Aboriginal Health

Project Officer: Kim Toole
Phone: 8752 4924

Care Coordination and Supplementary Services Officer: Mary Kearns
Phone: 8752 4926
Mobile: 0459 826 880

Aboriginal Outreach Worker: Dorothy Bamblett
Phone: 8752 4928
Mobile: 0420 365 454

Closing the Gap - Improving Indigenous Access to Mainstream Primary Care Program

Central Sydney GP Network acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land that we work on - the Gadigal and Wangal people of the Eora Nation and we pay our respects to the Elders, both past and present.

The Central Sydney GP Network (CSGPN) Aboriginal Health webpage refers only to Aboriginal people, in recognition that Aboriginal people are the original inhabitants of NSW. The use of “Torres Strait Islander” and “Indigenous” is only made when quoting the Commonwealth Government, which has a charter of providing services to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Background

In 2008 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to a $1.6 billion National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes to fund a broad package of initiatives addressing the target of closing the life expectancy gap within a generation.

One element of the package has involved engaging GP Networks to deliver the Closing the Gap – Improving Indigenous Access to Mainstream Primary Care Program. The aim of this program is to contribute to closing the gap in life expectancy by improving access to culturally sensitive primary care services for Aboriginal Australians.

Primary care services have been identified as generally being a first point of contact for health services in Australia. However, cultural barriers have historically limited access by Aboriginal people. According to 2006 Census figures the area serviced by CSGPN is home to approximately 4,800 Aboriginal Australians, which represents 3.3% of the NSW Aboriginal population. Within the network there are several Aboriginal specific health services, however as part of improving the options for Aboriginal Australians and ultimately their health it is important that all Central Sydney mainstream primary care services commit to playing their part.

The Closing the Gap – Improving Indigenous Access to Mainstream Primary Care Program is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA).

Program Objectives

(source: DoHA Version 1.1 March 2010)

  • increase access to mainstream primary care services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
  • improve 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 primary care services to encourage Indigenous Australians to self-identify
  • increase the awareness and understanding of Closing the Gap measures relevant to mainstream primary care; and
  • foster collaboration and support between the mainstream primary care and the Indigenous health sectors.

Activities

CSGPN has several activities planned to meet the above objectives, which will be tailored to meet local needs. These involve:

  • promotion of the Program to community organisations through a range of methods.
  • collaborating with Aboriginal health organisations to identify and address barriers to Aboriginal Australians accessing primary care services.
  • promoting general practice as a valid, trustworthy and accessible first point of contact for Aboriginal health needs.
  • assisting general practice to manage specific Aboriginal health needs and issues at the local level.
  • providing support to general practices on methods to encourage Aboriginal Australians to self-identify when accessing primary care services.
  • coordinating education events for general practitioners and Division staff, including cultural awareness training and quality improvement activities.
  • developing and disseminating information resources for Aboriginal Australians.

Aboriginal Outreach Workers

Our aim is to contribute to closing the gap in life expectancy by improving access to culturally sensitive primary care services by the local Aboriginal community.

As part of the Closing the Gap program the Aboriginal Outreach Worker is available to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to access local health services including GPs, specialists and allied health providers.

    The Aboriginal Outreach Worker can provide the following:
  • Information & resources about locally available health services
  • Referrals to culturally appropriate health care providers & services
  • Information & assistance with travel options to & from health appointments
  • Support when attending health appointments, including GPs, specialists, allied health providers & diagnostic tests
  • Assistance with effective communication between yourself & the health care provider
  • Information about local community services & activities

All services by the Aboriginal Outreach Worker are STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL and FREE

If you are a GP with an Aboriginal patient who requires any of the above assistance please complete the Closing the Gap Referral Form and send via secure fax to: 9009 0690.

Care Coordination and Supplementary Services

The Care Coordination and Supplementary Services (CCSS) program is one of the measures under the Closing the Gap scheme aimed at improving chronic disease management in Aboriginal patients. This program has recently commenced at CSGPN. The program has two main components:

  1. Care Coordination provided by qualified healthcare workers to Aboriginal patients with a chronic disease. Patients will be referred by GP’s in general practices participating in the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) Indigenous Health Incentive; and
  2. Supplementary Services: A flexible pool of funds that can be used to assist patients receiving care coordination under the CCSS program. The funds can be used to access medical specialist and allied health services that are in accordance with the patient’s care plan. Care coordination can:
    • assist people in understanding their chronic health condition and managing it on a daily basis;
    • advise on the importance of following their care plan; and
    • provide support in identifying signs that their condition may require further assistance from a health professional.

The care coordinator may assist the patient in a number of ways, e.g. assisting them to access specialist services, ensuring patients can get to appointments, assisting them to participate in regular reviews with their GP, develop chronic condition self management skills and connect with community based services as needed. The care coordinator will work collaboratively with the GP and in accordance with the care plan.

All services provided by the Care Coordinator are free.

If you are a GP with an Aboriginal patient who requires the above service, please complete the CCSS referral form and send it via secure fax to 9009 0690.

The role of mainstream general practice

“While Aboriginal community controlled health services (ACCHSs) play a vital role in Aboriginal health, it is estimated that 60% of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders access health care elsewhere. Mainstream general practice therefore has an important role in ensuring better service provision, including improved HA (health assessment) uptake” (Kehoe, H., Lovett, R. W. (2008). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments - barriers to improving uptake. Australian Family Physician, 37(12), p. 1033).

Identifying Patients of Aboriginal Descent

This is important to know because the health of Aboriginal Australians is still significantly poorer than that of non-Aboriginal Australians. Identifying patients as Aboriginal ensures health services are matched to their needs. Practice staff and GPs can actively encourage Aboriginal patients to self-identify, which is the essential first step in providing specific health services.

A patient is considered to be of Aboriginal descent if they identify as being so. Appearance is not a reliable way of determining cultural identity. Routine identification can be assisted through:

  • staff cultural awareness training
  • improved understanding of the need for and the benefits of the health assessments
  • culturally appropriate resources in the waiting room
  • being confident when asking patients the question. An appropriate way to ask is:

    “Are you of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent?”

A RACGP fact sheet on identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients can be viewed at:
https://www.racgp.org.au/Content/NavigationMenu/PracticeSupport/StandardsforGeneralPractices3/RACGPStandards3rdEdFactSheets/200608Identificationofpatients.pdf

DoHA Practice support: How to Identify Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Patients

Health Assessments

Early indications are that the Medicare Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments have the potential to considerably reduce morbidity and mortality. Early detection, diagnosis and intervention of common, treatable conditions needs to start happening to reduce the disproportionately high rate of late presentation, diagnosis and hospitalisation amongst Aboriginal Australians.

NACCHO National guide to a Preventative Health Assessment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Proformas:

PIP Indigenous Health Incentive

The Practice Incentive Program (PIP) Indigenous Health Incentive is aimed at supporting general practice, as well as Aboriginal health services to provide a comprehensive range of health services to Aboriginal people with chronic health problems. Financial incentives are arranged into 3 components that are based upon the level of care provided. Practices participating in the incentive will also have increased access to supporting health services for their patients.

More information on the PIP Indigenous Health Incentive can be accessed at:

Practices registered for the Indigenous Health Practice Incentive Program

current as of 27 July 2011

Practice Address Phone
Aboriginal Medical Service Cooperative (AMS) 36 Turner Street, Redfern 9319 5823
Albert Road Medical Centre 60 Albert Rd, Strathfield 9746 9440
Alice St General Practice 6 Alice St, Newtown 9550 6201
Broadway General Practice Lvl 1, Broadway Shopping Centre 9281 5085
Burleigh Street Surgery 4 Burleigh Street, Burwood 9745 6560
Burwood Medical Practice 179 Burwood Rd, Burwood 9747 6327
Campsie Family Medical Centre 248 Beamish Street, Campsie 9718 0633
Campsie Healthcare Medical Practice Lvl 1, 157-159 Beamish St, Campsie 9787 9766
Church Street Medical Practice 280 Church Street, Newtown 9516 2944
The Clocktower Medical Centre Shop 2, 266-274 Burwood Road, Burwood 9747 4005
DMC Medical Centre 159 Victoria Rd, Drummoyne 9819 6666
Dr Doong’s Surgery 8 Burwood Road, Burwood 9745 2755
Dr Hamdy Boulis Surgery 14 Evaline Street, Campsie 9787 4986
Dr A. Jones Surgery 79 Pitt St, Redfern 9699 8327
Dr Ramrakha Surgery 77 Elliott Street, Balmain 9810 1523
Dr Tan Surgery 672 Elizabeth Street, Waterloo 9699 8593
General Medical Practice 102 Marion Street, Leichhardt 9569 6051
Glebe Family Medical Practice 114 Glebe Point Road, Glebe 9660 8399
Homebush Medical and Dental Centre 17 The Crescent, Homebush 9746 7789
Krishnan Services Redfern 429 Cleveland Street, Redfern 9319 7600
Leichhardt General Practice 112 Balmain Road, Leichhardt 9560 2511
Marrickville Medical Practice 221a Marrickville Road, Marrickville 9550 9292
Newtown Medical Practice 327 King StNewtown 9557 5254
Dr Papadakis & Dr Ralec Surgery 18 Clarke St, Earlwood 9558 0171
Dr Patricia Mohr-Bell Surgery 342 Stanmore Rd, Petersham 9560 5610
Poet’s Corner Medical Centre Shop 5, 45 Morehead Street, Redfern 9698 3060
Rozelle Medical Centre 687 Darling Street, Rozelle 9818 1355
Rozelle Total Health 579 Darling Street, Rozelle 9087 4600
Sanctuary Health Wellbeing Village 7 Harris St, Pyrmont 9506 0400
Surry Hills Village Medical Centre Shop 13, Surry Hills Village Centre, Redfern 9319 0656
Sydney Inner West Medical Centre 188-190 Burwood Road, Burwood 9745 3381
The Village Medical Practice 130 Smith St, Summer Hill 9798 3100
Waterloo Medical Centre 134 Raglan Street, Waterloo 9319 5823
Your Doctors Leichhardt 93-95 Balmain Rd, Leichhardt 9550 0288
Your Doctors Summer Hill 3 Lackey St, Summer Hill 9797 3900

PBS Co-payment Measure

The Government has introduced assistance to eliminate or lower the cost of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines for Aboriginal patients living with, or at risk of, chronic disease. The PBS Co-payment Measure is a response to identifying that cost is a significant barrier to accessing medicines for Aboriginal people.

Additional information on the Measure is available at:
Medicare - closing the gap

Forms for the PIP Indigenous Health Incentive and PBS Co-Payment Measure:

Resources and Useful Links

Aboriginal organisations

National Indigenous newspapers

Additional Information

Thursday, February 23rd 2012

Office hours are weekdays 9am - 5pm
Contact reception on 9799 0933
The time of your visit here is 7:26am

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