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Dean's Newsletter - March 2008 - Poche Centre for Indigenous Health

Members of the Medical School will know that late last year we were fortunate to secure a $10 million dollar donation to establish a Centre for Indigenous Health. The money was donated based on a proposal developed by senior members of the Medical School. It will fund a range of specific activities for over 10 years.

We are now in a position to identify the donor as Mr Greg Poche, an Australian businessman with a successful career in the transport industry. He was profiled in the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday, 1 March 2008 - see: The retiring philanthropist.

The Medical School is now seeking formal university approval for the establishment of the Centre and for it to be known as the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health.

We are now advertising for a Director and Deputy Director. The advertisement is now available through the University website.

  • Go to http://usyd.edu.au
  • Go to the “Do” box on the right hand side
  • Select “Find a job”.
  • Click on “Find a job” which will take you the “Careers and employment” page
  • On the “Careers and employment” page click on “Senior Academic Positions” which will take you to list of positions being advertised
  • Scroll down until you reach the Director of the Centre for Indigenous Health and Deputy Director advertisement, reference number S08/070.

A summary of where we are with the development of the Centre follows:

Original Proposal for Donor Funding

  • Clinics
    To establish and run outreach clinics which would fill gaps in health service delivery, initially in western NSW. The clinics will initially be in Dubbo, Brewarrina, Bourke and Broken Hill and will be organized by the Centre and attended by members of the University from a range of health professions, including specialist doctors, dentists, diabetes educators and more. An active register of medical and allied health specialists will supply the necessary skills to provide a highly organised and regular program of outreach clinics. The Medical School is able to call upon its 3,000 members to provide medical skills and already there is widespread interest, including from Faculties of Nursing and Midwifery, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Sciences and Education, in participation. The Royal Flying Doctor Service is a partner in clinic delivery and will provide all transport.
  • Education
    To provide increased opportunities for medical and other health students to experience the challenges of Indigenous health care, in the hope that some will be inspired to make a career in the field. With current funding, 25% of medical students will gain intensive Indigenous experience.
  • Research
    To conduct vigorous research into Indigenous health care issues, the outcomes of which will be available to guide future policy decisions.

Potential Expansion with Further Funding
Following consultations with Indigenous groups, particularly in western NSW, with health service providers and within the University, further specific needs have been identified. If funding could be secured, the Centre for Indigenous Health would expand its services to include:

  • Increased Clinics
    The Centre has a scaleable model for delivery of health services to remote and regional communities, depending on funding. In western NSW, there are extensive gaps in health services and representatives from a number of Indigenous and local communities outside of the four selected towns have already asked if they could be incorporated into the Centre’s clinic program. The Centre would also like to expand its provision of medical specialist support in the Northern Territory, and is currently discussing options.
  • Prevention I - Education
    The Medical School’s School of Rural Health has been successfully running a small number of educational programs in schools in Dubbo and Broken Hill, with the purpose of encouraging young Indigenous people to continue with their education, to work towards career and employment goals (including in health care) and adopt healthy lifestyles. With additional funding, the Centre would be able to expand this program in schools. Sporting groups within the University have indicated their willingness to become involved in these programs, as has the Faculty of Education.
  • Prevention II - Child and Maternal Health
    Early maternal and child healthcare is a priority area for Centre. With additional funding, it would aim to organise regular specialist antenatal and paediatric follow up clinics to regional NSW. Maternal and child health is also a priority area for the Commonwealth Government, and an immediate goal for the Centre is to develop programs for the Northern Territory which may be supported by the Government as it works towards achieving targeted reductions in infant mortality and morbidity.
  • Training Indigenous Healthcare Workers
    Training more Indigenous healthcare workers through practical programs which provide real clinical skills would greatly relieve the pressure on existing healthcare providers in remote locations. Sydney Medical School would like to reinstate its highly regarded Diploma in Indigenous Primary Health Care, previously run at its campus in Broken Hill but put on hold this year because of low student numbers. The Medical School would like to reinstate the course in Broken Hill, and if funds could be secured, also run it from its Sydney Camperdown campus.
  • Increased medical, dental, nursing and allied health students with experience in Indigenous Health
    Expanding the number of outreach clinics would have a direct impact on the number of students able to gain experience in Indigenous health care, and eventually attract greater numbers to practise in Indigenous settings and in rural and remote Australia.

CONSULTATIONS & ORGANISATIONS
As part of the development of plans for the Centre for Indigenous Health, senior members of Sydney Medical School have consulted extensively with individuals and Indigenous and other community organisations. Key external organisations and individuals include:

Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA)
Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of NSW
National Aboriginal Community Controlled health Organisation
Rural Doctors Network
The Australian Red Cross
The Royal Flying Doctor Service
Aboriginal Medical Service – Thubbo (Dubbo)
Aboriginal Medical Service – Bourke
Aboriginal Health Service - Brewarrina
Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation (Broken Hill)
Greater Western Area Health Service (Chief Executive Dr Claire Blizard and Health Services in Dubbo, Brewarrina, Bourke, Broken Hill and Wilcannia)
NSW Outback Division of General Practice, Dubbo/Plains Division of General Practice and individual general practitioners
Dubbo City Council (Mayor Greg Matthews)
Brewarrina Council (Mayor Matthew Slack-Smith)
Broken Hill City Council (Administrator Ken Boyle)
Bourke City Council
Broken Hill Community Working Party
Members of NSW and Federal Parliament

For further information or enquiries please feel free to contact:
Mr Tom Rubin
Executive Officer
Sydney Medical School
Email:
Tel: (02) 9351 3029 or 0414 515 696