After months of hard work and reworking due to a global health crisis, Rural Northwest Health unveiled its five-year strategic plan on Tuesday, March 23.

The 2020-2025 plan will focus on the communities across Shire, anchored by campuses in Warracknabeal, Hopetoun and Beulah.

Board's chairperson, Julia Hausler, said she was very proud of the strategic plan and how it will help shape the future of RNH.

Ms Hauler said that in pursuing "better health for all," they have identified three strategic focus areas.

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"Our care, our team and our partnerships," she said.

"It's good to stop and reflect on what's important to us as an organisation and then set a pathway of what we want to achieve in the next five years."

The community is a key focus area in the strategic plan.

"We reference the community the whole way through the plan," Ms Hausler said.

"We're not here without our community. We don't offer a health service for anyone but our community.

"To underpin our work, RNH have developed strong foundations to ensure we are a robust and accountable health service. These foundations are - we are responsive, we are sustainable, we are responsible and we are innovative."

Input from from than 80 internal and external stakeholders, including community members, team members, Board of Directors, partners and the Department of Health, shaped the strategic plan.

RNH's chief executive officer, Kevin Mills, said the plan was a massive collaboration, especially with COVID-19.

"The delay between all of that work and this launch has been painful," he said.

"When you have to do so much change so quickly, it's a lot of pressure.

"We've already started to progress on these goals."

Mr Mills said he was excited about the focus on advocacy which is a part of the strategic directions.

"We need to make sure our voices are heard, not just ours but our surrounding communities as well," he said.

"When we partner together and have a voice, we need a key focus on prevention and wellness, not just about treatment."

He said mental health advocacy is essential.

"It has been hard times," Mr Mills said.

"With the Royal Commission finds, there will be some amazing opportunities for more locally established services."

To view a copy of the strategic plan, please visit rnh.net.au.

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