Australian Unity Wundirra Project

A Care Together Project

Designing an integrated model of care to advance the health outcomes of First Nation Elders in rural and remote communities.

Location

Coonabarabran, Northwest NSW

What is the market failure being addressed?

There remain intractable challenges in aged and health care service delivery within remote areas of New South Wales and the nation. First Nation Elders face additional barriers when accessing health services including, the availability of culturally safe and responsive health services, distance between services and limited transport options, contribution towards services and lengthy waiting times. These have culminated in a significant shortage of clinicians and care workers available to deliver culturally appropriate care to First Nation Elders.

What is the project seeking to achieve?

The project aims to trial different approaches to improving integrated home-based healthcare (aged care, indigenous care, allied health and primary health) in remote and rural communities. It will be sensitive to the importance of connection to land, culture, spirituality and ancestry for First Nations peoples.

Co-design with community, local health and Australian Unity is at the heart of the project.

The project will fully examine a range of approaches in order to recommend and then pilot a culturally appropriate solution that is sustainable and scalable in thin markets.

Determining the best suited model for care delivery will result in improved and equitable access to culturally appropriate health care; and increase in employment rates and better career pathways; and a greater pool of healthcare skills in rural and remote areas.

Upskilling of care workers to offer improved health outcomes under the supervision of clinical practitioners as well as other strategies include telehealth, remote monitoring of patients, skills sharing and delegated models of care.

Project team

• Jenny Beath, Wiradjuri woman – General Manager Service Delivery Aboriginal Home Health
• Melissa Mills, Tubba Gah Wiradjuri woman – Regional Manager of Western
• Amanda Hunter, Manager of Indigenous of Products and Service Design