The Department of Health is set to inject $90 million into a program to support primary health care in Aboriginal communities across Australia.
The three-year allocation for the Indigenous Australians’ Health Program is to further support the delivery of culturally appropriate comprehensive primary health care.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said a new way of funding primary health care had also been introduced for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, benefiting the Indigenous health sector and supporting improved health outcomes for patients.
“The Government has partnered with key stakeholders, including the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and the Australian Medical Association, to develop a revised funding model,” Mr Hunt said.
“Streamlined processes and three-year funding agreements will provide certainty around health workforce continuity and planning and reduce the administrative burden on the sector.”
He said that no service would lose funding as a result of the changes.
“All services will receive annual wage indexation increases. Funding will be distributed more fairly and transparently and will be based on activity levels, the cost of delivering services, and the relative health needs of locations,” Mr Hunt said.
“Finalising the model is a significant achievement that has been made possible as a result of our ongoing collaboration and shared commitment to Closing the Gap,” he said.
