Major achievements to date include;

• Governance and comittee structures operational
• The development of a comprehensive assessment tool
• Development of care units at Taree and Kempsey and the Trial Office supported by care coordination staff
• Incorporating the Aboriginal Community Options Program and the Mid North Aboriginal Chronic Disease Program within the Trial
• Substantial development in IM/IT including staff recruitment, system design, acquisition and installation of hardware and software pre-deployment of Patient Information and Recall Software, implementation of system support model and standard operation environment and group policy for all sites
• Meeting requirements of the Deed of Agreement including the development of a Local Evaluation Plan, Trial Closure Plan, Ricsk Management Plan, revise the Business Plan and develop and sign a MoU with the Department of Ageing, Disability and Homecare.

As part of the consultation process trial staff regularly attend community meetings or forums to provide overviews of the Trial and which have included the ATSIC Regional Council, Mid North Coast Area Health Service Nursing and District Hospitals Council and Aboriginal Health Networks, Ambulance Service, and Aboriginal Medical Services and other key stakeholder groups.

The Trial team will continue to work with Galambila to develop a plan to establish their organisation as a Care Unit.

As the Trial enters the 2nd year, the delays in receiving approval to enter the live phase will impact on the original trial design of a three year trial and in particular the overall evaluation of the Trial. The Management Committee is currently considering these implications.