Canberra, Monday 9 October 2000

Study on Indigenous aged care and health in the region has positive outcomes

Prominent Aboriginal Leader and Democrats Senator Aden Ridgeway will today launch a report on Indigenous aged care in the ACT and region at the Wesley Uniting Church at Forrest in Canberra.

The ACT Office of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care funded a study by researchers at the ANU's National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health on the needs of older Indigenous people in the ACT and Region. The research was conducted by a Ngun(n)awal researcher, Roslyn Brown, and three non-Indigenous researchers, Dr Phyll Dance, Dr Gabriele Bammer and Dr Bev Sibthorpe. During 1999-2000, 100 older Indigenous people were interviewed about their needs in residential care, community care and health services. A report compiling the information from those interviews will be launched today.
"The report is the first of its kind in the region," Researcher Phyll Dance said. "It showed that the health of the older Indigenous people interviewed in the area is as poor as that experienced by Indigenous people in other parts of Australia. For example we found many people we interviewed needed advice on medication, help with contacting support services and regular home visits."

The research findings and recommendations outlined in the report are already feeding into Indigenous aged care needs in the form of Home and Community Care Services and Community Aged Care Packages; 10 of which recently have been earmarked for Indigenous people.

Ngun(n)awal researcher Roslyn Brown said many of the older Indigenous community members were keen to have their needs heard. "We acted as advocates for many to help them to get medical or physical support," Ms Brown said. "We found outreach services and information services were desperately needed for the elderly. But the services must be developed with input to ensure they are consistent with community values. While the quality of health and aged care was important, older Indigenous people also identified the future of young people, employment and drug use, as major problems."

The research team asked participants about health and community needs within their families including the high rate of diabetes and increased drug use among young Indigenous people.

Previous findings by the NCEPH research team into the estimates of young Indigenous people using illegal drugs in the ACT have been acted upon. There will be increased funding from the ACT Office of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care to Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service to employ Indigenous outreach workers. The ACT Department of Health and Community Care has also increased funding to Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Health Corporation, which will allow for the employment of an Indigenous outreach drug and alcohol worker.

What: Launch of NCEPH study of Indigenous aged care and other services
Where: Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, ACT
When: Lunch from 12 Noon, Democrats Senator Aden Ridgeway to launch report at 1:30pm

For more information or interview:
Roslyn Brown or Phyll Dance, Indigenous aged care study researchers, 02 6249 2145 (w)
Or 0414 976 278 (mobile)
Email: Ros.Brown@anu.edu.au or phyll.dance@anu.edu.au

No: 82/2000

© 2000 Marketing & Communications Division,
The Australian National University.
Questions or Comments?

Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002