More Money to Boost Services for Indigenous Mums and Bubs in WA, VIC, SA, TAS
Indigenous babies will have a better chance of being born healthy and staying healthy following the announcement of additional Australian Government funding for nine mothers and babies services.
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29 April 2010
Indigenous babies will have a better chance of being born healthy and staying healthy following the announcement today of additional Rudd Government funding for nine mothers and babies services.
The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, said four new services will be established and five existing services expanded.
The new service providers are:
- Flinders Island Aboriginal Cooperative, Tasmania
- Ngaanyatjarra Health Service, Western Australia
- Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council, Western Australia
- Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative, Victoria
- Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative Limited, Victoria
- Mercy Hospital for Women, Victoria
- Country Health, Port Augusta, South Australia
- Wirraka Maya Health Service, Western Australia
- Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service, Western Australia.
“The New Directions mother and baby services provide increased access to antenatal care, improving birth weights of Indigenous babies and continuing to provide support in the child’s early years to give them the best possible start to life,” Mr Snowdon said.
He said a recent report by the National Indigenous Health Equality Council showed the Government is making progress.
“The report Child Mortality Target: Analysis and Recommendations is very encouraging because it shows we are on track to fulfil our commitment to halve the gap in mortality rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children under five within a decade.”
The New Directions program, offers Indigenous babies and their mothers:
- antenatal and postnatal care, and standard information about baby care
- practical advice and assistance with breastfeeding, nutrition and parenting
- monitoring of developmental milestones, immunisation status and infections
- health checks and referrals to treatment for Indigenous children before starting school
Media Contact: Alice Plate 0400 045 999
Background to Healthy for Life and New Directions Mothers and Babies conference
Mr Snowdon made the funding announcement today when he officially opened the Australian Government funded Healthy for Life and New Directions Mothers and Babies Services Conference in Brisbane.
The theme of the Conference is “The Circle of Life”, focusing on areas of Indigenous child and maternal health, men’s health, chronic disease management and quality improvement in health care delivery. Up to 350 health workers from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services are attending.
The Rudd Government has invested $38.2 million this financial year to support the Healthy for Life program, which provides funds to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, as well as mothers, babies and children. It also aims to improve the quality of life for people with a chronic condition and, reduce the incidence of adult chronic disease.
The Australian Government has also invested $90.3 million over five years in the New Directions Mothers and Babies Services program, which also focuses on early childhood, and has established 56 services across Australia to support vulnerable mothers and their babies.
Both programs have been established to recognised importance of providing the best start in life for children and their families in order to give them a healthy future.
The founder of a successful home visiting program that provides support to first time low income mothers and their babies in America, also spoke at the conference. Professor David Olds from the University of Colorado is founder of the Nurse Family Partnership, and is currently assisting the establishment of a similar program in Australia.
More information is available at www.health.gov.au/healthyforlife
Media Contact: Alice Plate 0400 045 999
Services approved for funding under New Directions Mothers and Babies Services
(as of 23 April 2010)
Australian Capital Territory
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health ServiceNew South Wales
Aboriginal Medical Service Western Sydney CooperativeYerin Aboriginal Health Service
Biripi Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre
Hunter New England Area Health Service
Orange Aboriginal Health Service
South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service
Sydney South West Area Health Service
Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation
Hunter New England Area Health Service
Riverina Medical & Dental Aboriginal Corporation
Royal Hospital for Women
Northern Territory
Danila Dilba Health ServicesCentral Australian Aboriginal Congress
Katherine West Health Board Aboriginal Corporation
Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation - Nhulunbuy Clinic
Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation - Ngalkanbuy Clinic
Wurli Wurlinjang Health Service
Willowra Yuendumu Nyirripi (WYN) - Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
Laynhapuy Homelands Assoc Inc
Pintubi Homelands Health Service
Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
Western Arrente Health Aboriginal Corporation
Queensland
Carbal Medical CentreAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Mackay
Apunipima Cape York Health Council Aboriginal Corporation
Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services Aboriginal Corporation
Mulungu Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre
North and West Queensland Primary Health Care Assn (including RFDS)
Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health
Inala Indigenous Health Service
Mamu Health Service
Mookai Rosie Bi Bayan
South Australia
Country Health SA (Port Augusta)*Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service
Tullawon Health Service
Country Health SA (Ceduna)
Tasmania
Department of Health and Human ServicesFlinders Island Aboriginal Association**
Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre
Victoria
Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative, Victoria**Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative*
Mercy Public Hospital*
Murray Valley Aboriginal Cooperative
Western Australia
Bega Garnbirringu Health ServiceKimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council**
Marwarnkarra Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
Ngaanyatjarra Health Service**
Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service*
Western Australian Country Health Service - Carnarvon Hospital
Western Australian Country Health Service - Geraldton
Yura Yungi Medical Service
Wirraka Maya Health Service*
Ngunytju Tjitji Aboriginal Corporation
* Existing New Directions Services who received additional funding to expand program
** New Directions Services
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