Aboriginal Medical Service Manual

In collaboration with the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW (AH&MRC), the NSW  Rural Doctors Network (RDN) has developed and distributed an Administration Manual for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) in rural NSW.

The manual is designed to enable these ACCHSs to develop or revise policies and procedures for their medical services, and to assist those who wish to move towards and through the accreditation process. It includes accreditation specific, copyright material generously provided by QIP/AGPAL as well as materials specific to Aboriginal Medical Services. During late 2006, five ACCHSs (both urban and rural) piloted the draft manual, providing feedback that was incorporated into the final version.

Funded by the Australian Department of Health & Ageing's Rural and Remote General Practice Program, the manual can be downloaded and customised to the needs of ACCHSs.

The manual comprises two documents. The first is instructions on how to use the manual and easily customise it to suit. The second is the manual itself which has been designed with links to web pages to ensure that as much information as possible remains current.

The manual will be updated on a regular basis and subsequent versions will be placed on both this website and that of the AH&MRC.

To help ACCHSs to develop their own job descriptions, one NSW Rural ACCHS has provided a list of job descriptions for general use. RDN thanks Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service, Kempsey, for providing these job descriptions. These have been deidentified to make it easy for other Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to use. To go directly to a particular job description, locate it in the index and press control as you click on it.

For assistance with this manual please call either the RDN Manager of Rural Medical Services Initiatives on (02) 4924 8000 or email elowe@nswrdn.com.au or call Jenny Hunt at AH&MRC on (02) 9212 4777 or email jhunt@ahmrc.org.au