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REACH — Roaming Education and Community Health

 

Roaming Education and Community Health (REACH) is a training and primary health care initiative that delivers health services to the community and provides clinical training opportunities for our enrolled nursing students. Under the direct supervision of registered nurses enrolled nursing students provide health checks for the general community.  

REACH has been in operation since July 2012 and works with clients and organisations to:  

  • Undertake preventative health checks
  • Provide health education to promote and achieve optimal health
  • Build on confidence and competence level of enrolled nursing students
  • Support organisations to provide health checks and support to employees
  • Provide invaluable clinical placement opportunities for enrolled nursing students.

We provide checks of blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood glucose, girth and type 2 diabetes risks and we work in conjunction with community organisations to improve the health of many Western Australians.

Health checks are provided free of charge at most North Metropolitan TAFE campuses; for information about our next visit to your campus, email placement@nmtafe.wa.edu.au

We run mobile clinics in shopping centres, libraries, government agencies, community groups, conferences, senior high schools as well as at our own and other TAFE campuses.  The REACH service aims to visit each venue on a regular basis to enable participants the opportunity to monitor and improve their own health status. 

Our partnerships

We are particularly proud of our work with the following organisations.

Asthma WA - Children’s Asthma Hub

We are working with Asthma WA on a pediatric respiratory health focused clinic for children. The Children’s Asthma Hub at our Mt Lawley campus means families will be able to consult with various health care professionals including a pediatric respiratory specialist and meet with an Asthma WA Respiratory Health Nurse all in one appointment and location.

Diploma of Nursing students under supervision will support the specialised health care team through clinic visits, gaining valuable insight into the health implications of asthma and it will form part of their primary health care placement hours.

Rare Care Clinic

Since 2022, REACH hosts a Rare Care Clinic in consultation with the Rare Care Centre.  

The Rare Care Centre is a state-wide cross-sector paediatric service that aims to holistically address the concerns or challenges of families who have a child with a rare or undiagnosed disease.

The cross-sector model of care is designed to bridge gaps in existing services through care coordination, navigation to the right service, integration of services and advocacy when needed.

Royal Perth Hospital Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Clinic

REACH and Royal Perth Hospital’s Ophthalmology Unit have developed a collaborative model of care to provide patients access to a Diabetic Retinopathy outpatient clinic.

This nurse-led clinic is run entirely by North Metropolitan TAFE staff and students. Providing this service at the REACH clinic in Mt Lawley has dramatically reduced the wait time for patients and ensures that their condition is monitored in a more pro-active manner whilst also providing nursing students with a unique real-life experience during their studies. 

Perth Children's Hospital – Immunology and Anaphylaxis Clinic

Since July 2014 Reach and Perth Children’s Hospital (formerly Princess Margaret Hospital) have been operating a collaborative outpatient Immunology clinic.

In 2018 this half-day clinic was extended with an afternoon anaphylaxis clinic. These clinics represent a strong multidisciplinary training model that provides unique and valuable student placement opportunities. These clinics offer the only paediatrics experience for Enrolled Nursing students and assist PCH with the reduction in the health services waitlist, increased doctor and patient satisfaction.