TERMS OF REFERENCE
ACI Rural Health Network
REPORTS TO
ACI Executive
REPORTER
Network Co-Chairs
CLINICAL CO-CHAIR
Dr Darryl Mackender
CONSUMER CO-CHAIR
Mr Pat Frances
TERM OF OFFICE
Maximum 5 years
SECRETARIAT
Rural Health Network Manager
ENDORSED BY
NEXT REVIEW
DATE
December 2012
December 2013
2. BACKGROUND
The Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) was established in January 2010 to drive continuous
improvement in the way care is provided to patients in the NSW health system. ACI clinical networks
engage clinicians and community members to design and support implementation of models of care
which spread best practice across the NSW health system and meet the needs of patients, their
carers and families.
Provision of health services in rural areas faces challenges due to geographic, workforce and resource
restraints. Facilities are smaller and have less infrastructure; there are less locally available specialists
and a higher dependency on primary care services. In October 2012, the NSW Government
announced the establishment of a Ministerial Advisory Committee and a Rural Health Unit within the
NSW Ministry of Health to ensure that the unique needs of rural communities are heard and that
rural health policies are monitored and evaluated.
In addition, a Rural Health Network is to be established at ACI in recognition of the need for a coordinated approach to identifying, reviewing and monitoring appropriateness of models of care,
including access through technology, for potential implementation across rural and remote settings.
The Network will consist of 2 Co-chairs (one clinical, one consumer), an executive committee, a
network manager and interested rural and remote clinicians, consumers and stakeholders who will
form working parties / special interest groups related to the core business of the Network as
required. The Rural Health Network Executive is an honorary body of clinicians, consumers and
health managers with responsibility for overseeing the continued development and strategic
directions of the Rural Health Network.
Rural LHDs will continue to have the key role in determining rural health priorities and ensuring
equitable resource distribution to meet the needs of communities served by the District. ACI and the
Rural Health Network will be a collaborative body which works in partnership with LHDs, Consumers
and other rural health service providers in providing advice to the Rural Health Unit and the NSW
Ministry of Health to inform development of policy, models of care and clinical pathways for rural
communities.
3. PURPOSE
The ACI Rural Health Network’s role in collaboration with doctors, nurses, allied health clinicians and
managers, Non-Government Organisations, Medicare Locals, consumers and consumer organisations
is to be an advisory body that:
 Supports and contributes to Local Health Districts efforts to develop, co-ordinate, implement and
evaluate models of care and innovation in rural areas.
 Collaborates with rural LHDs, their clinical councils, executives and boards to consolidate views
which will support the Ministry and the Rural Health Unit in development of policy, models of
care and clinical pathways for rural communities
4. FUNCTIONS
The ACI Rural Health Network has the following responsibilities:
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To engage clinicians, health managers and consumers to work collaboratively in the development
and implementation of innovative models of care and initiatives that will meet the needs of rural
communities.
To provide a mechanism for examination of clinical variation and promotion of best practice.
To share experiences and recommendations on how best to co-ordinate clinical redesign and
innovation to improve patient services in rural NSW.
To support LHDs in promoting equity of access to services, including the application of
Information and Communications Technology for rural and remote areas.
To develop communication and feedback strategies between the ACI Network and LHDs, which
provide consultative and collaborative advice to the Rural Health Unit, Ministry of Health and
other NSW health organisations on matters relating to potential implementation of models of
care within rural health services.
To collaborate with rural LHDs, the Ministry of Health and ACI Clinical Networks in collectively
determining and aligning organisational priorities, to address issues related to rural health.
To co-opt expertise and establish working parties / special interest groups as required reviewing
appropriateness of models of care and innovation which reflect individual community needs,
training, resources, social and cultural characteristics.
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5. FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS
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Rural Health Network members will meet via teleconference / videoconference and / or at
Rural Health Forums three times per year with the option to increase or decrease the number
of meetings as determined by the Network
Working parties / special interest groups will meet according to need in a manner as required
e.g. teleconference, face-to-face, email, etc.
The Rural Health Network Executive Committee will meet monthly via teleconference with the
option to increase or decrease meeting frequency as determined by the Committee
A Rural Health Forum will be convened three times per year
6. METHOD OF EVALUATION
Annual review of Terms of Reference against Work Plan by Executive
Annual review of membership
Rural Health Forums
Rural Health Network / TOR / ACI / Revised 15 January 2013
7. RURAL HEALTH NETWORK MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Rural Health Network is open to all clinicians, consumers and other stakeholders
with an interest in the provision of rural health services in NSW, including but not limited to: Rural Health Service Providers across NSW, adult & paediatric
 All health disciplines – medical, nursing & allied health
 Health professionals working in both public & private settings
 The community, consumers & related Non-Government Organisations
 Related peak professional organisations in NSW
 ACI Executive and members of other ACI Networks
8. CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Network members are required to bring to the attention of the Co-Chairs any conflict of interest or
potential conflict they may have with any item on the Network’s agenda. If a committee member is
deemed to have a real or perceived conflict of interest in a matter that is being considered at a
meeting, he/she will be excused from discussions and deliberations on the issue.
9. ACCOUNTABILITY
The ACI Rural Health Network reports to the ACI Chief Executive through the Director, Clinical
Program Design and Implementation. Any contentious issues or conflicts of interest will be reported
to the Chief Executive and managed according to the NSW Health Code of Conduct.
Rural Health Network / TOR / ACI / Revised 15 January 2013