The development of an 'Indigenous team' in a mainstream mental health service in South Australia.
The Social Justice Report 2005 recommended that the governments of Australia commit to achieving equal health status for all Australians "within a generation". Improving the accessibility of mainstream health services for Aboriginal people is highlighted as a central requirement. This paper describes the establishment, roles and functions of the 'Indigenous team' embedded within the South Australian Rural and Remote Mental Health Service (RRMHS) as one strategy to improve access and responsiveness of mental health services to Aboriginal patients in South Australia. We report on our progress to date and possible future directions for the team.
Fielke
Ken
K
Country Mental Health Service of SA, Adelaide, SA, Australia. kkfielke@bigpond.net.au
Cord-Udy
Nigel
N
Buckskin
John
J
Lattanzio
Adriana
A
D003469:Culture; D004493:Education; D005392:First Aid; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012424:Rural Population; D013021:South Australia; D000078329:Workforce