| Project Objectives / Summary:
This seeding project aimed to:
- Develop new sustainable health care partnerships between GPs, Aboriginal Health and Community Services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), North Western Adelaide Mental Health Services (NW AMHS) and other relevant services.
- Develop innovative, holistic, collaborative and sustainable early intervention models, which meet the needs of Indigenous young people from 15 -24 years of age at risk of mental illness.
- Acknowledge the right of Aboriginal health providers and communities to develop culturally appropriate services.
- Appointment of Aboriginal Health Worker (AHW).
Project Collaboration:
- GPs, GP clinic staff, School Counsellors, students from within the participating regions
- CAMHS, NWAMHS, Women's & Children's Hospital & Lyell McEwin Hospital
- Northern Metropolitan Community Health Service & Aboriginal Health Team
- Dr Nicola Chynoweth of the Nunkuwarrin Yunti (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation)
Project Outcomes:
Early consultations with the Northern Metropolitan Health Service and Aboriginal Health AHWs were integrally involved with the project.
The GPs involved with this group reported a greater awareness of the health issues facing indigenous young people following their contact with the project AHW. With the introduction of the MBS Enhanced Primary Care items in November 1999, the GPs planned to involve the Project AHW in case conferences for their young indigenous patients.
Recommendations:
- Development of a detailed submission for round two National Innovations Funding Pool projects.
- There is little literature or research in the field of General Practice and Indigenous Mental Health. The main impetus for mental health policy has been via the National Mental Health Strategies. This project supported the statements made in the document The Ways Forward 1995 which suggest that more Indigenous Mental Health Workers be employed in mainstream and community controlled health organisations. It also emphasised that spiritual life and traditional ways are important and need to recognised in best practice treatment. This would require Indigenous and non indigenous workers having training in cultural awareness.
- Many young people aged 16 - 19 feel they are in the "in-between" group and are often not transferred between child and adult care systems properly. More flexibility about individual age is required.
- Aboriginal communities need to continue to be consulted on the best and most appropriate and effective ways of ensuring services are culturally sensitive.
Disseminating Project Information:
Attendance at the Third National Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Health Workers' Conference held at Cairns in October 1999.
Lessons / Assessment:
The appointment of an AHW proved invaluable in facilitating and chairing focus groups of indigenous young people in schools and community centres. He was integral in designing and administering two needs assessment questionnaires with young people and was able to report on the progress of the project at the Third National Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Health Workers' Conference held at Cairns in October 1999. This presentation generated a great deal of interest from Indigenous Health Workers across Australia wanting to improve their level of collaboration with General Practitioners.
The Division was unsuccessful in obtaining follow up funding through Round Two of the Innovations Funding Pool. |
