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Koori Health

Achieving Improved Aboriginal Health Outcomes

Archived August 2005

An Approach to Reform

August 1996

Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Incorporated

Contents

Introduction

Principles

The Reform Strategy

Where to from here?

Interpretations

INTRODUCTION

This document outlines the basis for a partnership between the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Incorporated (VACCHOI), the peak body representing Victorian Aboriginal health services.

On most major indicators, the health of the Aboriginal population is significantly below the average for all Australians. A principal concern is that Aboriginal people have considerably shorter life expectancy than the average. Aboriginal people also suffer from reduced health status across all age groups and tend to face considerably more chronic illness.

The difference in health status results from a complex range of factors, some of long standing and some a product of contemporary conditions. As well, health and community service systems fail to respond adequately and appropriately.

This document outlines the Victorian Government's reform strategy. It recognises the need for both the Commonwealth and State governments to contribute to the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal people. The strategy reflects the need to work within an agreed and common framework that ensures Aboriginal people and service providers are assisted to improve the effectiveness of services. The strategy also recognises the need to involve Aboriginal people at all points and, in particular, VACCHOI and the Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations in the State. Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations include both dedicated health services and those multi-functional Aboriginal community-controlled organisations which provide a health function.

PRINCIPLES

The development and implementation of the reform strategy is based on the following principles.

  1. Improved health for Aboriginal people will only be achieved when Aboriginal people and their organisations are empowered to act on their own behalf and when adequate resources are available.
  2. Implementation of this strategy will involve VACCHOI at all times.
  3. Improved health will primarily result from decisions about priorities and strategies developed and implemented at the local level and at a State level via VACCHOI as a result of agreed community health plans.
  4. Improved health requires significant change in the level and approach to service provision taken by existing health and community services as determined by the partnership.
  5. Enhancing health status will require improved health information, education, primary care and specialist services working as a coordinated service network.
  6. The responsibilities of State and Commonwealth Governments are to support local initiatives and to provide a framework in which overall health gains are achieved and recognised.
  7. Actions initiated under this strategy will be justified on the basis that they contribute to the achievement of agreed health outcomes.
  8. There will be a clear line of accountability for all initiatives supported through this strategy.
  9. Both State and Commonwealth governments must maintain their level of effort and improve the effectiveness of their current systems of health service planning, funding and provision, recognising that additional expenditure will also be required to address health needs.
  10. Many factors outside the formal health system influence Aboriginal health status but the principal focus of the partnership is improving access to, and equity of, the health system-which is itself less than adequate.

Implementation of these principles will occur as a result of collaboration between VACCHOI, and the Commonwealth and State governments.

Content last Updated 31 August 2001



Contact: Koori Human Services Unit, Department of Human Services, 20/50 Lonsdale St, Melbourne 3000
Telephone (03) 9096 7032
Email: koori@dhs.vic.gov.au