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Australian Journal of Primary Health Australian Journal of Primary Health Society
The issues influencing community health services and primary health care
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Community participation in health service reform: the development of an innovative remote Aboriginal primary health-care service

Carole Reeve A G , John Humphreys B , John Wakerman A , Vicki Carroll C , Maureen Carter D , Tim O’Brien C , Carol Erlank E , Rafik Mansour E and Bec Smith F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Remote Health, Flinders University and Charles Darwin University, PO Box 4066, Alice Springs, NT 0871, Australia.

B Centre of Research Excellence in Rural and Remote Primary Care, Monash University School of Rural Health, Bendigo, Vic. 3552, Australia.

C Western Australian Country Health Services, Kimberley Population Health Unit, Locked Bag 4011, Broome, WA 6725, Australia.

D Nindilingarri Cultural Health Services, PO Box 59, Fitzroy Crossing, WA 6765, Australia.

E Western Australian Country Health Services, Fitzroy Crossing Hospital, PO Box 5, Fitzroy Crossing, WA 6765, Australia.

F Derby Hospital, PMB 938, Derby, WA 6728, Australia.

G Corresponding author. Email: carole.reeve@flinders.edu.au

Australian Journal of Primary Health 21(4) 409-416 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY14073
Submitted: 17 December 2013  Accepted: 26 September 2014   Published: 29 January 2015

Journal Compilation © La Trobe University 2015

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the reorientation of a remote primary health-care service, in the Kimberley region of Australia, its impact on access to services and the factors instrumental in bringing about change. A unique community-initiated health service partnership was developed between a community-controlled Aboriginal health organisation, a government hospital and a population health unit, in order to overcome the challenges of delivering primary health care to a dispersed, highly disadvantaged Aboriginal population in a very remote area. The shared goals and clear delineation of responsibilities achieved through the partnership reoriented an essentially acute hospital-based service to a prevention-focussed comprehensive primary health-care service, with a focus on systematic screening for chronic disease, interdisciplinary follow up, health promotion, community advocacy and primary prevention. This formal partnership enabled the primary health-care service to meet the major challenges of providing a sustainable, prevention-focussed service in a very remote and socially disadvantaged area.

Additional keywords: change management, equity, remote health, sustainable.


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