Client: Townsville District Health Service

Undertake the external evaluation of the Networking North Qld project (funded through the Networking the Nation program).

Project timeline: 3 months, completed October 2001.

Brief description:

• Qualitative data collection to determine adequacy of new telecommunications infrastructure (email/ internet/ intranet and videoconference) in meeting telecommunication needs of stakeholders (Qld Health – Northern Zone, Qld Ambulance Service, Blue Care, Northern Qld Rural Division of General Practice and Far North Qld Rural Division of General Practice).

• Assess effectiveness of training strategies to support roll-out of infrastructure

• Assess use of videoconferencing by the general community

• Determine impact of telecommunications at a clinical and administrative level

Geographical area of project:

Bowen to Cape York, Gulf of Carpentaria, Townsville west to Mt Isa.