• On-the-ground healthcare a priority for new funding
• AMA calls for Medicare Telehealth Items extension
• Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin
• 2020 NAIDOC Local Grants funding round
• Antecedents of Renal Disease in Aboriginal Children and Young People Study
• Digital health and aged care channels upgrade
• Job Alert – Senior Advisor – Aboriginal Health – WA

On-the-ground healthcare a priority for new funding

During a radio interview with The Wire NACCHO Chair Donnella Mills said the additional $33 million in government funding to strengthen primary health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, “will be used to ensure we have continuity of care and certainty of funding for three years on the ground. The funding will help with a possibility of expansion towards significant unmet healthcare needs and in areas where we see higher population growth of our people.”

To listen to the full interview click here.

AMA calls for Medicare Telehealth Items extension

The AMA has called on the Federal Government to extend temporary telehealth arrangements under Medicare, due to end on 30 September, that have supported patients to have a consultation with their doctor either over the phone or by video. AMA President, Dr Omar Khorshid said “the AMA has long advocated for Medicare-subsidised telehealth consultations, and the COVID-19 arrangements have shown the value of telehealth.”

To view the AMA’s media release click here.

Images: mivision, the Opthalmic Journal website and AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid.

Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin

The Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin is a peer-reviewed electronic journal from the Australian Indigenous HealthInforNet. It facilitates access to new information about research of relevance to the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and aims to showcase original articles as well as providing links to reports, publications, journals, resources and theses published externally to the HealthBulletin. To access the Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin click here.

2020 NAIDOC Local Grants funding round

The National Indigenous Australians Agency is inviting eligible applicants to submit applications for the 2020 NAIDOC Local Grants funding round under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS). This grant funding round provides funding to organisations to contribute to the costs of local and regional NAIDOC activities across Australia during NAIDOC Week 2020 (8–15 November) that celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, achievements and continuing contributions to Australia. Activities should align with the National NAIDOC Theme for 2020, ‘Always was, Always will be’.

Organisations need to complete an online application, which can be accessed here, and submit it by 7pm AEST Monday 17 August 2020.

Organisations that submitted an application for the 2020 NAIDOC Local Grants Round that opened in February 2020 but was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic need to resubmit their application.

Antecedents of Renal Disease in Aboriginal Children and Young People Study

The Antecedents of Renal Disease in Aboriginal Children and Young People Study (ARDAC) hopes to find some answers about why the risk of chronic conditions such as kidney disease, heart disease and diabetes are so much greater for Aboriginal Australians.

The study monitors the kidney and heart health of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children and young people in NSW. As a community-based, longitudinal, cohort study, participants remain involved over a long period of time. The study was initiated by Rita Williams, a senior Aboriginal Health professional at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Western Sydney and has been running since 2002.

You can access the ARDAC website here for more information. If your community would like to particpate in the study they can contact ARDAC here.

Image Source: ARDAC website.

Digital health and aged care channels upgrade

Services Australia are upgrading their digital and aged care channels, which will impact members. They have developed the following fact sheets to provide further information about the next steps you need to take:

• Fact sheet 1 – Web services for Medicare Online, DVA, AIR and ECLIPSE – click here
• Fact sheet 2 – Web services for PBS Online – click here
• Fact sheet 3 – PRODA Organisation for web services (also included with fact sheets 1 and 2) – click here
• Update – Web services for aged care – click here

The fact sheets are also available on the Services Australia website, click here. and select ‘How to prepare for web services’ to download the Web Services Kit.

WA – Riverdale

FT Senior Advisor – Aboriginal Health x 1

WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) Senior Advisors play a key role in strategy development by taking current policy and industry knowledge and turning it into tangible objectives for WAPHA’s operational teams. WAPHA is currently seeking a Senior Advisor specialised in Aboriginal Health. The role requires extensive strategic experience, strong analytical and research skills and adept communication and interpersonal skills.

You can visit WAPHA’s website here and apply for the position here or send an application directly to jobs@wapha.org.au.

Candidates must submit a CV along with a cover letter addressing the selection criteria outlined in the job posting.