[Greens-Media] Two reports together show the way forward on Aboriginal health

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

Two reports together show the way forward on Aboriginal health 
Tuesday 18th August 2009

The Australian Greens have responded to the release of The Overburden
Report on the complex and unusual manner in which Aboriginal primary
health care is funded by calling for immediate reform to directly fund
the provision of primary care.

"There is absolutely no reason why the Commonwealth Government does not
simply provide one stream of funding to Aboriginal Community Controlled
Health Services for the provision of primary care," said Senator Siewert
today.

"We need to see an end to the pointless run-around and endless
overlapping reporting of having to apply to up to 42 different funding
programs simply to provide primary care."

"We do not make these kinds of demands on mainstream urban health
services - it is not only unfair to expect Aboriginal health services to
do so, it is significantly detracting from the effort and resources they
can devote to providing quality care."

"What we need is a single funding bucket and a single comprehensive
process for assessing and reporting on the delivery of quality care,"
said Senator Siewert.

The Greens are calling for this funding and assessment to be delivered
through a National Aboriginal Health Authority - along the lines
recommended by the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.

"Such a model would not only reduce the burden of over-regulation it
would actually make services more accountable for providing higher
quality, comprehensive and joined-up care."

"Primary health care needs to be holistic and wrap-around care, which
responds to all the needs of the individual and the family. This sort of
care cannot easily be cobbled together from a whole pile of specific
funds directed to individual health issues," said Senator Siewert.

"The most effective way to 'Close the Gap' on Aboriginal health outcomes
is to build long-term two-way relationships between community health
providers, policy developers and health care funds," she concluded.

For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418
401 180