FISH, in partnership with three national and international medical technology companies, conducted three exciting and innovative
medical trials in remote Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley Region, throughout 2023 and 2024. The trials involved:
- Vision Smart Glasses (AGILI8 XRAI): lightweight smart glasses, connecting communities, health workers, and doctors via a mobile app to a secure platform, enabling remote provision of advanced medical care.
- Eye health technology (University of Notre Dame and TeleMedC): advanced mobile telehealth device that provides digital screening of the eye to support better eye healthcare.
- Heart health technology (CloudHolter): tiny external device that provides 24-hour heart monitoring in community, enabling a cardiologist to prepare a comprehensive report for doctors, nurses, and community health workers.
The initiative was co-designed with the remote communities of Muludja and Bawoorrooga. FISH and a team of medical representatives
collected community input to guide the design and implementation of the trials, with the codesign process helping to refine the timing, duration, and participants of the trials, as well as the evaluation and feedback process. The co-design process was particularly significant following a referendum where many Aboriginal people felt their voices were not recognised, causing despondency in the community. Scott Wilson, a Gooniyandi and Gajerrong man, and Philomena Lands, Gooniyandi woman from Muludja Community acted as FISH’s Community Leads.
The trials were a great success, providing vital information to validate these technologies, improve patient health outcomes, and help close the gap in health outcomes. As well as being paid for their involvement, community members benefited directly from improved health outcomes, as well as improved technology for their communities. The trials provided them with Starlink satellite internet access, laptops for data upload (courtesy of Clayton Utz), and training on how to use the technologies.
