The Hon Warren Snowdon MP, Minister for Indigenous Health
Images of The Hon Warren Snowdon MP, Minister for Indigenous Health

THE HON WARREN SNOWDON MP

Minister for Indigenous Health

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Accessing Health Services More Frequently

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A new independent report has shown a dramatic increase in the number of health services provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients by the Australian Government.

PDF printable version of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Accessing Health Services More Frequently (PDF 28 KB)

26 October 2011

The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, said a new independent report shows a dramatic increase in the number of health services provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients by the Australian Government.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services 2009-10 analysed healthcare funded through the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH), a division of the Federal Department of Health and Ageing.

The report showed almost 360,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients accessed more than 2 million episodes of primary health care in 2009-10.

It also revealed health services provided by OATSIH funded organisations has increased by more than 300,000 over the past year.

“During 2009-10 almost 290 organisations received funding from the Australian Government to provide health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, some 51 of these were stand alone substance use services,” he said.

The AIHW report stated:

  • 2.4 million episodes of care delivered through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services funded by OATSIH, a 14 percent increase on the previous year;
  • These episodes of care were delivered to about 456,000 clients, of which 78 percent were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, overall a 22 percent increase in client numbers on the previous year;
  • 2 million episodes of care were provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients;
  • More than half of the full-time equivalent positions were filled by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Mr Snowdon said the Australian Government is committed to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have more health services available to them, employing more health professionals and delivering better outcomes across the country.

The Gillard Labor Government has invested $805.5 million in the Indigenous Chronic Disease package, providing health workers, programs and targeted services to improve the prevention, early detection and ongoing management of chronic disease.

“More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are also accessing help for substance abuse problems, with many finding treatment options in or near their home community.”
  • More than 26,300 clients accessed stand-alone substance use services funded by OATSIH, a 14 percent increase on 2008-09 results.
  • 75 percent of clients and almost one in six of the health professionals assisting in their treatment were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
The report also shows increased episodes of service provided by Bringing Them Home and Link Up counselling services, which work with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders and their families, affected by past policies such as the forced removal of children.
  • More than 10,700 clients accessed counselling services funded by OATSIH, a 27 percent increase on the previous year.
“This report shows that the Australian Government efforts towards closing the gap in health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and non-indigenous Australians is bearing positive results.

“We are making progress in getting more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to access health services. This will have a flow-on effect in the health status and quality of life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Mr Snowdon said.

The full report can be found on the AIWH website.

For more information, contact Mr Snowdon’s office (02) 6277 7820

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