The Social Justice Report 20051 recommended that the governments of Australia commit to achieving equal health status for all Australians “within a generation”. Improving the accessibility of mainstream health services for Aboriginal people is highlighted as a central requirement. This paper describes the establishment, roles and functions of the ‘Indigenous team’ embedded within the South Australian Rural and Remote Mental Health Service (RRMHS) as one strategy to improve access and responsiveness of mental health services to Aboriginal patients in South Australia. We report on our progress to date and possible future directions for the team.
Calma T.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner social justice report 2005.
; ; . .
2.
Population Distribution, Indigenous Australians 2001. 2002a:
3.
Stepping Up. A Social Inclusion Action Plan for Mental Health Reform 2007 − 2012 South Australian Social Inclusion Board. Adelaide: Government of South Australia;
4.
Lambert D,Harley D.Linking primary care and rural psychiatry: where have we been and where are we going?.Psychiatric Services. 1998;49:956-967
5.
Fielke KR.Mental health services in rural and remote South Australia: from “awful neglect” to gaining respect.
; ; . .
6.
Westerman T.Engagement of Indigenous clients in Mental Health services: what role do cultural differences play?.AeJAMH. 2004;3:
7.
Yellowlees P,Kavanagh SJ.The use of telemedicine in mental health service provision.Australian Psychiatry. 1994;2:268-270
8.
Alice Springs: Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council Aboriginal Corporation; 2003:
