Digital Health for Rural Equity and Innovation
This research aims to reduce health inequities between rural and metropolitan communities by co-designing culturally safe, low-burden digital health solutions with rural populations.
The Digital Health for Rural Equity and Innovation (DHREI) research theme is closely aligned with the Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research’s vision to eliminate health and wellbeing disparities between rural and metropolitan communities. With a clear focus on technology-enabled equity, the group identifies and responds to unmet needs within rural populations by co-designing highly feasible, impactful solutions in partnership with communities.
Guided by a community-first design philosophy, the group ensures that any technological interventions are wanted, culturally safe, and intentionally reduce (not increase) burden on individuals and communities. To achieve this, the group prioritises technologies with low burden of access wherever possible, leveraging advanced AI tools to deliver effective, accessible support.
A key feature of this stream is its multidisciplinary approach, building strong collaborations with researchers, practitioners, and rural residents, including active engagement with the Rural Health Consumer Panel. Together, the group aims to generate pragmatic, scalable solutions that uphold the Centre’s commitment to community-led innovation in rural health.
A key focus of this research theme is addressing the significant burden of chronic disease within rural populations
Project Spotlight - Heart Health Checks at Home
Heart Health MRFF, “Assessing the feasibility of a new Heart Health Check model in Rural Populations” received a major grant $923,000 in 2025.
The Hearth Health MRFF project then progressed from design to feasibility preparation, beginning with ethics approval for the Heart Health Check Kit feasibility study. Five co‑design sessions were held in Mildura with rural consumers and clinicians to finalise kit instructions, develop risk‑factor‑reduction resource materials, and shape promotional content to support future community engagement. The team undertook field testing of the kits to refine usability and workflow processes. Public engagement presentations delivered by the Community Engagement Coordinator across Mildura strengthened community awareness and informed implementation planning.
The HHC kit introduces a new, decentralised model of CVD risk screening - shifting assessments from GP‑centric settings to home or pharmacy‑based self‑testing, with results reviewed via phone or mail.
Through five co‑design sessions in Mildura, rural health consumers and clinicians actively contributed to developing the Heart Health Check Kit, building skills and confidence in the use and design of a digital health tool measuring blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels while strengthening local digital health capability.
The kit has the potential to reduce delays in detection, minimise travel burden, and support earlier intervention in regions lacking catheterisation labs or screening programs
The project directly benefits rural communities, specifically Mildura and surrounding regions, where heart disease remains the leading cause of death and access barriers are highest.
In 2026, the project will progress to recruiting participants and implementing Heart Health Check Kits across home, pharmacy, and community health settings to then evaluate the model’s feasibility as a scalable approach to rural CVD risk assessment.
Learn more:
Community trial brings heart health checks home, News, La Trobe University