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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 08 Hansard (Thursday, 5 August 2004) . . Page.. 3656 ..

(2) (a) In 2002-03: 4,823 clients accessed Winnunga Nimmityjah; and 2,612 clients accessed Gugan Gulwan. (b) In 2001-02: 3,998 clients accessed Winnunga Nimmityjah; and 1,079 clients accessed Gugan Gulwan.

(3) &(4) Expenditure on Indigenous Health is calculated every 3 years by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Assistance is provided by the States and Territories, and the figures are published on a comparative national basis. The expenditure figures for 2001-02 are currently under preparation and expected to be released in late 2004. The 1998-99 figures are therefore the latest available.

In the ACT in 1998-99, an estimated 2.7 per cent of the health budget was spent on providing health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In 1998–99 the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in the ACT was estimated to be 1.1 per cent of the Territory’s total population.

(5) ACT Health is a member of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Forum. The Forum is the agreed joint planning body for health service delivery to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT. Forum members nominated the Australian Government representative as the appropriate body to undertake a select tender process to identify a consultant to develop the ACT’s new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan. The Health Plan will identify the primary health issues for Aboriginal people in the ACT.

However, representatives of Winnunga Nimmityjah and Gugan Gulwan have advised ACT Health of the following primary health care issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT: maternal health; oral health; otitis media (hearing health); social and emotional well-being (drug and alcohol and mental health); diabetes; heart, and kidney disease.

Health—mental
(Question No 1701)

Mr Smyth asked the Acting Minister for Health, upon notice, on 1 July 2004:

(1) How many mental health clients (a) suicided or (b) attempted suicide in the 2003-04 financial year;

(2) Are there any concerns or have any concerns been raised about the handling of any of these incidents in the 2003-04 financial year;

(3) How many mental health clients have (a) suicided or (b) attempted suicide each month since 1 December 2001.

Mr Wood: The answer to the member’s question is:

(1) (a) The number of suspected suicides of active mental health clients for the 2003-04 financial year was fourteen. Of the fourteen suspected suicides, three have been confirmed as suicides through a completed coronial process in the 2003-04 financial year.

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