Aboriginal health

Resources and useful links
The Australian Government’s Closing the Gap Chronic Disease Program consists of the following:
- Identification and recording Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Island status
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Assessment Check (MBS Item 715)
- Follow-up Allied Health Services
- Indigenous Practice Incentive Program (PIP)
- PBS Co Payment Measure
- Follow-up services provided by Practice Nurse or registered Aboriginal Health Worker
- Chronic Disease Management Items (GPMP/TCA)
Available to any Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander patient who has received a health check, and the need for allied health services was identified. Maximum 5 services per year.
Includes:
- Aboriginal Health Worker
- Diabetes Education
- Audiology
- Podiatry
- Exercise Physiology
- Chiropractic
- Dietetics
- Osteopathy
- Mental Health Worker
- Psychology
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech Pathology
- Physiotherapy
Referral to Allied Health for Follow Up Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Factsheet
Follow-up Allied Health Services for People of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Descent (MBS Items 81300-81360) Fact Sheet
Referral to Allied Health Template
Indigenous follow up referral form
There are several resources available to assist organisations such as General Practices to assess whether their service is culturally safe. Below are resources to assist with developing a culturally safe service interested GPs and Practices.
- Cultural Awareness Self-Assessment Toolkit – ACT Council of Social Service Inc
- Working with Aboriginal people and communities: Health and community services audit – Making Two Worlds Work
CESPHN also facilitates regular Cultural Awareness Training CPD events for General Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Practice Staff and Allied Health Providers. Please view our events page for a list of upcoming training sessions. These events are free of charge for financial members. For more information on how to become a member see our membership page here
- Working with Aboriginal people [PDF, 1,738Kb]
- Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW
- National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
- Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
- Koori Mail
- pdfSteps to MBS Claiming pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Patients (308 KB)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments – barriers to improving uptake. Kehoe, H., Lovett, R. W. 2008
- RACGP Position Statement – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. May 2010.
- A healed and healthy country: understanding healing for Indigenous Australians. Tamara Mackean, 2009.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2010 report. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2010.
- Indigenous Health Snapshot 2012
- Closing the Gap website
- Closing the Gap – Progress and priorities report 2016
- A role for general practice – RACGP review
Related Content

Immunisation update – 23 July 2025
Immunisation Weekly Update: Register for flu vaccine QI activities Share your thoughts on the Australian Immunisation Handbook mobile app Education Flu vaccine QI activities – quick & simple By the middle of winter, most proactive patients will have received their 2025 flu vaccine. Late July onwards is the optimal time…

Immunisation update – 14 July 2025
Immunisation Weekly Update: Handbook chapter updates Expanded gender identity and COVID-19 options on AIR Preventing vaccines from light exposure GPs and specialists wanted to support National Immunisation Catch-up Calculator research Fewer adverse events after change to 13vPCV vaccine Education Handbook chapter updates The Australian Immunisation Handbook chapters for pneumococcal disease,…

Immunisation update – 9 July 2025
Immunisation Weekly Update: Treatment of rabies and Australian bat lyssavirus Influenza vaccination coverage data update Correct administration of RSV vaccine and antibody products Education Treatment of rabies and Australian bat lyssavirus Any patient who presents with potential rabies or Australian bat lyssavirus exposure should be immediately referred to a doctor…

Immunisation update – 2 July 2025
Immunisation Weekly Update: Influenza update for health professionals HPV coverage rates continue to drop New measles alert for Sydney TGA safety update: administration of RSV immunisation products Register to contribute to FluTracking New resources: vaccination for people with immunocompromise New RACF vaccination toolkit tackles suboptimal vaccination rates Education Influenza update…

Immunisation update – 26 June 2025
Immunisation Weekly Update: CESPHN national rank continues to improve for childhood vaccination coverage Change to NIP supply of measles-containing vaccines Measles alert for Sydney NSW residents urged to act as COVID levels rise on top of influenza Japanese encephalitis resources updated Education CESPHN national rank continues to improve for childhood…

Immunisation update – 18 June 2025
Immunisation Weekly Update: Join the Immunisation Working Group Register for free QI activities: Vaccination Recall Programs DVA eligibility for RSV vaccine Maternal Abrysvo ® vaccination program success New National Immunisation Strategy COVID-19 updates Education Join the Immunisation Working Group Vaccination providers are invited to join our Immunisation Working Group to…