D1-Re-imagining Social Prescribing for Regional and Remote Communities
Podium 4
3:30 PM - 4:00 PMTue
Podium 4
rural
Speakers
Prof Sandra Gattenhof
Professor and Academic Lead, Learning and Teaching in the School of Creative Arts, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice (CIESJ) at Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology
Prof Donna Hancox
Associate Dean Research
Queensland University of Technology
The profound lack of access to primary or allied health services throughout regional and remote Australia is well documented and increases the urgent need for non-clinical solutions to chronic health and associated social challenges. Social prescribing and/or arts on prescription are initiatives that have emerged nationally and internationally as a non-clinical approach to addressing health conditions resulting from or associated with social factors or requiring non-medicalised solutions. Existing research and reports social around prescribing focus on a process of health practitioners referring people to a range of local, non-clinical services. As an example of an arts-based initiative social prescribing is recognised as an approach able to leverage the strengths of community in arts and culture to deliver integrated care. However, for community-based, socially produced, and person-focussed programs to be successful in regional and remote communities in Australia, and particularly geographically dispersed states such as Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia, current models and trials are not necessarily relevant. The dearth of GPs for initial referral, the workforce shortage across all areas and the distance between potential referral sites and activities (coupled with the cost of fuel) mean a more community-designed and potentially informal set of practices need to be explored in these communities. This presentation explores two projects in remote QLD communities that provide community led, collective wellbeing approaches to social prescribing.