Outreach in the Outback

Outreach in the Outback encompasses a range of measures funded by the Australian Government under the Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program (MSOAP) and administered by Rural Health West in collaboration with its key partners and stakeholders.

The objectives of the MSOAP program are to:
• Increase and improve access to medical services for rural, remote and Indigenous populations.
• Support health professionals to provide outreach services to rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
• Encourage collaboration between health services and health professionals in the community to maintain continuity of patient care.
• Increase and maintain the skills of regional, rural and remote health professionals.
• Work with communities to build self-knowledge and support informed self-care.
• Increase the range of services offered by visiting health professionals to detect, manage and prevent chronic disease.

Outreach in the Outback currently administers five programs

Rural Health West can provide the following financial support for health professionals participating in outreach services:
• Travel, accommodation and meals.
• Daily workforce payments where MBS payments cannot be claimed or are not assured.
• Absence from Practice Allowance for private providers for travel time to and from outreach locations.
• Administrative support.
• Facility and equipment hire.
• Cultural awareness training.

For more information about funding, please see the program-specific guidelines.

Changes to Outreach in the Outback under the Rural Health Outreach Fund

Following a national review of the Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program (MSOAP), the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing announced in the 2011-2012 budget that it will establish the Rural Health Outreach Fund (RHOF) in 2012. The RHOF will consolidate activites of existing outreach programs and will provide a larger, more flexible funding pool for initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes for people living in rural and remote locations through delivery of outreach health services.

Please refer to this information sheet for more details on RHOF and what it means for current service providers as well as opportunities for new services. It includes information on the four priority areas identified for the first year of funding as well as services that may be supported by the fund including outreach general practice services and multi-disciplinary team based models of care.

All current service providers will be required to submit new proposals for funding. Current services funded under Outreach in the Outback- Specialist Services, Maternity Services or Ophthalmology Services will not automatically be carried over for Rural Health Outreach Funding. This presents an opportunity for extensive regional planning to determine community need and develop complementary services. The Rural Health Outreach Fund also provides an opportunity for initiating new and innovative services including multi-disciplinary team based models of care.

Recruitment

If you are a service provider and are currently unable to secure a health professional to provide your service, Outreach in the Outback would like to help. Please download and complete a Request for Recruitment Assistance form and return to the Outreach in the Outback team

If you are a health professional who is interested in performing outreach services, you can register your interest by emailing Outreach in the Outback. Interested professionals will be added our recruitment pool. To see current opportunities, please view our latest e-bulletin.

Current Service Providers
Your Service Provider Agreement includes a Payment Schedule which details your approved funding for outreach services.

Please send your invoice and service activity report to the Outreach in the Outback team as soon as possible after each visit to ensure prompt payment:

by email to Outreach in the Outback
by facsimile to 08 6389 4501
post: Outreach in the Outback, Rural Health West, PO Box 433, Nedlands 6009

Timely receipt of your invoices and service activity reports helps us to determine whether there may be funding available to support additional services

Download sample tax invoice

Download Service Activity Report

Bringing health services closer to home for Western Australians living in rural and remote towns and communities.

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