COORDINATE is supporting the Australian Government's response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Report (2021). The Royal Commission examined the complex issues faced by senior Australians at the junction of the primary and aged health care systems, in particular the lack of access to general practitioners in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs), difficulties accessing after-hours care, and inappropriate transfer of residents to hospital. All these issues are implicated in poor health outcomes for senior Australians, and place increased pressure on RACFs and more widely, the health care system.

The use of telehealth has become widespread as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Australian Government's expansion of telehealth services to reduce community transmission of the virus. Telehealth will continue to provide benefits in aged care beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing the availability and use of telehealth care for aged care residents is a critical component to developing integrated models of care and improving health and well-being outcomes. Promoting interoperability and/or accessibility for healthcare providers to interact with aged care facilities and integrating key national digital health infrastructure such as the My Health Record, electronic National Residential Medication Charts, Secure Messaging technologies, and Provider Connect Australia into models of care, will facilitate greater innovation in the sector and a better-coordinated health system for older people. Health care will be provided to older people more efficiently, addressing health concerns early and potentially avoiding preventable hospital admissions.

COORDINARE is commissioning grants to assist RACFs in the South Eastern NSW region to purchase telehealth equipment. The intention of the grants is to support RACFs better integrate with the rest of the health system and to develop a highly skilled, digitally enabled and connected workforce, so residents receive the best care possible.

The specific objectives are to:

- Assist RACFs to have appropriate telehealth facilities and equipment to enable their residents to consult virtually with their primary health care professionals;
- Increase RACFs capabilities to assist residents in accessing virtual consultation services; and
- Promote the use of enablers of digital health (such as My Health Record, National Residential Medication Charts, Shared Care Planning Tools, and Secure Messaging).

This grant can be used to purchase or contribute to the following:

- Equipment necessary to undertake high quality virtual consultations;
- Infrastructure necessary for equipment outlined above to operate effectively; and
- Training necessary to use the equipment or infrastructure purchased though these grants.