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A severe budget on the needy that has the potential to increase suicide rates in Cape service to continue this work. “We are also greatly concerned by the omission hief Executive Officer of any reference to ‘Close of Apunipima Cape the Gap’ within the budget York Health Council, and that has been a key Cleveland Fagan (pictured) government commitment for responded to Tuesday’s many years. It appears that budget delivered by Indigenous health has been Treasurer Joe Hockey. absorbed into the mainstream “We see this as a very and there is a concern that short sighted budget that will this omission, along with the severely affect the health and introduction of co-payments wellbeing and long term health and a redirection of funding outcomes for all Australians, into medical research of cure let alone those in remote Apunipima CEO Cleveland Fagan expressed grave concerns rather than prevention will for Cape communities after severe budget by Treasurer Aboriginal communities like widen, rather than close the Hockey. Cape York. gap. We question whether the “Evidence shows the key to long of loved ones due to preventable Abbott Government still supports deaths. term health gains is early access, Close the Gap. “We also know that in remote early intervention and prevention, “The Treasurer has delivered areas like Cape York, job treatment and management of a severe budget that targets those opportunities and employment disease and this is delivered most in need and has been clear that for young people is rare and this through the community controlled we need to reduce the health spend sector’s primary health care model. has a serious impact on social and as a nation. emotional wellbeing, particularly “For the last 8 years, Apunipima “Here at Apunipima, we believe among young men. has been working with Cape York “By increasing costs for learning we have the solution, a blueprint to communities to close the gap in opportunities and preventing access Close the Gap in mortality reduce mortality and put their health as a morbidity and the burden of chronic to welfare for six months at a time priority. Over time we have seen a disease, increasing health gains and steady increase in access to primary young people in Cape York will health outcomes for the people of have less opportunity than they care services across the board but Cape York. have now with access to jobs and particularly in relation to increased “We know that through the training in Cape York extremely access to antenatal and early life primary health care stream we can limited as it is. care, with immunisation rates in do this more efficiently than the “This has the potential to see the Cape averaging over 90% for current service. an increase in suicide rates that example. “With our emphasis on are already at higher than national “The introduction of cocommunity control, selfpayments will mean many with the average levels. determination and delivering “Whilst welcoming investment greatest need will simply not access services that address whole of into medical research that will the health services they need for family and community health we have long term benefits in terms fear of being unable to pay. can increase early access, promote “With rates of chronic illness like of developing cures for disease, healthy choices, prevent chronic diabetes at epidemic proportions in evidence shows that prevention of chronic illness like diabetes, COPD disease and work with communities the Cape, this will lead to higher to manage the existing burden and heart disease is critical now to rates of hospital admissions, be able to reduce the health burden. of disease preventing avoidable emergency evacuations, cohospital admissions and preventable “The state government has been morbidities and preventable deaths. deaths all within the existing budget systematically reducing prevention This is costly not only to the and meet the COAG targets for hospital system but to communities and promotion programs and in Cape York. Cape York, Apunipima is the only who are losing increased numbers by Emma Pickering 16 May 2014
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