What is Improving the Capacity of Workers in Indigenous Communities?
Under the Improving the Capacity of Workers in Indigenous Communities initiative, funding of $20.8 million has been allocated to the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH), in the Department of Health and Ageing, over five financial years for this COAG mental health reform package. OATSIH is responsible for the administration and implementation of this Indigenous-specific initiative.
The initiative forms part of the Commonwealth’s component of the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006 - 2011.
Why is this important?
Closing the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation is a critical priority of the Australian Government. Improving the mental health of Indigenous Australians is a key component in achieving this objective.
Who will benefit?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will benefit from increased access to trained professionals and better referral and treatment options. Health practitioners, including Aboriginal Health Workers, counsellors and other staff of Indigenous health services will benefit from culturally appropriate training and resources to support recognition and treatment of mental illness, including drug and alcohol problems.
What will the initiative deliver?
Under this initiative, health practitioners including Aboriginal Health Workers, counsellors and clinic staff will be trained to identify and address mental illness and associated substance use issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, recognise the early signs of mental illness and make referrals for treatment where appropriate. Support staff, such as transport and administration staff, will be trained in mental health first aid. The measure also provides an additional ten (10) mental health worker positions nationally, as well as development of resources and information to support health practitioners to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at risk of, or experiencing mental illness.
How will it work?
OATSIH is implementing a number of projects to support the roll-out of this Indigenous-specific initiative:
- a training program to recognise and address mental illness;
- provision of Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid training to increase mental health literacy;
- mental health worker positions including the construction of four houses to accommodate these workers;
- a Mental Health Toolkit which may include culturally appropriate Mental Health Assessment Screening Tool(s);
- a Mental Health Book; and
- five additional Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarships per year to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to undertake study within a mental health discipline.
Training Program to Recognise and Address Mental Illness
The initiative includes the development and provision of a holistic and culturally appropriate five (5) day Mental Health training course for Workers in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Communities. The couse aims to support these workers and promote recognition and treatment of mental illness. The program will be offered to health practitioners, including Aboriginal Health Workers, counsellors and clinical staff.
Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid Training
Aboriginal Mental Health first aid training will be provided to front-line (transport and administration) staff working in a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services who interact with clients on presentation to services.
Mental Health Workers
This initiative provides for an additional ten (10) mental health worker positions nationally. The mental health workers will provide and promote culturally appropriate mental health counselling and support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities. Four houses will be constructed to accommodate the mental health workers in remote areas.
Mental Health Toolkit
OATSIH will commission the development of a culturally appropriate Mental Health Toolkit to ensure that Aboriginal Health Workers, counsellors and other clinical staff in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services have the appropriate resources to effectively recognise, treat and educate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and individuals in relation to common mental health conditions and contributing lifestyle factors. This may include the development or adaptation of a culturally appropriate Mental Health Assessment Tool(s).
Mental Health Textbook
A book, ‘Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice’ is in the final stages of development. It will assist health practitioners working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Vocational Education Training (VET) and higher education students to understand a variety of perspectives relating to social and emotional wellbeing and mental health issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
For further information on the book, please contact oatsih.enquiries@health.gov.au
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Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme
Twenty-five (25) Puggy Hunter Memorial Scheme scholarships (five (5) scholarships per annum over five (5) years) are provided under this measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students undertaking studies in a mental health discipline across the fields of medicine, nursing, allied health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker courses.
The initiative is administered by the Royal College of Nursing (RCNA), which promotes the Scheme and provides support to scholarship applicants and awardees throughout their course of study. For clarification of eligibility under this scheme please contact the RCNA on free call number 1800 688 628, email: scholarships@rcna.org.au, or visit the RCNA website at http://www.rcna.org.au/scholarships/puggy_hunter.
What funding is attached to this program?
Funding of $20.8 million over five years (to June 2011) has been allocated for Improving the Capacity of Workers in Indigenous Communities initiative..
When did the measure start?
The Improving the Capacity of Workers in Indigenous Communities measure commenced in July 2006.
Further information
Queries in regard to OATSIH’s implementation of projects under Improving the Capacity of Workers in Indigenous Communities may be directed to:
Postal Address:
Social Health Section
Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
MDP 750
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Email: oatsih.enquiries@health.gov.au
Please also refer to the Council of Australian Governments’ website, http://www.coag.gov.au/ National Action Plan on Mental Health.
Page currency, Latest update: 17 May, 2010