Aunty Jean's good health team program - Aboriginal chronic & complex care program

• Reach:

  NSW

• Focus area:

  Indigenous

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  Yes

Overview

Aunty Jean's good health team program was built around the idea that better results would be seen if the community could work together for better health outcomes, with the Elders leading the way. Developed and piloted in the Illawara district of NSW, the strong and supportive relationship between local Elders and Aboriginal Health Workers gave the program its identity and direction. The program was named in the memory of Aunty Jean Morris who had a long association with the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and was well respected and loved by all those who knew her.

The primary aim for the pilot project was to develop a combined model of health promotion, education and self-management that could support and sustain the development of good health behaviours and strategies for Indigenous people with chronic and complex care needs. The program's community capacity-building objectives included:

• improved self-management by Indigenous people, with chronic and complex care health problems
• appropriate and effective partnership arrangements
• culturally appropriate information-sharing, activity and self-management strategies
• the co-creating of an environment supportive of good health.

The program has been rolled out across Great Southern Area Health Service (NSW), including the towns of Albury, Tumut, Griffith, Darlington Point, Moama, Goulburn, Queanbeyan, Bega, Eden and Moruya.

Evaluation of the program indicates improved wellbeing of Aboriginal people as well as improved health measures such as blood pressure and blood glucose levels.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Contacts

Jean Turner
Aboriginal Chronic Care Program Coordinator
Shoalhaven NSW 2535
Ph: (02) 4424 6388
Mobile: 0421611262

Related publications

Willams R, Curtis S (2004)

Aunty Jean’s Good Health Team: celebrating a successful model of an intervention for Indigenous peoples with chronic diseases.

The Chronicle; 8(3): 1, 3-5

• Links
• View information: The Chronicle
• View website: Chronic Diseases Network

Evaluated publications

Illawarra Health (2004)

Aunty Jean's Good Health Team: listening to the voices of the Elders to create an Aboriginal chronic and complex care program.

Unanderra, NSW: Illawarra Health

• Links
• View report: Aunty Jean's good health team - listening to the voices of the Elders to create an Aboriginal Chronic and Complex Care program (PDF - 1.4 MB)
• View website: South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health

Links

• View media release: Aunty Jean's Healthy Lifestyle Program in Griffith
• View media release: Improving the Health of Aboriginal People
• View media release: Koori Mini Olympics Celebrate Better Health
• View website: South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service, NSW Health Department, NSW Government