Programs > Aboriginal Health
The Blue Mountains GP Network would like to pay respect to and acknowledge the Darug and Gundungurra people who are the traditional owners of the Blue Mountains.
Vision of the Blue Mountains Aboriginal Healthy for Life Program:
Our vision is to improve the health of the Blue Mountains Aboriginal population (in particular maternal, child health, men’s health and chronic disease) by establishing a collaborative primary health care service for Aboriginal people across existing health care providers, using virtual linkages.
Sharing and Learning Circle
In 2008, the Blue Mountains GP Network worked in partnership with SWAHS Community Health to convene the Sharing and Learning Circle, inviting aboriginal and non-aboriginal community members to participate.
The Sharing and Learning Circle allowed participants to openly discuss issues and challenges for the Aboriginal Community in accessing services and better health care. The key issues and challenges were divided into the immediate, short term and long term issues, identifying any barriers to be considered and strategies for addressing the challenges.
Participants at the Sharing and Learning Circle agreed that together we will:
- Improve the experience of Aboriginal peoples in using hospital and community health and general practice services in the Blue Mountains.
- Increase the number of people who identify as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
- Improve continuity of care through increasing linkages with the primary health sector.
- Improve access to services.
- Adapt service delivery mechanisms to better meet cultural needs.
- Increase number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff in health services in the Blue Mountains.
Download the Blue Mountains Aboriginal Community Sharing and Learning Circle Report.
--> Back to top
The Blue Mountains Aboriginal Health Coalition
Established in March 2008 to progress the recommendations from the Sharing and Learning
Circle, the Blue Mountains Aboriginal Health Coalition comprises representatives from the following members:
- Blue Mountains Aboriginal Culture & Resource Centre
- Darug Mountains Group
- Gundungurra Tribal Council Aboriginal Corporation
- Gundungurra Aboriginal Heritage Association
- Link-Up NSW
- Blue Mountains City Council
- Blue Mountains GP Network Incorporated
- Sydney West Area Health Service Community Health (SWAHS)
Members of the Coalition have a shared view on aboriginal health and work to be a united voice advocating for the community. In 2009 the Coalition was successful in applying for Round 3 Healthy For Life (Phase 1) funding.
--> Back to top
Healthy For Life
Healthy For Life is an Australian government program first established in 2005/06. The program aims to enhance the capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services to improve the quality of child and maternal health services, men’s health and chronic disease care, and over time to reduce the incidence of adult chronic disease in indigenous communities.
For more information, visit the Department of Health and Ageing website Healthy For Life Program Framework.
Members of the Blue Mountains Aboriginal Health Coalition formed the Healthy For Life Steering Committee to oversee the implementation of this program. In 2010-2011 the Network, guided by the Steering Committee, commenced recruitment of the Healthy For Life Team to establish the Program in the Blue Mountains.
Healthy For Life Governance
The Vision of the Blue Mountains Aboriginal Healthy For Life Program is to:
- Improve the health of the Blue Mountains Aboriginal population (in particular maternal, child health, men’s health and chronic disease) by establishing a collaborative primary health care service for Aboriginal people across existing health care providers, using virtual linkages.
The Purpose of the Blue Mountains Aboriginal Healthy For Life Program is to:
- Engage primary care (general practice and community health) across the Blue Mountains in the provision of culturally appropriate health services for Aboriginal people.
- Improve the health of Aboriginal people through a dedicated team of health professionals who provide comprehensive health care and who act as a conduit between the Aboriginal population and mainstream health services.
--> Back to top
Closing the Gap
"Closing the gap is a strategy that aims to reduce Indigenous disadvantage with respect to life expectancy, child mortality, access to early childhood education, educational achievement and employment outcomes. Endorsed by the Australian Government in March 2008, Closing the gap is a formal commitment developed in response, to the call of the Social Justice Report 2005 (Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission) to achieve Indigenous health equality within 25 years." Department of Health and Ageing, Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet
Funded through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), specific targets have been set by COAG around health, housing, early childhood, education, economic participation, and remote service delivery.
In 2009 the Network was successful in securing funding to employ a new project officer under the Closing the Gap initiative. The new position of Aboriginal Health Project Officer, filled in early 2010, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities by:
- Promoting Aboriginal specific Medicare items and the new PBS co-payment scheme.
- Promoting and improving better ways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to self-identify at general practices.
- Offering Aboriginal Cultural Awareness training via training workshops and sessions also by providing access to on-line Cultural Competence Training packages.
- Facilitating face to face training workshops by using local Elders to “tell their story”.
- Developing information packages (posters/pamphlets) using local community networks and members.
- Encouraging practices to contact the Project Officer for advice in relations to Aboriginal Cultural issues.
- Building strong working relationships with SWAHS and Aboriginal community controlled organisations within the Blue Mountains region.
--> Back to top
--> Back to Programs
--> Back to Home
Created: 3 March 2011
Modified: 31 March 2011
