Urban Aboriginal communities experience difficulties accessing health services as do their remote counterparts. Issues of access, engagement and health literacy impact upon the communities’ ability to get an appropriate level of health care. Whist urban health services are geographically closer they can be just as difficult to access.
While many improvements had been made to accessing mainstream health services, seamless integrated care on discharge from hospital can be difficult to achieve for the community and Aboriginal patients risk slipping through the gaps.
Integrated Koori Services at Monash Health is designed to overcome some of these difficulties with an Aboriginal Access and Support Worker (A&S) and non-Indigenous Registered Nurse working as a care co-ordinator. Working collaboratively and utilising the specialised skills, knowledge, experience and expertise of each worker means that together the team can assist clients overcome these barriers as well as support them to navigate an increasingly complex health system to reach better health outcomes.
Referral to the A&S Worker allows for initial assessment of needs before being transitioned across to the Care Coordinator for complex clients. Consent, introduction and home visits are negotiated by the A&S Worker and undertaken together as required, as are follow up interventions, appointments and care planning. The Care Coordinator undertakes the clinical aspects of the care, such as follow up treatment and support through outpatient appointments and outpatient procedures. The A&S Worker provides support with cultural and social aspects of the role ensuring that the client is supported through the mainstream system in a way that is culturally appropriate.
Ensuring that Indigenous and non-Indigenous workers utilise their specialities and skills provide for a more accessible health service. Development of Indigenous health workers and the entwining of non-Indigenous and Indigenous workers is imperative to have a health service responsive to the needs of Aboriginal communities. Improving the health outcomes of the current generation allows for the growth of future generations by demonstrating that maintaining a healthy life enables a strong, vibrant Aboriginal culture and community into the future.
Ensuring that indigenous and non-indigenous workers utilise their specialities and skills provide for a more accessible health service. Development of Indigenous health workers and the entwining of non-indigenous and indigenous workers is imperative to have a health service responsive to the needs of Aboriginal communities. Â Improving the health outcomes of the current generation allows for the growth of future generations by demonstrating that maintaining a healthy life enables a strong, vibrant Aboriginal culture and community into the future.