Lay Navigators Improving access to health and social care for those who need it most: A New Zealand Case Study in complex clinical care

Event Information

Wednesday, 25 July 2018
9:00am – 12:00pm

The Boral Room -Grndfloor AGSM Building -BldgG27 –UNSW

Elizabeth Harris
Phone: 02 9385 8409
Email: cphce@unsw.edu.au
RSVP: Wednesday, 25 July 2018
Please RSVP here

The Lay navigator program on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand has existed for ten years and functions out of the West Coast Primary Health Organisation. Since 2010 its focus has expanded, with the team of five navigators now providing guidance in accessing health and social care. Most clients have three or more chronic conditions. The program supports health and social care professionals of in caring for patientswithlong term physical and mental health issues and social care challenges in rural and periurbanareas On average they receive approximately 400 referrals a year, of 73% live in areas classified as highly deprived health and social care services. The navigators are also resolve many of the relational issues that can act as barriers to access.


Fiona Doolan-Noble has over 10 years experience conducting research on Community Health Workers as health navigators. Fiona is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of General Practice & Rural Health Dunedin School of Medicine of University of Otago, NZ. Danielle Smith has worked as co-ordinator of the lay navigator long term conditions program in Greymouth, New Zealand.