The Australian Department of Health and Aged Cares Innovative Models of Care, IMOC, Program aims to improve healthcare access in rural and remote areas by testing multidisciplinary care models. Since its introduction in 2021, the Department of Health and Aged Care has funded several IMOC trials across Australia, including within the DDWMPHN region. The DDWMPHN Project Indigenous Wellness Connect is an allied health led, digitally enabled, First Nations complex condition management model that utilises multidisciplinary teams made up of medical practitioners, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners, nurses, nurse practitioners, midwives, allied health practitioners, nondispensing pharmacists, and or other health professionals. The model aims use digital health technology to deliver primary health care to people who live in the QLD NSW cross border communities of Toomelah and Boggabilla, MMM4, which face significant barriers to health equity. The Indigenous Wellness Connect Project will trial a four year, three site multidisciplinary team care approach designed to provide culturally safe, patient centred, digitally connected primary care that improves the equity of access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The model will test new ways of delivering primary health care services across connected rural and remote communities, improve continuing of care and access to primary health practitioners not currently easily accessible. This trial will also include patients who do not identify as Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander peoples who live in the three communities.

In alignment with the IMOC guidance, PHNs are required to assess, evaluate and report on the implementation of the trial including achievement of key milestones, the extent to which the activity increases the health workforce in the region, access for patients to primary care services and the model's financial viability. DDWMPHN is seeking to identify a preferred Service Providers to undertake the evaluation of the IMOC project.