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Performance Information for Outcome 8 Administered Programs

Administered Funding – Indigenous Health Program

8.1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Indicator:

Increased episodes of primary health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Measured by:

Number of episodes of primary health care provided.

Reference Point/Target:

At least 1.6 million episodes of primary health care provided.

Result: Indicator met.

In 2006–07, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services provided an estimated 1.65 million episodes of care. This was a slight decrease from an estimated 1.68 million in 2005–06. It should be borne in mind that episodes of health care are often estimated by service staff and the estimation method adopted in each case may change from one year to the next.

Of the 1.65 million episodes of care provided, over 1.4 million were provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Data for 2007–08 is expected to be available in June 2009 and will be published at <www.health.gov.au>.



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Indicator:

Demonstrated access to culturally appropriate social and emotional wellbeing and mental health services.

Measured by:

Number of client contacts.

Reference Point/Target:

At least 90,000 client contacts with social and emotional wellbeing staff.

Result: Indicator met.

In 2006–07, there were approximately 120,000 client contacts with social and emotional wellbeing staff or psychiatrists within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services. The 2007–08 data is expected to be available in June 2009 and will be published at <www.health.gov.au>.

These client contacts do not include contacts with other staff, such as doctors or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers that are not designated as social and emotional wellbeing staff. It is therefore an underestimate of access to culturally appropriate social and emotional wellbeing and mental health services within these services.



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Indicator:

Purchase/construction/refurbishment of clinics for the provision of primary health care services to Indigenous communities, including remote areas.

Measured by:

Purchase/construction/refurbishment of clinics through the capital works program, including remote areas.

Reference Point/Target:

At least 18 clinics purchased/constructed/refurbished.

Result: Indicator met.

Eighteen clinic redevelopments/improvements were completed, with nine in very remote areas and one in a remote area.



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Indicator:

Provision of accommodation for health professionals providing primary health care services to Indigenous communities, including remote areas.

Measured by:

Purchase/construction/refurbishment of housing for health professionals through the capital works program, including remote areas.

Reference Point/Target:

At least 10 houses purchased/constructed/refurbished.

Result: Indicator met.

Ten houses/duplexes for health professional staff were completed, with eight in very remote areas and the remaining two in remote areas.



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Indicator:

Increase in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people studying in health-related disciplines.

Measured by:

Scholarships awarded to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme.

Reference Point/Target:

At least 70 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students receive scholarships.

Result: Indicator met.

At the commencement of the 2008 academic year (February 2008), there were a total of 215 full-time equivalent places available in the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme, an increase of 70 full-time equivalent places from those available in 2007. The 215 places were awarded to 221 students, including 107 full-time equivalent places awarded to new recipients. Scholarship recipients are studying in the fields of Aboriginal Health Work, allied health, enrolled and registered nursing, health management, medicine and mental health.

 

Indicator:

Uptake of the Healthy for Life initiative.

Measured by:

Number of Healthy for Life sites established.

Reference Point/Target:

At least 80 Healthy for Life services established through over 50 sites by the end of 2007–08.

Result: Indicator met.

The Healthy for Life program has largely achieved the national benchmarks that were established when the program commenced:

  • over 83 primary health care services participated in the program through 53 sites;
  • 79% of primary health care services funded through Healthy for Life were located in regional and remote areas; and
  • over 30 services were in areas with little or no Australian Government provided health service.


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Indicator:

Increased number of communities being supplied with Opal fuel.

Measured by:

The number of new communities supplied.

Reference Point/Target:

At least 75 communities using Opal fuel by the end of 2007–08.

Result: Indicator met.

Opal fuel was supplied to 117 sites (82 remote Aboriginal communities, 32 service stations and roadhouses, and three pastoral properties). This includes the rollout of the fuel to an additional 13 sites in 2007–08.



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Indicator:

Completion of child health checks for children less than 16 years in areas prescribed under the Northern Territory Emergency Response in 2007–08.

Measured by:

The number of child health checks completed.

Reference Point/Target:

At least 9,000 child health checks completed.

Note: This performance indicator was introduced in the 2007–08 Health and Ageing Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements.

Result: Indicator met.

In 2007–08, 9,454 child health checks were provided to Indigenous children under 16 years of age in the prescribed areas under the Northern Territory Emergency Response. In addition, during this period, it is estimated that a further 2,000 children received health checks from their usual health care provider which were funded through the Medicare Benefits Schedule.



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Performance Information for Outcome 8 Departmental Outputs


Output Group 1 – Policy Advice

Indicator:

Quality, relevant and timely advice for Australian Government decision-making.

Measured by:

Ministerial satisfaction.

Reference Point/Target:

Maintain or increase from previous year.

Result: Indicator met.

Ministers were satisfied with the advice provided by the Department for Australian Government decision-making. This is on par with ministerial satisfaction in 2006–07.



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Indicator:

Relevant and timely evidence-based policy research.

Measured by:

Production of relevant and timely evidence-based policy research.

Reference Point/Target:

Relevant evidence-based policy research produced in a timely manner.

Result: Indicator met.

The Department commissioned the Burden of Disease and Injury in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Report 2003, which was published by the University of Queensland in October 2007 online and distributed in 500 hard copies to researchers and policy makers. The study is a comprehensive assessment of how the burden of disease and injury affects Indigenous Australians. The report quantifies the contribution of specific diseases and key health risk factors to Indigenous health outcomes, and highlights the main differences between Indigenous Australians and the total population. These findings build on existing knowledge of the poor state of Indigenous health and will assist priority setting in Indigenous health policy.

The Department also provided funding to key institutions to support research to build the evidence base and inform policy and program initiatives. In particular, the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health and Onemda , VicHealth Koori Health Unit at Melbourne University. The Department met regularly with chief investigators within these institutions and also received annual reports. Both organisations also published research findings and materials widely in hard copy and through the internet to ensure widespread ‘research transfer' to communities and stakeholders to inform practice and policy decisions.



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Output Group 2 – Program Management

Indicator:

Administered budget predictions are met and actual expenses vary less than 0.5% from budgeted expenses.

Measured by:

Percentage that actual expenses vary from budgeted expenses.

Reference Point/Target:

0.5% variance from budgeted expenses.

Result: Indicator not met.

Actual expenses varied from budget by 4.04%. This was due primarily to delays associated with establishing the infrastructure and workforce to implement new measures, lower than expected uptake of Opal fuel and slippage in capital works projects due to land tenure and leasing issues, workforce shortages and protracted negotiations regarding contractual arrangements.



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Indicator:

Stakeholders to participate in program development.

Measured by:

Opportunities for stakeholder participation through a range of avenues, such as surveys, conferences and meetings.

Reference Point/Target:

Stakeholders participate in program development through consultative bodies and processes including the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council and all jurisdictional Health Forums.

Result: Indicator met.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council and the jurisdictional Health Forums have meeting schedules set out on a calendar year basis. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council had three meetings during the reporting period, culminating in the conclusion of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council term on 30 June 2008. During the reporting period the jurisdictional Health Forums met at least three times.



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Evaluation


Evaluation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce National Strategic Framework 2002–2007

Commencement Date:

30/07/08

End Date:

 

The completion of this evaluation has been delayed to ensure broad consultation and stakeholder engagement. It is expected that the evaluation will be completed by the end of 2008.

Related Key Strategic Directions:

Improved Access to, and the Responsiveness of, Mainstream Health Systems; and Better Access to, and Quality of, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Specific Health and Substance Use Services.



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Other Performance Improvement Initiatives


Quality Care in Indigenous Health Services

Commencement Date:

18/09/07

End Date:

31/10/08

Related Key Strategic Direction:

Enhanced Service Delivery and Health Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.



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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework

Commencement Date:

30/06/03

End Date:

Reports against this framework are produced on an ongoing basis every two years.

Related Key Strategic Direction:

Enhanced Service Delivery and Health Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

Web Address for Published Results:

<www.health.gov.au>




Produced by the Portfolio Strategies Division, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
URL: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/annrpt/publishing.nsf/Content/outcome-8-part-2-performance-information-4
If you would like to know more or give us your comments contact: annrep@health.gov.au