Addressing health inequities through improved health service access

The use of innovative modes of delivery is one way to address the inequalities that exist in the Australian medical landscape.

Where geography, culture or staffing numbers present barriers to servicing the Indigenous population, methods such as telehealth can have particular relevance.

Telehealth is the use of modern audio-visual technology to interact with clients and assess their needs, often utilised in scenarios where the practitioner and patient are hundred of kilometres apart, if not thousands of kilometres.

Other methods could include the use of vehicles – such as campervans or caravans – to provide a service where there is no fixed, permanent facility for consultation; or the use of mobile or digital technology to fill a gap in dissemination of information.

Associate Professor Maree Toombs

Expertise is in the mental health of Indigenous Australians and exploring the interface between Indigenous and Western research methodologies.

Professor Wendy Hoy

Recognised internationally for her multidisciplinary research and policy and program development in kidney and related chronic disease, particularly in high-risk populations.

Professor Anthony Smith

Around 20 years research experience mainly focussed on the planning, implementation and evaluation of new telehealth applications for clinicians and patients - in metropolitan, regional and remote areas.

Associate Professor Liam Caffery

Research is centred on pragmatic trials of telehealth services. Liam has a special interest in the use of telehealth for Indigenous health and rural health care delivery. He is involved in telehealth service development, delivery and evaluation across a broad range of telehealth services.

Addressing health inequities through improved health service access

Meet some of our researchers