For Healthcare Providers: Aboriginal Healthcare Referral Pathways
At Western Sydney ITC, we work to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients, particularly those living with chronic health conditions, to offer a simple Aboriginal healthcare referral pathway.
Referral Pathways
Our team can work with you to improve the cultural competency of your organisation or practice, through our program of care coordination, supplementary services and outreach work, so that your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients can experience improved health outcomes.
Western Sydney ITC takes referrals for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients from GPs, community organisations and health service providers or through self-referral.
If you work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients who are suffering from chronic health conditions, we can help.
Improving cultural competency
Cultural respect and safety are vital for improving the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Our team works to improve the cultural understanding of GPs, specialists and allied health professionals through activities that lead to better understanding between staff and your patients.
From cultural awareness training for practice staff and/or GPs to the uptake of Indigenous MBS items, such as 715 health checks, we can work together to ensure follow-up services are utilised and that your practice is a safe and welcoming environment for all patients.
The importance of Integrated Team Care
Almost half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live with at least one chronic condition, and these conditions require complex health care across various types of health services.
The Integrated Team Care program fosters collaboration, culturally appropriate care and support between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and mainstream health sectors.
The program assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with chronic health conditions in understanding and managing their conditions more effectively, so they can experience improved health and wellbeing.
Our Team
Led by our Health Project Officer, the Care Coordinators and Outreach Workers in our team are committed to providing our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community care, resources and support they need to manage their health conditions.
We understand the barriers facing many in our community, and work to overcome these barriers together through culturally appropriate care and support.
Our Care Coordinators are part of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, qualified health workers, including registered nurses and First Nation Health Workers, and deeply understand our culture and people.
They assist by organising services in our clients’ GP care plans, arranging regular reviews by the primary care providers, providing clinical care and prioritising access to urgent and essential allied health or specialist services.
Our Outreach Workers have strong links to the Aboriginal health community and help our clients with non-clinical tasks. By providing information, access and support, our Outreach Workers empower clients with the knowledge and resources to manage their health conditions. This includes providing information about what services are available and where they are, encouraging clients to access health care and collect medication, and organising transport to and from medical appointments.
Supplementary Services
Western Sydney ITC has a Supplementary Services Funding Pool, which can assist patients in accessing medical specialists, allied health services and medical aids as outlined in their care plans.
Care Coordinators can use the Supplementary Services Funding Pool to fast track a client’s access to an urgent and essential allied health or specialist service; or for necessary transport to access the service, where this is not publicly available in a clinically acceptable timeframe.
For more information, contact a Western Sydney ITC Care Coordinator.
Get help
Western Sydney ITC proudly supports our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community by offering holistic healthcare and social support for those living with chronic health conditions.
If you need help or want to learn more about how we can help or how others can help, click through to one of the links below. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, contact Western Sydney ITC.