Table 1

Key policy and resourcing developments for CQI initiatives including ABCD 2005–2015

National initiatives that supported CQI across multiple jurisdictions
 2002–2006Continuous Improvement Projects
 2005–ongoingAustralian Primary Care Collaborative
 2005–ongoingHealthy for Life programme—while not specifically a CQI programme, it did have a CQI component
 2010–2016One21seventy—National Centre for Quality Improvement in Indigenous Primary Healthcare
State and Territory programmes
Northern Territory
 2002–2005Government and ACCHO sectors supported CQI research through the original ABCD project
 2005–2009… and the ABCD Extension Project
 2009NT CQI Strategy endorsed by the Aboriginal Health Forum
 2012Wide-scale employment of CQI coordinators and facilitators to support PHC services across the NT
 2013External evaluation of the NT CQI investment
Queensland
 2005–2006Review commissioned to identify best options for improving Indigenous health identifies CQI as a priority
 2007Development and implementation of CQI programme endorsed at senior government level
 2008Employment of CQI coordinators and facilitators to support PHC services across QLD
 2008North QLD Steering Committee established with key stakeholders, including Royal Flying Doctor Service, Apunipima Cape York Health Council and QLD Health
 2010… further major investment in CQI support—including contract with One21seventy to provide CQI support to services
 2010Peak community-controlled organisation implemented ‘collaborative-style’ CQI processes using electronic data extraction
 2011State-wide CQI Steering Committee established
New South Wales
 2006NSW Health provided funding to the peak community-controlled organisation AH&MRC to support CQI among NSW ACHHS through building infrastructure, skills and data collection systems and to share models of good practice
 2010Several NSW Indigenous PHCs commenced use of ABCD CQI tools through contracts with One21seventy on their own initiative
 2015AH&MRC published CQI Success Stories from 10 ACCHSs
Western Australia
 2005–2009WA Health provided funds for a CQI project officer to support ABCD programme in WA
 2006–2007Peak community-controlled organisation, AHCWA, conducted a pilot of the Australian Primary Care Collaborative in several ACCHSs
 2012–2015AHCWA Research Partnership on CQI
 2014Holman review recommended implementation of a state-wide CQI programme, with reference to One21seventy
 2014–2015AHCWA reported actively promoting CQI to all member services
South Australia
 2008–2009 Review of the evidence to support CQI conducted by South Australian health department
 2010–2014SA Health and Lowitja Institute provided funds for a CQI project officer to support ABCD programme in SA. Quality improvement officer based at peak community-controlled organisation supporting analysis and feedback to community-controlled health services in SA
Engagement with ABCD research in each state and territory
Northern Territory
 2002ABCD programme originated in 12 health services in the NT, building on prior work on chronic disease, best practice guidelines, clinical information systems in Indigenous PHC
 2005ABCD extension phase supported development of a CQI hub in Central Australia and Top End
 2011–2014All NT government health services and many ACCHS participated in the ABCD National Research Partnership, with the NT ABCD project officer supported by funding from NT Health
Queensland
 2007–2008ABCD extension phase supported development of a CQI hub in QLD
 2011–2014All QLD Health services and several ACCHS participated in the ABCD National Research Partnership, with QLD ABCD project officer supported by funding from the Lowitja Institute
 New South Wales
 2005Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation in far west NSW commenced with ABCD programme
 2011–2014Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation participates in the ABCD National Research Partnership
Western Australia
 2005ABCD extension phase supported development of a CQI hub in WA
 2011–2014Several ACCHS and WA health services participated in the ABCD National Research Partnership, with WA ABCD project officer supported by funding from the Lowitja Institute
  • ABCD, Audit and Best Practice for Chronic Disease; ACCHO, Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisation; ACCHS, Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Service; ACHSA, Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia; AH&MRC, Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council; AHCWA, Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia; CQI, continuous quality improvement; NSW, New South Wales; NT, Northern Territory; PHC, primary healthcare; QAIHC, Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council; QLD, Queensland; SA, South Australia; WA, Western Australia.