Table 1 Recommendations for a Communication Strategy to improve integration with services

Communicate scope, intent and purpose to hospital and Aboriginal community-controlled health service (ACCHS) staff

Promote ANFPP’s ‘value-add’; differentiate between ANFPP and existing maternal, infant and child health care services

Clarify ANFPP’s educational, social support focus and strengths-based approach.

Develop and disseminate a written communication protocol, clearly articulating and differentiating the roles and responsibilities of service providers

Exchange of client information

Improve communication and information sharing across agencies while maintaining privacy and confidentiality across the client journey

Implement a Client Information Sharing policy between agencies involved in women’s care, consistent with privacy laws; including a consent form that permits sharing of patient information between ANFPP, ACCHS and hospital-based midwifery services and ensures women understand and direct how their information will be shared, recognising some women may prefer limited sharing of information.

Ensure regular meetings between ANFPP and maternal and child health groups (MGPs, ACCHS, etc.), including opportunities for co-location of teams; organising routine case conferences or meetings between the ANFPP, referring agencies and other relevant service providers at dedicated time points to facilitate integration during referral and throughout women’s involvement with services.

Reduce duplication of services

Prioritise the establishment of a care relationship and continuity of carer, with resources applied rationally in the process. This approach must respond to the holistic – clinical, cultural, social – needs and streamline services for women

Consider a Family Care Coordinator to facilitate the woman’s journey, ensure integration and avoid service duplication, e.g. especially between programs offered by the same ACCHS.

Ensure clear linkage and referral structures between providers to prevent over servicing and ensure women’s needs are met.

Ongoing opportunities to communicate and meet with stakeholders (referring services and clients)

Stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the program, to enable rapport-building with potential clients.

Increase opportunities to access ANFPP staff regularly, for referring agency staff and women.

Hold a joint interagency forum (e.g. an embedded meeting) to develop a regional approach to service integration.

Active promotion and awareness-raising among First Nations communities

Raise the profile and presence of the ANFPP to increase referrals, recruitment and retention

Encourage community-wide awareness through promotional campaigns, advertising and regular visits by program staff to referral and community agencies, and events