Health care for Aboriginal people in the Melbourne GP Network catchment

Australians generally have among the best life expectancy rates in the world , however Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience worse health than non-Indigenous Australians in terms of life expectancy and burden of disease - particularly chronic disease and the associated risk factors¹. People of ATSI decent also have reduced access to health care. 

MGPN is committed to working with our members and stakeholders to reduce health inequities within our community and to address the health needs of at risk populations. Whilst MGPN does not have a designated Close the Gap, Department of Health and Aging funded officer, we acknowledge the important role that primary care has in improving the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and actively support this process.

To this end, MGPN is represented:

• as a co-signatory to the Coalition of the Intentional to Close the Gap document. As such our organisation has committed to work “to improve access to, and outcomes from, mainstream services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders”.

See other items relating to Aboriginal Health (below and right):  

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Identification of Aboriginal patients
• Indigenous PBS - Co payment Measure
• Local Resources
• MBS Item Number Information
• PIP Indigenous Health Incentive
• MGPN ATSI publication articles - coming soon
• RACGP -  National guide to a preventive assessment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• References

¹ DoHA - Indigenous Chronic Disease Package Fact Sheet

MGPN is located on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri People