Published Tuesday, 05 June, 2007 at 02:40 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
FUNDING BOOST TO ADDRESS INDIGENOUS HEALTH ISSUES
Additional funding for alcohol awareness and diversion programs are key features of Beattie Government initiatives to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today Queensland Health will also invest funding to train Indigenous child health workers plus evaluate a child health partnership pilot program.
“Improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is one of the biggest challenges facing Australia today,” he said.
“In Indigenous communities, extreme poverty and social disadvantage are drivers of poor health.
“Residents have limited access to health services, experience poor nutrition, problems accessing good food and fresh water, and health issues often exacerbated by alcohol abuse.”
Mr Robertson said funding to address the problem of alcohol in indigenous communities includes:
• $7.82 million in 2007-08 for the implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Alcohol Diversion Program in three pilot locations (Cairns including Yarrabah; Townsville and Rockhampton - Woorabinda) offering eligible offenders the opportunity to undertake treatment before sentencing.
• $450,000 over three years for development and implementation of the North Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Awareness and Education Project to provide an overarching culturally effective communication strategy that connects and supports local initiatives to address alcohol misuse.
The Beattie Government will also invest $200,000 in 2007-08 towards accreditation of a Certificate IV (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Health Work) training course for Indigenous Child Health Workers.
A Healthy Women’s Initiative will be implemented in the Townsville Health Service District to promote and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s participation in cervical screening and sexual health on Palm Island.
A further $109,000 will be invested for the evaluation of the Rio Tinto Child Health Partnership Initiative’s three trial sites at Inala, Woorabinda and the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service.
Mr Robertson said Queensland Health will also progress initiatives to improve the health of Indigenous Queenslanders through the continued implementation of its response to the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
Initiatives include:
• completion of a second tender process to select non-government organisations across Queensland to employ positions to address the health issues of nutrition, physical activity and healthy lifestyle; alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; child and youth health; sexual and reproductive health; cervical screening and women’s sexual health through the Healthy Women’s Initiative
• development of the Queensland Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Environmental Health Strategy 2007–2012
• contribute to the whole-of-Government Community Governance Improvement Strategy through implementation of public health legislation in Aboriginal local governments and Torres Strait Islander Councils under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Public Health Legislation Engagement Strategy.
5 June, 2007
MEDIA: PAUL LYNCH 3234 1190
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today Queensland Health will also invest funding to train Indigenous child health workers plus evaluate a child health partnership pilot program.
“Improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is one of the biggest challenges facing Australia today,” he said.
“In Indigenous communities, extreme poverty and social disadvantage are drivers of poor health.
“Residents have limited access to health services, experience poor nutrition, problems accessing good food and fresh water, and health issues often exacerbated by alcohol abuse.”
Mr Robertson said funding to address the problem of alcohol in indigenous communities includes:
• $7.82 million in 2007-08 for the implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Alcohol Diversion Program in three pilot locations (Cairns including Yarrabah; Townsville and Rockhampton - Woorabinda) offering eligible offenders the opportunity to undertake treatment before sentencing.
• $450,000 over three years for development and implementation of the North Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Awareness and Education Project to provide an overarching culturally effective communication strategy that connects and supports local initiatives to address alcohol misuse.
The Beattie Government will also invest $200,000 in 2007-08 towards accreditation of a Certificate IV (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Health Work) training course for Indigenous Child Health Workers.
A Healthy Women’s Initiative will be implemented in the Townsville Health Service District to promote and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s participation in cervical screening and sexual health on Palm Island.
A further $109,000 will be invested for the evaluation of the Rio Tinto Child Health Partnership Initiative’s three trial sites at Inala, Woorabinda and the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service.
Mr Robertson said Queensland Health will also progress initiatives to improve the health of Indigenous Queenslanders through the continued implementation of its response to the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
Initiatives include:
• completion of a second tender process to select non-government organisations across Queensland to employ positions to address the health issues of nutrition, physical activity and healthy lifestyle; alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; child and youth health; sexual and reproductive health; cervical screening and women’s sexual health through the Healthy Women’s Initiative
• development of the Queensland Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Environmental Health Strategy 2007–2012
• contribute to the whole-of-Government Community Governance Improvement Strategy through implementation of public health legislation in Aboriginal local governments and Torres Strait Islander Councils under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Public Health Legislation Engagement Strategy.
5 June, 2007
MEDIA: PAUL LYNCH 3234 1190