The Centre for Healthcare Knowledge & Innovation (CHKI) is a Healthy North Coast program supported by some of the most effective and progressive service providers in NSW. Patrons of CHKI recognise the need to support the health and social care sectors to push the boundaries and explore new frontiers in health.
Learn more about Healthy North Coast and our patrons below
Healthy North Coast is an independent, not-for-profit organisation committed to improving the health of North Coast communities through quality primary health care. Healthy North Coast proudly delivers the Primary Health Network (PHN) Program on the North Coast and the CHKI journey, supported by the patrons listed below. Healthy North Coast invites health and social care providers, program managers and policymakers, students, researchers, and anyone eager to lead positive systems change to join in on this journey to deepen understanding of the factors driving better health.
Social Futures is a leading community service organisation with nearly five decades of experience working to achieve positive social change in North Coast communities. Social Futures works with communities, organisations and government across key focus areas of homelessness, housing and employment, youth and family, mental health and wellbeing, disability inclusion, sector support and seniors in community. Connection is at the heart of everything Social Futures does and it is by connecting participants to their communities, to services and to culture, that Social Futures supports North Coast communities to thrive.
The NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) brings patients, clinicians and managers together to support the design and implementation of innovation in healthcare. The core functions of ACI encompass clinical guidelines and models of care, patient engagement and co-design, clinical evidence generation and mobilization, clinical innovation and research, clinical redesign, implementation support, and evaluation and capability development. The ACI was established in 2010, although its core work of clinical engagement and clinician-led improvements dates back many years. Today it offers a wide range of clinical networks, support for innovation, statewide programs and continued professional development events.
Southern Cross University (SCU) is a dynamic, multi-campus university with more than 18,000 students. SCU has a growing research profile, with 24 research areas identified ‘at or above world standard’ in the most recent Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) national evaluation. SCU’s research strengths include disciplines as diverse as plant genetics, zoology, geoscience, oceanography, engineering, nursing, and complementary and alternative medicine. SCU’s Faculty of Health offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in a range of health disciplines and its research aspires to influence global healthcare, building on local strengths to generate new knowledge and to drive practice forward into the future.
Based in the Northern Rivers of NSW, the University Centre for Rural Health is a vibrant, collaborative academic hub for rural health development. UCRH empowers the next generation through educating students for rural clinical practice across all health disciplines. It carries out innovative research into the health needs of rural communities in the Northern Rivers and across the country and it equips and supports health professionals who are passionate about rural health through workforce development, training and resources.
North Coast Allied Health Association (NCAHA) is the peak body for allied health professionals across the North Coast region. Its primary goal is to make health care delivery easier by assisting in reforming the system to work ‘as one’ and by facilitating improved liaison between allied health practitioners and other areas of the healthcare system. NCAHA leads the advancement of allied health practice for the benefit of North Coast NSW practitioners and communities by enhancing educational, professional development and networking opportunities for North Coast NSW Allied Health Practitioners.
Ability Options is one of the largest disability and employment service providers in New South Wales. Ability Options supports people from all walks of life to live their life well by understanding each individual’s story to help each person build the life they want to live. It’s not always the easiest road to take, but Ability Options fulfills its mission by identifying and developing services that enable people who find themselves facing barriers or exclusion to be included in our communities. Ability Options has recently welcomed employment, disability and mentorship services provider CHESS Connect as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the organisation. CHESS Connect has helped job seekers and employers for more than 25 years by providing specialist assistance across the Mid North Coast and Northern NSW.
The Centre is committed to building cross-sector relationships and has a collective approach to health and social care. Learn about our Patrons.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we live and work, the Bundjalung, Arakwal, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, Githabul, Dunghutti and Birpai Nationsand their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to elders past, present and future.