InReach Kids Evaluation

Partners: Goondir Health Services, Darling Downs Health

InReach Kids is an integration model developed between Goondir Health Services (GHS; primary health care) and Darling Downs Health (DDH) to provide patient-centric seamless flow of journey for Indigenous patients across the two health systems, and to streamline services, ensuring less duplication of services, identification of service gaps and improved health outcomes. The InReach Kids intervention focussed particularly on improving health service usage and health outcomes for children, young people, and antenatal, perinatal, and postnatal women.

CSIRO conducted a mixed-methods evaluation to assess the delivery and effectiveness of the InReach Kids project through process, impact, and outcome evaluations.

Key outcomes showed that the InReach Kids project improved access to certain health care services which were above national and state averages including:

  • increased access to key services such as MBS Item 715 health checks and ear, nose and throat specialist appointments
  • increased engagement in sexual and reproductive health services including antenatal appointments
  • decrease in “failure to attend” rates at Darling Downs Health.

Overall, these results are promising, indicating that small changes towards improving health user access and engagement are occurring and have the potential to greatly improve long-term health if continually supported.

A summary report is now available for this project

InReach Kids Project Evaluation Executive Summary (1)Download

For more information, please contact:

Professor Ray Mahoney

Indigenous Science Research Director