2 July 2007

Training starts this month for 12 Aboriginal Health Workers from Melbourne, the Kimberly and Port Lincoln in the Good Medicines Better Health Outcomes Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Project. The project partners are the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia (AHCSA) and the National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS), who is funding the project.

The Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia, in partnership with NACCHO and the Aboriginal Health Workers from the participating communities have developed a training package that includes content on QUM issues associated with three common chronic conditions within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations – asthma, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. The training package is aligned to units of competency within the recently endorsed National Health Training Package. This alignment ensures formal recognition of the achievements of Aboriginal Health Workers who have participated in the program.

The project includes the delivery of a minimum of two training sessions, ongoing support of local trainers and a comprehensive evaluation of the training outcomes. The outcomes of this pilot program will inform the development of a model for a national roll out of the project.

Dr Meg Stuart, NPS Manager of the Curriculum & Training program, said: “NPS is pleased to fund this project which seeks to address the differences between mainstream and Aboriginal QUM issues. We want to equip participants with the skills to address knowledge gaps for example in how to access independent information.”

NACCHO CEO Dea Delaney Thiele said: “This training will enable Aboriginal Health Workers to go and train their colleagues in the community on these important health issues. It is directly aligned with NACCHO’s policy on workforce capacity development in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector.”

“This project will give Aboriginal Health Workers the skills and QUM knowledge to assist Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islanders manage their medicines better. This strategy is vital to improving their overall health,” concluded Dr Stuart.

ENDS

National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. www.nps.org.au

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is the national peak Aboriginal health body in Australia. It represents the health interests of Aboriginal communities at the national level and promotes holistic and culturally appropriate health to Aboriginal communities. www.naccho.org.au

Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia is the peak body in South Australia, representing Aboriginal Community Controlled Health and Substance Misuse Services. www.ahcsa.org.au