Mrs Joyti Zwar1, Ms Sandra Walsh1, Mrs Jacqueline Larwood2
1University of South Australia – Department of Rural Health, Whyalla Norrie, Australia, 2Yorke & Northern Local Health Network, Wallaroo, Australia
Abstract:
Through service planning, the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network (YNLHN), identified a gap in rehabilitation services within their region, with consumers receiving care away from home. In January 2022, YNLHN introduced and implemented a Rehabilitation Model of Care. The model aimed to improve health outcomes for local communities and improve functional capacity by providing rehabilitation services closer to home for residents from rural communities.
In 2025, the University of South Australia’s Department of Rural Health in collaboration with YNLHN, conducted an evaluation of the implementation of the rehabilitation model. The evaluation sought to understand the experience of the service's external/internal stakeholders, through semi-structured interview.
Data collected underwent thematic analysis and several key themes emerged providing crucial information to YNLHN for future service design and implementation. Interviews provided valuable insight into the successes and challenges in the implementation of the rehabilitation model. Many of the challenges were identified by rehabilitation staff and supported by other stakeholders within the health service. However, most of these were not identified by service users or carers, all of whom highly regarded the care received.
Insights gained through the evaluation offer strategies for improved service implementation and effectiveness and identify opportunities for the service to deliver improved care for people living in the YNLHN footprint. These could be used to guide future design and implementation of rehabilitation services, ensuring they are more effective, personalized, and accessible for all rural consumers. The lessons learned are also applicable to other new service implementation in regional health care.