The Royal Women's Hospital
The challenge at hand
Pregnant women who are experiencing homelessness represent one of the most vulnerable population groups in our community. The number of homeless women who are pregnant in Australia is unknown due to a lack of available data. However, international evidence shows that the rate of pregnancy among women who are homeless is likely higher compared to women who have access to safe and secure accommodation.
Research also indicates that babies born to women who are homeless are more likely to develop a range of health complications and experience disproportionately high mental ill-health.
The Royal Women’s Hospital, Housing First and Launch Housing saw an opportunity to pilot an innovative new service model bringing together their expertise, resources and networks. This integrated service offering combines housing, maternity care and a range of other social services to enhance the health and wellbeing outcomes of homeless pregnant women and their children.
How we helped
Impact Co. was engaged by the Royal Women’s Hospital to support designing the model of care and a corresponding business case for the new wrap-around service targeting homeless mothers (and their babies) and women who are pregnant.
The approach was underpinned by co-design principles and involved working closely with women who previously experienced homelessness while they were pregnant, clinicians within the Women’s, and the partner organisations.
The project also involved facilitating discussions between the partner organisations to determine how the service would be collectively operationalised.
“Out of all my years and decades of working with consultants, Impact Co. are by far the easiest I’ve ever worked with. They are so intelligent and to see them in action is impressive - they are the best facilitators I’ve seen - virtually and face to face.”
The impact
The design of the service was approved by the Women’s and is now in operation. The business case developed as part of this project also resulted in more than $5 million in philanthropic and government funding.
Impact Co. acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which our offices stand, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge their continuing relationship to this land, its waterways and seas and the ongoing living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. This land always was and always will be the land of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
