Across Western Australia’s 2.5 million square kilometres, distance remains one of the greatest barriers to good health. But thanks to dedicated outreach programs and passionate clinicians, specialist care is travelling the distance – reaching communities from the desert to the coast.
In 2024-2025, outreach programs delivered more than 73,000 occasions of service across 140 rural and remote communities. Three-quarters of these services were delivered in the Goldfields, Kimberley and Pilbara – regions where access is most limited, and the need is greatest.
Here are just a few examples of how care on Country is changing lives.
High-tech imaging meets high-trust care
In the Kimberley, a new outreach sonography service is helping families access vital diagnostic imaging without leaving home.
Funded through the Rural Health Outreach Fund (RHOF) and delivered by Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS), the service brings high-quality scans directly to communities. For many women – especially those in late pregnancy – it means staying close to family, culture and Country while receiving the care they need for themselves and their babies.
Led by sonographer Julia Mayes, the team works hand-in-hand with GPs and clinic staff to deliver scans, mentor local clinicians and strengthen local capability. Each visit builds both clinical skill and confidence, ensuring care remains close, trusted and culturally safe.
Early detection, lifelong difference
Heart health is also receiving a boost in one of WA’s most remote regions. Through the Medical Outreach Indigenous Chronic Disease Program (MOICDP), echocardiograms are now being delivered in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, allowing patients to receive life-saving heart checks without the long journey to Perth.
The visiting cardiology team provides not only diagnostic scans but also education and support for local clinic staff. In areas where rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is far more common than in the general population, this service is making a tangible difference. RHD is preventable – but only with early diagnosis and regular monitoring.
By bringing heart care onto Country, the program strengthens trust, supports early intervention and reduces the stress and cost of travel. Families can stay together; cultural obligations are respected; and communities are empowered to look after their heart health.
A second chance to hear the world
Good hearing is at the heart of human connection. In the Pilbara, outreach audiology and ENT services delivered by TSH Chevron Pilbara Ear Health Program also funded through MOICDP – are helping to protect that gift.
Working alongside local health services, the TSH team visits locations across the West Pilbara, with clinical services in Roebourne, Karratha and Onslow delivering specialist care, follow-up and education. Their approach is deeply personal – pairing clinical expertise with cultural understanding and practical support.
The community focus and collaborative approach has led to high attendance at clinics, with 100 per cent attendance from clinicians has led to improved outcomes for clients, and in one recent case reduced the need for medical and surgical intervention. In another case, a long-standing ear issue was resolved through targeted treatment. And when a client missed a specialist appointment in Perth, TSH and local health teams worked together to rebook and arrange travel – a simple act that ensured care continued seamlessly.
These partnerships show that when care is local, collaborative and culturally safe, the outcomes go far beyond medicine – they build trust, independence and stronger communities.
Equity in action
Every kilometre travelled, every consultation delivered, and every partnership formed represents more than a service – it represents equity in action.
Outreach programs like these ensure that no matter where people live, they can access the care they need, when they need it – and do so while remaining connected to family, culture and Country.
The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing outreach programs ensure healthcare reaches even the most remote corners of our state, bringing vital services directly to people and communities who would otherwise have to travel vast distances for specialist care.
Rural Health West is the jurisdictional fundholder for five outreach service delivery programs in Western Australia:
- Eye and Ear Surgical Support
- Healthy Ears – Better Hearing, Better Listening
- Medical Outreach Indigenous Chronic Disease Program
- Rural Health Outreach Fund
- Visiting Optometrists Scheme