ABORIGINAL health services from Orange to Bourke came together in Dubbo this week to discuss the future of Aboriginal health provision in western NSW.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bila Muuji, a consortium of Aboriginal Medical Services from across western NSW, held its bi-monthly meeting at the Aboriginal Medical Service in Dubbo on Monday.
Bila Muuji chairperson Jamie Newman said the meeting focused on the changing landscape of healthcare in regional and remote NSW.
"We have to evolve Bila Muuji," Mr Newman said.
"In the past Bila Muuji has been a resource for the individual services to come share ideas, opportunities, support for the chief executive officers that work in our services and sharing of information.
"In the future it's going to be more about how do we co-ordinate a regional approach to Aboriginal health."
Bila Muuji incorporates the Aboriginal Medical Services of Orange, Wellington, Dubbo, Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina, Coomealla, Forbes and Bourke, with the regional organisation also recently developing ties with the Broken Hill-based Maari Ma Health.
Bila Muuji also collaborates with the Western NSW and Far West Local Health Districts (LHDs) and the recently established Primary Health Networks (PHNs).
Mr Newman said the partnerships provided an opportunity for greater continuum of care for Indigenous patients moving between community, state and federally co-ordinated services.
"Our people are transient," he said.
"One of the key initiatives of Close The Gap is patient-centred care and co-ordinated care for our patients so if we've got patients in Broken Hill who are coming to Orange for a specialist services that only Orange can provide, then our co-ordination of that patient needs to be effective.
"Close the Gap for us is that the gaps that exist between our services, not only the Aboriginal health sector but the mainstream health sector... our role is also to partner with local hospitals, community health centres, general practice or any other type of specialist service that the client can access in their relevant communities."
Dubbo will be a major centre for the new-look Bila Muuji, who are looking to appoint a full-time permanent chief executive based in the city once the current chief retires.
With the CEOs of both the Western NSW LHD and the PHN based in Dubbo, Mr Newman said it was the place to be.
"Our two major partners are based here in Dubbo and it's logical that we'd base our CEO here too," he said.
"We're looking to coordinate with all the Aboriginal Medical Services but Dubbo is a central point... it's central to the rural and metropolitan area and the remote.
"So if we're going to evolve and align with the Primary Health Network and the two LHDs then Dubbo's the central point for us."