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At Health Voyage, collaboration isn’t a buzzword. It’s a deliberate approach to building a regional health system where people experience care – not complexity.
In regional communities, the challenge isn’t always a shortage of commitment or connection – it’s usually resources.
Services exist, expertise exists, and genuine care exists – but often there can be gaps. Without intentional coordination, people are left navigating a fragmented systems alone, often at the moments they can least afford to.
At Health Voyage we believe in not duplicating but identifying gaps, working with the right partners, and nurturing relationships that result in joined-up, accessible, and accountable care.
Collaboration is intentional. We partner with purpose – identifying genuine service gaps, selecting qualified providers, and co-designing partnerships that improve outcomes rather than fragment care further.
“Health Voyage’s role is to connect services so people experience care, not complexity.”
Collaboration in action: a new grief support program for women
Earlier this year, a clear gap was identified in our region: there was no dedicated, local therapeutic group for women experiencing grief after miscarriage, stillbirth, medical termination, or infant loss in the Coffs Harbour area.
A local woman shared her experience of grief and loss to a local therapeutic service and asked if they could support the need for a local support group for women with shared stories. We were contacted to explore opportunities of partnership and reached out to Miranda Cull and Bronwyn Napiorkowski, both Senior Arts Psychotherapist and Counsellors at Happymess Studio.
Happymess advised us that they would not be able to run this grass roots initiative without the support of Health Voyage/ Coffs Harbour Women’s Health Centre. Miranda and Bronwyn bring specialist expertise in trauma-informed therapeutic care, and together we co-designed a pilot grief and loss support group for women in our community.
HOW THIS PARTNERSHIP WAS DESIGNED
- Happymess Studio leads service delivery as an independent, specialised provider – bringing therapeutic depth and expertise
- Health Voyage/Coffs Harbour Women’s Health Centre provided seed sponsorship to enable the program to launch before longer-term funding could be secured
- Clear governance and accountability arrangements were established from the outset, protecting participants and partners alike
- Two-way referral pathways strengthen access to broader women’s health and therapeutic services across the region
- Pre- and post-session feedback ensures outcomes are measured and continuously improved
- The program is now endorsed by Red Nose.
The result is a service that didn’t exist before – one that provides timely, trauma-informed, and specialised support to women navigating one of the most complex forms of loss, close to home.
Why this model matters
This partnership reflects something we believe deeply: strong systems are built through trusted partnerships. When skilled providers are supported rather than sidelined, when referral pathways are clear rather than confusing, and when services are designed around real community needs rather than organisational convenience – people get better care.
Health Voyage’s role is to act as a connector, not a competitor. We prioritise quality, accountability, and safety in all collaborations – and we invest in partnerships that reduce service gaps, strengthen referral pathways, improve continuity of care, and support workforce sustainability across the region.
This is what collaborative regional health looks like in practice. Not duplication. Not competition. Just skilled people, working together, so communities experience better care.
SUPPORT THIS WORK
The Happymess Studio (Happymess Instagram) grief and loss support program is made possible through community seed funding and partnership with Health Voyage/ Coffs Harbour Women’s Health Centre. While we recently applied for grant funding to continue this work, that application was unsuccessful. To keep this program running and expand access to more women in our region, we rely on the generosity of individuals and organisations who share our commitment to connected, compassionate care.
If you’d like to support this program, our CEO, Tazmyn Jewell on 03 (02) 6699 3353 or contact@healthvoyage.org.au would love to talk to you about how your support can make a real difference.
Health Voyage is a regional health organisation dedicated to connecting services, strengthening communities, and improving health outcomes across the Coffs Harbour region.
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