Heart of Australia Provides Specialist Medical Services to Regional Queensland

Heart of Australia provides specialist healthcare and diagnostic testing clinics to Queensland’s regional and remote communities, and most recently, was in Innisfail during the weekend of 17-18 June 2023.

During the recent visit to Innisfail, Cassowary Coast Regional Council team members, Councillors, community members and Member for Hill Mr Shane Knuth were able to take a guided tour of one of the bespoke Heart Trucks that are fitted to a very high clinical standard to enable a full suite of specialist diagnostic services to be delivered. 

Founded in 2014 by Dr Rolf Gomes, Heart of Australia services are aimed at complementing and working with public and private health services and operate with the same referral and care pathways as specialist services operating within the “bricks and mortar” environment.

Dr Rolf Gomes said Heart of Australia wants to reduce the health inequities that impact those living outside of metropolitan areas. By bringing these services to the doorsteps of our rural and remote communities, Heart of Australia is improving accessibility to specialist healthcare, enabling earlier detection and treatment of chronic and acute diseases.

By offering a service that provides scheduled visits to regions such as the Cassowary Coast, community members utilising this service will have ongoing, face-to-face contact with the specialist.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor Mark Nolan said this is of great benefit to members of our community who are unable to travel two to three hours to seek specialist health services and who may not have a support person or carer able to travel and attend appointments with them.

“With lengthening wait times for both GP and specialist medical services having impacts on all sectors of our community, it is through Council’s support of innovative service providers such as Heart of Australia that we can contribute to improving health outcomes for our community,” said Mayor Nolan.

The Heart of Australia services do not receive recurrent government funding and therefore have a range of corporate and government and not for profit supporters and partners.

“Council is very pleased to be able to support Heart of Australia to offer regular services to community members from Council locations in Tully and Innisfail and we look forward to a long relationship with Heart Australia.

“Health and wellbeing are a high priority of our community as articulated through the outcomes of the 2022 Community Scorecard,” said Mayor Nolan.

Member for Hill Mr Shane Knuth said the service will provide additional options for our community members to attend to and will fill a gap in what is currently provided.

“The depth of specialist services offered to our rural and regional communities through Heart of Australia is of great importance and certainly shouldn’t be seen as competing with our hospital and health services but adding another layer of accessibility for our community”, said Mr Knuth. 

Heart of Australia is also aiming to minimise their carbon footprint, with its vehicles having solar power.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council acknowledges and is deeply appreciative of the work of all of the healthcare professionals who work tirelessly to deliver health and wellbeing services to our community.

For further information about Heart of Australia community members are encouraged to talk with their GP and visit the website www.heartofaustralia.com.au.

Image Caption - Left to Right - Prof Karam Kostner, Mayor Mark Nolan, Cr Renee McLeod, Shane Knuth MP, Cr Jeff Baines