About the initiative
PRIMM provides funding to help rural and remote communities work out their primary health care needs and design health care that will work for them.
Funding is not for trialling or carrying out healthcare services. It’s for helping communities consider issues and develop solutions. These solutions are developed with the community and health professionals.
PRIMM funded 6 organisations up to $400,000 each in 2021 and 2022 to design primary health care models to meet needs in their regions across Australia over 2 years.
Proposals build on and work with existing resources. They focus on developing models for providing effective and sustainable primary care (including after-hours care) within a region.
Funding supports activities such as:
- service design
- community consultations
- data analysis
- financial model design.
Why it is important
In many smaller towns, private practice may not be financially sustainable. By encouraging communities to work together to design primary healthcare services, private practice may be viable.
We also know that working with a community is important to the success of any healthcare model.
Goals
Grant recipients must:
- develop a ‘trial-ready’ multidisciplinary primary care model that addresses health needs or health workforce shortages in a community or a sub-region
- involve communities in designing solutions
- share findings with other communities to help them design primary healthcare solutions.
Who we work with
The National Rural Health Commissioner contributes to the assessment and review of applications. The Commissioner also provides support and guidance to grant recipients as needed.
| Round | Organisation | Funding | Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Flinders University |
$398,012 (GST exc.) over 2 years from 2020–21 | Remote Aboriginal communities in East Arnhem region Northern Territory: Nhulunbuy, Gunyangara, Galiwin’ku, Yirrkala, Yurrwi, Birritjimi, Galupa, Garrathiya Plains, Gapuwiyak, Ramingining, Milingimbi, and Gove Peninsula. (MM7) | Co-design a social and emotional wellbeing and mental health stepped care model for the North East Arnhem region. |
|
Beechworth Health Service |
$380,886 (GST exc.) over 2 years from 2020 - 21 | The Upper Hume region of Victoria, Indigo and Towong, and the towns of Beechworth, Rutherglen, Chiltern, Tallangatta, and Corryong (MM4–5) |
Co-design an age-friendly, rural, multidisciplinary, integrated primary health care model that addresses local challenges to geriatric care. See Beechworth PRIMM project. |
|
| 2 | Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section) | $400,000 (GST exc.) over 2 years from 2021–22 |
North Western region of NSW –Walgett, Bourke and Brewarrina Local Government Areas. (MM6–7) |
Co-design a model of care to improve the capacity, quality and mix of the health workforce including integrated education and training of the workforce for their region. |
| Hamilton Medical Group | $399,938 (GST exc.) over 2 years from 2021-22 | The Victorian communities of East Grampians, Colac, Warrnambool, Castlemaine, Hamilton (MM4–6) | Co-design an innovative model of care to improve management of heart failure to ensure the right care is given at the right time and place. | |
| 3 | cohealth Limited | $364,000 (GST exc.) over 2 years from 2022–23 |
East Coast of Tasmania including the main towns of Triabunna, Swansea, Coles Bay and Bicheno (MM5 and MM6) |
Community-designed plan for multidisciplinary primary care services and innovative workforce solutions. See cohealth PRIMM project. |
| Gippsland Primary Health Network | $353,054 (GST exc.) over 2 years from 2022–23 |
Gippsland Victoria region including Bass Coast, Baw Baw, East Gippsland, South Gippsland, Wellington Local Government Areas (MM4–6 locations) |
Co-design a multidisciplinary model of care that efficiently delivers primary care across a large geography to a population with diverse health needs. |
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