Closing the Gap - The Indigenous Chronic Disease Package in 2009-10 - Annual Progress Report on the Australian Government’s contribution to the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes - November 2010
Overview
The Indigenous Chronic Disease Package plays an important role in the Australian Government’s wider response to closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage. It is the Australian Government’s contribution to the $1.6 billion National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes, agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments in November 2008. This partnership aims to contribute to closing the gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other Australians within a generation.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience a burden of disease two and a half times that of other Australians.1 A large part of the burden is due to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and chronic kidney disease.2
The Indigenous Chronic Disease Package is helping to build a primary health care system that meets the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It takes a holistic approach to addressing the risk factors which lead to chronic disease, increasing people’s understanding of the lifestyle choices which lead to chronic disease, and building their awareness of ways the health system can help prevent chronic disease. The Package also focuses on improving the detection and management of chronic disease in primary health care settings, including providing better access to follow-up and specialist services.
It is essential that comprehensive and effective primary health care can be delivered for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples wherever they live in Australia. To achieve this, the Package is providing support to both Indigenous-specific health services and general practices.
One of the key barriers to improving health care outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is poor access to primary health care services. This is why the Package includes an emphasis on factors which limit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s access to and use of, mainstream health care services. The Package addresses issues such as cost, location or transport problems, and the provision of culturally sensitive services.3
The Package also provides more support to the health sector to help tackle the challenges many health services face when providing care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These include understanding who their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients are, time and cost pressures involved in managing complex and chronic conditions, ignorance of the specific health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and lack of resources for case coordination.
Only by addressing the known barriers to better health care outcomes can the goal of closing the gap in life expectancy be realised. Over its first four years, this Package will start addressing these barriers by promoting and supporting good health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, building the capacity of primary health care providers to deliver more effective health care, and improving access to essential follow-up services such as allied health and specialist care.
The Indigenous Chronic Disease Package in 2009-10
The Indigenous Chronic Disease Package began on 1 July 2009. The first 12 months included extensive consultation with stakeholders, peak bodies and experts to ensure it was developed in a coordinated way that will result in real improvements in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Implementation in 2009-10 focused on funding and recruiting the first wave of a new workforce which will lay the groundwork for the future and support the implementation of new components of the Package in coming years.Looking forward: The Indigenous Chronic Disease Package in 2010-11
In 2010-11, the primary health care workforce will continue to be expanded, and new healthy lifestyle and tobacco action workers will be recruited to target the risk factors which cause chronic disease.This prevention workforce will be supported by a targeted national campaign to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s awareness of chronic disease risk factors and build understanding of the health systems in place to help them improve their health. Local, community-run health campaigns will also promote better health and wellbeing from within communities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with an existing chronic disease will receive more support and education to help them manage their condition more successfully. Those needing more complex chronic disease management will receive help to access necessary services through the new Care Coordination and Supplementary Services Program.
The following year will also see more expanded training and professional development opportunities in the Indigenous health sector, as well as communication campaigns to encourage more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly secondary school students, to consider taking up a career in health.