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Aboriginal Health is Everyone's Business...Closing the Gap

The Goulburn Valley Division of General Practice acknowledges the Yorta Yorta and Taungurung Nations as the traditional owner groups within our Division.

Boundary Maps: (Yorta Yorta) and (Taungurung)

Background

  • March 2006 - the National Indigenous Health Equality Campaign (which used Close the Gap for its public awareness campaign)
  • 20 December 2007 - The strategy initiated at this time by COAG has become known as Closing the Gap
  • 13 February 2008 – Apology to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People by the Prime Minister
  • 20 March 2008 – Prime Minister and key stakeholders jointly sign Statement of Intent at National Indigenous Health Equality Summit
  • March 2008 – COAG commit to targets for closing the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage in Australia.
  • July 2008 – National Indigenous Health Equality Council formed 
  • 29 November 2008 – COAG agrees to major Indigenous reform investments across health, education, housing, and employment.

What is Closing the Gap?

The Closing the Gap project aims at reducing the current 17 year life expectancy gap that currently exists between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.  Our role within the project is to improve access to mainstream primary health care, assist with creating a more culturally appropriate level of care including best practice management of chronic disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Why focus on General Practice/Primary Health Care?

  • General Practice is often the gateway to primary health care.
  • Primary health care is fundamental to prevention, early detection and management of chronic diseases and their risk factors.
  • The primary health care provider plays a central role in the coordination of care.
  • Better management of chronic conditions is a key factor in meeting the Close the Gap targets.
  • The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Chronic Disease Package aims to ensure that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are able to access appropriate care.

The Role of Divisions of General Practice

  • To provide leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues within the Divisions of General Practice Network;
  • To increase awareness and understanding of the range of Closing the Gap initiatives relevant to mainstream primary care;
  • Build linkages between primary care providers within the region.

Closing the Gap initiatives

Indigenous Health Practice Incentive Program

This incentive will support general practices and Indigenous health services to provide better health care for Indigenous Australians, including best practice management of chronic disease.

The Indigenous Health Practice Incentive Program will target Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients aged 15 years and over with chronic disease and is part of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap: Tackling Indigenous Chronic Disease.

Indigenous Health Practice Incentive Program Medicare

GVGP - IHPIP Registered General Practice list

PBS Co Payment Measures

The Closing the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-payment Measure will improve access to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines for eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders living with, or at risk of, chronic disease.  The assistance will be available from 1 July 2010 and will be in the form of lower or nil patient co-payments for PBS medicines.

PBS Co-payment Measures Information 

Benefits for the health care sector

  • Additional resources to assist providers to ensure their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients have access to necessary follow-up and specialist care and medicines
  • Additional workforce
  • Increased training and education opportunities
  • Financial incentives (IHPIP) to better manage chronic disease

Benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients

  • Better access to culturally sensitive health care
  • Practical support to access health care and follow-up services
  • Access to affordable risk modification programs to reduce the chance of developing chronic disease
  • Earlier detection and improved management of chronic disease
  • More affordable medicines to help prevent or treat chronic disease

Resources

Click here for Closing the Gap resources.

Related Links

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Sites

Other Sites' Documents

Local Organisations

Demographics

GVGP-ATSI-Graph1 GVGP-ATSI-Graph2
**Based on 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics Data**

Abbreviations

  • COAG - Council of Australian Governments
  • IHPIP - Indigenous Health Practice Incentive Program
  • CTG - Closing the Gap
  • PBS - Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
  • NACCHO - National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
  • VACCHO - Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
  • ACCHO - Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
  • RAC - Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative
  • YYNAC - Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation
  • RFNC - Rumbalara Football Netball Club

Important dates for 2011-12

For more information about the Closing the Gap program, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or phone the Division on 03 5831 5399.

Last Updated on Thursday, 29 September 2011 11:57