Aboriginal health

Integrated Team Care (ITC) is a key element of the Closing the Gap strategy and contributes towards Priority 1 to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoy long and healthy lives. It is linked to the target of Closing the Gap in life expectancy within a generation, by 2031.  

It is a dedicated service designed to provide one-on-one support to help clients self-manage their chronic disease conditions and access the support they need.   

ITC supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic diseases by providing: 

• Access to clinical care coordinators 
• Funding support for supplementary services for chronic disease needs 
• Transport to medical appointments (where appropriate) 
• Medical aids and appliances  

It is currently funded to June 2024 under the Australian Government’s Indigenous Australians’ Health Program.  

The providers of this service have been the Sydney Local Health District, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Children’s Hospital Network Aboriginal chronic care teams.  

More than 90% of program participants reported having a positive experience with the program. Over 80% expressed feeling more equipped to manage their chronic health condition or to improve their outcomes as a result of their participation in the program. 

The Deadly Choices Program has been delivered across the CESPHN region in partnership with the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health and the Cronulla Sharks NRL. The program has focused on educating and encouraging young people and their families to take positive steps towards preventative health strategies and undertaking an annual health assessment MBS 715 whilst promoting healthy lifestyle choices through a school-based education program.

The Deadly Choices program was a top 3 finalist for CESPHN Primary Health Awards 2022 – for service delivery that meets local needs award.

Throughout 2023 the Department of Health and Aged Care has commissioned a review of sector funding arrangements and service provider capability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and suicide prevention services and the Integrated Team Care (ITC) program. The PHN funding for these services is currently due to end June 2024 and we await the announcement of future funding arrangements.