Identifying and overcoming the barriers to Aboriginal Access to General Practice Services in Rural New South Wales

Bruce Andrews, Peter Simmons, Ian Long, Ross Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Wiradjuri General Practitioners and Aboriginal Health Workers Project aimed to help improve Aboriginal health in central western New South Wales (NSW) by identifying and overcoming the barriers to the Aboriginal population's access to general practitioner services.The central strategy of the project was to convene three rounds of consultative meetings in five towns: Bathurst, Orange, Cowra, Forbes and Condobolin. These meetings brought together Aboriginal community members, general practitioners and Aboriginal health workers to express and define local issues and problems, and to propose solutions.The solutions included general practitioner outreach clinics, a focus on prewinter immunisation, bulk-billing of Aboriginal patients, Aboriginal cultural awareness training for all general practice personnel, employing Aboriginal staff in general practice, and closer professional interaction between general practitioners and Aboriginal health workers.Most participants evaluated the meetings as positive and constructive. The project substantiates the perceived need for alternative models for the funding and delivery of general practitioner services to Aboriginal communities.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)196-201
Number of pages6
JournalAustralian Journal of Rural Health
Volume10
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2008

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