Our region’s population is aging, with almost one-third of residents now aged 65 years and over. As people age their healthcare needs generally increase and they need a wider range of services.
In rural areas it is challenging to attract doctors and health workers and maintain the services that are needed in communities. For rural people, they often have to travel away from homes to get the care they need. This is costly and can be stressful and demanding on people and their families.
To address health system and workforce issues in the Buloke, Loddon and Gannawarra region, Murray PHN, Boort District Health, Inglewood & Districts Health Service, East Wimmera Health Services and Northern District Community Health have formed the Integrated Health Network (IHN) Alliance.
The IHN Alliance will share resources and work together with communities, to future-proof the region's healthcare services to ensure that people can get the care they need, where and when they need it.
How to get involved
Over the next two years, health services and communities will co-design and pilot new healthcare strategies to address the widening gaps caused by workforce shortages in the Buloke, Loddon and Gannawarra region. The pilots will be closely evaluated, to find out how they can be sustained over the long term and how they can be applied in other rural regions across the Murray PHN catchment and beyond. The more local people can participate, the more tailored and successful the healthcare outcomes will be.
Healthcare Consumers and Carers - Review the co-design and have your say
Thank you to the community members who participated in a research interview and shared their experiences of accessing health services in Buloke, Loddon, and Gannawarra regions. The co-design brief findings summaries are now available and the full report will be shared shortly.
Read the Co-design findings summary here
Provide feedback on the Co-design findings here
Loddon Mallee Nurse Practitioner Network
Murray PHN is working with nurse practitioners in the Loddon Mallee region to re-activate and support sustainability of the Loddon Mallee Nurse Practitioner Network. The aim of the Network is to increase opportunities for workforce development and peer support. All nurse practitioners working in the Loddon Mallee and neighbouring regions are welcome to join. Meetings will be held bi-monthly, with a video call link available. To register, click here.
Join the mailing list
To stay up-to-date with the project progress and updates, click here to join the mailing list.
Newsletter archive:
- Newsletter #2 - 20/12/2022
- Newsletter #1 - 6/10/2022
Media releases
- Nurse Practitioner to increase rural health care access - 8/12/2022
- Local rural health project addressing workforce gaps - 2/08/2022
Key resources
- Increasing access to mental health supports in Buloke, Loddon and Gannawarra
- Sustainable Rural Health project Co-design findings: Healthcare consumers and carers
- Sustainable Rural Health project Co-design findings: Healthcare professionals
- Buloke Loddon Gannawarra Service Mapping 2022
- Strong Youth Strong Communities, NCLLEN 2022 report
- Creating viable childcare services in rural areas, Rural Development Australia 2022 report
- Southern Mallee Mental Health and Wellbeing Data Story
Project ID: 32766 (MUHREC)
Project title: Co-design of place-based and evidence-informed models of sustainable rural healthcare
Page last updated 16 January 2023