Performance Information

In 2004-05, Australian Government-funded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services provided 1.4 million episodes of care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. 2005-06 data will not be available until April 2007.

Of the planned 18 new clinic redevelopments/improvements in remote areas, 12 have been completed. The uncompleted projects have been delayed due to various factors within each project. These include construction delays and difficulties associated with the competitive market for limited resources in the construction industry in remote areas through to insufficient infrastructure to meet the building demands.

The planned provision of 10 houses/duplexes for health professional staff in remote areas was met.

At the commencement of the 2006 academic year (February 2006) there were a total of 103 Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship holders, including the 69 full-time equivalent scholarship recipients who commenced studies in 2006 in the areas of nursing (29), medicine (8), allied health (25), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Work (11) and health management (2).

The Department invests in research and research capacity. Timely evidence-based research in 2005-06 included:

• funding the Onemda VicHealth Koori Health unit to implement Aboriginal community development processes to improve the health of Aboriginal people; developing high-quality teaching programs and learning environments for Indigenous students; and collaborating with key stakeholders to promote Indigenous leadership in the sector;
• funding the Kulunga Research Network to oversight the Indigenous research program managed by the Telethon Institute for Child Health research, and build capacity in Aboriginal research by coordinating a team of Aboriginal researchers to oversee the Aboriginal child and maternal health research programs of the Institute;
• industry partnership with the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health to tailor research programs to respond to the specific needs of Indigenous Australians; and
• coordinating Australian Government support for the conduct of the Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey, the publication of key findings, and the development of a translation to policy process in consultation with all Australian Government portfolios.

The Department provided support and engagement with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and support for jurisdictional health forums. Support was also provided to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council, and to the stakeholders in the Healthy for Life Evaluation and Outcomes Framework Reference Group, and the Bringing Them Home and Mental Health Program Evaluation Reference Group.

Evaluation/Review:

Evaluation of Bringing Them Home programs