Client: NSW Central West Division of General Practice

Fund blending in primary health care: Developing a model for sustainable, integrated, multidisciplinary allied health services for rural and remote communities in Central Western Queensland.

Project Timeline: August 2005 – May 2006

Brief desciption:

• This project is funded under the Commonwealth Rural Access Program seeking to increase access to, and availability of privately insurable health services in rural and remote Australia.

• Service mapping and gap analysis of private and public allied health services in Central West NSW

• Broad stakeholder consultation including community groups, public and private allied health professionals, managers of health services, general practitioners, relevant community service agencies including aged care, disability, special needs schools, mainstream schools, Dept of Education, Dept of Community Services, Dept of Disability, Home and Aged Care, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, Aboriginal Corporations, local government, state and Commonwealth health bureaucrats

• Synthesis of information to develop health service model that focuses on the establishment of an allied health network (similar to an Industry Network), that provides practice management services to support re-entry of allied health professionals into the workforce, establish necessary small business structures that support private practice and the opportunity to provide services under a purchaser provider arrangement managed by the Network. The Allied Health Network will also develop a clinical incubator model to increase the critical mass of allied health professionals in the Central West.

Outcome:

Application submitted to the Commonwealth Dept of Health and Ageing, through the Rural Private Access Program (December 2006) – awaiting outcome.