National Close the Gap Day

Country SA PHN Newsletter April 2025

On behalf of Country SA PHN and the Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group (RAP WG), we acknowledged Close the Gap Day on Thursday 20 March 2025.

Close the Gap Day is a time to reaffirm our commitment to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

It is an opportunity to reflect on the systemic barriers that contribute to health and social inequities and to take meaningful action towards positive change.

Through our work, we strive to support initiatives that empower communities, enhance access to culturally appropriate services and promote better health outcomes.

A key part of this commitment is partnering with service providers who are making a real difference through programs such as the Integrated Team Care (ITC) program.

Integrated Team Care is one of four responses by the Closing the Gap (CTG) Strategy: Tackling Indigenous Chronic Disease developed through the Coalition of Australian Governments and funded through the Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme.

The program aims to:

1. Contribute to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic health conditions through better access to coordinated and multidisciplinary care, and support for self-management, and
2. Contribute to closing the gap in life expectancy by improved access to culturally appropriate mainstream primary care services (including but not limited to general practice, allied health and specialists) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

There are three main resources which deliver this purpose across country South Australia and includes:

• Care Coordinators
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Outreach Workers
• Indigenous Health Project Officers

We would like to acknowledge and thank our Commissioned Service Providers who are delivering this program across Country SA PHN.

We are heartened to hear the stories and feedback that demonstrate committed efforts and powerful differences in closing the gap in rural and remote South Australia.

“A thank you… Just thought I would write and tell you how much I appreciate you [Linda] and Brian from Pirie and the help you guys have given me over the last 4-5 years. You both have been very patient, understanding, and considerate to my needs. You are more like a sister to me than a health worker. You are amazing and I always feel comfortable talking and interacting with you no matter the circumstances.

“As for the big fella Brian from Pirie, it is more like talking to my brother. Last visit we had a coffee by the fire and swapped stories about our younger days bike riding only to discover we knew some of the same people from our youth.

“I can't thank you both enough for being there in my times of need. May the sun forever warm your backs and may the stars light the way for you both in times of darkness.”

(told by a client of the Sonder ITC Program)

Published on: April 9, 2025