Background:
One Health (OH) is a transdisciplinary approach that recognises the interconnected health of people, animals, and ecosystems. The feasibility and acceptability of OH strategies for community level and primary care levels in rural and remote Australia remain underexplored. Methods : This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 11 selected informants, spanning human, animal, and environmental health sectors in regional/rural/remote North Queensland. Guidance on approach and questions was provided by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory committee. A modified Health Beliefs Model approach was used to inform the interview guide questions. Qualitative thematic analysis was undertaken through inductive approaches. Results : OH was seen as valuable for addressing underlying social and environmental determinants of health. However, significant barriers emerged, including professional silos, unclear roles, limited intersectoral communication, and funding constraints. Community trust and buy-in, cultural considerations, and workforce transience impacted feasibility and continuity of OH approaches in these settings. Despite these challenges, the professionals interviewed highlighted existing informal cross-disciplinary collaboration and emphasised the need for community ownership and sustained engagement. Policy support, changes in financial remuneration and OH integration into undergraduate professional curricula were seen as vital enablers of OH uptake. Conclusion : While conceptually supported by the respondents, they believed that operationalising OH requires structural change, and culturally grounded strategies with community ownership at the centre. Successful OH implementation depends not only on interprofessional collaboration but also on empowering communities to co-lead OH initiatives, addressing both biomedical and socio-cultural and ecological determinants of health using transdisciplinary principles. One Health impact statement This pilot study explored the feasibility and acceptability of implementing One Health approaches in rural and remote Australia from the perspectives of a sample of human, animal and environmental health professionals. Our findings show that these professionals felt that One Health offers unique added value. It reduces duplication across sectors, improves efficiency, and creates more sustainable outcomes by tackling underlying social and environmental drivers of disease. However, barriers such as professional silos and unclear roles highlight the need for structural change and targeted education. By bringing together practitioners across human, animal, and environmental health, this research co-produced knowledge that can inform practical, locally driven solutions. The analysis highlighted that professionals working in under-resourced settings strongly believe that a transdisciplinary approach is not optional but essential for addressing complex health challenges.
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