Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program
Overview
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program delivers quality primary health care services in consultation, negotiation and collaboration with community members and health care providers, to ensure that Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples enjoy a level of health equal to the majority of the community.
The Program is comprised of a small multi-disciplinary team which supports three (3) service units: General Health Unit (GHU), Hearing Health Unit (HHU), & Outreach Program. Together, the 3 units provide the following services in partnership with clients, families, communities and organisations:
Cultural Respect Services
- Assistance for health professionals to review individual consumers needs;
- Advice on cultural care issues in the management of complex cases;
- Information and assistance for individuals about where to go for health services
and support.
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Works in partnership with individual service units to improve Indigenous access to mainstream services; and
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Participation in Cultural Awareness Programs, in particular with Queensland Health staff, students, and GPs.
Health Promotion Activities
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The General Health Unit has a specific focus on Type 2 Diabetes prevention programs (that is, integrated Nutrition & Physical activity programs). It delivers smallscale primary preventive health promotion services in partnership with service providers and the local community.
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The Hearing Health Unit works in partnership with parents, primary school and
community-based organisations to identify and address the factors which contribute to the development of conductive hearing loss.
Preventive Health Education Programs
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The General Health Unit delivers off-site, community-based health education programs to groups or organisations, for example: Healthy Weight Program. For any other education requests outside of the Program's usual core business, opportunity to work in partnership with other specialised services is sought.
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The Hearing Health Unit delivers education to health professionals involved in hearing-health programs, including: 4-Day Training Hearing Health Workshop, and 1-day Refresher Hearing Health Workshop. Additional education programs, such as in-service for teachers, parents, students and school-based support-staff, are also provided. These include information regarding the identification/management of students with conductive hearing loss, and information re hearing services.
Specific Clinical Services
The General Health Unit delivers:
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National Influenza and Pneumococcal immunisation programs delivered off-site and in partnership with other service providers, for example GPs, Centrelink; and
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Childhood immunisation services on-site at the Kirwan Health Campus in partnership with Child, Youth and Family Health Services.
The Hearing Health Unit provides:
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Hearing Health screening programs for school-aged children (Pre-school to Year 3) conducted in the Upper Ross;
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Professional support to outreach school-screening programs & communities (Ingham, JPHS, CTHSD, BHSD, Mt.Isa HSD); and
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Audiologist-performed diagnostic testing & follow-up (local & outreach) for
Indigenous persons of all ages.
The additional services are provided by the Outreach Program: the provision of professional, clinical and cultural supports to the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health teams (and their respective line managers) in the following health service districts: Bowen and Charters Towers.
Geographical Areas of Service
The General Health Unit offers services within the boundaries of the Townsville/Thuringowa, while the Hearing Health Unit and Outreach Program provide services within the additional boundaries of the Bowen and Charters Towers Health Service Districts (and Mt.IHSD as required).
Referral procedure
The Information and Referral Officer processes all enquiries and requests between the hours of 0830 1630, Monday to Friday. Please Telephone: 4799 9930.
Please note: Faxed or written requests are not accepted unless there has been prior discussion with the Information & Referral Officer
Location
Kirwan Health Campus
138 Thuringowa Drive, Kirwan QLD 4817
Postal Address
PO Box 1597, Thuringowa Central QLD 4817
Contact Details
Telephone: +61 7 4789 9930
Facsimile: + 61 7 4789 9931
Hours: 0830 - 1630 Monday to Friday
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