Victoria Invests $4.4 Million For Aboriginal Health In Melbourne
Aboriginal Victorians in Melbourne’s south will have even better access to vital health services thanks to a new $4.4 million Brumby Labor Government plan.
Visiting Peninsula Health’s Koori Kitchen in Frankston today, Health Minister Daniel Andrews, with Member for Frankston Alistair Harkness and Member for Cranbourne Jude Perera, launched the Southern Metropolitan Melbourne Closing the Gap on Aboriginal Health Plan.
“The Brumby Labor Government is committed to closing the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Victorians and that is why we are delivering $4.4 million over four years for this plan,” Mr Andrews said.
“The plan was developed with local Aboriginal communities and services, and is another step forward in boosting access to high quality health services and prevention programs to Aboriginal people in Melbourne’s south.”
Mr Andrews said the Brumby Labor Government had committed $57.97 million to deliver the largest and most significant package of health programs to overcome Aboriginal health disadvantage in Victoria’s history.
“The Closing the Gap plan focuses on improving health outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians by tackling chronic diseases and unhealthy lifestyles that lead to poor health and reduce length of life,” he said.
“It brings Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and local health services together to tackle a range of health problems and develop initiatives which promote healthy living.
Among the programs being funded in Southern Metropolitan Melbourne region are:
- $480,000 to tackle smoking by providing health promotion, prevention and cessation programs;
- $1.125 million to engage disadvantaged and vulnerable young Aboriginal people to develop their own healthy lifestyle activities and build on existing wellbeing, leadership and mentoring programs;
- $2.33 million to continuously improve access and facilitate the pathways through the health system for aboriginal people; and
- $465,000 for four local Aboriginal Gathering Places in Hastings, Frankston, Cranbourne and St Kilda where the local community can meet and hold activities.
Mr Harkness said the Brumby Labor Government recognised the valuable contribution Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and local health services make in providing a variety of services to Aboriginal communities.
“The new funding will enable even stronger partnerships between local health services and the community to deliver even better care to Aboriginal people,” Mr Harkness said.
Mr Perera said the plan was a great example of how the Brumby Government was committed to deliver programs that improve Aboriginal health and reduce the life expectancy gap.
“It will enable Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups to equally contribute their expertise and ensure that Aboriginal Victorians can lead a longer and healthier life,” Mr Perera said.
The Southern Metropolitan Close the Gap Health plan covers 10 local government areas through the Bayside suburbs to Dandenong and Cranbourne in the east and Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula in the south.
Topics: 2010, aboriginal, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisations, Australia, Brumby Labor Government, Closing the Gap on Aboriginal Health Plan, Daniel Andrews, Frankston, funding, Governance, government, health care, health services, Indigenous, Indigenous Health, Indigenous Health Outcomes, investment, Koori Kitchen, life expectancy, Melbourne, moniter, monitor, National Partnership Agreement, news, Peninsula Health, public services, society, Southern Metropolitan Melbourne, Torres Strait Islander, Victoria, Western Australia
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