Targeting at-risk clients in metropolitan Aboriginal community controlled health service: Model development and evaluation plan

An integrated and comprehensive model of care targeting at-risk clients in metropolitan Aboriginal community controlled health service: Model development and evaluation plan

This project aimed to evaluate service delivery to clients at risk of contracting blood borne viral infections and to build a sustainable, integrated and comprehensive service including new pathways of care for this group.

The Lowitja Institute supported the second stage of this larger project. Stages 1 and 3 were undertaken with support from the REACCH collaboration and Nunkuwarrin Yunti:

1. Preparation and initial service evaluation
2. Consultation and development of model of care and evaluation methodology
3. Implementation and evaluation of model of care.

The overall project is a cooperative effort between Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc. (an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service located in Adelaide) the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and researchers at the Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales (UNSW). These organisations are partners in the Research Excellence in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health (REACCH), an NHMRC funded collaboration, which aims to develop Aboriginal-led research projects and research capacity in the community controlled health sector.

Achievements of the consultation and development of model of care and evaluation methodology component of the project (Stage 2) include:

• Stakeholder and staff engagement reports, comprehensive quantitative data report, client journey maps and client surveys, blood borne viral infections focused internal referral template, staff training needs assessment, evaluation template, and program logic model diagrams.
• A coordinated approach to client centred model development resulting in increased cooperation and integration across the service and a renewed focus on client centred care and quality improvement processes.
• Increased collaboration and knowledge exchange between the UNSW researchers engaged in the project and the Nunkuwarrin Yunti team.

Related resources:

• Hammond, B, Miller, W, Pratt, E, Duszynski, A, Healy, V, Harrod, ME & Kaldor, J 2014, Developing an evidence based model of care in an Aboriginal community controlled health service for Aboriginal people at risk of, or living with a blood borne viral illness, presented at Lowitja Institute 2nd National Conference on Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care, 17 March 2014, Melbourne.
• Williams, S, Harrod, ME, Ford, F, Leedie, F, Dodd, M, Saunders, M & Kaldor, K 2014, Implementing and evaluating a sexual health quality improvement initiatives and a service based model of care in a regional Aboriginal community controlled health service, presented at Lowitja Institute 2nd National Conference on Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care, 18 March 2014, Melbourne.