Western Australia (Round 2).
- In April 2023, funding was awarded to Beechworth Health Service and Outback Futures Ltd (Round 3).
- In November 2023, funding was awarded to 6 organisations (Round 4).
- In June 2024, funding was awarded to 11 organisations (Round 5).
The IMOC Program funds activities such as:
- governance
- community engagement
- program management activities.
| Organisation | Funding | Region | Model | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Round 1 | Rural Doctors Network
Carry out 5 proof-of-concept pilots Learn more about the outcomes of the Collaborative Care project. Read the RDN IMOC summary brochure. | $3.6 million over 4 years from 2021 | Canola Fields | GP-led multidisciplinary team-based care for chronic-disease patients. Learn more about Canola Fields. Learn more about the outcomes of this trial Canola Fields Deliberate Team-Based Care Model. |
| 4Ts – Tottenham, Tullamore, Trangie and Trundle | Local health district single employer across sub-region. Learn more about 4Ts. Learn more about the outcomes of this trial 4Ts GP Single Employer Model. | |||
| Lachlan – Parkes and Forbes | Co-design of a shared GP model of care across the region. Learn more about Lachlan. Learn more about the outcomes of this trial Lachlan Valley. | |||
| Murrumbidgee area: Snowy Valleys – Tumut, Tumbarumba, Batlow and Adelong | Shared (group) allied health services model for patients with diabetes. Learn more about Snowy Valleys. Learn more about the outcomes of this trial Snowy Valleys Shared Medical Appointment Model. | |||
| Far Western NSW: Wentworth – Wentworth, Dareton, Buronga and Gol Gol | Sustainable shared GP model of care across the region (ACCHO-led) to address market failure. Learn more about Wentworth. Learn more about the outcomes of this trial Wentworth ACCHO-led Sustainable GP Model. | |||
Round 2 | GP Down South Limited | $1.8 million over 5 years from June 2022 | Warren Blackwood region of Western Australia | Clinical Care Coordination (CCC) team. Provides support for GPs and improves patient access to integrated health care. Learn more. |
Round 3 | Beechworth Health Service | $1.3 million over 4 years from June 2023 | North-East Victoria | Improve comprehensive care planning for older people across four multi-disciplinary areas of health care: What matters, medications, mobility, and mental health (4Ms). Learn more. |
| Outback Futures Ltd | $1.5 million over 5 years from June 2023 | 5 regions in remote QLD: Blackall-Tambo, Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton, Cloncurry | Work-In-Work-Out (WIWO) multi-disciplinary model to improve access to allied health professionals. Learn more. | |
Round 4 | Grand Pacific Health | $0.9 million over 4 years from 2024 | Batemans Bay and Cooma - NSW | Yarning Spaces: Culturally appropriate multi-disciplinary primary health care services. Learn more. |
| HNECC PHN | $1.5 million over 4 years from 2024 | Glen Innes - NSW | Comprehensive Approach for Rural Engagement (CARE) Model: a place-based and person-centred multi-disciplinary health team. Learn more. | |
| Killarney Memorial Aged Care | $1.4 million over 4 years from 2024 | Killarney - QLD | Holistic team-based care: delivered by a collaborative network of multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals. Learn more. | |
| Northern District Community Health | $1.4 million over 4 years from 2024 | Central/North-west Victoria: Buloke, Loddon and Gannawarra Shires | Sustainable Rural Healthcare Hub: a network of 6 small health services clustered geographically across the region. Learn more. | |
| Sunraysia Community Health Services | $1.4 million over 4 years from 2024 | Mildura, Kerang, Shepparton and Myrtleford - VIC | CP@team: a community paramedic coordinated care model across 4 community health services. Learn more. | |
| Southern Cross Care Ltd | $1.4 million over 4 years from 2024 | Chinchilla and Western Downs - QLD | Age Well Community Centre: a one-stop-shop to provide a range of aged care and health services. Learn more. | |
Round 5 | Amity Health | $1.5 million over 4 years from 2024 | Albany - WA | Albany Connected Communities Project: a social prescribing model where health professionals refer patients with unmet social needs to a connect team which then refers patients on to existing support services. Learn more. |
| Northern Eyre Peninsula Health Alliance Inc | $1.4 million over 4 years from 2024 | Cleve, Cowell, Kimba, Wudinna, Elliston and Streaky Bay - SA | NEPHA Primary Care Model Activation: a centralised general practice and allied health administration model in rural South Australia. Learn more. | |
| Primary Health Tasmania Ltd | $1.5 million over 4 years from 2024 | Nubeena, Koonya, Murdunna, Port Arthur, Dover, Geeveston, Bothwell, Ouse, and Hamilton - TAS | Implementing innovative and integrated models of care across 3 rural regions in Tasmania: a community and systems partners collaboration. Learn more. | |
| Flinders University | $1.5 million over 4 years from 2024 | Nhulunbuy, Galiwin’ku, Gapuwyiak, Garrthalala and Gäṉgaṉ - NT | YArnhem stepped model of care: a digital Stepped-care Mental Health Platform aimed at supporting young Yolŋu to access social and emotional wellbeing care. Learn more. | |
| Menzies School of Health Research | $1.6 million over 4 years from 2024 | Katherine, Myalli Brumby, Rockhole, Binjari, Werenbun, Manyallaluk, Barunga, Wugularr, Mataranka, Jilkminggan, Minyerri, Urapunga, Ngukurr, Weemol and Bulman - NT | Hep B PAST PLUS: a co-designed approach to reducing liver disease burden in First Nations populations in northern Australia. Learn more. | |
| Geriatric Care Australia | $1.6 million over 4 years from 2024 | Maclean, Bowen, Collinsville, Lakes Entrance - NSW, QLD and VIC | Interdisciplinary Clinical Support Package: an aged care training model, upskilling general practitioners (GPs), allied health professionals, carers, and nurses to help identify risk factors related to complex age-related health problems. Learn more. | |
| Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation | $1.5 million over 4 years from 2024 | East Arnhem - NT | An innovative, co-designed, culturally safe and responsive, multidisciplinary model of maternity care focussed on mums, bubs and families in remote North East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Learn more. | |
| Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network (PHN) Limited | $1.6 million over 4 years from 2024 | Toomelah and Boggabilla – NSW Goondiwindi - QLD | Indigenous Wellness Connect: an allied health-led digital health and First Nations complex condition management model. Learn more. | |
| Dame Patti Menzies Centre | $1.4 million over 4 years from 2024 | Yea, Flowerdale, Kinglake, Alexandra, Eildon and Marysville - VIC | Our Community Our Children: supervised student-led paediatric allied health clinics in 6 trial sites including community education and early years education sessions. Learn more. | |
| The North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health | $1.6 million over 4 years from 2024 | Cooloola Cove, Tin Can Bay, Rainbow Beach, Imbil, Glenwood, Amamoor, Cooroy, Pomona, Tewantin, Gympie (outreach): Widgee, Chatsworth, Tamaree and Gunalda - QLD | Mob Pod – Empowering Mob through Community Led Innovation: a mobile mental health services/telehealth model in rural Queensland. Learn more. | |
| Mareeba & Communities Family Healthcare Ltd. (MCFHC ORGANISATION) | $1.6 million over 4 years from 2024 | Mareeba, Mt Molloy, Mt Carbine, Dimbulah, and Chillagoe - QLD | Primary Care Rural Integrated Multidisciplinary Health Service (PRIM–HS) Mareeba Community Primary Care Trial: testing flexible employment models including a single or primary employer model. Learn more. |
Why it is important
High-quality health care is essential for all Australians – regardless of location. Rural and remote Australians experience poorer health outcomes than people in cities.
New approaches, such as collaboration between local providers and communities, may improve this.
Sustainable solutions can come from:
- primary health care professionals working together to deliver services to several smaller, connected communities
- making best use of all healthcare providers in a region.
Primary care disciplines may include:
- GPs
- nurses and nurse practitioners
- midwives
- allied health practitioners
- non-dispensing pharmacists
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers
- other health professionals and assistants.
The IMOC Program will benefit healthcare professionals and consumers. It also helps communities create sustainable healthcare for their unique needs.
Goals
The goal is to find out whether the models:
- make rural practice more attractive to health professionals
- lead to better health services and patient outcomes.
The outcomes may lead to ongoing primary care changes as trials are intended to be financially sustainable into the future, and also potentially applicable to other communities.
Who we work with
We are working with the Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner.
Apply for funding
Round 5 was the final opportunity to apply for funding through the IMOC program. You may still register to receive grant opportunity information and updates on GrantConnect.
Fact sheets
Innovative Models of Care (IMOC) Program – Fact sheet
Ministers’ media releases
- $16 million to support innovative healthcare delivery in rural and remote Australia (24 June 2024)
- $8 million to support healthcare trials in rural and remote Australia (7 February 2024)
- $1.4 million to boost Southern Downs healthcare (6 December 2023
- Delivering allied health care to rural Queensland (19 June 2023)
- Improving care planning for older Australians (19 June 2023)
Contact
