Western Cluster, Rural, Regional and Remote Clinical Trial Enabling Program

Western Cluster overview

The Western Cluster spans over 50% of the landmass of NSW and includes approximately 5% of the state’s population. Across the Cluster, 12.8% of people identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander compared to the national average of 3.3%. There is also a greater proportion of people under 20 years and aged 65 years and older compared to the general NSW population. 44% of the community in the Cluster is also identified as remote or very remote. These demographics provide us a unique opportunity to work in traditional clinical trial models, hybrid telehealth and completely decentralised models to bring trials into the community and closer to home for our population.

• Western NSW Local Health District (Cluster Lead)

• Far West Local Health District

• Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District.

Modes of delivery

The program is delivered through a Clinical Trial Support Unit (CTSU) and strong partnerships across Local Health Districts in the Western Cluster. We work with industry sponsors, clinical research organisations, clinicians, universities and medical research institutes to bring clinical trials closer to home. The Western Cluster CTSU provides the overarching framework to support the local delivery of clinical trials by local professionals to local communities.

Secluded farm homestead on agriculture cultivated fields near Macquarie river in Dubbo town of Australia – aerial sunrise view.