Thirty care finders, managers, and service providers from across northern Queensland came together recently for a one-day Care Finder Workshop and Community of Practice (CoP) meeting held in Cairns recently. 

The professional development event provided a valuable platform for attendees from Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, and the Tablelands region to connect and build relationships to unify the care finder network.  

The care finder program is a Commonwealth Government initiative managed by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) with the aim of establishing a group of “care finders” to support vulnerable older persons by connecting them to appropriate services and care.  

It is estimated that 17 per cent of NQPHN’s population is over 65 years old (50 years old for First Nations peoples). As people get older, they will more likely need aged care services. However, the aged care system is complex and some people may find it difficult to navigate and access services.  

Care finders help older persons get the assistance they need. 

Workshop participants said one of the highlights was the emphasis on community engagement and patient-centred care, with discussions about understanding local needs, enhancing cultural competence, and tailoring services to meet the diverse needs of our communities.  

The Care Finder Workshop covered a range of topics essential for care finder organisations and offered providers practical insights and strategies through informative presentations and collaborative discussions.  

Presenters from a number of organisations led discussions on collaborative approaches to service planning and implementation, providing valuable perspectives on home care services, funding models, and strategies to optimise service delivery.  

Significant issues such as grief and loss, suicide prevention, and mental health services were also addressed, highlighting the significance of partnerships in supporting community mental health. 

Additionally, a variety of approaches to housing support and community education were discussed, alongside ways to effectively manage hoarding and squalor.  

These valuable discussions provided participants with the knowledge required to offer compassionate and effective care to vulnerable older persons as part of their roles as care finders. 

Attendees also gained practical insights and strategies from informative presentations and interactive workshops, with presenters including:  

• Dr Shenae Calleja, NQPHN Service Planning and Design Manager – Shenae led discussions on care finder codesign, emphasising collaborative approaches to service planning and implementation.  

• Susan Chapman, Everglow Operations Manager – showcased valuable perspectives on providing home care services and funding models, and offered practical strategies to optimise service delivery.  

• Tynan Narywonczyk, NQPHN Partnerships and Engagement Specialist – addressed important issues relating to grief and loss, suicide, and mental health services, highlighting the role of partnerships in supporting mental health within communities.  

• Jenny Brown, Queensland Statewide Tenant Advice and Referral Service (QSTARS) Community Education and Community Access Points (CAPS) Development Worker – focused on facilitating access to housing resources, discussing innovative approaches to housing support, and community education.  

• Samantha Hannah, Ozcare Assistant Coordinator Community Care – shared insights on managing challenges related to hoarding and squalor, while providing practical tips for caregivers and service providers.  

Feedback from attendees described the workshop as well organised and a great day overall. 

For more information about upcoming events, please contact the NQPHN Health Priorities team by emailing healthpriorities@nqphn.com.au.  

The results of a completed project have proposed an innovative model of GP-led primary health care services for residential aged care homes (RACH).

Funded by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) and led by the Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS), the quality improvement project suggests a primary focus on three core streams of healthcare delivery involving a nurse practitioner service, a primary care company, and a contribution by each residential aged care home where the service is established.

Report co-lead Dr Toni Weller said the quality improvement project suggested there was a need for a sustainable GP-led primary healthcare model to be developed over the next 15 years.

‘‘We know a GP-led model that caters to some of our most vulnerable community members will deliver best practice care, while also aligning with recommendations implemented from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety,’’ Dr Weller said.

‘‘The proposed Residential Aged Care Solution (RACS) model is designed to build on and support existing local GP services, as well as develop complementary alternative service structures in the future.

‘‘It also seeks to further develop relationships that provide patient-centred timely access to co-ordinated GP-led care with flexible staffing models at our aged care centres.

‘‘The model also provided RACHs with structured nurse practitioner-led acute and review ward rounds, with the aim to prevent unnecessary transfer to Townsville University Hospital’s emergency department and reduce the deterioration of a patient’s condition through early in-home care from highly skilled nursing staff.’’

Dr Weller said improving how the RACH GP network functioned, while also future proofing the region through recruitment of young GPs to the RACH sector, was at the heart of the report’s findings.

“The model hopes to ensure job satisfaction, balanced working conditions, and fair financial remuneration for our GPs working in the RACH sector to allow people to concentrate on providing the high standard of compassionate care they all want to give,” Dr Weller said.

“By building stability and sustainability for our workforce we can ensure we are working together across the health system to deliver the best care for residents of RACHs.”

Based on the work of the team, Townsville HHS was provided with funding from Queensland Health to further develop nurse practitioner clinical services available to local RACH residents. The nurse practitioner service (NPS) component of this suggested model of care will provide the basis for this service.

"Our first steps will be to further codesign and finalise what this service will look like and how it will operate,’’ Dr Weller said.

‘‘A key of the model’s development will be working with residents, families, GPs, emergency care teams, RACHs, and other primary care providers before a trial is implemented.’’

Project team members include:

• Townsville HHS General Practice Liaison Officer Dr Toni Weller
• Townsville HHS Administration Officer Tahnee Pedersen
• Townsville HHS Frailty Intervention Team (FIT) members Dr Jane Dutson (Emergency), nurse practitioner candidates Bethany Roche and Helen Hatchard
• Local community GP with an interest in aged care Dr Chris Stelmaschuk.

The final report is available on the NQPHN website.

Pictured from left are Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS) nurse practitioner candidate Bethany Roche, Townsville University Hospital Frailty Intervention Team (FIT) team clinical lead Dr Jane Dutson, local community GP (with an interest in aged care) Dr Chris Stelmaschuk, Townsville HHS nurse practitioner candidate Helen Hatchard and Townsville HHS general practice liaison officer Dr Toni Weller.