Hume Region – Closing the Health Gap
Young Women's Health Project : Stage 1 – August 2010 to April 2011
The long term aim of the young women’s health project is to "improve the service and support available to address the reproductive health and wellbeing and pregnancy journey of young Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander women living in Hume region".
The project rationale identifies "sexual health, pregnancy support and ante and post natal care outcomes' as the priority health issues". Sexual health, pregnancy support and ante and post natal care outcomes for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women living in Hume Region are worse than for non-Aboriginal women. There are also service gaps across the region for example: there is no Healthy for Life or In-Home Support funding in the Albury-Wodonga area; there are no Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific maternity, sexual health, early childhood services in the Central and Lower Hume catchments.
The purpose of stage one - this project - is to make recommendations for funding allocations for improved service responses, and reorientation of existing service systems within existing resources. These recommendations are to be based on:
- The experiences and opinions of young pregnant and parenting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women;
- The views of the services and agencies;
- An analysis of the current service system, regional coverage, and strengths and gaps;
- Evidence of other promising practices and newer models of care that can inform new initiatives.
The proposed major elementsof stage one are:
- 'Yarn ups' with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women;
- Consultations with health service providers;
- Service mapping of current services and practices/approaches related to sexual and reproductive health;
- Produce base line data at a sub regional level;
- Literature review;
- Development of recommendations to improve continuum of care for ante and post natal care and a comprehensive model of care;
- Report outlining all of the above.
Stage one of the project has been completed and informs stage two of this project, involving the implementation of recommendations. Women's Health Goulburn North East has been engaged to host the worker for stage two of this project and are currently employing a project officer under direction of the steering group.
For more information on the projects progress to date, contact Women's Health Goulburn North East on 03 5722 3009.
