news

Aboriginal Health Services

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of people who have passed away.

Flexible Funding

A national priority

Flexible funding enables Country SA PHN to commission services in response to the identified national priority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.


The range of services being commissioned by the Country SA PHN include:

  • Chronic Disease Management Services
  • Workforce Support and Capacity Building
  • Ngangkari Services
  • Health Navigation

Chronic Disease Management

Holistic management

Funding has been provided to some Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to deliver a more holistic Chronic Disease Management (CDM) program within their communities.

The funding provides increased access to Allied Health Professionals and Specialist Services, additional staff to existing CDM teams to assist in the coordination of health services in chronic conditions and training and development of staff in these areas, as well as Ngangkari Services.

Service Providers include:

  • Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation
  • Oak Valley Health Service
  • Tullawon Health Service Inc.
  • Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
  • Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service Inc.

Workforce Support

Increasing the quality of health care services

Workforce Support and Capacity Building funding is available to Aboriginal primary health care providers inclusive of Integrated Team Care Providers. Activities aim to:

  • Increase the participation of Aboriginal primary health care providers in professional development, inclusive of Integrated Team Care service providers
  • Increase access to culturally safe, comprehensive, and coordinated care
  • Increase capacity to provide quality services.
  • Enable best practice approach to delivery of care

Services who receive Workforce Support and Capacity Building funding change as according to the organisations communicated needs.


Ngangkari Services

Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander understandings of health

A holistic health framework

The activity aims to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander understandings of health and the complex interplay between cultural, spiritual, physical, social and emotional health. This is targeted at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) to provide Ngangkari Services as part of a holistic health framework. It is to support the clinical activities undertaken and can serve to improve participation and engagement in lifestyle programs and education that needs to be undertaken.

Service providers

  • Aboriginal Sobriety Group Inc.
  • Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service Inc.
  • Pangula Mannamurna Inc.
  • Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation

Other funded services

Service providers who have access to these services via other funding areas include:

  • Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation
  • Oak Valley Health Service
  • Tullawon Health Service Inc.
  • Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
  • Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service Inc.

Mental Health, Alcohol & Other Drugs

Supporting the Aboriginal community

Aboriginal Mental Health Services

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health services provide access to effective high-quality health care services in regional, rural and remote locations. This includes through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), wherever possible and appropriate, as well as through mainstream services delivering culturally appropriate primary health care.

This program enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people access to mental health services that are joined up, integrated, culturally appropriate and safe, and designed to holistically meet the mental health and healing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the local level.

Read More

Service providers

  • Aboriginal Sobriety Group Inc. (Riverland)
  • Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service Inc. (Murray Mallee)
  • Nganampa Health Council (APY Lands)
  • Pangula Mannamurna Inc. (South East)
  • Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation (After-Hours – Coober Pedy)

Aboriginal Mental Health and AOD

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and AOD programs are designed to better support substance abuse services to identify and treat coinciding mental illness and substance abuse disorders (including those involving methamphetamine or ‘ice’) by greater service integration.

The program ensures culturally appropriate use of triage systems and processes to identify clients with mental illness and substance abuse disorders and where clients present with co-morbidities to integrated and coordinated care across these services.

Service providers
  • Aboriginal Drug & Alcohol Council SA
  • Aboriginal Sobriety Group Inc.
  • Country and Outback Health
  • Life without Barriers
  • Pangula Mannamurna Inc. (South East)
  • Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation (After-Hours – Coober Pedy)

Health navigation

Improving patient service navigation

The aim of the activity is to improve patient pathways of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in systematic discharge, referral and follow-up between hospital and primary health care services.

The objective of the activity is to develop a sustainable platform which identifies and addresses barriers to Aboriginal patient navigation through primary, secondary and tertiary health services.

Resources & Useful Links

Need support? Contact our Team

Contact Us
Ear Health Resources