ACMA’s Clinical advisory team was asked to provide support to a remote Indigenous service in the East Kimberley region which was struggling financially and in the process of considering a transition of sale to another provider.

ACMA acted as independent nurse advisors and were on site within 36 hours of the initial contact.

Our role was to

• Support the local community board to consider the transfer of ownership and management of the service to a larger Aged Care Provider.
• Provide quality, culturally sensitive care and support services to the local community

With the support of the external Indigenous services, we provided a review of current funding outcomes, a review of ACFI income and were able to provide the board with meaningful data and a strategic direction that could allow the service to remain within Aboriginal control.

Over a ten-month period, ACMA’s involvement resulted in the following outcomes

• The service remained in the control of the local Aboriginal community, supported in partnership by the local Indigenous medical services who took over the operational management.
• An increase in staff completion of Certificate II and III in Aged Care; support for training in domestic and catering services that increased the employment opportunities for other community staff; and an overall employment rate of greater than 15 percent of Indigenous workforce.
• Increased annual EBITDA by $200,000
• Successfully applied for two capital grants in excess of $500,000
• Established greater access to primary health care options for remote communities