In 2023, the Agency for Clinical Innovation’s Rural Health Network (RHN) is celebrating 10 years of working together to improve the experience and delivery of healthcare in remote, rural and regional NSW.
The RHN works with clinicians, health managers, consumers and stakeholders from across rural and regional NSW to:
- identify ways to improve rural healthcare
- develop innovative solutions to rural healthcare challenges
- support coordination and implementation of models of care that meet the needs of rural communities.
The RHN works closely with the NSW Health Regional Health Division to support its aim to strengthen and promote regionally-based, patient-centred approaches to the delivery of health services in regional NSW.
With a growing membership of around 700, the RHN involves clinicians, consumers, carers, researchers and health managers from NSW Health, the non-government sector, and Aboriginal health and community organisations. Guided by the RHN Executive Committee, members work together to ensure the rural health voice will remain strong for decades to come.
This communications toolkit has been developed for RHN members, local health districts (LHDs) and other rural health providers and organisations to:
- celebrate the milestone of the Rural Health Network 10th anniversary
- raise awareness about local innovations that RHN members have contributed to in rural and regional NSW, including those recognised in the Rural Innovation Awards.
To find out more or join the ACI’s Rural Health Network, visit: https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/networks/rural-health or email ACI-RuralHealth@health.nsw.gov.au
More information
Email ACI-Communications@health.nsw.gov.au
Sample news article
10 years of the Rural Health Network: celebrating a decade of working together for better rural health in NSW
This year, the Agency for Clinical Innovation’s Rural Health Network (RHN) marks its 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of working together to improve the experience and delivery of healthcare in rural, regional and remote NSW communities.
The RHN works with clinicians, health managers, consumers and partners, including the Regional Health Division of NSW Health, to:
- identify ways to improve services and outcomes
- develop innovative solutions to challenges
- support the coordination and implementation of models of care that meet the needs of rural, regional and remote communities.
The network has a growing membership of around 700 people, including clinicians, consumers, carers, researchers, and health managers from NSW Health, the non-government sector, and Aboriginal health and community organisations. Led by the RHN Executive Committee, they work together to ensure the rural health voice will remain strong for decades to come.
RHN Co-chair Viki Brumell, Manager of the Hunter New England Local Health District Aged Care & Rehabilitation Services Clinical Network, explains that members of the executive committee work as clinicians or managers in rural, remote and regional health across the state, in different fields. "We are rural residents ourselves, so we also bring our lived experience to the table. The RHN's role is to bring that perspective to a wide range of ACI projects and advocate for the rural voice."
RHN Co-chair Dave Karlson, Director Business Governance for the NSW Rural Doctors Network, says: "Often the RHN has shown that to make positive change, it's most important to know the issues at a local level and work with people at a local level to collectively develop change that will deliver and stick."
The network has made a difference through many initiatives over the past 10 years, including celebrating successful innovative projects in the rural health sector through the ACI Rural Innovation Awards. Since 2013, more than 60 winning projects have demonstrated the breath of innovation in rural health, recognising teams from oral health, NSW Ambulance, community mental health, human resources, community engagement, integrated and chronic care teams, as well as inpatient specialties. Read about some of the past winners including an Aboriginal community-led stroke education project in the Tamworth area, and the Virtual Allied Health Service (VAHS) supporting patients in Western NSW.
Angela Firth, Director Allied Health, Western NSW Local Health District and one of the VAHS project leads, says "The VAHS has improved quality of care and access to allied health services in smaller communities, and reduced the need for travel. The service has enabled people to access care closer to home, in their own communities and on Country."
Other achievements for the network include:
- sharing 150 rural health projects on the ACI Innovation Exchange; a platform that encourages knowledge sharing and collaboration among services.
- holding the annual Rural Innovations Changing Healthcare (RICH) Forum since 2014, showcasing innovation that is occurring at the grassroots levels of rural, regional and remote NSW; and providing a platform to network and share progress. Register for the 10th annual forum being held on 13 June
- working to improve the rural patient journey for people facing long hospitalisation, including: improving access to resources for patients, carers and families; early identification of rurality to improve care planning; and developing a consistent approach to meeting the social, emotional and practical needs of rural patients, carers and families
- developing the Principles of Care for Living well in Multipurpose Services (MPS) and collaborating with rural MPS teams to improve quality of life for residents.
Hunter New England LHD's Yarning After Stroke project team, an initiative that has grown out of the Rural Innovation Award-winning 'Written by the Mob' project.
Download image for use with article
To find out more or join the ACI’s Rural Health Network, visit: https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/networks/rural-health or email ACI-RuralHealth@health.nsw.gov.au
Social media content
Social media photo frame
All members of the Rural Health Network are invited to celebrate the RHN’s 10th anniversary on your social media feeds by adding an image of yourself or your team to the social media photo frame. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to add your image to the powerpoint template and save it for use on your personal social media channels, including LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
- Right click on image in the template and select ‘change picture’, then ‘this device’.
- Double click the image saved on your computer
- Once inserted, if your image is too small, hold down the shift key and drag the corners till it fits (this stops the image from distorting). Please close the designer task pane and do not select a different frame option.
- Select file → export → change file type → JPEG Interchange Format
- Save the image in a desired location
- Follow the prompt asking which side you want to export and select ‘Just this one’
Your image is now ready to share via your social media channels.
In the copy for your social post, please use the tag #RHN10 and share where you practice and why you’re proud to be a member, for example:
I’m proud to put rural health on the map as a member of the ACI’s Rural Health Network working at [insert health service/workplace] on [insert Country name]. The network celebrates 10 years this year – I love the opportunities it provides to [(example) connect with colleagues across the state/access information/share innovations to improve healthcare for staff and patients in rural, regional and remote areas.]. #RHN10
You can also share on LinkedIn or retweet content from @nswaci
Option 1:
This year, the @nswaci Rural Health Network is celebrating 10 years of working together to improve the experience and delivery of healthcare in remote, rural and regional NSW. Find out more about the Rural Health Network: https://bit.ly/3Bw7SSe #RHN10
Option 2:
We are proud to celebrate with @nswaci Rural Health Network on its 10th anniversary. The network connects around 700 members across NSW to improve rural health outcomes and experiences of consumers. Join today: https://bit.ly/3BEk1Ex #RHN10
LinkedIn/Facebook
Option 1:
This year, the Agency for Clinical Innovation’s Rural Health Network (RHN) is celebrating its 10th anniversary. We are proud to share in this milestone with the network, which connects around 700 members across NSW to improve the health experiences and outcomes for clinicians and consumers in regional, rural and remote NSW. The RHN offers its members the opportunity to:
- contribute to innovations
- participate in events, such as the annual Rural Innovations in Healthcare (RICH) forum
- share and celebrate local projects
- support practitioners and patients across rural, regional and remote NSW.
Share the progress you’ve seen as part of the RHN with #RHN10. Find out more and join the network: https://bit.ly/3MusH6N
Option 2:
This year, the Agency for Clinical Innovation’s Rural Health Network (RHN) is celebrating 10 years of working with clinicians, health managers, consumers and stakeholders from across rural and regional NSW to:
- identify ways to improve rural healthcare
- develop innovative solutions to rural healthcare challenges
- support coordination and implementation of models of care that meet the needs of rural communities.
Find out more about the Rural Health Network: https://bit.ly/3Bw7SSe #RHN10
PowerPoint, Zoom and Teams backgrounds
To use during meetings within your team/s, colleagues, and wider networks to recognise the Rural Health Network 10th anniversary. This background can be used until 31 December 2023.
To use when presenting to your networks, colleagues, or team/s on rural health matters, to recognise the Rural Health Network 10th anniversary. This template can be used until 31 December 2023.
