Strategic Engagement - October 2025

The Rural Health Innovation Fund (RHIF) continues to grow as a powerful platform for community-led change across country South Australia. We’re proud to celebrate the five successful recipients of RHIF Grant Round 3, whose initiatives are already making a meaningful impact in their regions, responding to local needs with creativity, compassion, and a deep understanding of what matters most to their communities.

From grief support, mental health programs, increasing resilience and adapting to change, to informal carer digital health and wellbeing hubs and peer-led care models, these initiatives reflect the diversity and strength of rural innovation.  Join us in following these inspiring journeys, including through our RHIF Facebook page.

As we continue to listen to the voices of country South Australians, RHIF is evolving into a collaborative and inclusive network, one that thrives on shared learning, mutual support, and the belief that we can do more when we work together.

We encourage everyone, organisations, community groups, and individuals, to get involved at every opportunity. Whether through conversation, collaboration, partnership or simply showing support, your engagement helps strengthen the RHIF community and its capacity to drive much needed, innovative, and integrative solutions. Together, we are not just funding initiatives, we are growing a movement toward improving rural and regional health and wellbeing as we champion collective action through innovation.

Bridget Kennelly, our Manager Community Collaborations reports on the following activity being undertaken with the CSAPHN Community Advisory Committees.

19 August - Limestone Coast Community Services Roundtable
RUOK? Day Conversation Convoy were a guest speaker at the latest LCCSRT meeting informing the Roundtable about upcoming convoy visits to Naracoorte and Mt Gambier (Mt Gambier was very lucky for the Convoy to coincide with RUOK? Day on Thursday 11 September!). A guest speaker from Australian Red Cross also presented and informed the group about Red Cross community services available in the region. The meeting included a facilitated workshop around purpose, direction and vision for LCCSRT, which was met with fantastic ideas and enthusiasm.

20 August - Far West Local Health Cluster
The Far West Local Health Cluster were very interested to hear of the newly commissioned services and programs through Country SA PHN, which varied from support to carers, veterans and people experiencing drought, to free community webinars and e-courses.

8 September - Health Translation SA Consumer and Community Involvement Action Group
A representative from the Registry of Senior Australians Research Centre (ROSA) shared how her team are engaging with consumers processes used when seeking Senior Australians to contribute their lived experience to research.

9 September - Fleurieu Region Community Services Advisory Committee
Members of the Committee spent time reviewing and discussing the future direction and purpose of the Advisory Committee and how the group can increase community connection and engagement.

16 September - Roxby Downs Health Forum
The Health Forum continue to map current health and wellbeing services in Roxby Downs and through this work have created a current up-to-date health service listing resource which is a brilliant outcome in better understanding service gaps and needs. The Forum is also considering options and avenues for increased collaborations with key local stakeholders in efforts to strengthen the community voice.

For any enquiries around Country SA PHN’s Community Advisory Committees, please reach out to Manager Community Collaborations at [email protected].