Engaging Rural Communities Using a Videoconference Health Education Program: Lessons Learned and the Way Forward

Faulkner KM¹*, McClelland L¹

1. Women’s Health Queensland Wide Inc, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Women’s Health Queensland Wide (WHQW) has led the world in using videoconference technology to deliver health education sessions to rural communities. Each session enables up to 12 rural, regional or remote Queensland towns to simultaneously participate and interact. Programs have included sessions on women’s gynecological, reproductive and emotional health issues as well as relevant community and welfare presentations.

In 2002, an impact study was undertaken that demonstrated benefits to the community beyond mere participation in education sessions. Communities described social capital benefits and there was an overwhelming acceptability by participants for the use of this technology to deliver health education.

WHQW has proven that videoconferencing can be used for more than health education and is a strong proponent for the future role of technology in engaging communities. However, the potential for technology to be used by and to engage communities is hampered by a number of issues. These issues include, but are not limited to: access, infrastructure location and ownership, and funding models of technology providers.

This paper will discuss the success that WHQW has had in engaging communities via videoconferencing, the social capital benefits for communities under the principles of bonding, bridging and linking and outline some recommendations to ensure the future viability and sustainability of technology to continue to engage communities.

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