Connecting Healthcare In Communities

The Australian Government, in partnership with the states and territories, is strengthening the focus of the health system on prevention and health promotion, and management of chronic disease. From 1 July 2006, the Australian Government and the state and territory governments will begin implementing a five-year, $500 million national package called the Australian Better Health Initiative to reduce the impacts of chronic disease. The package will have an appropriate focus on the needs of Indigenous Australians. It will include the following five priority areas:

1. Promoting healthy lifestyles;
2. Supporting early detection of risk factors and chronic disease;
3. Supporting lifestyle and risk modification;
4. Encouraging active patient self management of chronic conditions; and
5. Improving the communication and coordination between care services.

This fifth measure will improve the coordination and continuity of care for people with chronic diseases, especially cancer and is the focus of this aspect of ABHI.
Governments will provide incentive funds to appropriate organisations to improve the connections at a local level between service providers including private medical services, community health services and allied health services, so that patient’s needs are better met.

These five priority areas are consistent with the directions of the National Chronic Disease Strategy, endorsed by Health Ministers in November 2005.

The Australian Better Health Initiative demonstrates the commitment of the Australian government to work collaboratively with the state and territory governments to address key health issues. Some components of the initiative, such as the MBS health check for patients aged around 45 years, will be managed and funded directly by the Australian government, while others will be conducted by the states and territories, consistent with specific needs in each jurisdiction.

Queensland Health ; General Practice Queensland

The Capacity for Local Partnerships Initiative (CLPI) aims to encourage and support each Division of General Practice across Queensland to identify and build partnership structures as a mechanism for joint planning, priority setting and implementation of locally identified strategies under the Queensland Strategy for Chronic Disease 2005-2015. This project will be completed by 30 June 2008.

The key objectives of the Initiative are to support the trialing and refinement of local partnerships to support the implementation of the Queensland Strategy for Chronic Disease 2005 -2015, and to inform future primary health care partnership structures as a mechanism for planning and implementation of other initiatives at the local level.  

Regional Health Forums (RHFs) -  The RHFs were established under the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health partnership which includes DoHA, Queensland Health and QAIHC.  The RHFs have responsibility for overseeing the development, implementation and monitoring of an ATSI regional health plan.  Key elements of this role include providing advice on regional priorities, needs and strategies to inform the investment decision of the funding agencies.   There are nine regional health forums throughout the state.

Further details can be obtained through DoHA or QAIHC directly