On Monday, 18 May, the Residential In-Reach (RIR) team at Northern Health held an Education Skills Day, bringing together over 70 Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) staff from across the Northern catchment for a day of learning, connection and collaboration.
Guided by the theme Educate, Empower, Collaborate, the session reflected RIR’s commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care beyond the hospital setting.
RIR provides a seven-day service offering rapid face-to-face and telehealth reviews to support RACF staff in caring for residents. Since 2023, this model has expanded virtually to Hume and other regional areas of Victoria, improving access to specialist care. Referrals are received from a range of sources including facility staff, Ambulance Victoria, the Virtual Emergency Department, general practitioners and family members.
The multidisciplinary RIR team, comprising Geriatricians, Registrars, a Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Consultants, works closely with RACF staff and GPs to deliver hospital-level care within residents’ homes. A key focus of the service is preventing avoidable hospital presentations and supporting safe transitions back into aged care following hospital stays.
Education remains central to this model of care. The recent Skills Day featured a combination of lectures and practical workshops designed to strengthen clinical knowledge, build confidence and support best-practice care delivery within facilities.
Topics included:
- Delivering care at the right time, in the right place
- Managing heart failure
- Advance care planning
- Recognising palliative care symptoms
- Updates in aged care
- Troubleshooting indwelling catheters
RIR Nurse Practitioner, Ann Dewey, highlighted the broader impact of the day, noting that it not only strengthens professional relationships but also creates opportunities to share knowledge and build the confidence and clinical capability of RACF staff.
As Residential In-Reach Clinical Nurse Consultant, Gagan Ahluwalia shared, “Collaboration turns knowledge into confidence, and confidence into better care. When we lift each other, we lift every patient we serve.”
Feedback from attendees reflected the value of the session:
- “An inspiring education day that helped build our confidence and skills—it’s great collaborating with the In-Reach service.”
- “A great learning experience that will support me in delivering the right, evidence-based care.”
- “I now have a better understanding of managing clinical situations, accessing support and communicating with families.”
- “The day reinforced my knowledge and increased my confidence in managing potential issues.”
Through initiatives like this, Residential In-Reach continues to strengthen partnerships, build capability and support high-quality care across the community. By educating, empowering and collaborating, the team reinforces Northern Health’s commitment to being Safe, Kind and Together, while maintaining excellence in the care of older people.
