Closing the Gap  

Healthy Transition to Adulthood

This program focuses on the establishment of a Pilbara Aboriginal Health Forum Youth Council and Youth Action Strategy targeting key action areas identified through community consultation.

Identified Community Youth Leaders are mentored and up-skilled through regular training opportunities provided through WMHSAC, to become role models within the community. The program seeks out opportunities to link the Youth Leaders with operational roles in their communities, such as: after care for young people involved in alcohol and drug rehabilitation; and navigators to support services for young offenders leaving the juvenile justice system.

Other initiatives include: building youth resilience; reduce risk taking behaviours; promote protective behaviours; provide healthy youth focused activities; counselling and support services for at risk youth; and the development of a social marketing strategy to promote healthy lifestyles, community connectedness and family values.

Fixing the Gaps and Improving the Patient’s Journey  

An Aboriginal Health Journey Co-ordinator provides support for Aboriginal clients in their journey through the primary health care, hospitals, specialist services, allied health and social services. The co-ordinator will provide culturally secure support to Aboriginal people requiring assistance to access various health services across the Pilbara region.

Key partnerships are being established with all health services in the region to work co-operatively to ensure a reduction in incomplete treatments, increase in appropriate referrals, decreased unplanned re-admissions, reduced length of stay, improved appointment attendance, improved client satisfaction and increased ongoing support.

Regional Aboriginal Patient Transport Strategy 

Client journey and transport teams work collaboratively to ensure seamless follow through of treatment plans and referral, suitable transport and support is provided to clients as well as coordinate accommodation, appointments, clinic attendance, specialist appointments, post operative follow up and returns to the community.

Indigenous Early Childhood Development

Collaborative Child Health 

Enhancing communication and collaborative processes between service providers delivering immunisation, child health checks, early intervention therapies and treatments, and health promotion. Including:

• working with Aboriginal children in their homes and communities;
• encouraging parents to participate in programs; and
• support therapists to develop culturally appropriate programs.

Implementation of the 0–5 High Risk Program across the Pilbara, including:

• Targeting children 0-5 living within high risk environments.
• Coordination of the mothers’journey from home to clinic and follow up care
• Implementing education and Health Promotion inititiatives promoting healthy behaviours.
• Engaging with at risk Aboriginal mothers to encourage participation in outreach services
• Improving coordination of service delivery for families that have high levels of contact with services such as child protection, juvenile justice, corrections, housing and health services.
• Providing Aboriginal child health services that compliment those delivered by other service providers to ensure Aboriginal children have a healthy start to life.

Primary Health Care

Maternal and Child Health

Providing antenatal and postnatal parent education and support; developmental surveillance and changing behaviours in relation to chronic conditions in children (to 6 years). This program will also target remote communities.

Management of Chronic Conditions / Communicable Diseases

Providing assessment and referrals for conditions including diabetes/hypertension, cardiovascular and respiratory disease; infectious diseases and sexually transmitted infections; and sight and hearing.

Visual Impairment Prevention Program 

The provision of a culturally appropriate diabetic retinopathy screening, assessment and referral service, utilising a non-mydriatic camera.

Health Awareness 

Health awareness initiatives that include community wide education and community development activities focusing on the key health determinants of nutrition, physical activity and smoking, and additional health issues identified as priorities by the community. This output requires dedicated and identifiable staff resources.

Social and Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health 

Providing advocacy, support services and referrals to improve the communities overall emotional, psychological and spiritual wellbeing.