RPOC 2035: the rural innovation standard
We are developing health solutions by 2035 that start in and with rural communities in Australia. By working with local people to develop and test new rural point-of-care (RPOC) sensor technologies, we are building tools that work everywhere.
Rural-first, evidence-led, and nationally scalable, our approach ensures postcode doesn’t determine access.
Our vision for rural point-of-care (RPOC) 2035
For every Australian to have access to predictive and actionable disease diagnosis by 2035, no matter who they are or where they live.
A system for health – not illness
Like many countries, Australia’s health system is under strain, but better ways to prevent diseases could make a real difference.
Timely and early disease screening and diagnosis is key to preventing severe illness, but community members have told us that healthcare can be hard to access in regional and rural Australia. Challenges include geography, environment, and technical aspects.
This is why we have come together. We want to deliver rural point-of-care sensors by 2035, that are tailored to the context they will be used in – so that we can strengthen disease prevention and diagnosis, where and when needed, no matter your postcode.
Why sensors?
RPOC 2035 will develop point-of-care sensors with and for rural communities – tools that bring disease diagnosis out of laboratories, a bit like glucose test strips (only better!)
These sensors will be designed for diverse areas in regional and rural Australia. For example, a local nurse could do a test when visiting a community member.
The sensors could help to reshape how diseases are detected and the next steps after diagnosis, empowering communities to identify risks before they escalate into severe illness.
Key features
RPOC 2035’s sensors will be:
Who we are
We are a network of researchers, communities, industry, and healthcare, built on long-standing collaborations.
The collaboration is led by Distinguished Professor Brian Abbey at La Trobe University. La Trobe University – home to Australia’s largest rural health school – is committed to improving health equity in regional and rural Australia and globally.
Benefits
RPOC 2035 aims to deliver sensor-driven healthcare that is accessible, as-needed, and community-owned. This means community members and clinicians can do tests, receive meaningful information, and then take action.
In turn, the sensor platform could save hospital visits and healthcare costs, reduce mortality and morbidity, and improve health equity, particularly in regional and rural areas.
How to get involved
We would love to hear from you.
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