Welcome

Welcome to CEO Communiqué. This year has been a time of significant growth for AHCSA as we have engaged in many state and federal projects and strengthened our partnerships with various organisations and government departments.

AHCSA reached a significant milestone this week in being an Aboriginal community controlled organisation for 10 years. An Anniversary Dinner was held on Monday 19 September at the Rydges South Park in Adelaide to celebrate the milestone and also 30 years of working to improve Aboriginal health across South Australia. Staff, Board Members and invited guests were recognised and thanked for their many outstanding contributions to AHCSA during this period. Another celebration was held on Tuesday afternoon at AHCSA for all key stakeholders who have joined us on our journey.

On 1 July 2011, we also celebrated with Pika Wiya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation and Ceduna Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service Corporation when they were officially recognised for completing their transition to become Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in their own right. The two services were government owned and operated, and are now independently managed by an all-Aboriginal board of management. Both services went through a stringent process of accreditation supported by AHCSA and we congratulate them on their successful transition.

AHCSA continues to work with other member services to support them with any accreditation and data issues to improve services and provisions.

I would like to welcome Dr Nick Williams who has recently been appointed as GP Supervisor with AHCSA to assist member services provide Aboriginal people with access to GPs. As part of this process, Dr Williams will be developing stronger partnerships with relevant health care agencies and officials along with Carmen Dadleh, GPET Project Officer, to encourage higher accreditation numbers among Registrars.

At a state level, AHCSA is working with SA Health through local health networks and also on the SA Health Aboriginal Health Care Plan. We are also focusing on AHW Accreditation requirements for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and SA Health workers.

Over the past few months, AHCSA has advertised and filled several positions, in particular for the Eye Health Team and Education and Training Team. We welcome all new staff. AHCSA is also in the process of recruiting for the position of Transition Support Officer with Nunyara Wellbeing Centre.

With the departure of Richard Nelson, Shane Mohor was appointed as Deputy CEO and I thank him for his support throughout this growth period.

AHCSA looks forward to supporting our members throughout the remainder of this year and to further develop the opportunities coming out of the Closing the Gap initiatives.

Kind regards

Mary Buckskin
Chief Executive Officer

COAG Expo

There has been continued positive feedback from people who attended and participated in the COAG Expo event ‘Meet the Mob Doing the Job’ with several attendees requesting future networking opportunities.

The Expo was held on 28-29 June 2011 at the Stamford Grand Hotel in Glenelg and was a collaborative effort of the Operational Working Group (OWG), a subcommittee of IAG with representatives from the Department of Health and Ageing, SA Health, AHCSA, General Practice SA and Rural Doctors Workforce Agency.

233 delegates attended and heard from a number of keynote speakers about health programs and initiatives funded through the SA Implementation Plan of the COAG National Partnership on Closing the Gap. Participants also had the opportunity to develop networks and identify the potential for integration of services.

For further information, keynote presentations, and photos see the events page.

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E-Health

AHCSA has continued to strengthen partnerships with the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) as we work together on the e-Health Project including issues around e-Health records.

e-Health is an integral part of the National Health and Hospital Reform which aims to close the gap in life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through continuity of care. An electronic health record will improve continuity, safety, reduce errors and duplication and promote best care. The records can be accessed, with a person’s agreement, by health professionals across all settings.

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Medicare Locals

Also as part of the National Health and Hospital Reform, is the establishment of Medicare Locals. On 6 June 2011, Nicola Roxon, Minister for Health and Ageing, announced 19 communities around Australia which would become the first Medicare Locals from 1 July 2011.

In South Australia, two Medicare Locals were established, Central Adelaide and Hills Medicare Local and Country North Medicare Local. AHCSA has been working closely with these Medicare Locals and will establish relationships with a further three as they are announced in the next few years.

Medicare Locals are non-government bodies that work with GPs, nurses, allied health professionals, Aboriginal health organisations and Local Hospital Networks to identify and respond to gaps in local health services and to help patients and professionals navigate the health system more easily. No two Medicare Locals are the same as services are targeted to meet local needs. They will play a key role in helping to improve access to after-hours care, chronic disease prevention and management programs and mental health initiatives.

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AHCSA News

The next edition of AHCSA News will be out in late September. If you would like to be added to the distribution list, please call Amanda Mitchell on (08) 8273 7200.

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Disclaimer

CEO Communiqué is copyright to the Aboriginal Health Council of SA Inc. (AHCSA). No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the Chief Executive Officer of AHCSA. Whilst every care is taken to ensure that the information contained in this newsletter is accurate, errors and omissions may occur. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, we apologise for any inconvenience caused and ask that you click the unsubscribe link to the left.

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