About the program
The Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme (IAHP) is our main overarching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health program. We fund Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) and other health initiatives through the IAHP.
The IAHP funds work under 4 themes:
- primary health care services – such as immunisation, activities to reduce smoking or activities that improve service delivery
- improving access to primary health care – such as coordinating care across service, increasing the cultural skills of the health workforce or supporting outreach services
- targeted health activities – such as managing chronic conditions or improving the ear and eye health of children
- capital works – such as buying, leasing, building or upgrading infrastructure.
These give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people better access to high-quality, culturally appropriate primary health care in remote, regional and urban areas.
Why it is important
Access to health services and medicine, as well as coordinated health care are all important for good health.
This program works to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people access to the health care they need, wherever they live.
Goals of the program
The program aims to improve:
- the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, especially in remote areas
- access to high-quality, comprehensive and culturally appropriate primary health care
- the way primary health care services operate, so that they better cater for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Meeting our goals
The program funds Indigenous and mainstream services to:
- provide targeted health activities – including for eye, ear and oral health; mental health; suicide prevention; drug and alcohol use; sexually transmitted infections and chronic diseases
- build, repair or upgrade facilities such as ACCHSs and housing for staff.
Who we work with
We fund Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and mainstream organisations in each state and territory. These organisations plan, manage and deliver services that suit the individual needs of their region and clients.
Funded initiatives
We fund initiatives to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Each initiative targets specific areas of need, including better access to health care, support for managing chronic conditions, and giving children a good start.
See a list of programs funded under the IAHP.
Our work on Indigenous eye and ear health is also funded under the IAHP.
Apply for funding
We advertise all funding opportunities on GrantConnect.
Evaluation
Allen and Clarke are evaluating the program to assess whether the way we provide primary health care is appropriate and effective.
This work will help us adapt our activities, to continue to close the gap in health inequality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians.
Read more about this evaluation.