Closing the Gap Overview

Improving Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander access to mainstream primary health care

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long recognised that the health of Aboriginal communities was below standards acceptable to other Australians, and there were significant barriers encountered by Aboriginal families when accessing health services. In response to this need the

  • Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services sector developed during the 1970’s and onwards
  • The Health Commission of Victoria established the Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer Program in 1982.

Despite improvements to the health of Aboriginal people in Victoria over the last 40 years, “…Aboriginal Victorians experience poorer health outcomes in almost every measure of health.” Nationally “the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians is 11.5 years for men and 9.7 years for women.” (Department of Health, Vic)

To ‘Close the Gap’ and enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders of Victoria to enjoy equitable health outcomes requires the whole health care system to be responsive to the needs of Aboriginal people.

Healing Circles Alf Hudson

Healing Circles
Alf Hudson

Alf Hudson's painting is powerful depiction of health from a holistic Aboriginal perspective that includes land and community.

Information for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander patients

The Closing the Gap program asks General Practices to improve health care for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander patients.

 

Health Care provision for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders

General Practices can improve health care for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander patients by.

  1. Improving Cultural Safety
  2. Improving the identification of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander patients
  3. Improving PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS and MANAGEMENT of Chronic Diseases amongst Aboriginal patients

 

Aboriginal Health Workers

The role of the Aboriginal Health Worker developed in response to the health needs from the Aboriginal community.  Aboriginal community organisations began forming in the early 1970’s and the AHW became the workforce to meet Aboriginal patient’s needs.

There are variations in defining the role of Aboriginal health workers across Australia. Aboriginal Health Workers in Victoria are generally employed through Aboriginal health services.  There has been a view that workers within mainstream health and hospital services who have a culturally based health role are liaison workers (eg hospital liaison officers), and this differs from workers based within Aboriginal community controlled health organisation where staff are directly accountable to community board of management. In recent years this has been influenced by the development of national qualificatiions, registration and changes to funding arrangements.

Aboriginal Health Workers are currently employed at.

  • Ramahyuck and District Aboriginal Corporation, Sale
  • Gippsland & East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative, Bairnsdale
  • Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association, Lakes Entrance
  • Lake Tyers Health & Children’s Services, Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust
  • Moogji Aboriginal Council, Orbost
  • Orbost Regional Health

Through Closing the Gap Package several new roles have been developed.

  • Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Outreach Workers
  • Tobacco Control Workers
  • Healthy Lifestyle Workers

Specific information for the Aboriginal Health Workers

Further Information on Program:

Michelle Smith - Closing the Gap Project Officer.  click here to email Michelle

 

qic3East Gippsland Primary Health Alliance

87A Main Street Bairnsdale, Victoria 3875 P.O. Box 1210
Ph. (03) 5153 0383
Fax (03) 5153 0384
Email: info@egpha.com.au