Work to Begin on Implementing National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan

Assistant Minister for Health Fiona Nash has asked for work to begin on developing a plan for implementing the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan.
“The implementation plan is about ensuring we deliver real outcomes on the ground,” Minister Nash said at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Summit at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The updated National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan will recognise the links between health and the key social determinants of education, employment and community safety.
“Higher education attainment, paid employment and safe communities are all connected with better health, and the Government is striving to ensure that these are delivered to improve the lives of Indigenous people nationally,” Minister Nash said.  “The Health Plan provides a useful framework to guide policy and program development. However, Indigenous health will only be improved by concrete action on the ground.
“The Government announced in the Budget that through a $94 million investment in Better Start to Life the Government will expand efforts in child and maternal health to support Indigenous children to be healthy and go to school”.
“Focussing on the critical early years means Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children will get a positive foundation for life.”
The Australian Government has outlined int he Budget it will invest $3.1 billion in Indigenous specific health programs and activities from 2014-15 to 2017-18