Rosemary Wyber

Our team were commissioned in 2019 by the Commonwealth Department of Health to develop Policy and Practice options to support improvements in chronic disease care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We used a strengths-based approach to identify positive deviance; using AIHW nKPI date we identified high performing ‘lighthouse’ services. We approached these sites to understand their stories about successful care delivery. 

Qualitative data collection was possible in 4 of 40 service delivery organisations approached. Focus groups and/or interviews were conducted with patients, carers and staff associated with those services. We received input from 75 participants and 54 person-hours of qualitative data recording. These results were thematically analysed. We also conducted a rapid review of barriers/enablers of chronic disease care. By triangulating the existing evidence base with qualitative findings we identified seven key elements of effective service delivery. We are currently consulting with participating services and stakeholders about how enabling features of these elements can be augmented through policy options.