Closing the Gap Indigenous Chronic Disease Package | Return to Our Services

AHCSA is taking an active role in providing support and state-wide coordination to assist member organisations in implementing the range of Closing the Gap Indigenous Chronic Disease package measures relevant to the Aboriginal Community Controlled health sector, and encouraging increased cooperation and partnership between the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health sector and the Divisions of General Practice network.

AHCSA has established strong partnerships with key stakeholders and participates on the South Australian COAG Implementation Advisory Group. This group is comprised of senior management representatives from OATSIH, SA Health, Aboriginal Health Division (SA Health), General Practice SA (GPSA), Rural Doctors Workforce Agency and the Aboriginal Health Council of SA (AHCSA).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience a burden of disease two-and-a-half times that of other Australians. A large part of the burden of disease is due to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and chronic kidney disease. This can be reduced by earlier identification, and management of risk factors and the disease itself. The Indigenous Chronic Disease Package aims to achieve this by providing support to the health sector and better access to health care by Indigenous Australians.

The Indigenous Chronic Disease Package has three main elements:

1. Tackling chronic disease risk factors
   
2. Improve chronic disease management and follow-up care
3. Workforce expansion and support

More detailed information about the package can be found at the Commonwealth's website: www.health.gov.au/tackling-chronic-disease

For further information email Michele Robinson, COAG Workforce Liaison Officer on Michele Robinson or 08 8273 7200.