INDIGENOUS HEALTH

38 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (1 June 2010). How does the government expect to achieve greater ambulatory and primary health care services, mental health service, Breast Screen SA services and SA Dental Services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders within South Australia?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts): I am advised:

SA Health is currently finalising the Aboriginal Health Care Plan. This plan sets out actions for a strong and resilient continuum of care from prevention to better primary health care services to more access to tertiary services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within South Australia.

New GP Plus Health Care Centres are due to open to the public at Elizabeth and Marion over the next few months. Both GP Plus Health Care Centres are committed to providing appropriate services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In country South Australia, GP Plus Health Care Centres are being planned and built in Ceduna and Port Pirie. In Ceduna, the GP Plus Health Care Centre will be a part of the redevelopment of the Ceduna Hospital, collocated with the local community controlled Aboriginal health service. The GP Plus Health Care Centre planned for Port Pirie will consolidate a number of existing individual services on to one site. Both GP Plus Health Care Centres will have a major focus on Aboriginal health, with accessible and culturally appropriate services to be provided by Aboriginal health workers.

Services to be provided from all these GP Plus Health Care Centres include: general practice, breast screening, dental, allied health, primary care, mental health, and drug and alcohol counselling.

Two GP Plus Super Clinics are currently being built in South Australia in partnership with the Australian Government. Both the Modbury (via its Gilles Crescent Spoke Site), and Noarlunga GP Plus Super Clinics will have Aboriginal specific services and designated teams of Aboriginal health workers to focus on meeting the health needs of their respective local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people communities.

The services to be provided from these GP Plus Super Clinics include: general practice, which will target chronic conditions (for example, diabetes), allied health, lifestyle and nutrition, sexual health, dental and mental health support.

Under the Closing the Gap National Partnership Agreement, a range of primary health care services are being delivered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout the State. Key elements of this initiative include improved access to health checks, a focus on environmental health in remote communities and sexual health services.

The Indigenous Early Childhood National Partnership Agreement delivers new and expanded services aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of young Aboriginal people. Services delivered under this initiative include sexual health screening, maternal and infant care programs and school-based sexual health education in remote schools.