Indigenous Health Minister Holds Indigenous Health Forum in Ipswich to Mark NAIDOC Week
Indigenous Health Minister Warren Snowdon and Member for Blair Shayne Neumann have visited an Aboriginal Medical Service in Ipswich during NAIDOC week to hold an Indigenous Health forum.
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The Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery
Shayne Neumann MP
Member for Blair
7 July 2010Indigenous Health Minister Warren Snowdon and Member for Blair Shayne Neumann have visited an Aboriginal Medical Service in Ipswich during NAIDOC week to hold an Indigenous Health forum.
Mr Snowdon and Mr Neumann visited Kambu Medical Centre Ipswich, to sit and listen to people from the Ipswich community and hear their concerns about the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
“We know that NAIDOC Week, in part is to celebrate the survival of Aboriginal peoples, the continuation of Aboriginal culture and to demonstrate the contribution that Indigenous Australians have made to the nation.
“We also know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are faced with a large health burden. On average, Indigenous males and females have a life expectancy 11.5 years and 9.7 years less, respectively than their non Indigenous counterparts. That’s unacceptable,” Mr Snowdon said.
“We know that two thirds of this life expectancy gap is caused by chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes. That’s why the Australian Government has invested $805.5 million in a historic chronic disease package, for Closing the Gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians,” he said.
“The Government’s historic package is delivering more health checks, greater access to specialist and allied health care services and an expanded health workforce,” Mr Neumann said.
“In addition, we’re working with local health professional and Indigenous stakeholders, such as Kambu to get better health outcomes.
“Kambu – which is funded by the Australian Government and the Queensland Government – should be congratulated for performing invaluable work in helping to close the health gap,” Mr Neumann said.
“Its services range from full medical facilities, a nutrition unit, transport, immunisation, maternal and child health clinics … to diabetes clinics, optometry, podiatry, a hearing clinic and drug and alcohol counselling.
Mr Snowdon said the Australian Government invested more than $3.3 million in works, completed last year, to redevelop Kambu’s premises.
“It’s also great to see Kambu also conducts workshops on smoking cessation, men's health, nutrition, budgeting, stress management and women's health,” he said.
“This will help people stay well and reduce impact of chronic diseases,” Mr Snowdon said.
Media contact:
Alice Plate 0400 045 999
Jennifer Howard 0488 076 420, Jennifer.howard@aph.gov.au
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