$4.3 Million Boost to IT Services in NT, QLD, VIC and SA to Benefit Indigenous Health
Funding of more than $4 million has been announced for several Aboriginal health bodies to improve and upgrade their information technology capability.
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Previous MinistersJoint Release
The Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery & Member for Lingiari
Damian Hale
Member for Solomon
10 June 2010
Minister for Indigenous Health Minister Warren Snowdon today announced funding of more than $4 million to allow a number of Aboriginal Health bodies to improve and upgrade their Information Technology capability.
Speaking in Darwin today, Mr Snowdon said the funding will benefit four Aboriginal Health organisations, which will collectively benefit about 50 Aboriginal health services, in the Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia (see attached).
It will give these services access to IT enhancements including:
- Improved networking, both within and between services
- Better access to the Internet
- More reliable systems and better equipment.
Mr Snowdon congratulated the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) for securing $1.58 million.
“The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory (AMSANT) is already leaders in IT health and has spent six years planning for further IT enhancements.
“This will now allow AMSANT to undertake a significant expansion in assisting its member health services in accessing patient data remotely through better connectivity; enhance health reporting and analysis through grass roots data collection.
“For example, a clinician will be able to visit a patient out bush and access patient data from a central data base, and update the patient’s personal chronic disease management plan,” said Mr Snowdon.
“AMSANT must be praised for taking leadership, which will ultimately lead to better outcomes in Indigenous health in the Territory,” Member for Solomon Damian Hale said.
Other recipients of the funding (details attached) are the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC), Nganampa Health Council (SA), and the Mildura Aboriginal Corporation (VIC).
“These organisations all have well-developed IT systems and these grants will enable them to help a number of Aboriginal Medical Services in each of the regions to build upon the momentum they have already achieved in IT activities.
“I hope they will explore further solutions in the rollout of web-based reporting and continue their leadership within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care sector,” Mr Snowdon said.
The funding announced today will complement the Rudd Government’s $466.7 million investment in a national e-health records system, which will revolutionise the delivery of healthcare in Australia over the next two years.
Australians will be able to check their medical history online through the introduction of personally controlled electronic health records, which will boost patient safety, improve health care delivery, and cut waste and duplication.
National e-health records are a key part of building an efficient National Health and Hospitals Network.
Media contact:
Alice Plate (Snowdon) 0400 045 999 or alice.plate@health.gov.au
Amy Davis 0409 453 938
Funding Recipients
Organisation & Background | Funding Amount
(excl GST) | Funding Purpose |
| Nganampa Health Council Umuwa, SA Ph. (08) 8954 9042 (Operates clinics, an aged care respite facility and health related programs on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in the far north west of South Australia) | $1,996,701 | The Nganampa Health Council has been active and innovative in using information technology and the funding will allow it to upgrade aspects of its system to maintain its IT leadership role, including trialling web-based reporting. |
| Aboriginal Medical Services Association, NT (AMSANT) Darwin, NT Ph. (08) 8944 6666 John Patterson, Executive Officer, 0418 904 727 (Peak body for Aboriginal health services in the NT) | $1,587,128 | To support the development of a shared IT arrangement with additional Aboriginal Medical Services. To provide specific advice to the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health on the uses and implementation of Patient Information and Retrieval Systems/ICT/e-Health in the NT. |
| Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) West End, Queensland Ph. (07) 3328 8500 (Peak body for Aboriginal health services in the QLD) | $723,694 | To enhance reports available to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. To pilot a shared health record initiative with GPs. |
| Mildura Aboriginal Corporation Mildura, Victoria Ph. (03) 5022 1852 Provides services at sites in Mildura, Swan Hill, Kerang and Balranald, and leads a successful healthy lifestyle consortium in its local area. | $64,091 (a one-off payment for 2009-10) | The Corporation is seeking to consolidate its patient information management systems across their sites and to purchase one server to network all sites (administrative and clinical). |
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