What are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health organisations (ACCHOs)?
Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations are primary health care services initiated and operated by the local Aboriginal community to deliver holistic, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate health care to the community which controls it, through a locally elected Board of Management.
The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), which is the peak body representing ACCHOs across Australia, has defined ACCHSs as shown in the box below.
Watch the video below to hear from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders on how they describe ACCHOs:
ACCHOs are: holistic, culturally safe, community-driven.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health organisations (ACCHOs) were established for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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Their primary health care service models evolved to reflect the needs of their local community and to reduce health system barriers that impede access to quality care.
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Understanding the ACCHO model of care can assist healthcare providers to better integrate and engage with ACCHOs, given that mainstream general practice and hospital care models differ considerably from them.1
ACCHOs Model of Care
The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) is the peak body representing ACCHOs in Queensland. QAIHC has summarised the ACCHO model of care in the diagram below.
A model of care defines the way in which healthcare services are delivered and how they engage with the community. This model reflects the self-determination underpinning the collective goal of delivering high quality comprehensive primary health care to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This ‘patient and family centred’ model is effective in addressing the complex health needs of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders through ACCHOs. Each of the elements of this model of care will be explained throughout this learning resource.
Watch the video below to hear from ATSICHS Brisbane CEO Renee Blackman about the ways in which ACCHOs are community driven:
1. Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council. (n.d.). Reference guide for GP registrars: Model of care (SIME Project) [Printed resource]. Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council.
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