S.TRUEMAN PhD THESIS 2016

4

1.4 Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study was to understand and describe the social world of Australian remote nurses delivering mental healthcare. The study explored how the various actors in the social world interact with remote generalist nurses to deliver mental healthcare. Through this exploration, the study offers insight into the existing deficiencies, difficulties, means and issues in delivering such care. Finally, the study examined the current inefficient, uncoordinated and reactionary model of service delivery, which relies on tertiary-level care rather than taking a whole-of-person approach to mental healthcare facilitated through primary healthcare. In addition, it is hoped that the study’s findings will persuade government and policymakers to invest and provide resources ‘up-stream’ towards the social determinants of health, prevention and improved clinical care to meet remote community needs, which necessarily includes remote mental healthcare (Reeve et al., 2015). 1.5 Research Questions The following research questions guided the study: 1. What characterises the delivery of mental healthcare in remote Australia? 2. What processes are used to deliver mental healthcare in remote Australia? 3. Who are the actors in remote Australia delivering mental healthcare? 1.6 The Field of Study 1.6.1 What is ‘remote’? Is there a definitional difference between rural and remote nursing? A number of writings have produced commentary on this question (Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2005; Mills, Francis & Bonner, 2007; National Rural Health