2007 Annual Report

2006 Annual Report

Certificate III in Indigenous Community Service and PrimaryHealth Care

NCACCH is a finalists in:
The Indigenous Governance Awards

New Era of Health Care Services of Coast Indigenous - More Info

Certificate III in Indigenous Community Service and PrimaryHealth Care
This course is being offered by Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE with the assistance of the Cunningham Centre.

This course is only $50 which is great news. Anybody wishing to apply can do so through the SQIT on 07 46941923. (First block started on 3rd October 2005. Other blocks in 2006.)
Additional information in PDF format, click here. (Opens in a new window). NOTE: Adobe Acrobat is required to read this information. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader you may download it here.
TIP: To save these .pdf files to your computer, right click on the link and select: "Save Target As..."

Health Outcomes National Conference was held in August 2005. This has been a major success.
Below is some general information about the conference.

The paper that NCACCH presented to the conference may be viewed here.

HEALTH OUTCOMES 2005: MAKING A DIFFERENCE 11th Annual National Conference 17 - 18 August 2005, Canberra, Australia.

CALL FOR PAPERS

Health systems in Australia, New Zealand and around the world are struggling to keep pace with advances in health research and technology. While these may provide better health outcomes, they also put increased pressure on health care resources due to increased demand and costs.

Our population, like many others, is ageing, and has high expectations of health-related quality of life. At the same time, fundamental responsibilities remain towards all groups in our society - particularly towards Indigenous people, who have unacceptably high levels of morbidity and mortality, people suffering chronic disease, people with mental health conditions, and people from socio-economically disadvantaged and ‘at risk’ groups.

The health budget is limited, and a critical concern is the allocation of scarce health care funds to ensure the best health results for our population. We have to examine every element of the design, planning, implementation and management of health care by asking ‘What works?’ and then ‘How can we make it work more equitably, more effectively and more efficiently – at less cost and for more people?’ Health outcomes evaluation is integral to these questions.

This year we are particularly interested in health initiatives and strategies which, on evaluation evidence, can be shown to have made a difference the population generally or to specific populations.

Health Outcomes 2005 will examine ways of dealing with the challenges confronting health policy makers, practitioners and researchers in evaluating health outcomes. In particular, it will focus on:

1. new approaches to evaluating outcomes in a health care environment which is facing major changes in public health policy, in clinical practice and in the profile of health consumers;
2. using information and communication technologies to manage the collection, storage, analysis, interpretation and comparison of an ever-increasing quantity of outcomes data for both research and clinical application;
3. gathering, interpreting and using outcomes data to plan and implement effective health care, with particular emphasis on initiatives in the National Health Priority Areas and in relation to specific population groups (eg. Indigenous people, children and adolescents, people from a non-English speaking background, women’s and men’s health and people with disabilities); and
4. projects which have made a real difference to the health outcomes of their target groups.

Reports on health outcomes research undertaken outside Australia and New Zealand are also invited.

Special Award

This year there will be a special award for the best submission by a first-time speaker. Assessment will be on the basis of importance and/or originality of topic; rigour and/or innovation of methodology; and clarity of expression. Further details regarding eligibility and procedures for application will be circulated in early 2005.

For the 2005 conference we invite submissions for papers addressing health outcomes evaluation in the following contexts:

• health outcomes initiatives making a significant difference to health care or health status in specific populations or in the population generally, or leading to changes in allocation of health care resources;
• innovative and experimental approaches to health outcomes measurement – particularly in program implementation and clinical practice, clinical benchmarking, and analyses and applications of comparative data;
• methodological issues in research, design and application of tools for assessing aspects of individual health (e.g. symptoms, function, health-related quality of life, needs, satisfaction);
• using information and communication technologies to drive improvement in health service provision and health research at individual, group and population levels, including use of data sets and data linkage in outcomes evaluation and health assessment;
• assessing health outcomes in the National Health Priority Areas (arthritis, asthma, cancer, CVD, diabetes, injury and mental health);
• chronic disease management, palliative care and comorbidity;
• hospital quality, safety and clinical pathways;
• population health, burden of disease, health differentials and health inequalities, and health programs and issues for particular population groups. We particularly encourage papers on outcomes measurement in Indigenous health;
• evidence-based approaches in general practice, primary and community care, allied health, the nursing sector and dental care;
• equity, access and determinants of health and social policy – particularly in relation to health promotion, planning for future health consumer populations, and so on;
• consumer participation in developing health outcomes research, applied projects and programs; and
• economic modelling and evaluation in relation to population health policy and practice.
  There will also be interactive Discussion Panels, Discussion Groups and Poster Presentations.

‘First time’ presenters’ session: In 2005 we will again include a session for papers on health outcomes presented by ‘first time’ speakers. The ‘first time’ presenters selected for this session will be given positive and constructive feedback on their performance by appointed mentors, and this is a valuable opportunity for new practitioners in the field. Paper content should address one of the topics outlined above, and should report on original research. (First time presenters’ papers will also be considered for other sessions.) If you wish to be considered for this session this must be clearly indicated under the title of your abstract.

Papers and Posters

Papers should contain new and original work. Authors will generally be required to present data to support their conclusions. Abstracts are required by 4 March 2005 to ensure consideration by the conference selection committee. Final papers and associated PowerPoint presentations are required by 8 July 2005, and must be written as for journal publication. Details of requirements are available at www.uow.edu.au/commerce/ahoc

Posters are encouraged. Poster abstracts should be submitted by 25 March 2004 to ensure inclusion in scheduling, but the selection committee may consider later submissions for poster presentations. Details of requirements are available at www.uow.edu.au/commerce/ahoc

Peer Review

This year speakers may nominate to have their papers peer-reviewed, and this will assist with the recognition of papers for DEST points. If you choose to have your paper peer-reviewed, you must also make yourself available to review another author’s paper if requested by the conference committee. Speakers applying for peer review must lodge their final paper and power point with the conference secretariat by 3 June 2005. If you wish to have your paper peer-reviewed this must be clearly indicated under the title of your abstract.

For further details about the Call for Papers and conference registration contact:

Australian Health Outcomes Collaboration

Lorna Tilley or Jan Sansoni, Email: lorna.tilley@act.gov.au or jansan@netspeed.com.au
Telephone: (+61) 02 6205 0869 or (+61) 02 6291 7271
Fax: (+61) 02 6244 4201
Web site: www.uow.edu.au/commerce/ahoc

New Era of Health Care Services of Coast Indigenous 28th April 2004 A LANDMARK agreement between Sunshine Coast health providers is expected to create a new era of health services for indigenous Australians.

The deal - signed at Nambour General Hospital will provide specific health services to the estimated 3100 Aboriginals & Torres Strait Islanders who live between Tin Can Bay and Caloundra.

John Spink, the chief executive of one of the agreement's four agencies, the North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health said the deal would be vital to addressing the health concerns of Aborigines whose average health remains far worse compared to the rest of the country.
He said indigenous Australians still suffered more cases of diabetes, poverty and oral disease and had average life spans 20 years shorter when compared to the rest of the population.

"This is a big thing for Aboriginal people on the Coast," he said.
"Most locations in this country actually provide indigenous specific health services but for many years here on the Coast, Indigenous specific health services have been nonexistent."

Mr Spink said the health of the Coast's indigenous population would also benefit from a new deal between the NCACCH and the Sunshine Coast Division of General Practice to free up 113 general practitioners.
He said with the consent of patients, GP's will provide health data to the NCACCH to target specific communities with programs.

Federal Health Minister Tony Abbot is expected to visit the Coast in the coming months to officially launch the program.
Click here to read the full press release.

CEO John Spink and NCACCH Secretary Aunty Merle Tilbrook

Dr Fiona McGrath, Director of the Sunshine Coast Division of General Practice

Kevin Hegarty, District Health Manager, Qld Health