Indigenous Allied Health Australia is demanding that Australian governments coordinate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to address urgently the “national shame” of a widening life expectancy gap for aboriginal people.

The report A ten-year review: the Closing the Gap Strategy and Recommendations for Reset released in February delivered statistics and recommendations on the failed strategy to close the widening life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and Close the Gap Campaign Co-Chair June Oscar AO said, “The strategy began with great promise but has failed to deliver.” He added, “The life expectancy gap has in fact started to widen again and the Indigenous child mortality rate is now more than double that of other children.”

A number of organisations around the country have also shared their views on Closing the Gap.

NACCHO

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), a proud member of the Close the Gap campaign, has stood by the report and is calling for an urgent and radically different approach to close the gap.

NACCHO calls for:

• the Commonwealth to increase funding to Close the Gap especially to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services and infrastructure
• recognition of the role of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) in delivering more successful care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples than the mainstream service providers

NACCHO Chairperson Mr John Singer said, “Increased funding is needed for ACCHOs to expand in regions where there are low access to health services and high levels of disease, and in areas of mental health, disability services and aged care. ACCHOs have consistently demonstrated that they achieve better results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, at better value for money.”

NACCHO also noted these observations on why they think the previous campaign failed:

• A health equality plan was not in place until the release of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan Implementation Plan 2015
• There has not been a sufficient and properly resourced plan to adequately address the social determinants of health despite the initial investment in remote housing
• The framework underpinning the Close the Gap has unravelled and in some cases been abandoned altogether.

“The Close the Gap refresh being considered by the COAG provides an opportunity to reflect upon and reform current policy settings and institutionalized thinking,” Mr Singer said.

They further emphasized that the only way to close the gap is with the full participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples saying, “Until Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are fully engaged and have control over their health and wellbeing any ‘refresh’ will be marginal at best, and certainly won’t close the gap.”

PHAA

Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) voices the same opinion an overhaul of current policy is required.

PHAA Vice-President Carmen Parter observed that the current lack of engagement and consultation with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector is a major contributor to the extremely poor health outcomes among the Indigenous population.

Ms Parter said, “It is critical that the Commonwealth and other Australian governments recognise and build upon these sectors which have so much to offer in terms of knowledge, expertise and community connections. Therefore, the new strategy must be co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and will be invalid without our signatories on it.”

Other recommendations from the PHAA include:

• Transfer of Aboriginal health matters into Aboriginal hands
• Increased investment, responsibility, and engagement
• The introduction of needs-based funding for primary health care services and increased expenditure to match the States’ spend of two dollars per Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and one dollar per non-Indigenous Australian
• Full funding of the Implementation Plan of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023
• State and Territory Governments also stepping up and being accountable for reducing health inequalities

PSA

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia stated that having a national approach for integrating non-dispensing pharmacists into Aboriginal Health Services (AHS) will help to close the gap for indigenous Australians. Despite other organisations choosing to release recommendations on the improvement of the policy, PSA focused on informing the public of their current project that helps with the campaign.

PSA’s development of an evidence-based primary care and funding model for the integration of practice pharmacists promotes equality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.

PSA National President Dr Shane Jackson supported the initiative saying, “The integration of a non-dispensing pharmacist in an AHS has the potential to improve medication adherence, reduce chronic disease, reduce medication misadventure and decrease preventable medication-related hospital admissions to help to Close the Gap.”

Other projects include:

• a trial that aims to improve culturally appropriate services specifically of access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and further demonstrate the fundamental role that pharmacists play in primary health care
• establishment of a national ACCHO Pharmacist Leadership Group by PSA and NACCHO

ACRRM

Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), as a member of the Close the Gap Steering Committee reaffirmed its commitment to work actively through their programs and member services toward better health and well-being for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Dr Michael Beckoff, College Board Member said, ““The College has an important role to play. Caring for Indigenous peoples is core business for our members.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people typically comprise a major part of rural and remote practice communities, and our remote doctor members care for some of the nation’s most disadvantaged communities.”

Image – @Globetrotter – twenty20.com

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