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Objective: To explore the training needs of the home care workforce in supporting the social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples receiving aged care services through the Home Care Package (HCP) Program. Methods: A mixed-methods design including (1) a focus group and interview with coordinators of HCP Program services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across metropolitan and rural South Australia in April and June 2022, and (2) a desktop review of training, professional development opportunities and resources for existing and pre-entry workforce addressing the SEWB of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in aged care across the Vocational Education Training and higher education sectors in South Australia, the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, the Department of Health and Aged Care website and aged care email alerts between December 2021 and September 2022. Results: Five themes representing workforce training needs were identified: cultural safety, trauma-informed care, case management, compliance with funding rules and preferred formats for training. The desktop review identified a paucity of formal training, professional development and resources within the context of addressing the SEWB of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in aged care. Conclusions: These findings suggest that ongoing practice-based professional development learning opportunities are needed within organisations to enhance peer-learning and support. These need to be available together with dedicated formal training programs and practical resources on meeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' SEWB in aged care. What is known about the topic? Supporting social and emotional wellbeing is an important aspect of delivering quality aged care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. What does this paper add? Insights into workforce training needs which support the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in home-based aged care. What are the implications for practitioners? Ongoing practice-based learning opportunities, training and resources are needed to enhance peer-learning and support workforce in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' social and emotional wellbeing in aged care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) provides evidence-based secondary prevention for people with heart disease (HD) (clients). Despite HD being the leading cause of mortality and morbidity, CR is under-utilised in Australia. This research investigated healthcare systems required to improve access to CR in rural and remote areas of North Queensland (NQ). Methods: A qualitatively dominant case study series to review management systems for CR in rural and remote areas of NQ was undertaken. Data collection was via semi-structured interviews in four tertiary hospitals and four rural or remote communities. An audit of discharge planning and CR referral, plus a review of community-based health services, was completed. An iterative and co-design process including consultation with healthcare staff and community members culminated in a systems-based model for improving access to CR in rural and remote areas. Results: Poorly organised CR systems, poor client/staff understanding of discharge planning and low referral rates for secondary prevention, resulted in the majority of clients not accessing secondary prevention, despite resources being available. Revised health systems and management processes were recommended for the proposed Heart: Road to health model, and given common chronic diseases risk factors it was recommended to be broadened into Chronic disease: Road to health. Conclusion: A Chronic disease: Road to health model could provide effective and efficient secondary prevention for people with chronic diseases in rural and remote areas. It is proposed that this approach could reduce gaps and duplication in current healthcare services and provide flexible, client-centred, holistic, culturally responsive services, and improve client outcomes. What is known about the topic? Cardiac rehabilitation is known to improve health outcomes and reduce hospitalisations, but referrals and attendance are low (30%). What does this paper add? A revised systems-based model for improved access to secondary prevention for people with heart and related chronic diseases in rural and remote areas of North Queensland is proposed: Chronic disease: Road to health. What are the implications for practitioners? A functional system from hospitalisation to local healthcare services has been designed to improve access to secondary prevention. Staff require support and education to improve skills, better manage care and improve job satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]