More Indigenous health investment to “Close The Gap”
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The Victorian Government has made steady progress in the last three years to narrow the seventeen year life expectancy gap between Victoria’s Indigenous and non Indigenous population, but greater investment is needed in Aboriginal run health infrastructure as well as a better trained and equipped Indigenous health workforce, says the Victorian Council of Social Service on National Close The Gap Day.
Deputy Director of VCOSS Carolyn Atkins said the Victorian Government has already implemented a number of initiatives across primary health care to improve health outcomes for Indigenous Victorians, including Koori Maternity Services, but additional resources are needed for investment in Indigenous health infrastructure, including improving the facilities of Aboriginal community controlled health organisations.
“In order to improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Victorians, the Government should help train more qualified Aboriginal health workers, and invest millions more dollars in Aboriginal community controlled health infrastructure.”
“Mainstream health services, such as hospitals and community health services, also have a responsibility to Close the Gap. It is important that the Government take further steps to ensure that Indigenous Victorians can also receive the care and support they need from mainstream services – these services need to lift their cultural competence.”
VCOSS calls on the Victorian Government to: 1) invest in Aboriginal community controlled health organisations; 2) increase the number of qualified Aboriginal health workers; and 3) ensure cultural competence of mainstream health services.
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VCOSS
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