In a strategic and purposeful move that will see two of Queensland’s longest standing and well respected rural, regional, and remote Primary Health Care (PHC) providers unite; North and West Remote Health Ltd (NWRH, est. 1993) and RHealth Ltd (est. 1994) are uniting under one overarching umbrella.
This partnership will see the two complementary organisations; with a mutual vision of improving access to healthcare in rural, regional, and remote communities, share a Chief Executive Officer (CEO); Mr John Cain and two common Board Directors across both organisations.
Mr Cain CEO of NWRH will be appointed as dual CEO during the coming weeks; with Ms Michelle Sieders continuing in her leadership role as General Manager of RHealth.
Whilst this unique partnership will be seen as ‘business as usual’ in daily operations and service delivery for the foreseeable future; the unification will result in stronger health and service delivery opportunities over a much greater Queensland footprint.
The Benefits
Two of the longest serving rural, regional and remote PHC providers in the state of Queensland, with a collective history spanning over 60-years; this unification will ultimately lead to improved access to healthcare for communities, opportunities towards a stronger, more flexible and diversified workforce and enhanced service model delivery options for funders and partners.
The only two known remaining Queensland PHC providers stemming from Divisions of General Practice days; both organisations have excelled in their respective business. NWRH as providers of Allied Health, Mental Health (including headspace), Wellbeing, Carer Support, Community Aged Care and Disability services across North, Central, Central West and North West Queensland, currently employing over 170 staff, and RHealth as significant Contract Managers and Mental Health service providers throughout the South East, Central and South West regions of Queensland, currently with a growing workforce of 40+ (Refer Appendix 1- Service Map).
Whilst both organisations continue to grow, the common barriers of infrastructure, recruitment and retention are shared challenges; sector wide barriers not unique to NWRH and RHealth. This unity is expecting to allow for the sharing of human, intellectual and physical resources, with benefits that would also allow greater opportunity for PHC professionals to broaden their scope and gain valuable experience across many different locations.
In addition to the strengthened resource benefits, there are foreseeable advantages for funders and partners through enhanced ability to consider and service contracts, streamlining of operations, reducing of duplications and increasing of administrative efficiencies; along with envisioned future integration opportunities enhancing the service delivery strengths of both parties.
In summary, both organisations are striving towards a solid future state for service delivery options for staff, funders and most importantly the people and communities of regional, rural and remote Queensland.
About RHealth
Harnessing a similar journey in PHC; RHealth Ltd as an organisation has grown and diversified significantly since establishment as a Division of General Practice in 1994. Through continuing to work with regional, rural, and remote communities over time, they have positioned themselves as a provider of choice recognised for a focus on quality service delivery and sustainable outcomes.
Whilst maintaining direct service delivery activities (including headspace Roma, headspace Warwick and the Head to Health phone services for Western Queensland); RHealth has an extensive project and program management portfolio and experience, specialising in Mental Health, PHC, data and health promotion. When it comes to design and maintenance of effective projects and programs, RHealth has a great understanding of how to engage in the local needs and operating context of the communities they work with.
From the Directors
“There are many challenges in Primary Health Care provision to Queenslanders and making sure that our reach to provide health services to people where they are living is our focus.
The union of our two organisations NWRH Ltd and RHealth Ltd will help to maximise resources to overcome these challenges for our client groups.
Together we will produce a greater spread of primary health care services either locally based, in-home, or through outreach clinics to our many combined communities and assist more communities to harness better health outcomes across the predominant part of rural, remote and regional Queensland.”
Mr Phil Barwick, NWRH Board Chair
“We have always been about supporting our people and our communities, and this is an obvious way forward to continue that tradition.”
Dr Ross Hetherington, RHealth Board Chair