TY - JOUR
T1 - An Aboriginal-led consortium approach to chronic disease action for health equity and holistic wellbeing
AU - Morey, Kim
AU - Pearson, Odette
AU - Sivak, Leda
AU - Brown, Katharine
AU - Mejia, Gloria
AU - Colmer, Kate
AU - Melchers, Astrid
AU - Keech, Wendy
AU - Brown, Alex
N1 - Funding Information:
The Consortium is funded by the South Australian Department of Health and Wellbeing. The content of this article is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of the Government of South Australia.
Funding Information:
The aims to reduce diabetes‐related foot complications and amputations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It addresses risk factors by implementing evidence‐based initiatives that seek to improve the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of available care, ranging from prevention and management of diabetes‐related foot disease, acute care and rehabilitation for people with amputations. The program further focusses on a range of enabling strategies, including through actively addressing cultural considerations, community learning and awareness, workforce strategies and service accessibility. The program developed a 5‐year, state‐wide foot strategy to specifically address diabetes‐related foot complications. This strategy was based on empirical evidence and evidence generated through engagement with community and professional stakeholders, including organisations from the Aboriginal community controlled and SA Health sectors and universities. The CCC collaborated with and provided guidance to organisations to develop projects for the implementation of the strategy. Six 12‐month initiatives were funded by the Australian Government's Indigenous Australian's Health Programme and the CCC provided support to project partners in evidenced‐based development of initiatives and evaluation. Aboriginal Diabetes‐related Foot Complication Program
Funding Information:
The three state‐wide plans were each developed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in partnership with key service providers, policy makers and funding bodies, to ensure these parties had the opportunity to influence the future direction and development of the South Australian health system's response to highly prevalent chronic disease in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. The development of the plans was funded by the Aboriginal Health Strategy Branch of the South Australian Government. The Heart and Stroke Plan and Diabetes Strategy were developed by Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity Research (Wardliparingga) at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), while the Cancer Control Plan was developed through South Australian Cancer Services with significant support and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership from Wardliparingga and partner organisations. Recognising that the ability to successfully overcome the many barriers to improving chronic disease prevention and care would require a multi‐sectoral response with strong leadership and responsible governance, including implementation at the community level, the three plans provided frameworks for collaborative efforts by governments and the South Australian community. Further methodological details are provided within the plan documents themselves. 15–17
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Australian Health Promotion Association.
PY - 2023/7
Y1 - 2023/7
N2 - Issue Addressed: The Wellbeing Economy, which places human and ecological wellbeing at the centre of policy making, aligns with holistic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander conceptualisations of health and wellbeing. In order to address chronic diseases in South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, the South Australian Aboriginal Chronic Disease Consortium (Consortium) is fostering action in ways that align both with the Wellbeing Economy and with Health in All Policies (HiAP) approaches. Methods: In June 2017, the Consortium was established as a collaborative partnership between government and non-government organisations, researchers, Aboriginal organisations and communities to lead the effective implementation of three state-wide chronic disease plans. A coordinating centre was funded to support and progress the work of the Consortium. Results: During its first 5 years, the Consortium has developed a foundation for sustained system reform through partnering with stakeholders, leading projects and initiatives, advocating for key priorities, leveraging existing infrastructure and funding, supporting services, and coordinating delivery of priority actions using innovative approaches. Conclusions: Through the Consortium governance structure, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, policy actors, service providers and researchers oversee, drive, influence and support the implementation of priority action initiatives. Sustained funding, competing priorities of partner organisations and project evaluation are constant challenges. So What?: A consortium approach provides direction and shared priorities, which foster collaboration across and between organisations, service providers and the Aboriginal community. Aligning with HiAP approaches and the Wellbeing Economy, it harnesses knowledge, networks and partnerships that support project implementation and reduce duplication.
AB - Issue Addressed: The Wellbeing Economy, which places human and ecological wellbeing at the centre of policy making, aligns with holistic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander conceptualisations of health and wellbeing. In order to address chronic diseases in South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, the South Australian Aboriginal Chronic Disease Consortium (Consortium) is fostering action in ways that align both with the Wellbeing Economy and with Health in All Policies (HiAP) approaches. Methods: In June 2017, the Consortium was established as a collaborative partnership between government and non-government organisations, researchers, Aboriginal organisations and communities to lead the effective implementation of three state-wide chronic disease plans. A coordinating centre was funded to support and progress the work of the Consortium. Results: During its first 5 years, the Consortium has developed a foundation for sustained system reform through partnering with stakeholders, leading projects and initiatives, advocating for key priorities, leveraging existing infrastructure and funding, supporting services, and coordinating delivery of priority actions using innovative approaches. Conclusions: Through the Consortium governance structure, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, policy actors, service providers and researchers oversee, drive, influence and support the implementation of priority action initiatives. Sustained funding, competing priorities of partner organisations and project evaluation are constant challenges. So What?: A consortium approach provides direction and shared priorities, which foster collaboration across and between organisations, service providers and the Aboriginal community. Aligning with HiAP approaches and the Wellbeing Economy, it harnesses knowledge, networks and partnerships that support project implementation and reduce duplication.
KW - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
KW - cancer
KW - cardiovascular disease
KW - chronic disease
KW - diabetes
KW - health services
KW - indigenous
KW - intersectoral collaboration
KW - policy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85164180253&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/hpja.765
DO - 10.1002/hpja.765
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85164180253
SN - 1036-1073
VL - 34
SP - 634
EP - 643
JO - Health Promotion Journal of Australia
JF - Health Promotion Journal of Australia
IS - 3
ER -