The QAIHC Public Health Team commits to support Member services to deliver comprehensive primary health care that is culturally safe and patient-centred, within their communities.
QAIHC supports Members to navigate the Australian health system and to ensure the health system is accountable to First Nations communities, with equitable access to services so as to close the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health disparity.
Our Member services offer holistic primary health care, delivering a broad range of services with a strong focus on preventive health. Access to advice on health policy, preventive health, continuous quality improvement and supporting community empowerment on health matters (health promotion) is vital to our Members.
QAIHC’s advocacy on health matters to close the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health disparity involves local, state, and federal engagements as well as partnerships with government and non-government stakeholders, including as an Affiliate of NACCHO.
Clinical leadership of Member services
The team facilitates a Clinical Leaders Forum that includes nominated clinicians and health care providers, practice managers, and other clinic staff for two-way exchanges with QAIHC on a day-to-day basis as well as regular meetings.
Medicare and chronic disease
Public Health ensures Member services can optimise access to Medicare and preventive health assessments, and that MBS reforms do not adversely impact on their efforts to ensure health equity for their communities. Cancer prevention programs and quality improvement initiatives for other chronic diseases are other areas of advocacy for the Public Health Team.
Medications
The QAIHC Public Health Team ensure that Member services are aware of health system changes that may adversely impact on community access to medications. Access to medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is vital for our communities. A range of issues such as delistings, and medication shortages can affect Member efforts towards achieving health equity.
Advocacy efforts include enhancing the medication support workforce such as integrating non-dispensing pharmacists within our Member services, ensuring access to the CTG PBS co-payment relief measure and the Section 100 supply of medications for Remote Area Aboriginal Health Services.
Public health registrar training supervision
QAIHC is an accredited provider of training for public health physician training with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, providing on-site Physician Supervision.