Victoria Improves Aboriginal Health Care Services

Aboriginal Victorians will have even better access to culturally-appropriate healthcare thanks to a $8.6 million Brumby Labor Government funding boost.

Speaking at the Improving Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Patients (ICAP) Conference in Preston today, Health Minister Daniel Andrews said the money would support increased midwifery services and ensure healthcare workers were more responsive to the needs of Aboriginal Victorians.

“The Brumby Government is committed to Closing the Gap in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Victorians,” Mr Andrews said.

“Our Government will invest $7.6 million over the next four years to ensure health services respond in a timely and culturally-sensitive way to the needs of Aboriginal people.”

Mr Andrews said three Koori Maternity Service providers in East Gippsland, Swan Hill and Wodonga will be supported to add clinical services to their programs from January 2010, in partnership with the Commonwealth

“The Brumby Labor Government will also deliver $1m over four years for the expansion of three existing Koori Maternity Services in high growth areas in Darebin, Mildura and Bendigo to provide support and education for vulnerable families with new babies,” he said.

Mr Andrews said the Victorian Aboriginal Health Workforce Plan would expand the skills of healthcare workers treating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

“The plan includes initiatives that will create opportunities, improve recruitment and retention and expand health workers’ skills. This funding boost is another excellent step forward in reducing the life expectancy gap by making health services more accessible.”

The workforce plan will:

• Deliver 35 Aboriginal Health Worker Training Grants each year;

• Introduce a new nutrition training program for Aboriginal health workers;

• Provide grants of up to $30,000 to support increased clinical placement within Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations;

• Provide cultural awareness and respect training; and

• Provide leadership professional development and succession planning for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.

Mr Andrews said the ICAP program had successfully improved the patient experience for Aboriginal people.

“The Brumby Government and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community have made significant progress towards improving health outcomes for Indigenous Australians. The ICAP program has increased the employment of Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers to ensure healthcare is accessible to Aboriginal people in their local communities.”

Topics: Aboriginal People, Aboriginal Victorians, Australia, Brumby Labor Government, Governance, health care, Health Care, healthcare, ICAP, Improving Care for Aboriginal and Terres Strait Islander Patients, midwifery, Victoria

 Print This Article in Plain Text

Latest Headlines

• Singapore Highlights New Internet Exchange And Authentication Framework
• U.S., India Trade Relationship Gets Some Much Needed Attention
• Good Governance And The Upcoming Burma Elections
• Carbon Reduction In The U.S. And A Linked Fee
• Next Steps For The U.S. In Yemen
• Unfair Voting In America: Citizen V. Non Citizen Populations
• U.S. Census Bureau To Develop Supplemental Poverty Measure
• Some Myths About The War In Afghanistan
• President Obama Puts U.S. Focus On Indonesia
• Wal-Mart, Hippies And The U.S. Tea Party Movement
• Health Care Reform, Economic Growth And The Tax On Saving
• Israel, Netanyahu And Vice President Biden
• Beyond Greece: The Weakening Euro
• Machine Learning In Europe Revolutionizes Software Development
• Pakistan Gets Tough On The Taliban

In The News

European Integration And The Need For Reform In Bosnia

Commentary about the Bosnia-Herzegovina is today

Race, Civil Rights And Discrimination In U.S. Schools

How will the Obama administration respond

Europe, U.S. And Greece Confront Common Challenges

On March 8, the Center on

Siena Foods LTD Does Voluntary Recall For Listeria Monocytogenes

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

Canada Highlights The Fundamental Role Women Play In Shaping The Country

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of