Kowanyama

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Integrating Health Care Planning for Health and Prosperity in North Queensland
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Kowanyama

Key stakeholders in the Kowanyama community worked collaboratively with our team and participated and guided activity in the Integrated Health Care Planning for Health and Prosperity (place-based planning) project.  The project aimed to improve the responsiveness of health services to the health needs of communities in the North Queensland region. Resources and workshop information for project activities in Kowanyama are posted on this webpage.

Kowanyama Place-Based Health Planning

The initial steps of the co-design process for the place-based health project have been completed. All discussions are documented in the place-based health plan. A data document has also been collated with population and health data, where available. Reports include:

Kowanyama Place-Based Health Plan

Kowanyama Health and Services

Download the project flyer here

The work completed in this project will be further progressed under the Working it Out Together initiative.  Through this initiative project staff will work with community to assess feasibility of workforce actions and prioritise those important to community for implementation.  Project staff are in place to support actions until late 2026. 

How will place-based planning happen in Kowanyama?

The Kowanyama Interagency Group will undertake the reference group role and provide advice and guide the project.  The group meets approximately every two months.

Co-design workshops and interviews are planned involving community members, service providers, managers and other key stakeholders to identify issues and explore solutions. Everyone is welcome. We will explain the project and how you can be involved. We have information sheets and participants will be asked to provide written consent. Participation is voluntary.

Following the co-design discussions an action plan will be developed and prioritised, and 1 or 2 small feasible actions implemented. Evaluation may be undertaken in relation to the co-design process and also impacts of the actions. 

A local Project Support Officer was recruited in the early stages of the project to help introduce the project team to local stakeholders, coordinate local communication and activities. 

What is place-based planning?

Place-based planning takes ‘an holistic approach to health services planning’. It is informed by exploring multiple different types of data including demographic, socioeconomic, workforce, and health behaviours and status; and developing partnerships between local health service providers (public and private), community groups, local, state/regional and national governments and their relevant agencies to use this data, with the benefit of local knowledge, to develop and deliver health programs and services.” (Yeboah 2005)

It takes: “a locally grounded approach to generate locally relevant solutions.” (Panzera 2016)

References
Yeboah, D. A. (2005). A framework for place based health planning. Australian Health Review, 29(1), 30-36. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1071/AH050030
Panzera AJ, Murray R, Stewart R, Mills J, Beaton N, Larkins S. Regional health workforce planning through action research: lessons for commissioning health services from a case study in Far North Queensland. Aust J Prim Health. 2016;22(1):63-68. doi: 10.1071/PY15149. PMID: 27469053.

Contacts

JCU Contacts

For information about the place-based health planning project contact: [email protected]

For information about the Working it Out Together project contact: Roz Rowen - [email protected]

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