Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Australian Journal of Primary Health Australian Journal of Primary Health Society
The issues influencing community health services and primary health care
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > PY > PY09031
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 15(4)

Improving coordination of care for Aboriginal people with mental health, alcohol and drug use problems: progress report on an ongoing collaborative action research project

Inge Kowanko A G , Charlotte de Crespigny B , Helen Murray A , Jackie Ah Kit C , Colleen Prideaux D , Harry Miller C , David Mills E and Carolyn Emden F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Flinders Aboriginal Health Research Unit, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.

B Discipline of Nursing, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

C Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service, PO Box 1583, Port Lincoln, SA 5606, Australia.

D Ceduna-Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service, PO Box 314, Ceduna, SA 5690, Australia.

E Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, Whyalla, SA 5600, Australia.

F Independent scholar.

G Corresponding author. Email: inge.kowanko@flinders.edu.au

Australian Journal of Primary Health 15(4) 341-347 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY09031
Published: 26 November 2009

Abstract

This paper outlines the background and progress to date of a project to improve the coordination of care for Aboriginal people with mental health and/or alcohol and other drug problems living in the Eyre Peninsula region of South Australia. The project responds to recommendations from previous research by this team in this area, and has been running since 2004. Working with a wide range of health and human service providers, we explored issues that improve or hinder coordination of care and identified useful strategies. Some of these have already been implemented through the project: e.g. interagency cross-disciplinary training in response to shared needs, and lobbying for after-hours telephone help. Other strategies are still in progress: e.g. implementing a uniform triage and referral system and improving information sharing within Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service. The paper reflects on our experience of conducting Aboriginal health service research using a participatory action oriented approach, and discusses the challenges in providing effective and well coordinated rural and remote mental health/alcohol and other drug care in the context of complex health and social needs of Aboriginal people.

Additional keywords: coordinated care, Indigenous, social and emotional wellbeing.


Acknowledgements

We thank the many individuals and organisations who have given so generously of their time and knowledge during this project, during formal interviews and informal discussion. The project would not have been possible without the ongoing commitment and enthusiasm of the Boards and staff of PLAHS and CKAHS, and the strength of the research team collaboration. Funding support from Flinders University, Cooperative Research Centre in Aboriginal Health and Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (a partnership of the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia and Flinders University) is gratefully acknowledged.


References


Ah Kit J, Prideaux C, Harvey PW, Collins J, Battersby M , et al . (2003) Chronic disease self-management in Aboriginal communities: towards a sustainable program of care in rural communities. Australian Journal of Primary Health 9(3), 168–176.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (1989) ‘The national Aboriginal health strategy 1989.’ (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra)

Battersby MW (2005) Health reform through coordinated care: SA HealthPlus. British Medical Journal 330(7492), 662–665.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Battersby M, Harvey P, Mills PD, Kalucy E, Pols RG , et al . (2007) A controlled trial of a statewide application of a generic model of chronic illness care. The Milbank Quarterly 85(1), 37–67.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Battersby MW, Ah Kit J, Prideaux C, Harvey PW, Collins JP , et al . (2008) Implementing the Flinders model of self-management support with Aboriginal people who have diabetes: findings from a pilot study. Australian Journal of Primary Health 14, 66–74.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Brown R (2001) Australian Indigenous mental health. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing 10, 33–41.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | CAS | open url image1

de Crespigny C (2002) ‘Better medication management for aboriginal people with mental health disorders and their carers – a pilot study in northern metropolitan Adelaide.’ (Inprint Design: Bedford Park, SA)

de Crespigny C, Emden C, Kowanko I, Murray H (2004a) A ‘partnership model’ for ethical Indigenous research. Collegian (Royal College of Nursing, Australia) 11(4), 7–13.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

de Crespigny C, Kowanko I, Murray H, Emden C (2004b) Implementing research outcomes for better medication management for Aboriginal people. Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal 28(4), 14–17. open url image1

de Crespigny C, Kowanko I, Murray H, Emden C, Wilson S (2005) Improving indigenous health through better medication management: an overview. Australian Journal of Primary Health 11(1), 17–23.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

de Crespigny C, Kowanko I, Wilson S, Murray H, Ah Kit J , et al . (2006) A nursing partnership for better outcomes in Aboriginal mental health, including substance use. Contemporary Nurse 22(2), 275–287.
| PubMed | open url image1

Department for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, ATSIC (2003) Partnering agreement. Second annual report. Draft. South Australian Government, Adelaide.

Emden C, Kowanko I, de Crespigny C, Murray H (2005) Better medication management for Indigenous Australians: findings from the field. Australian Journal of Primary Health 11(1), 80–90.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Giles G (2008) ‘CCRE achievements and milestones.’ (Centre of Clinical Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: Adelaide)

Giles G, Malin M, Harvey P (2006) The Centre of Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) in Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Health – an operational rationale and summary of early achievements! Australian Journal of Primary Health 12(2), 97–104.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Haswell M , Hunter E , Wargent R , Hall B , O’Higgins C , West R (2009) ‘Protocols for the delivery of social and emotional wellbeing and mental health services in Indigenous communities: guidelines for health workers, clinicians, consumers and carers.’ (Australian Integrated Mental Health Initiative, Indigenous Stream in North Queensland for Northern Area Health Services, Queensland Health: Cairns)

Henry J , Dunbar T , Arnott A , Scrimgeour M , Matthews S , Murakami-Gold L , Chamberlain A (2002) ‘Indigenous research reform agenda. Rethinking research methodologies.’ Links Monograph Series 2. (Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Tropical Health: Casuarina, NT)

Kowanko I (2005) Coordinated Aboriginal mental health care: a model for best practice. Indigenous Health Matters 12(June), 8. open url image1

Kowanko I, de Crespigny C (2004) Mental health disorders and associated health problems among Aboriginal people: a review of hospital separation data. Australasian Epidemiologist 11(3), 28. open url image1

Kowanko I , de Crespigny C , Murray H (2003 a) Better medication management for Aboriginal people with mental health disorders and their carers. Report on research conducted in the Port Lincoln region. Inprint Design, Bedford Park, SA.

Kowanko I , de Crespigny C , Murray H (2003 b) Better medication management for Aboriginal people with mental health disorders and their carers. Final Report 2003. Inprint Design, Bedford Park, SA.

Kowanko I, de Crespigny C, Murray H, Emden C, Wilson S (2004) Better medication management for Aboriginal people. Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal 28(2), 11–13. open url image1

Kreger A , Hunter E (2005) ‘Unfenced road ahead: a review of rural and remote mental health service delivery and policy.’ (The University of Queensland: Brisbane)

Krieg A (2006) Aboriginal incarceration: health and social impacts. The Medical Journal of Australia 184(10), 534–536.
| PubMed | open url image1

Lavarack G, Hill K, Akenson L, Corrie R (2009) Building capacity towards health leadership in remote Indigenous communities in Cape York. Australian Indigenous Health Bulletin 9(1), 1–11. open url image1

Manning PK , Cullum-Swan B (1994) Narrative, content and semiotic analysis. In ‘Handbook of qualitative research’. (Eds NK Denzin, YS Lincoln) pp. 463–478. (Sage: Thousand Oaks)

Mental Health Council of Australia (2005) ‘Not for service: experiences of injustice and despair in mental health care in Australia.’ (Mental Health Council of Australia: Canberra)

National Mental Health Plan Steering Committee (2003) Consultation paper on the National Mental Health Plan. Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra.

NATSIHC (2003) National strategic framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: framework for action by Governments. NATSIHC, Canberra.

Ober C , Schlesinger C (2007) ‘Indigenous risk impact screen (IRIS) user manual.’ (Queensland Health, Queensland Government: Brisbane)

Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (2001) The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Coordinated Care Trials. National Evaluation Summary. Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra.

South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership (2004) Summary overview. Aboriginal health – everybody’s business: regional resource package. A South Australian strategy for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people 2005–2010. Department of Health, Adelaide.

South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership (2005) Aboriginal health, everybody’s business: knowing the business: South Australian Aboriginal health indicators 2005. Department of Health, Adelaide.

Trewin D , Madden R (2005) ‘The health and welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.’ (Australian Bureau of Statistics and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Canberra)