Caboolture Hospital Nurse Navigator Nikia Goldsmith who started the ‘Walk a mile in my thongs initiative in 2018.

Three years on and the ‘Walk a mile in my thongs’ initiative is still going strong in its aim to collect and distribute new thongs to the people who need them.

In 2018, Nurse Navigators throughout Queensland were discussing consumer barriers in rural and remote settings and their patient experience more broadly.

An issue identified was lack of footwear owned by the patient. This seemingly innocent issue was preventing patients from boarding a plane and as such, missing their flights and appointments. These flights were chartered specifically for the transfer of patients to their specialist medical care appointments.

Motivated and moved by this predicament Nurse Navigator Nikia Goldsmith asked her fellow Metro North Navigator team to assist in removing this barrier with a very simple solution – thongs!

It’s a Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requirement that all passengers must have footwear to fly. Many clients presented at the airport without footwear and were unable to board, missing vital appointments.

Simply giving a pair of thongs to people meant that they could board a plane and access the healthcare they need, no matter where they live.

The thongs also provided dignity for patients attending specialist appointments and entering large hospitals far away from remote communities.

Donations of thongs flowed. They were soon packed and transported by Queensland Rail to the Torres Strait.

Fast forward to current day. Aqueo Pty Ltd – which is the authorised importer and distributor for the iconic brand Havaianas – continues to partner with Nikia.

With a simple phone call, thongs can be shipped from the warehouse in Sydney to anywhere in Queensland.

This simple yet highly effective idea really brings home the impact that Nurse Navigators can have.

They focus on building the consumers local supports and strengths in self-management, collaborating with community-based resources so that wherever possible, holistic healthcare would be delivered closer to the patient in their community.