Driving health care efficiencies and patient care outcomes by improving communication in acute to primary transitions of care. Communication problems are a major contributor to poor outcomes for patients transferring from acute to primary care, accounting for 41 per cent of preventable hospital readmissions. This project aims to identify risk factors for readmission and barriers to successful transitions of care for high-risk patient groups (including the elderly, paediatric and mental health pa ....Driving health care efficiencies and patient care outcomes by improving communication in acute to primary transitions of care. Communication problems are a major contributor to poor outcomes for patients transferring from acute to primary care, accounting for 41 per cent of preventable hospital readmissions. This project aims to identify risk factors for readmission and barriers to successful transitions of care for high-risk patient groups (including the elderly, paediatric and mental health patients), it will then apply these findings to provide effective, measurable and cost-efficient protocols to improve discharge transition outcomes for patients, carers and health service providers. Research outcomes will have general relevance to Australian healthcare settings and include the development of ‘The Safe Transition Communications Tool.’Read moreRead less
Remote Aboriginal families and carers of children with disabilities. The project intends to explore the challenges that Aboriginal families who have children with disabilities experience when living in remote communities. Living in a community with family supports is important for the wellbeing, health and spirituality of Aboriginal people in the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) lands. However, the NPY Women’s Council are concerned that this is a significant challenge for families ....Remote Aboriginal families and carers of children with disabilities. The project intends to explore the challenges that Aboriginal families who have children with disabilities experience when living in remote communities. Living in a community with family supports is important for the wellbeing, health and spirituality of Aboriginal people in the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) lands. However, the NPY Women’s Council are concerned that this is a significant challenge for families and carers of children with disabilities. Project results will be used to propose models for supporting children with disabilities and their families and caregivers to live good lives in their communities. The outcomes are expected to inform service redesign to allow Aboriginal people to fully benefit from the National Disability Insurance Scheme.Read moreRead less
The impact and cost of short-term health staffing in remote communities. This project aims to examine the impact of the increasing levels of short-term health staffing in remote communities upon service acceptability to patients, workload and attitudes of long-term resident primary health care staff, and the effectiveness and cost of health services. There is a dearth of information about this 'fly in/fly out' (FIFO) workforce in remote communities, which have the worst health outcomes in the co ....The impact and cost of short-term health staffing in remote communities. This project aims to examine the impact of the increasing levels of short-term health staffing in remote communities upon service acceptability to patients, workload and attitudes of long-term resident primary health care staff, and the effectiveness and cost of health services. There is a dearth of information about this 'fly in/fly out' (FIFO) workforce in remote communities, which have the worst health outcomes in the country. The project aims to inform consumers, health practitioners, health service planners and policy-makers about the impact of FIFO, as well as to contribute to the development of strategies designed to stabilise the remote health workforce.Read moreRead less
Sexual health and relationships in young Indigenous people. Despite higher notified rates of sexually transmissible infections and blood borne viruses and often negative depictions of young indigenous people, very little is known of the health and well being of young Indigenous people. This project will for the first time provide a national profile of risk behaviours, levels of knowledge and the types of health services young Indigenous people access for sexual health and blood borne viruses. Th ....Sexual health and relationships in young Indigenous people. Despite higher notified rates of sexually transmissible infections and blood borne viruses and often negative depictions of young indigenous people, very little is known of the health and well being of young Indigenous people. This project will for the first time provide a national profile of risk behaviours, levels of knowledge and the types of health services young Indigenous people access for sexual health and blood borne viruses. The findings of this research will set the foundations for a longer term strategy to ensure trends and behaviours can be identified among the population and where necessary interventions can be implemented. Read moreRead less
Strengthening Indigenous adolescent mental health and wellbeing. Using Continous Quality Improvement processes, the research will collaboratively conceptualise, design, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of new approaches to mental health service delivery for adolescents aged 10-24 in three regionally diverse Indigenous Primary Healthcare Services. Expected research outcomes are a rigorous assessment of the impact and economic benefits of making quality improvements to mental health servic ....Strengthening Indigenous adolescent mental health and wellbeing. Using Continous Quality Improvement processes, the research will collaboratively conceptualise, design, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of new approaches to mental health service delivery for adolescents aged 10-24 in three regionally diverse Indigenous Primary Healthcare Services. Expected research outcomes are a rigorous assessment of the impact and economic benefits of making quality improvements to mental health services for Indigenous adolescents, Key benefits are 1) A locally-responsive adolescent mental health screening instrument; 2) Comprehensive evidence-informed service model in adolescent mental healthcare; 3) Best practice protocol for developing and managing adolescent mental health as a service delivery stream. Read moreRead less