Continuing to care in the time of COVID-19: Evaluation of a communication and service delivery program for Aboriginal Australians living with disability from remote Northern Territory Communities

Continuing to care in the time of COVID-19: Evaluation of a communication and service delivery program for Aboriginal Australians living with disability from remote Northern Territory Communities

Lead researcher: Margaret Kelaher
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Team members: Dr Damien Howard, Libby Massey, Melinda Fajerman, Desireé LaGrappe, Jacob McCue, Elizabeth Willis, Rebecca McCue, Gayangwa Lalara, Joyce Lalara, Gwen Lalara, Julie Wunungmurra, Bronwyn Daniels, Olga Daniels, Vickerina Nganjimirra, Philippa Dalach

Partner organisation: Machado-Joseph Disease Foundation

This project aims to address the needs of Aboriginal Australians living disabilities from remote NT. Travel to these communities has been banned to due to COVID-19. Aboriginal Australians with disabilities are literally cut off from service providers. The overall aims of the project are to improve access to timely, accurate and culturally informed information and services to:

• Minimise deterioration in physical and mental health related to changed service delivery models;
• Maximise service delivery and research capacity that is accessible, prevention focussed and addresses Aboriginal workforce needs;
• Inform future health care policy and service provision.