AHA was appointed as the local evaluators for three of five trials within the second round of the coordinated care trials (CCT). The coordinated care trials aimed to test different approaches to integrated care for people with chronic and complex care needs.

Our role, during the trial period was to conduct local-level evaluation of trials located in Melbourne, Brisbane and Port Macquarie. Each of the three trials evaluated by AHA had specific objectives, and individual trial designs. The Melbourne and Brisbane trials had a mainstream focus, and were extensions of trials which operated during the first round of CCTs, while the Port Macquarie trial was new, and focused on the local Aboriginal community.

The key project tasks for each local evaluation were to:

•Identify the strategies and interventions adopted by the trial
•Understand their systems and processes
•Evaluate the system level outcomes
•Evaluate outcomes for the local community
•Evaluate outcomes for CCT participants, families and carers
•Evaluate the cost effectiveness of the strategies and interventions

The evaluation involved the collection and analysis of detailed qualitative and quantitative information through structured tools, and worked closely with the National Evaluators in order to understand the impact of coordinated care and the processes involved in providing effective coordinated care on a local and national level.