title: Aboriginal mental health workers and the improving Indigenous mental health service delivery model in the 'Top End'.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article reviews the changing Aboriginal mental health service delivery model of Top End Mental Health Services, and highlights the importance of Aboriginal mental health workers in improving communication with Aboriginal patients. The Australian Integrated Mental Health Initiative Northern Territory Indigenous stream (AIMHI NT) is introduced.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline measures of AIMHI NT in 2003, and findings from two clinical file audits (1996 and 2001) at Royal Darwin Hospital inpatient unit are presented. The files were audited for a range of assessment and treatment interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The audits reveal significant improvements in Aboriginal inpatient care between 1995 and 2001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aboriginal mental health workers provide essential services as cross-cultural brokers in the setting of Aboriginal mental illness. The improvements in care found in this file audit coincide with the commencement of employment of Aboriginal mental health workers in the inpatient unit. The AIMHI consultation reveals broad support for employment of more Aboriginal mental health workers in the Top End.
authors.affiliation: Top End Mental Health Services, Royal Darwin Hospital, Rocklands Drive, Tiwi, NT, Australia. trish.nagel@nt.gov.au
authors.forename: Tricia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003469:Culture; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D015876:Northern Territory; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012189:Retrospective Studies