Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local

Closing the Gap

Our Closing the Gap program support general practice with strategies to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to identify their cultural background in to order to access Indigenous specific health care. Our team includes an Indigenous Outreach Worker who assists our Team Care Coordination program to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.

Indigenous Chronic Disease Package

PIP Indigenous Health Incentive

• Guidelines and forms, Medicare Australia
• Info sheet - How can the Medicare Local help?
• Medical Director templates for patient consent, registration and withdrawal  NOTE: if you are unfamiliar with importing templates, print instructions first

Cultural awareness training

• Forming Culturally Responsive Practice, (April 2012) Medicare Local - face-to-face training, RACGP endorsed. 
  
  
• ‘Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural awareness in general practice’, RACGP - free online training for GPs, non-member GPs and other health professionals. Access via gplearning, click "Free activities". GPs, members and non-members, can use current RACGP login details to access; those previously signed up to ClinED can use the ClinED login to access. Non-members who haven’t used either previously must sign up and follow the registration process. Once logged in, search for the course using “aboriginal" or "cultural" as keywords.
  

PBS Co-payment Measure 

• Info sheet for GPs (Department Health and Ageing) 
• Listings on the PBS for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

MBS items

• Health Assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (MBS Item 715) 
• Follow-up Allied Health Services for People of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Descent (MBS Items 81300-81360) 
• Follow-up Health Services provided by a Practice Nurse or registered Aboriginal health worker for an Indigenous Person who has received a health assessment (MBS Item 10987)

See Templates and Referral Guidelines

Resources

• Care for Kids Ears - materials for health professionals, patients and carers and teachers/early childhood
• Binan Goonj: Bridging Cultures in Aboriginal Health - the definitive textbook on Aboriginal Health issues
• Nganyji - All of Us - DVD video explores how best Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health care providers can work in partnership.
• Closing the Gap clearing house, AIHW clearinghouse for evidence-based research

General practice

• Recording Indigenous Status in your software 
• Are you Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander? poster (ABS)
• Are you Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander? brochure (ABS)
• Keep the Flu Off You posters (Queensland Health)

 Services

 Last updated: January 2012