Aboriginal health funding boost in the Great Southern

Aboriginal people living in the Great Southern region will benefit from a $4.25million funding boost to improve their health under the COAG National Partnership Agreements.

The region was allocated the funding as part of a $128.7million reform program to be rolled out across Western Australia across the next four years.  A further $36.3million has been allocated to programs to be rolled out State-wide.

The program, announced by Health Minister Kim Hames last month, represents the single biggest investment into Aboriginal health reform in the State's history - funding more than 80 health programs and services to Aboriginal communities throughout WA.

Dr Hames said seven programs had been funded in the Great Southern including a tobacco control strategy; a culturally appropriate GP service; a patient liaison service; increased sexual health screening and education services; youth social and emotional well being programs; and employment of a community health nurse and an Aboriginal health worker.

Service agreements were finalised this month and it is anticipated the programs will create up to seven jobs across the Great Southern region.

"This ground-breaking partnership between Aboriginal people and the State Government signals a new way for WA Health to plan and develop health services with Aboriginal communities," the Minister said.

The key agencies involved in the Great Southern Aboriginal Health Forum are Albany Regional Prison; Palmerston; Silver Chain; Southern Aboriginal Corporation; Great Southern GP Network; and WA Country Health Service - Great Southern, including Great Southern Mental Health and Great Southern Aboriginal Health.

Chair of the Great Southern Aboriginal Health Planning Forum, Jo Webb said the process had been challenging but rewarding.

"It has for the first time brought us together to identify priorities and although funding has been allocated to different agencies, we will continue to work in partnership to deliver the services," Ms Webb said.

The initiatives funded in the Great Southern are:

·             $491,898 for the Southern Aboriginal Corporation to develop a co-ordinated promotion and intervention approach to reducing the prevalence of tobacco consumption among Noongar people in the Great Southern

·             $1,002,110 for the Great Southern GP Network to collaboratively establish a Noongar-friendly male and female GP service. The service will operate with a mix of appointment and drop-in times and will provide bulk-billing  

·             $530,232 for WA Country Health Service - Great Southern for a patient liaison officer to help Aboriginal people in accessing hospital and other health care services

·             $632,449 for WA Country Health - Great Southern to encourage more Aboriginal people in the region to access sexual health education and screening services

·             $409,915 for WA Country Health Service - Great Southern to develop a social and emotional well being program, including a Drug and Alcohol Office partnership, which will be complementary to the State-wide Aboriginal Mental Health Service

·             $750,395 for WA Country Health Service - Great Southern to employ a community health nurse and Aboriginal Health workers to educate young people on sexual and reproductive health issues

·             $438,698 for the Great Southern Aboriginal Health Service to employ an Aboriginal health worker to support Aboriginal people with young children in their role as parents or caregivers to help them look after their family's health.

Dr Hames said Aboriginal people had been involved in the planning and development process to improve the delivery of Aboriginal health services across WA.

Since August 2009, Aboriginal people have taken part in Aboriginal health planning forums in regional WA and the metropolitan area to develop local health plans.