How can you help Close the Gap?
It’s hard to believe the enormous gap that exists between the health of indigenous Australians and non-indigenous Australians:
- Indigenous Australians can expect to live 10-17 years less than other Australians.
- Babies born to Aboriginal mothers die at more than twice the rate of other Australian babies.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience higher rates of preventable illness such as heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes*.
You can help close the gap by undertaking a placement in an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) during your training.
What Aboriginal health training opportunities does GP Synergy offer?
There are many Aboriginal Medical Services located within GP Synergy’s training footprint that are accredited to train GP Synergy registrars.
What are the benefits of undertaking an AMS placement during training?
Registrars who have undertaken an AMS placement as part of their training say there are many reasons why they would recommend it to others:
- Opportunity to experience types of medicine that registrars may not normally get exposure i.e. management of complex chronic conditions, etc.
- AMS placements are generally salaried positions which enable flexibility in consultation times and number of patients seen.
- An AMS placement provides a unique opportunity to explore & understand another culture.
How does GP Synergy help Close the Gap?
GP Synergy recognises that too many Aboriginal people experience unacceptable levels of disadvantage. Our goal is to develop mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginals by building a culturally diverse health workforce and by raising the awareness of all our stakeholders about the unique cultural history that Aboriginal people enjoy, particularly in our regions.
Practice Management Diploma for Aboriginal Medical Services
In 2015, GP Synergy in collaboration with TAFE OTEN, developed a nationally recognised Diploma in Practice Management for Aboriginal Medical Services to meet the specific needs of practice managers and staff working in Aboriginal medical service facilities.
The customised diploma recognises the important role of practice management in the effective functioning of primary healthcare facilities and the complex social, cultural, and clinical dimensions that need to be coordinated and work in harmony for successful Aboriginal health service delivery.
For more information please click here.
Reconciliation Action Plan
GP Synergy has developed a Reconciliation Action Plan to help us work towards making an impact on the life expectancy and health status of Aborigines.
GP Synergy’s vision of reconciliation is to work in partnership with Aboriginal people, to develop practices and processes that will help overcome the current inequity and provide the same opportunities as enjoyed by non-Aboriginal Australians.
We will use a Reconciliation Action Plan and the frameworks for general practice training in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health to guide us and ensure that we follow a road of high expectation and do not detour along the way.
Click to open our Reconciliation Action Plan
*Source: Oxfam Australia 2014
