Innovative Models of Care
Delivering regional support to help identify risk factors related to complex age-related health problems.
Training Videos for Aged Care Health Professionals
Behavioural Disturbances in Older Adults
Understanding and Managing Change
About the Project
Interdisciplinary Support for Aged Care Professionals
This impactful project funds Interdisciplinary Clinical Support in regional areas via the Geriatric Care Australia Model of Care (GCA-MOC). The model aims to support and upskill General Practitioners (GPs), allied health professionals, carers, and nurses to help identify risk factors of complex age-related health problems. The GCA-MOC will address the lack of geriatric specialist services in regional areas by providing Interdisciplinary Clinical Support with the local healthcare workforce, and to improve outcomes for older people.
Project team, stakeholders and steering committee includes:
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Department of Health and Aged Care
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Geriatric Care Australia (Co-Lead)
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The Australian Association of Gerontology (Co-Lead)
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University of New South Wales
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Primary Health Networks: Northern QLD, Healthy North Coast and Gippsland
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Local Service Providers: Mackay Hospital and Health Service, Gippsland Lakes Complete Health and Union Street Medical
The project will engage with GPs, nurses, care teams, specialists, other aged care workforce and stakeholders/consumers of health services.
Iterative co-design sessions will generate the local needs for the Interdisciplinary Clinical Support, how to deliver that training and support package, and how to best measure the success of the initiative. Project deliverables include delivery of fit-for-purpose training for each location, a documented evaluation framework, and a program user guide.
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The GCA geriatricians and care coordinators will also provide improved access to bulk-billed comprehensive reviews via telehealth. These assess patients for cognition, falls, functional capacity, mood, polypharmacy, sleep, social support, and advance care planning. Geriatricians will work alongside local regional and metropolitan care teams to coordinate and support treatment plans for patients with complex co-morbidity. Program outcomes data to date show that combining upskilling staff and regular geriatric assessments leads to reduced hospital admissions, falls and use of medications.
Locations
​The locations to deliver this project were chosen with local Aged Care stakeholders alongside GCA's collaboration of GPs and Aged Care Homes. Locations include:
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NSW – Maclean
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QLD – Bowen & Collinsville
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VIC – Lakes Entrance
Alongside it's partners, GCA will aim to address the lack of geriatric specialist services in these regional areas by proving Interdisciplinary Clinical Training & Education to upskill the local healthcare workforce, and to improve outcomes for older people.
Project Updates
June 2024 - The Hon Mark Butler MP Minister for Health and Aged Care media announcement, see the announcement here
July 2024 - Project kick-off with Department of Health and Aged Care, project stakeholders engaged
December 2024 - First round of co-design workshops completed
March 2025 - Second round co-design workshops in completed
June 2025 - Interdisciplinary training drafted for all regions
September 2025 - Third round co-design workshops completed
December 2025 - Delivery of training across regions
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Questions, comments or feedback? Feel free to reach us at info@geriatriccareaustralia.com.au ​​​​​​