Aboriginal Liaison Program

Introduction:

COAG Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health National Partnership Agreement

Under the National Partnership Agreement the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments committed to undertaking substantial expenditures over four years 2009/10 – 2013/14 to address the gap in health outcomes experienced by Aboriginal people. The Western Australian government committed $117.43m in new expenditure over four years for 5 Priority Areas:

Tackling smoking
Healthy transition to adulthood
Making Indigenous health everyone’s business
Primary healthcare that can deliver
Fixing the gaps and improving the patient journey

$20.58m of funding has been allocated towards Priority Area 5 – Fixing the gaps and improving the patient journey.

Through consultation with their communities the Aboriginal Health Planning Forums in Western Australia identified liaison, coordination, continuity of care and transport as a priority in supporting Aboriginal clients through the health care system. All 9 regions submitted proposals for Aboriginal Liaison Programs which resulted in 41 state funded positions being created throughout the state.

The Aboriginal Health Planning Forums agreed to employ 2 statewide Aboriginal Liaison Coordinators to provide leadership and support for staff involved in the Aboriginal Liaison Program throughout the state through the development of communication networks and the opportunity for face-to-face meetings.

The Aboriginal Health Council of WA (AHCWA) and the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Aboriginal Liaison Coordinators will work collaboratively to support the introduction, implementation and evaluation of the statewide Aboriginal Liaison Program.

Through the Aboriginal Liaison Program we aim to fix the gaps and improve the patient journey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accessing health care services in metropolitan and regional areas of Western Australia through the introduction, implementation and evaluation of the statewide Aboriginal Liaison Program.

For further information please contact:

Kim Hawkett
Portfolio Officer – Aboriginal Liaison Program

Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia
Dilhorn House, 2 Bulwer St
Perth WA 6000
Ph: (08) 9227 1631
Fx: (08) 9228 1099
Email: Kim.Hawkett@ahcwa.org

Antonia Graham

SPO – Aboriginal Liaison

Aboriginal Health Improvement Unit

PO Box 6680 East Perth Business Centre WA 6892

(08) 9223 8702 | F (08) 9223 8599
Email: antonia.graham@health.wa.gov.au

Documents:

Contacts List

Aboriginal Liaison Program Contact List Jan 12

Project brief

ALP Project Brief (170.11 kB)

Power point presentation

ALP Presentation (989.5 kB)