Capital Health Network

Capital Health Network

To support local First Nations people with chronic disease, CHN partners with local organisations to provide care coordination and supplementary services and funding to First Nations people living with chronic illness.

The Integrated Team Care (ITC) Program assists their clients to navigate the health care system, improving integration of care among the multidisciplinary professionals who provide services to their clients by liaising directly with these practitioners. The program also offers transport assistance, health literacy support, care planning and financial assistance for some of the appointments and medical equipment that these clients require.

CHN, ACT’s PHN, commissioned Grand Pacific Health (GPH) to support clients who have been referred to them through mainstream GPs and Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services to provide the program for their internally referred clients. Over the last year, a total of 9,990 occasions of services were provided through the ITC Program, including:

  • 2,422 occasions of care coordination services
  • 997 supplementary services
  • 4,870 clinical services
  • 1,701 services such as telephone encounters with chronic disease, palliative care, mental health, aged care and NDIS support, transport, cultural heritage and art groups.

In addition, due to continued demand, CHN supported the GPH ITC Program to deliver a supplementary mental health project to facilitate increased access to existing appropriate mental health care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT region. The project supported 71 participants to access 173 services that included Psychologists and Psychiatrists, that they would not normally be able to secure due to waitlist demands and/or the prohibitive out of pocket expenses.

Team members of the Integrated Team Care Program.

Testimonial

 

In recognition of the importance of both physical and mental wellbeing and chronic health conditions, the GPH ITC Program provided a Cultural Heritage Program. It included a 10-week program aimed at supporting Elders and community members to engage with their family heritage and genealogy. Partnering with the National Library, the program allowed approximately 12 community members to delve into their ancestry. For many participants, especially those from the Stolen Generations, reconnecting with their family history was not only enlightening but also instrumental in fostering a sense of identity and belonging. This initiative positively impacted their social and emotional well-being, providing them with tools to understand and appreciate their cultural background. Participants expressed significant appreciation for the opportunity to learn about their family histories, which many had previously struggled to uncover. The program was characterised by high levels of participant engagement and satisfaction, leading to the decision to develop a series of ongoing workshops. These workshops aim to strengthen community ties and enhance opportunities for individuals to maintain their independence while living at home, promoting overall well-being and resilience within the community.

 

The introduction of the Red Dust Healing Program marked a significant milestone in mental health support for First Nations communities in the ACT. The one-day seminar attracted 47 participants, providing them with essential tools and insights to support mental health within their communities. The feedback from the session was overwhelmingly positive, with nearly all participants expressing interest in attending follow-up sessions. This indicates a strong demand for continued education and support, highlighting the effectiveness of the program in addressing the unique mental health needs of First Nations people.