Closing the Gap
In 2009 the Australian Government funded up to 80 new Indigenous health project officers as part of the Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health agreement with the Council of Australian Governments. (For more information about Government Indigenous health initiatives see Closing the Gap – Indigenous Chronic Disease).
These resources have provided an opportunity to develop a dedicated program to develop networks and relationships with local Indigenous communities and support organisations and, to help improve access to mainstream general practice for the 11,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who live in our local communities.
Our team includes a Closing the Gap coordinator and Indigenous Outreach Worker. Our Outreach Worker assists our Team Care Coordination program to support and provide appropriate services for the programs Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.
Our Closing the Gap program focuses on:
- supporting general practices with strategies to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to identify their cultural background in to order to access Indigenous specific health care
- raising awareness about Indigenous cultural and community issues within general practice and facilitating access to appropriate cultural awareness training
- promoting Indigenous health initiatives within general practice and supporting their implementation, including the Indigenous Health Incentive, PBS Co-payment measure and MBS items
- supporting community initiatives that encourage Indigenous people to be proactive about their health and care
- participating in local forums and planning groups within the health and welfare sectors and with local communities on issues including maternity and child care, smoking cessation, immunisation, housing and transport
- keeping up-to-date with current research and trends on health and welfare status of the local population
Last updated: Sept 2011