Research
Improving health equity by screening neurodevelopment in primary healthcare (EQUITY)
Address health equity by using the YourTrack systems to screen for FASD in primary healthcare
Following implementation at an first nations remote healthcare service, we found that the Tracking Cube effectively reduced health disparities by increasing identification of children at-risk of FASD in primary healthcare, while demonstrating how children could be supported locally. The Tracking Cube did not result in increasing burden on specialist waitlists.
This NHMRC funded project (GNT2024766) uses a stepped-wedge randomised controlled trial to implement the Tracking Cube across 7 diverse first nations primary healthcare services from 2024 – 2029 to enhance equitable access to neurodevelopmental support nationwide.
We aim to:
- Assess the effectiveness of the Tracking Cube in identifying children at risk of FASD.
- Promote timely follow-up for at-risk children
- Improve the quality and appropriateness of referrals to specialists
- Evaluate implementation enablers and barriers, including healthcare provider competence, family acceptability, and system-level feasibility, to support widespread adoption of FASD screening in routine health checks.
- Assess the sustainability of using the Tracking Cube as a culturally responsive solution to reduce inequities in neurodevelopmental care access, particularly in remote and underserved communities.
We want to ensure vulnerable children and communities are represented in this study and learn from each community separately, documenting and taking learnings forward to new communities. Implementation outcomes will operationalise a unique, practical and evidence-based example of delivering the Indigenous health equity agenda.
Implementation Areas
The Tracking Cube will be implemented in 7 regions:
• Kambu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health
• Ngaoara
• Mallee District Aboriginal Services
• Watto Purruna Aboriginal Primary Health Care Service
• Mawarnkarra Health Service
• Danila Dilba Health Service
Project Team
Chief Investigators
Dianne Shanley, Erinn Hawkins, Ngiare Brown, Kurt Towers, Melanie Zimmer-Gembeck, Robert Ware, Joshua Byrnes, Natasha Reid, Sheena Reilly, Doug Shelton
Associate Investigators
Marjad Page, Naila Khan, Jacinta Marshall, Aunty Joan Marshall
Partner Organisations
Funding Partners
