Better Together Funding Initiatives designed to improve health outcomes
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team (A&TSILT) has awarded eight successful applicants Better Together Grants designed to improve health outcomes and service enhancement across the HHS for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team (A&TSILT) has awarded eight successful applicants Better Together Grants designed to improve health outcomes and service enhancement across the HHS for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers.
Funding to the value of $25,000 each was awarded to the following projects:
The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Maternity Allied Health Service
The project aims to find a better way to deliver allied health services (physiotherapy, nutrition, dietetics and social work) before and after pregnancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women birthing at The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Program of Experience in Palliative Approach
Bedsheets and bed runners will be supplied to various mortuaries and palliative care wards across Metro North HHS facilities to provide a subtle compassionate gesture and cultural respect for the deceased and family.
Mental Health, Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid
The project will provide Indigenous Mental Health Workers with accreditation to provide Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid Training, which is a course designed to provide skills and knowledge to assist their fellow co-workers when they are providing treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experiencing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis.
The Prince Charles Hospital, Emergency Department Indigenous Hospital Liaison Officer
The project will see the introduction of a 7 day Indigenous Hospital Liaison service to The Prince Charles Hospital Adult and Paediatric Emergency Departments (ED). The newly created position will provide an Indigenous workforce presence that is culturally safe, visible and enhances access to culturally appropriate support. The dedicated role will be an opportunity for a collaborative approach between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce and clinical streams in the Emergency Departments.
Redcliffe Hospital, Get Set for Prep Program
The project delivers a prep readiness program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kindergarten aged children and will be run by an Allied Health Assistant offering 7 sessions during the school term. The sessions will target language, literacy and fine motor skills, as well as healthy lunch boxes and eating habits.
Caboolture Hospital, Emergency Department Indigenous Hospital Liaison Officer
The project involves a dedicated Indigenous Hospital Liaison Officer located within the Caboolture Hospital Emergency Department, Monday to Friday.
The aim is to improve the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient journey through the Emergency Department, to collect data in service shortfalls and provide feedback to better understand the needs to improve health delivery and compliance with care plans.
Community and Oral Health, Deadly Smiles Project
The Deadly Smiles Project is a pilot oral health promotion and early screening initiative targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children 0-17 and their families in the Moreton Bay Region.
The project will provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children with a monthly oral health screening and a fluoride varnishing program in a culturally appropriate setting such as early childhood centres, schools, neighbourhood centres or community health clinics and the setting will establish a dental home for these consumers and their families.
Community and Oral Health, SaFE Child Protection Training
The project is to develop a module that integrates a culturally sensitive framework within the current online MNHHS Child Protection training package. The module will educate clinical and non-clinical staff on how to better respond to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families that might be experiencing difficulties with child protection issues.
Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team, Sherry Holzapfel congratulated the successful applicants at a morning tea held in late July.
“The calibre of applications we received across the HHS was outstanding and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to put forward a submission.
“The successful projects align to our Better Together health plan to ensure the delivery of culturally safe and culturally appropriate health care service delivery across the HHS.
“We look forward to supporting these projects over the next two years and to assessing how they are providing real outcomes for our staff, broader workforce and patients.”