Released 22/07/2020
The ACT Government is providing $2.5 million to local community organisations to support the healthcare needs of vulnerable Canberrans.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the funding provided to Junction Youth Services, Companion House and Directions Health Services would help to address significant barriers people experience in accessing and navigating mainstream services, including health and social services.
"We know many vulnerable Canberrans have complex and underlying health concerns and yet are not regularly engaged with primary and preventive health care. Barriers to access include financial circumstances, location and past experiences with healthcare.
"To address these barriers, we need to rethink traditional healthcare models and develop ways to make it easier for people to engage with healthcare providers and social support.
"This funding provides additional support to local community organisations who are already doing great work in breaking down these barriers by providing outreach services, focusing on wrap around supports and removing financial and administrative barriers," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
Funding has been allocated through the 2019-20 Budget initiative 'Delivering better care for Canberrans with complex needs' and includes:
The Junction Youth Health Services - $278,000
The Junction provides free integrated primary healthcare and support services to 12 to 25-year-old Canberrans and their children.
This funding will increase The Junction Youth Health Services' clinical and social support capacity, providing an additional GP two days a week and a fulltime youth worker. The service focuses on supporting young people who are homeless or who otherwise experience or at risk of disadvantage.
Directions Health Services - $910,000
Funding will support Directions Health Services to expand their outreach services through funding to staff their purpose-built integrated care Mobile Primary Care Outreach Clinic and to provide additional clinics three days a week.
The outreach team will include a GP, nurse, drug and alcohol counsellor and mental health clinician, enabling members of our community who have complex health problems to access a range of supports that meet their needs. This includes vulnerable people living in public housing complexes and people who are homeless, who would not otherwise have regular access to primary health care.
Companion House - $164,000
Funding will further enable Companion House to provide free health and counselling services specifically to refugees and asylum seekers of all ages, who are survivors of trauma and torture. This funding will increase the service capacity of Companion House, by providing an additional 25 hours of primary health services and 22.5 hours of counselling services per week.
The ACT Government will work with key stakeholders to determine how the remaining funds from the 'Delivering better care for Canberrans with complex needs' Budget initiative can be used to develop integrated health pathways for people living with chronic and/or complex illnesses.
"By working with these organisations, we are able to leverage the strong relationships and trust they have built with vulnerable members of the community. We will be able to help more vulnerable Canberrans access health services, helping to combat chronic disease and improve people's overall health and wellbeing.
"The ACT Government is proud to be supporting the development and expansion of these innovative services. We are committed to working closely with community groups and healthcare providers to ensure the delivery of health services continues to develop and evolve, meeting the needs of all Canberrans," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
- Statement ends -
Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases