Bringing together key Outreach stakeholders across NSW

The RDN Outreach team conducts annual regional meetings with local partner organisations and stakeholders to review and plan services.

These meetings bring key stakeholders from the local community together and provide an open, collaborative forum to review the Outreach program service plan for the upcoming year, discuss referral pathways, identify common challenges and unmet needs, and share successful models and strategies.

Outreach services aim to increase access to medical, allied health and nursing services for people living in remote and regional towns as well as both urban and rurally located Aboriginal communities. The Australian Government's Outreach programs are administered in NSW and the ACT by Rural Doctors Network (RDN).

This year, ten meetings were held across various locations in NSW, bringing together representatives from health services including local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, Local Health Districts, PHNs, service providers and AH&MRC. Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service (TAMS) CEO Damion Brown welcomed the group to TAMS on Gomeroi country. He later shared that “Our colleagues at RDN have taken on five key points to take back, some of that is the gaps that we’re struggling with”.

Debbie McCowan, CEO of Armajun Aboriginal Health Service, praised the Outreach model for empowering communities to influence and inform service delivery. Marolyn Tolman from Rekindling the Spirit expressed appreciation for RDN’s support in tailoring programs to meet community needs, stating, “Their staff have listened to our community voices and together we have been able to tailor our Outreach programs to ensure we are achieving positive and effective health outcomes. We are grateful for their assistance in guaranteeing we have the qualified staff to provide the much-needed Outreach services to our community within the Lismore and Nimbin footprint.” Marilyn said.

The meetings also include updates from organisations highlighting key achievements, fostering ongoing partnerships and creating opportunities for regional collaboration.

Read more about RDN Outeach regional meetings: