Medicines & Pharmacy
Improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person by optimising access to quality, safe, effective and affordable medicines. We manage several medicines programs, work towards structural reform in medicines policy and support the development of the medicines workforce to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Our work includes supporting traditional medicines and healing practices, which are integral to many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s health.
What we do
The NACCHO Medicines Team, led by Dr Dawn Casey:
Provide support for NACCHO members and the broader sector
Manage programs and projects
We lead several ongoing medicines-related projects, such as
Provide policy advice and strategic leadership
We work with NACCHO members, strategic partners, subject matter experts and peak bodies to influence medicines policy and to develop and commission projects and programs. We provide policy advice to government and decision-makers to improve the quality and safe use of medicines, and to improve access to medicines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Subscribe to the NACCHO Medicines Network
How we contribute to solutions
We incorporate the specific priorities and challenges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have in relation to medication to tailor our support, programs and policy advice.
For example, we have pushed for:
- an increase in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ safe and quality medicines use and government spending, both of which are demonstrably lower compared to other Australians
- traditional medicines and healing practices, which are integral to many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s health, to be considered and incorporated into Australian health policy and programs
Our approach
We consider the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and NACCHO strategic policies in all policies and programs we develop and oversee. We consider how the community-controlled sector can be strengthened in medicines management, such as through integrating pharmacists into ACCHOs. We seek to access existing medicines data, to drive policy recommendations and assess program effectiveness. We champion co-design in the development of all medicines programs and policies that involve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
We work with peak bodies and the Australian government to support their medicines priorities, policies and programs aligning with Priority Reforms. We partner and collaborate with peak bodies to improve medicines access and use for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We conduct and access relevant research to drive our policies and program design.
ACCHO locations
NACCHO oversees a network of 146 members, each running Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) across urban, regional, and remote Australia. These ACCHOs range from large facilities with multiple healthcare professionals providing comprehensive services to smaller centres focused on preventive care and health education, primarily delivered by Aboriginal Health Workers and nurses.
Contact
For any inquiries or further information about the Medicines and Pharmacy team at: medicines@naccho.org.au.
