15th NATIONAL RURAL & REMOTE ALLIED HEALTH CONFERENCE
Abstracts
Abstracts have now closed
Thank you to everyone who has submitted an abstract. We have now commenced the review process and we'll be in touch soon! 
Theme:
Going the Distance: Thriving in Rural and Remote Communities
Subthemes:
  • Working together to understand and respond to health system challenges.
  • Sharing our stories and celebrating best practices.
  • Innovating to create impact and opportunity.
More choices for you
SARRAH 2024 is working to make it easier for you to present.
  • Presentation streams
    As part of the abstract process, you will be asked to indicate your choice of two options.
    • General stream - oral presentation only. You may choose to provide your presentation for publication in the conference proceedings.
    • Scientific Stream – oral presentation and refereed abstract, published after conference. The peer reviewed scientific stream will again be offered at the 2024 National SARRAH Conference. Authors submitting in this stream will have the opportunity to have their abstracts peer reviewed and published with the journal of Rural and Remote Health (RRH).
  • Abstract formats
    We invite you to submit abstracts in the formats below. While you will be asked to indicate your preferred presentation format when submitting your abstract, the Committee may request an alternative format be considered. The Committee will allocate the format of presentations, taking into account the preference of authors and the balance of the program.

    Abstracts may be in the style of:
    • A narrative or story outline; or
    • A traditional structure comprising aims, methods, results and discussion / recommendations.
  • Abstract submissions
    Authors are invited to submit abstracts of 250 words by COB Friday 15th March 2024.
    All abstracts are to be submitted electronically via the conference portal.
    If you have any queries, please contact SARRAH by email at sarrah@sarrah.org.au
  • Published abstracts
    All presenters will have an opportunity to submit a revised abstract post-conference for further review and publication in the journal of Rural and Remote Health.
Presentation types
Standard oral presentation

Format: oral presentation (12 minutes) and questions (3 minutes).

Abstract: 250-word abstract with suggested format: Introduction, Methods, Results / Outcomes, Discussion / Learnings, Conclusion / Recommendation.


This presentation format is suited to:

  • Presentation of a service project or research study
  • Presentations of significant impact or importance for rural and remote allied health
  • Topics requiring discussion of context prior to delivering the results and summary/conclusion
Rapid 5 presentations

Format: oral presentation (5 minutes). The session structure is 4 x 5-minute presentations that will be linked by a theme. Following the last presentation, the 4 presenters are positioned at stations in the room and audience members can approach the presenter/s of their choice to ask questions and discuss the topic further. Presenters are also encouraged to show and share resources with the audience. The questions/discussion section lasts 10 mins.

Abstract: 250-word abstract in the format:

  • What we did (methods, activities),
  • What we produced (description of the change/ improvement, new resources or process and an evaluation finding/outcome),
  • What we learned.

The presentation format is suited to:

  • Local quality improvement or service innovation activities, pilot project with results available to present to peers (projects / activities presented should have at least intermediate results / outcomes described in the abstract)
  • Sharing evaluated resources (clinical tools, patient resources, service coordination tools)
  • Forming collaborations and identifying contacts and colleagues doing similar work
e-Poster (digital slide)

Format: Posters will be displayed electronically. Electronic posters will be displayed for the duration of the conference on the Delegate App and on large flat screen monitors in the exhibition and catering area (using a widescreen 16:9 format). The posters will rotate automatically and each poster will be shown for one minute. Delegates will be able to pause individual posters to view them in more detail. Accepted poster authors will be sent instructions for preparing their e-Poster. Presenters are encouraged to include a web link or QR code so delegates can access relevant public ally available information.

Abstract: 250 words


This presentation is suited to:

  • Traditional poster topics e.g. local projects, QI activities, small research projects (honours research, dissertation) etc
  • Topics may have narrower relevance that those selected for the Rapid 5 or lend themselves better to visual presentation (data, charts, graphics).
  • Times will be scheduled for people to connect with poster authors.
Seminar

Format: 60-minutes, facilitator and 3 panel members will discuss and work with the audience members on a key topic for rural and remote allied health i.e. a wicked problem or a system priority.

  • Facilitator introduces topic including presenting key data and summarising issues, and defining the outcome of the seminar (5 mins)
  • Panel members provide key insights from practice, policy and research (up to 5 minutes each)
  • Facilitated discussion with audience contributing their perspectives, experiences, learnings / solutions / strategies
  • The seminar should be action-orientated and stimulate discussion and one or more recommendations that can be reported as part of the conference outcomes and progressed by stakeholders (SARRAH members and partners).

Abstract:  250 words

  • Seminar outline up to 250 words (brief description of issue / problem and rationale for presenting it as a priority for the conference, expected outcome of seminar), and
  • Facilitator and presenter biographies. Presenters should provide diversity of perspectives and experience of the topic. This may include sectors (e.g. public, private, NGO, community controlled), experiences (e.g. clinicians, managers, policy, education, research, consumer, advocate, associated industries such as vendors/suppliers), career stages (students/early career, mid-career, “venerable colleagues”), geographical spread (national or international, urban/rural/remote).
  • The Scientific committee may propose and work with seminar presenters to address priority topics.

This presentation format is suited to:

  • Current and emerging issues and priorities for rural and remote healthcare
  • Collaborative discussion focussed on opportunities, scaling and spreading local/regional solutions, defining priorities for action and practical strategies that audience members and SARRAH can progress.
Pre-conference workshop

Format: 3 hours/half-day, Facilitators will workshop a key topic for rural and remote allied health i.e. a wicked problem or a system priority.

The workshop should be action-orientated and stimulate discussion and one or more recommendations that can be reported as part of the conference outcomes and progressed by stakeholders (SARRAH members and partners).

Abstract: 250 words

  • The abstract is your initial pitch for an idea for a pre-conference workshop.
  • Workshop outline up to 250 words (brief description of issue / problem and rationale for presenting it as a priority for the conference, expected outcome of workshop), and
  • Facilitator and presenter biographies
  • The Committee may request more information as required.
Review criteria
When reviewing abstracts, we will use the following criteria. So it's a good idea to make sure that your abstract aligns with the criteria.

Currency: Does the abstract have relevance to current allied health issues in rural and remote Australia [i.e., a paper for this Conference, not another]?

Quality: Does the abstract conform to accepted practices?
New knowledge: Provides new ideas or develop further what we already know and have shared previously (new news not old).

Methods: Appropriate methods are used that support the analysis and findings.
Analysis and findings: Does more than just describe a program undertaken, or a service developed –analysis/outcomes/ solutions/ applicability or inspiration need to be included.

Inter-professional applicability: Describes something that is inter-professional/multi-disciplinary/team-based care or intersectorial, if not, how transferable is the idea to other professions/ to team based care. [allied health and not single discipline].

Take home messages: Provides clear conclusions and key take home messages which can impact the allied health service delivery in rural and remote Australia.