Key Findings/Recommendations:

• Although not all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people access healthcare from ACCHOs, they are the preferred model of healthcare for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The comprehensive model of care is tailored to community need and can include medical, public health and health promotion services; allied health and nursing services; assistance with making appointments and transport; dealing with the justice system; drug and alcohol services; and help with income support.
• Aboriginal community controlled health organisations (ACCHOs) are an essential part of the healthcare system that provide comprehensive and high-quality clinical and cultural healthcare designed by, and responsive to, community needs. General practices and Primary Health Networks (PHNs) can learn from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled sector’s service provision and community engagement mode.
• RACGP urges stronger commitment from all governments to strengthen the financial capacity of ACCHOs to enable them to better focus on patient priorities and service delivery, and to offset losses through the under-claiming of Medicare billing and subsidised medicines.
• RACGP urges stronger commitment from all governments to strengthen the financial capacity of ACCHOs to enable them to better focus on patient priorities and service delivery, and to offset losses through the under-claiming of Medicare billing and subsidised medicines. There needs to be funding commitments of greater than three years to enable health services to plan services and programs for the long-term, not just for short budget periods/cycles.