Closing the Gap Indigenous Chronic Disease Fund

AHCSA is taking an active role in providing support and statewide coordination to assist member organisations in implementing the range of Closing the Gap Indigenous Chronic Disease Fund measures relevant to the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector.

A part of this is encouraging increased cooperation and partnership between the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector and the Medicare Local Networks.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Chronic Disease Fund supports activities to improve the prevention, detection, and management of chronic disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to contribute to the Government’s target of closing the gap in life expectancy.

The Fund consolidates 16 existing programs, including the majority of initiatives under the Australian Government’s Indigenous Chronic Disease Package, into a single flexible fund. The objective and priorities for the Fund are consistent with those of the Indigenous Chronic Disease Package.

The three priority areas targeted are:

• Tackling chronic disease risk factors
• Primary health care services that can deliver, and
• Fixing the gaps and improving the patient journey.

The Chronic Disease Fund program aims to support a range of activities, which include:

• Supporting the implementation of the Chronic Disease Fund, relevant to the Aboriginal Community Controlled Sector. This involves primarily activities associated with The Practice Incentive Payment Indigenous Health Incentive (PIP IHI) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Co- payment measure.
• Facilitate and maintain an effective network for The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Outreach Workers
• Liaise with and provide support to key stakeholders, in particular member services, Medicare Locals and Divisions of General Practice workforce.
• Maintain a productive and cooperative partnership between the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector and the Medicare Locals
• Developing resources for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Outreach Worker training and development.

More detailed information about the fund can be found at the Commonwealth’s website.

For further information please email Michele Robinson or phone 08 8273 7200.