(03) 9349 7800

Outreach-home-new

Outreach programs are RWAV’s vehicle in securing the highest attainable standard of primary healthcare access to all Victorians. It involves a health practitioner travelling to a regional area regularly, such as weekly or monthly, to provide the community with access to medical care they might not otherwise have access to.

In 2002, RWAV was contracted by the Australian Government Department of Health to administer the Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program (MSOAP) for Victoria. Since then, RWAV’s Commonwealth-funded Outreach programs have increased access to maternal, paediatric, mental health, chronic disease management and ear and eye health for rural and regional Victorian communities.

Taking into account workforce distribution, health needs, cycle of care and demographic data, RWAV determines areas for Outreach prioritisation. Once areas are determined, we work with communities to ascertain the exact level of need and where practitioners can be hosted to meet that need.

Currently, we have more than 400 Outreach services providing specialised health and well-being care to rural, regional and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the state.

Our Outreach programs support health professionals by covering out-of-pocket travel expenses, easing financial obstacles to providing vital healthcare services to communities, where specialised help is needed most. Our Outreach programs cover:

Basic costs of travel
Accommodation
Meals
Room hire
Administration support

Current Openings

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Outreach Programs

Rural Health Outreach Fund (RHOF)

Improving access to healthcare services for all residents in rural and remote communities. This program has 4 focus areas: mental health, eye health, chronic disease and paediatric health.

Medical Outreach Indigenous Chronic Disease Program (MOICDP)

Increasing access to healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic disease. This program includes all Indigenous people with chronic disease, regardless of geographical location.

Healthy Ears Better Listening Better Hearing Program (HEBHBL)

Increasing access to ear and hearing services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth in rural and remote areas.

Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS)

Supporting optometry services for Australians in regional, rural and remote areas. The VOS is made up of an Indigenous and non-Indigenous component with the Indigenous component making up 40% of the total funding.

Eye and Ear Surgical Support (EESS)

Increasing access to ear surgery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth aged zero to 21 years, and eye surgery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for all ages, in rural and remote areas.

Coordination of Indigenous Eye Health (CIEH)

Improving ear and hearing health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by embedding regular, best practice monitoring and treatment (including referral for follow-up treatment) as part of the usual practice in primary health care clinics.

Ear Health Coordination

Our Partners

FAQs

How Can I Become An Outreach Service Provider?

To express your interest in becoming an outreach service provider, click here.

If you are seeking support for a new service to be provided at your organisation, submit your expression of interest here.

What Are The Funding Priorities?

Rural Health Outreach Fund (RHOF) priorities include maternal and paediatric health, mental health, chronic disease management and eye health. The priority for Aboriginal Health funding is for those services supporting the management and treatment of chronic disease (defined as a condition that has been, or is likely to be, present for six months or longer).
Visiting Optometry Scheme (VOS) program aims to provide outreach eye services to people living in rural and regional locations who do not have ready access to primary eye care services and will support optometrists to deliver outreach optometric services to those communities with an identified need.
Healthy Ears – Better Hearing and Better Listening (HEBHBL) aims to increase access to a range of health services including expanded primary health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait children and youth (0–21 years) for the diagnosis, treatment and management of ear and hearing health.
Eye and Ear Surgical Support program (EESS aims to increase access to surgery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples with diagnosed ear (ages 0-21) and eye (all ages) conditions.

What Do The Programs Pay For?

RWAV Outreach funding predominantly supports the health professionals providing the outreach services. Some programs also include financial support for patients and carers.

Funding may cover:

Travel
Accommodation
Meals
Other associated out-of-pocket costs
Support may also be extended to provide backfill or staff cover for the service providers depending on the program and the provider details.

For more detailed information, please refer to the standards documents for the specific program.

What Is The Approval Process?

Once an application is received, it is first assessed by RWAV to ensure it meets the relevant program priorities. The application is then submitted to the Commonwealth Department of Health for approval. The department will also forward it to the Victorian Advisory Forum (VAF), a state-wide stakeholder forum, for endorsement. Following this, RWAV is notified of the outcome and will inform the applicant/s. Please note: Any applications approved for funding after a program has been fully subscribed will be placed on a reserve list for future consideration. If funds become available throughout the course of the financial year due to cancellations, it may then be activated and applicants will be notified.

What If I Want To Know More About Becoming An Outreach Service Provider?

If you would like to know more about providing services via Outreach, please contact our Outreach team on 03 9349 7800 (option 2) or email vicoutreach@rwav.com.au

I’m An Outreach Provider – How Do I Request Additional Visits?

To request additional visits please lodge a request here.

How Do I Receive Payment?

Once an application has been determined successfully, RWAV organizes a funding agreement, a letter of offer, proposed visit date form and an electronic fund transfer to be sent to the service provider. Upon the completion of signing and returning of the contract, the service schedule is activated for service provider to carry out services to patients. Following the completion of each contracted outreach visit, the provider needs to complete a service report and submit it to RWAV via the MyRWAV portal. Payment is made on a bimonthly basis which is 15th and 30th of each month. If these dates fall on a weekend or public holiday the payment is processed on the next business day.

Where Can I Find The Service Delivery Standards?