Indigenous Health

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have a clear preference for health care that does not distinguish between health conditions, but treats individuals in a holistic manner that acknowledge the important role of the Indigenous culture.

The purpose of the Linking Indigenous Peoples Program is to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders health outcomes by;

• Targeting age appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, by utilizing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessment and Medicare item numbers.
• Providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural awareness education to primary care providers.
• Support general practice in implementing health assessments and Medicare item numbers through culturally appropriate literature.
• Provide information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers on Medicare health check items.
• Create partnerships between SouthEast Primary HealthCare Network and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations in the Logan area.
• Offer choices to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in engagement with general practice and other primary care providers.

For more information please contact Tamara Nikolaou on Tel: 07 3290 3733 or email tnikolaou@sphn.org.au

CLOSING THE GAP

The Close the Gap Campaign's goal is to close the health and life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation.

Rationale for the Program

Mainstream primary care generally provides a first point of contact for health services in Australia. However, cultural barriers can limit usage of these services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This program aims to ensure that mainstream primary care services (including but not limited to general practice, allied health, specialists) are able to provide culturally sensitive care for Indigenous Australians.

Increasing the capacity of mainstream primary care to provide culturally sensitive services for Indigenous Australians.

Intended outcomes include:

• Increase in the overall health;
• Improved access to culturally sensitive primary care services for Indigenous Australians; and
• Improved management of chronic conditions experienced by Indigenous Australians.

The Network has employed an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Project Officer and an Outreach Worker. The team will:

• Encourage and support Indigenous people to access primary healthcare services
• Assist Practices coordinate their client follow-up treatment
• Identify people in the community who could benefit from a health check, or who need assistance to access other health services 
• Assist to increase access to additional care options
• Increase access to mainstream primary care services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Improved the capacity of general practice to deliver culturally sensitive primary care services
• Increase the uptake of Indigenous specific Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) items including Indigenous health checks and follow up items
• support mainstream priamry care services to encourage Indigenous Australians to self-identify
• increase awareness and understanding of Closing the Gap measures relevant to mainstream primary care

FOR MOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Florence Williams or Maurice Woodley on 07 3290 3733 or 1300 007 746.