The ACI innovation awards recognise and reward innovation and capture models of care which have potential for broader implementation across other health sectors. They are presented at the annual quality awards of the eight rural local health districts (LHDs).
The awards are judged by the Rural Health Network on six criteria:
- Innovation, creativity and originality
- Effective partnerships
- Relevance and sustainability
- Transferability
- System-wide potential
- Value.
Winning projects are added to the ACI Innovation Exchange.
2022 Rural Innovation Award winners
Associate Professor John Preddy
Murrumbidgee LHD
Recognition of his outstanding work and leadership in research activities that focus heavily on:
- Equity of access and delivery of quality and evidence-based paediatric care
- Use of telehealth in decision-making and specialist consultation in general practice
- Development and implementation of evidence-based policy
- Management of paediatric respiratory disease.
Keeping people healthy
Immunisation Outreach Team, Public Health Unit, Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD
An initiative to address health equity within the community in a particularly challenging time. Through multi-agency collaboration, the team delivered over 7,000 vaccinations in three months to vulnerable populations.
Patient transport cardiac monitoring and escalating and notifying of deteriorating patient project
Patient Transport Service, Southern NSW LHD
Seeing a difference – StEPS pictorial parent information letter
Mid North Coast LHD
A pictorial information letter to send home to parents and carers, to allow for the consent of their children to participate in eye health checks, as part of the statewide eyesight pre-schooler screening (StEPS). This project supports people with poor literacy to ensure that their children were not being further disadvantaged.
Supportive care for chronic disease
Chronic Disease Network and Palliative and End of Life Care Stream, Hunter New England LHD
The first Australian trial to demonstrate the benefit of a multidisciplinary supportive care approach in liver disease.
Virtual wound consultancy service
Western NSW LHD
The virtual wound consultancy service aims to improve the way wounds are managed, delivering better experiences of receiving and providing care, enhancing outcomes and optimising the use of resources irrespective of geographical location or social circumstance.