1. Closing the Gap on Indigenous Health Outcomes
PRISON HEALTH
Closing the Gap on Indigenous Health Outcomes

2. COAG Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health National Partnership Agreement
Under the NPA the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments committed to undertaking substantial expenditures over four years 2009/10 – 2013/14 to address the gap in health outcomes experienced by Aboriginal people.
The Western Australian Government committed $ million in new expenditure over four years.

3. COAG Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health National Partnership Agreement
Five Priority Areas:
tackling smoking;
providing a health transition to adulthood;
making Indigenous health everyone’s business;
delivering effective primary health care services; and
better coordinating the patient journey through the health care system

4. WA Implementation
In accordance with the NPA, the Western Australian Implementation Plan presented strategies consistent with the five priority areas
Prison Health was identified as a priority under “Making Indigenous health everyone’s business”

5. Allocation of Funds
$9.78m under “Making indigenous health everyone’s business”
$7.2m was quarantined for prison health

6. Aboriginal Prisoner Health - why a priority?
In 2008 Aboriginal people represent only 2.3% of the total population, yet Aboriginal people represent on average 17% of the prison population except in Western Australia and the Northern Territory where they account for 43% and 84%.2 2http://
2008 Review of Prison Health Services by WA Health & DCS identified the poor health status of Aboriginal prisoners
Community consultations in Western Australia also supported the need for better prisoner health, in particular social and emotional well being & drug and alcohol.

7. Aboriginal Prisoner Health - why a priority?
A study in 2006 of the mortality and morbidity of prisoners in WA after release identified that “Aboriginal prisoners have multiple, long standing health issues… with the major finding that there is a greater risk of death and hospitalisation in Indigenous prisoners than the general population of WA.”1
1Hobbs, M; et al Mortality and morbidity in prisoners after release from prison in Western Australia Trends and Issues in crime and criminal justice 320: Australian Institute of Criminology

8. Recommended Service Model
Through-care model providing coordination/case management, linking with community health services and some in-reach services, with a focus on chronic disease, alcohol and drugs and mental health
Number of FTE based on the number of prisoners exiting the prison
Service provider would be located near the custodial setting
Partnership with the Department of Corrective Services

9. Services Developed
Aboriginal Health Planning Forums were invited to submit proposals based on the recommended service model
All 9 Aboriginal Health Planning Forums submitted locally developed proposals.
Service Agreements were finalised for each of the 9 regions and funds released for respective contracts during November 2010 to April 2011

10. Regional Allocations Region Service Provider Funding to 2013 Kimberley
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service Council
$1,270,402.00
Pilbara
Mawarnkarra Health Service
$ 707,130.00
Goldfields
Bega Garnbirringu Health Service
$ 700,000.00
Midwest
Geraldton Aboriginal Medical Service
$ 776,468.00
Wheatbelt
Holyoake Wheatbelt community Drug Service Team
$ 272,516,00
Great Southern
WACHS Great Southern Aboriginal Health Service
$ 350,489.00
South West
South West Aboriginal Medical Service
$ 301,596.00
South Metropolitan
South Metropolitan Area Public Health Unit
$1,489,680.00
North Metropolitan
North Metropolitan Area Public Health Unit
$ 924,434.00
Total
$6,442,226.00
State- wide Coordination & Management
WACHS Aboriginal Health Improvement Unit
$ 316,269.00
$6,758,495.00

11. Statewide Support - Prison Health Program Manager
The Statewide Aboriginal Health Planning forum endorsed a Prison Health Program Manager be appointed within WACHS.
The Prison Health Program Manager will:
support program implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation
provide a conduit to the Department of Corrective Services

12. Partnerships
Negotiations with the Department of Corrective Services to establish an MOU between WACHS and DCS.
Department of Corrective Services is working directly with the service providers to develop local MOUs.
The Department of Corrective Services has invited WACHS to join their Non Government Services Board.
The State-wide Aboriginal Health Planning Forum has extended an invitation to the Department of Corrective Services to join the forum as a member.