In November 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to a National Partnership Agreement between states and territories to close the gap in indigenous health outcomes, in particular, to close the gap in life expectancy within a generation.

Currently an Indigenous person can expect to live approximately 17-20 years less than a non-indigenous Australian.

The National Partnership Agreement is based on evidence that shows Indigenous people experience a burden of disease two and a half times that of non-Indigenous people.

Chronic diseases and associated risk factors are responsible for about two thirds of the life expectancy gap.

People may not be aware of the underlying crisis in Indigenous health care – that Aboriginal babies born to Aboriginal mothers die at twice the rate of other babies, cardiovascular disease is 1.3 times more common and death three times greater, diabetes is around 3.5 times more common and deaths seven-10 times greater.

Deaths from kidney disease are up to 10 times more common.

The Great Southern General Practice Network (GSGPN) has received funding for an Aboriginal Health Program coordinator (Jenny Dodson) and a GP Link Up officer (Samantha Williams) to contribute at a local level in supporting health care providers and community members in achieving the goals set out in the agreement.

The aim of the GSGPN Closing the Gap – Improving Indigenous Access to Mainstream Primary Care Program is to provide support in improving access and availability of general practitioner appointments, improving capacity of providers to deliver culturally sensitive primary care services and increase the uptake of Indigenous specific Medicare Benefit Scheme (MBS) items including health checks and follow up items.

It will also focus on supporting mainstream primary care services to encourage Aboriginal people to self-identify and foster collaboration and support between the mainstream primary care and the Aboriginal health sectors.