Improving access for the vulnerable: a mixed-methods feasibility study of a pop-up model of care in south-eastern Melbourne, Australia
Grant Russell
A J , Susannah Westbury A , Sharon Clifford A , Elizabeth Sturgiss B , Anna Fragkoudi C , Rob Macindoe D , Deborah Stuart E , Marina Kunin F G H , Jill Walsh B and Cathie Scott I
A Department of General Practice, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Building 1, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, Vic. 3168, Australia.
B School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 47–49 Moorooduc Highway, Frankston, Vic. 3199, Australia.
C Women’s and Children’s Health, Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia.
D SEHCP Incorporated (enliven Victoria), 4/31 Robinson Street, Dandenong, Vic. 3175, Australia.
E Central Bayside Community Health Services, 335 Nepean Highway, Parkdale, Vic. 3195, Australia.
F Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing, 122 Thomas Street, Dandenong, Vic. 3175, Australia.
G Alfred Health Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Level 2, 999 Nepean Highway, Moorabbin, Vic. 3189, Australia.
H Headspace Youth Early Psychosis Program, 973 Nepean Highway, Bentleigh, Vic. 3204, Australia.
I Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 Canada.
J Corresponding author. Email: grant.russell@monash.edu
Australian Journal of Primary Health 28(2) 143-150 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY21188
Submitted: 6 August 2021 Accepted: 8 November 2021 Published: 25 February 2022
Journal Compilation © La Trobe University 2022 Open Access CC BY-NC
Abstract
Access to appropriate health and social care is challenging for vulnerable populations. We used a ‘pop-up’ delivery model to bring community-based services in contact with communities with poor access to health and social care. Our aim was to examine whether pop-up events improve access to essential health and social support services for selected vulnerable communities and increase collaboration between community-based health and social services. Set in south-eastern Melbourne, two pop-up events were held, one with people at risk of homelessness attending a community lunch and the other with South Sudanese women helping at-risk youth. Providers represented 20 dental, housing, justice, employment and mental health services. We made structured observations of each event and held semi-structured interviews with consumers and providers. Pre-post surveys of managers assessed acceptability and perceived impact. We reached 100 community participants who had multiple needs, particularly for dentistry. Following the events, participants reported increased knowledge of services and access pathways, community members spoke of increased trust and partnerships between service providers were fostered. The pop-up model can increase provider collaboration and provide new options for vulnerable populations to access needed services. ‘Bringing the service to the person’ is a compelling alternative to asking consumers to negotiate complex access pathways.
Keywords: community health: services, delivery of health care: integrated, health services: accessibility, primary health care.
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