What is the Close the Gap program?
The Closing the Gap program helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to live healthier and longer lives by trying to prevent or better manage chronic diseases.
What is a chronic disease?
It is an illness that will last 6 months or longer and has an impact on your everyday life.
Examples of a chronic Illness:
Cancer, Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 & 2), Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Respiratory Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, Mental Health, Eye conditions associated with Diabetes, Musculoskeletal Conditions.
Life expectancy at birth:
|Female||74.6 years||83.1 years|
|Male||70.5 years||79.8 years|
How can we improve our health?
Regular visits to your GP, take control of your Health, ask questions.
Ask about the CTG scripts, are your registered for the CTG with your GP - not sure? ASK THE QUESTION - Have you identified as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander with your GP?
* Ensure you identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander if you attend hopital - this includes attending emergency and as an inpatient, you also have access to an Aboriginal Liaison Officer (ALO) during you hospital stay.
Have you had your 715 (Health Assessment)? You are entitled to this every year & if necessary every 9 months. This assists with Preventative Health, early detection of a medical condition &
Bi-Annual Cancer Screenings - Cervical, Bowel, Breast & Prostate Cancer screening
Immunisations- Childhood immunisation schedules up to date - (insert schedule) Pneumovax, Fluvax, Zostervax "Let's make our mob immunisation heroes"
If you smoke a pack of 20 per day that has cost you almost $10,000.00 per year.
On average 15000 people are dying each year form smoking related causes.
There is a lot of support available to help you QUIT.
* Your GP can assist with various NRT options- Ask your GP. If you are registered for CTG with your doctor than you can access the medication under CTG.
* Quitline 131 484 (13 QUIT)
* Tharawal AMS - 4628 4837 & Budyari Community Health - 8781 8020
* PHN - 4632 3000 (Aboriginal Health)
Do you need assistance in managing your Health?
If you answer Yes, have your GP refer you to the Integrated Team Care (ITC) program Triple I GP Referral Form v4.4 via the Triple I Hub.
How can this help you?
The program aims to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by providing coordination of health needs and assisting with access to healthcare.
You will be allocated an Aboriginal Health Care Coordinator to work closely with you.
What can your Aboriginal Health Care Coordinator do for you?
- Assist you to understand your chronic health condition and how to manage it
- Work with both yourself and your Doctor, to find the best treatment plan for you
- Help you to find and access other medical services
- Advocate for you
- Direct you to Community programs that may help improve your health
Your Coordinator can assist by arranging appointments with Specialists and/or Allied Health Professionals…such as Dieticians, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists and Exercise Physiologists .
Arrange transport to your health care appointments (if you have no other options)
Ability to provide specific medical aids when Government help is not available.
Dietary supplements on advice from a Health Care Provider.
Together with your doctor the Health Coordinator will support you and help you to improve your health and well being.