Programs >> Outreach

Programs

Health services close  to  home

Rural Health West is proud to support more than 1,000 outreach health services across rural and remote Western Australia (WA) to improve access to healthcare for rural communities. We administer outreach services on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and are the jurisdictional Fundholder of five of their service delivery programs in WA. 

Outreach Health Services

Many communities in regional, rural and remote Western Australia do not have easy access to medical specialists or allied health professionals who can diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses. Providing access to specialised medical services reduces the patient’s need to travel long distances to attend a consultation or receive treatment, meaning they can stay close to their home and family.

Health professionals providing outreach services can apply for funding to cover:

  • Travel
  • Accommodation
  • Meals and incidentals
  • Administration support
  • Facility fees

Support may also be extended to provide backfill for public health professionals and, under exceptional circumstances, a workforce support payment for private health professionals providing outreach to remote and very remote communities.

Please refer to each program’s Service Delivery Standards for further details.

View 2024-2025 rural outreach health services

Service delivery programs

Eye and Ear Surgical Support (EESS)

EESS aims to increase access to surgical interventions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with diagnosed eye and ear conditions, who have been placed on a waiting list for surgery.

EESS Fact Sheet
Outreach Programs Service Delivery Standards (2024)

Healthy Ears – Better Hearing, Better Listening (HEBHBL)

HEBHBL aims to improve the diagnosis, treatment and management of complex ear conditions that arise in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth (aged 0-21 years) by increasing access to multidisciplinary ear health teams.

HEBHBL Fact Sheet
Outreach Programs Service Delivery Standards (2024)

Medical Outreach Indigenous Chronic Disease Program (MOICDP)

MOICDP aims to support the provision of primary health care multidisciplinary teams to prevent, detect and manage chronic diseases in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples who live in urban, rural, regional and remote communities. Chronic disease is defined as ‘a condition that has been (or is likely to be) present for six months or more’.

MOICDP Fact Sheet
Outreach Programs Service Delivery Standards (2024)

Rural Health Outreach Fund (RHOF)

RHOF supports outreach activities, which address health issues identified in regional, rural and remote locations. This fund places a specific emphasis on the following health priorities; maternity and paediatric health, eye health, mental health, pain management and support for chronic disease management.

RHOF Fact Sheet
RHOF Service Delivery Standards

Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS)

VOS aims to improve the eye health of people in regional, rural and remote locations by improving coordination and integration of new and existing eye health services and increasing access to optometry services.

VOS Fact Sheet
Outreach Programs Service Delivery Standards (2024)

Coordination programs

Ear Health Coordination Program

Rural Health West, in partnership with the Aboriginal Health Council of WA (AHCWA), provides the Ear Health Coordination Program in WA. This program works collaboratively with primary health care clinics and other stakeholders to identify and support activity needed to improve Aboriginal ear health.

Coordination of Indigenous Eye Health (CIEH)

Rural Health West works in partnership with Lions Outback Vision (LOV) to deliver the Coordination of Indigenous Eye Health (CIEH) program. CIEH aims to improve access to eye care for Indigenous patients through improved coordination of service, including improved linkages between the range of services required by patients and enhanced delivery of those services.

Outreach FAQ

How do I receive payment for completed services?

Service providers are required to enter a Service Activity Report (SAR) into the Visit Information Portal after each completed visit. See below to download each SAR by program:

Click here to access the Visit Information Portal to enter a SAR. Access to the Visit Information Portal is for registered service providers only. For general enquires about outreach services we encourage you to contact the Regional Services team on 08 6389 4500 or via email.

Access a Quick Reference Guide for the Visit Information Portal.

To update your Visit Information Portal user details, please complete and return the following form to Rural Health West: Visit Information Portal update user form

Can Rural Health West assist with recruitment for outreach visits?

The Rural Health West Regional Services team employs a number of strategies to support service providers in the recruitment of health professionals to assist with outreach services. Should you require this support, please download and complete a Request for Recruitment Assistance form and email to the Regional Services team.

I'm an outreach provider - how do I request additional visits?

We encourage outreach service providers to contact the Regional Services team on 08 6389 4500 or via email to advise of your capacity or community need for additional visits to your service.  Please note that we cannot guarantee funding will be available to support additional visits.

Will I need to complete Cultural and Awareness Training?

All service providers must demonstrate that they have undertaken appropriate cultural awareness and safety training or be willing to undertake training prior to commencing service delivery. A number of suitable training programs and resources can be found on the Cultural Awareness Training page.

How do I acknowledge funding provided by Rural Health West?

Under funding agreements, contracted service providers are required to acknowledge both Rural Health West and the Australian Government Department of Health when referring to services supported through Outreach programs. By acknowledging this support, organisations and service providers are informing the community about how public funding is spent.

Detailed guidelines for acknowledging funding can be found here.  Please contact the Regional Services team to obtain a high-resolution copy of the correct logo(s).

How do I become an Outreach service provider?

Please complete the Expression of Interest form if you are seeking to provide a new outreach service to a rural community.

For more information on the Outreach programs and/or to enquire about delivering outreach services please contact the Regional Services team on 08 6389 4500 or via email. 

How and when are new outreach services approved?

If you are seeking support for a new service to be provided at your organisation, or if you are a health professional who is interested in providing an outreach service, please contact the Regional Services team on 08 6389 4500 or via email to discuss the proposed service and application process.