Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre, a regional Research Translation Centre accredited by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), in collaboration with The Grampians Local Health Service Network (GLHSN) (formerly Grampians Region Health Service Partnership), the health service network for the Grampians region, has officially launched an evaluation of the Grampians Residential In Reach (RIR) Program, an initiative designed to improve access to specialist healthcare for older adults living in residential aged care homes across rural and regional western Victoria.
This launch marks the beginning of a 14-month evaluation in partnership with the DELIVER research team, which is investigating evidence-based solutions to support clinical care delivered at or closer to home for older adults. DELIVER aims to improve community health and wellbeing through evidence-based and research informed healthcare. The evaluation uses a novel trial-design and is the first of its kind in Australia to assess a region-wide residential in-reach model in a rural setting.
“This trial grew from a shared commitment to research for better healthcare closer to home. The health services wanted to make sure their new service model could be properly evaluated not only to demonstrate its effectiveness, but to generate the evidence needed to guide future funding decisions. We worked together from the start, designing the research alongside the service so it truly reflects rural healthcare needs and can be more rapidly embedded into practice to support lasting change,”said Associate Professor Kate Huggins, DELIVER Program Director, Deakin University.
DELIVER is a cross-sector partnership funded through the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). The Grampians RIR Program was funded through the 2023–2024 Victorian State Budget and is being delivered by eight health services across the Grampians region.
“This is a true collaboration between health services, universities, and aged care providers. It reflects the strength of our regional partnerships and our shared commitment to delivering better care, closer to home, for older people in our communities,” commented Dale Fraser, Chief Executive Officer, Grampians Health.
The RIR Program introduces a nurse-led, telehealth-enabled service operating from Grampians Health Ballarat, available 7:30am to 7:30pm, seven days a week. The evaluation, which commenced in May 2025, accepts referrals from Grampians region aged care staff, GPs and health services, and from the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED). The Program is designed to improve the health and wellbeing of aged care residents by ensuring they receive care appropriate to their individual needs and preferences.
By reducing the need for emergency department visits and hospital admissions, the model aims to promote continuity of care and minimise disruption for residents. It also aims to facilitate smoother transitions from hospital back to aged care, ensuring residents return to familiar environments with appropriate support.
Using telehealth, the service extends its reach across the region, making specialist care accessible, even in remote and geographically isolated communities.
The RIR Program was developed through extensive collaboration with a wide range of partners, including public and private aged care homes, nurse practitioners, geriatricians, general practitioners, palliative care teams, the Western Victoria Primary Health Network, VVED, Ambulance Victoria, the Department of Health, and research partners from Deakin University and Monash University.
The evaluation will measure clinical effectiveness, hospital avoidance, staff and resident experience, and system-level cost-efficiency—providing critical insights for potential scale-up across Victoria and nationally.
Read more about DELIVER in action: Evaluating a new Residential in-Reach service in the Grampians region – Deliver
Read more about Associate Professor Kate Huggins’ research.
Source: Western Alliance
