4. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO)

Question 1

­- The first Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) established

Answer 1

­ The first Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) established at Redfern in 1971
­ Initiated and managed by local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination aim to deliver holistic, culturally appropriate health care
­ Over 140 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations operates across Australia
­ ACCHO operate in the metropolitan, regional rural and remote areas of all states and territories in Australia

Question 2

­- ACCHO are planned and managed by

Answer 2

­ ACCHO are planned and managed by health committees and board members elected from the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community
­ They are community owned and culturally secure health care services that address their health needs with a holistic framework
­ Provide effective, acceptable, affordable and accessible health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community

Question 3

­- Each community tribe requires different needs

Answer 3

­ Each community tribe requires different needs
­ Local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation are able to identify the health needs in their community
­ They know what’s important for their health and how best to distribute funds
­ For Luke’s community, there might be some local conditions that are important for his community e.g. Funding for education, since poor education and literacy affect the capacity of people to use health information and are linked to poor health status

Question 4

­- Positive strength-based approach

Answer 4

­ Positive strength-based approach
­ Run by people they trust, with better communication and delivery of culturally safe care that is free of racism and inequality
­ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heath is more likely to improve when it’s delivered by their people
­ Let Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people dictate their own destiny