The Federal Government has pledged $20.3 million to be shared between nine cutting edge telehealth projects that will use the National Broadband Network to pilot new methods of health care delivery.

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said that the new initiatives will demonstrate the potential of high-speed broadband in the delivery of new healthcare options.

The projects, to be implemented by some of Australia's leading healthcare and research organisations, will reach around 2500 patients in 50 NBN communities, and include:

  • The CSIRO delivering early intervention services to allow specialists in metropolitan hospitals to identify eye diseases in remote Western Australia and the Torres Strait using video-conferencing and medical imaging.
  • The Royal District Nursing Service using in-home monitoring to allow nurses to support chronically ill and elderly patients and reduce the frequency of home visits.
  • Feros Care helping seniors to stay at home longer through daily monitoring of their wellbeing; and
  • The Hunter New England Health District assisting cancer patients in rural and regional areas to assess and manage their symptoms, with the support of a care coordinator and other medical professionals through high-definition video conferencing.

 

NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program – Overview of projects

Funding recipient and project name

Funding (GST excl)

Project description

NBN locations

Feros Care

My Health Clinic at Home

$2.461m

This project will deliver in-home services to 200 older Australians, using NBN enabled telehealth technologies to keep seniors easily connected to their health professionals and support network. Patients will also be supported with daily monitoring of their condition and wellbeing from their own homes. Services commenced in April 2013.

NSW: Coffs Harbour

Royal District Nursing Service

Integrated Home Telehealth

$2.993m

RDNS will deliver a virtual nursing service and in-home video conferencing for 200 participants. Aged and chronically ill patients will also use telehealth equipment for remote health monitoring. The project will embed telehealth solutions within a fully integrated model of care, involving the collaboration of home care services, multidisciplinary care teams, and informal carers and family. Services are expected to commence in May 2013.

VIC: Brunswick, Bacchus Marsh, South Morang, Footscray, Karingal, Keysborough, Melton, Tullamarine

NSW: Wollongong, Kiama 

TAS: Hobart, Smithton, Scottsdale, Midway Point, Deloraine, George Town, Kingston, Sorell, St Helens, Triabunna, Bellerive, Launceston, Somerset

Flinders University

Telehealth in the Home: Aged & Palliative Care in SA

$2.528m

This project involves 145 participants receiving NBN-enabled in-home telehealth services for palliative care, aged care and rehabilitation for the elderly. Services are expected to commence in May 2013.

SA: Willunga, Aldinga, Seaford, Yankalilla, Strathalbyn, McLaren Vale, Victor Harbor

Hunter New England Local Health District

Cancer Care Self-Management NBN Telehealth Program

$1.546m

The project will deliver an NBN-enabled telehealth program for cancer self-management and care coordination for 80 patients in the Hunter New England region. Services are expected to commence in May 2013.

NSW: Armidale, areas surrounding Armidale and Tamworth

UniQuest

ConTAC (Comprehensive Telehealth Assisted Care)

$2.756m

The project will deliver a comprehensive program of telehealth assisted care to 650 older Australians in residential aged care, transition care or living at home under Extended Aged Care in the Home arrangements. Services are expected to commence in May 2013.

QLD: Toowoomba, Goodna, Aspley, Ascot, Nudgee, Kallangur, Ipswich, Rockhampton, Mackay, Gulliver, Townsville, Bundamba, Cairns

integratedliving 

Staying Strong: Enhanced Aged Care for ATSI Australians

$2.104m

The Staying Strong project will deliver a model of telehealthcare and online intergenerational engagement for 120 older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Services are expected to commence from May 2013.

NSW: Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Sawtell, Kiama 

QLD: Townsville, Gulliver, Toowoomba, Goodna

Leading Age Services Australia

Serving Older Australians

$1.829m

In association with aged care providers Silver Chain and the Illawarra Retirement Trust, this project will deliver telehealth monitoring and video consultations for 180 older Australians living in their homes. Services commenced in April 2013.

WA: Geraldton, Victoria Park, Mandurah 

NSW: Kiama, Wollongong, Dapto 

ACT: Crace

CSIRO

Home Monitoring of Chronic Disease for Aged Care

$2.748m

The project will pilot NBN-enabled telehealth services for 150 patients in multiple health care settings across jurisdictions with a range of health service providers, including Local Health Districts, Medicare Locals and not for profit community organisations. Services are expected to commence in May 2013.

QLD: Gulliver, Townsville 

NSW: Penrith, Richmond, Blacktown 

VIC: Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat ACT: Crace 

TAS: Deloraine, George Town, Kingston Beach, Midway Point, Scottsdale, Smithton

CSIRO

NBN Enabled Indigenous Tele-eye Care

$1.300m

This project will use the NBN Interim Satellite Service to provide tele-eye care services for 900 older and indigenous Australians living in rural and remote communities. Services are expected to commence in May 2013.

WA: Goldfields and Greater Southern Regions 

QLD: Torres Strait Islands