TGPN — Practice Profile

Townsville Aboriginal and Islanders Health Service

Background & History

Townsville Aboriginal and Islanders Health Services Limited (TAIHS) is one of an increasing number across Australia of self-governing, independent, community-controlled Indigenous organizations providing primary health care services to Indigenous people. TAIHS has grown up out of the desire of local Indigenous people to take control of their own health and of how primary health care services are delivered to and within Indigenous communities in north Queensland.

In line with the principle and practice of self-determination, the general membership of TAIHS has the mandate to determine the broad policies and procedures governing the operations of TAIHS. A Board of Directors is entrusted by the local Indigenous community with the mandate to manage TAIHS on their behalf.

In late 1973, a steering committee of local Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders was set up to plan and seek funding for the establishment of a Medical Centre in Townsville. A part-time clinic, run by a volunteer doctor (Dr Dorothy Cole) and a volunteer nurse (Gracelyn Smallwood), began operating in 1974 at the 201 Wills Street premises donated by the Catholic Church.

Following the announcement of Federal Government funding, a General Meeting was held in early 1975 and elected the first TAIHS governing committee. The TAIHS Medical Centre was officially opened on 12 July 1975 at 551 Flinders Street. In December 1979 TAIHS was registered under the Queensland Companies Act. In July 2001 the Service moved into its new, purpose-built facility at 57-59 Gorden Street. The practice is AGPAL Accredited.

Vision Statement

Townsville Aboriginal and Islanders Health Services Limited (TAIHS) aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to take control of their individual, family and community health needs in order to improve their health. Health is understood to mean the total well being of a person and the community including physical, social, emotional, cultural, spiritual and economic well-being.

TAIHS will provide a holistic and culturally appropriate approach in its operation as a health service. This includes promoting economic independence and financial security for clients, recognising that ill-health and sickness are often caused by poverty and poor living conditions. TAIHS will emphasize primary health care and preventative medicine as well as treatment in its service to people. TAIHS will be a self-managing organisation and will aim to be as self-supporting as possible.

Aims

• To assist Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and other people in need of medical and dental advice and treatment or in need of social support and individual counselling.
• To co-operate with public and private medical, dental and social support services to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people derive full benefit from such services
• To provide a community health service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to supplement other services available within the community.

Objectives

• To conduct a clinic suitable for primary medical and dental services
• To increase knowledge among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of the principles and practices of good health, ways of improving their own health, and the availability and functions of existing health services.
• To work and affiliate with other organisations to promote the aims and objectives of TAIHS
• To cooperate with other organisations and persons to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to obtain social support services incidental to TAIHS’s core functions.
• To promote measures in such organisations aimed at improving their relations with and accessibility to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• To conduct training courses for volunteer workers or employees of other organisations to enable them to assist in carrying out TAIHS’s objectives.
• To collect data about and conduct research into matters relating to the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• To highlight and publicise matters affecting the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and educate the general public and appropriate authorities on these matters.
• To promote knowledge and understanding of the underlying issues and the unique needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the delivery of health services.

Contact Details

Practice Manager: Nigel Forster
Practice Principal: Board Run/CEO/Rachael Atkinson
Phone: 07 4759 4000
Fax: 07 4759 4055 [4759 4066 for medical info]
Email: nforster@taihs.net.au
Address:

Cnr. Gorden and Meenan Sts
PO Box 7534
GARBUTT
QLD 4814

Opening Hours

Monday to Wednesday: 8.30am to 5.00pm
Saturday: 8.30am to 12.30pm

Building

Main Clinic and separate “Mums and Babies” annex
Waiting Rooms: 2
Consulting Rooms: 9
Treatment Rooms: 3

Equipment: Cholestech L.D.X. analyzer, Hyfrecator 2000, HBA 1c DCA 2000+ (analyzer), Audiometer, Fundus Camera, Ophthalmic photocoagulator, Slit lamp

Doctors

• Dr. Daniel Dada


• Dr Nichelle Geary

Areas of Interest: Public Health



• Dr. Imran Khurshid

Areas of Interest: Aviation Medicine



• Dr. Sarah Larkins

  Areas of Interest: ATSI Health, Public Health

  
  
• Dr. Vivienne Manessis

Area of Interest: Women’s Health



• Dr. Paolo Morisco

Areas of interest: Diabetes, Outreach, Herbal Medicine, Mental Health



• Dr Nichola O’Reilly (part-time)


• Dr. Kathryn Panaretto

Areas of Interest: Maternal & Child Health, Indigenous Health



• GP Registrar: Dr Prasani Ketheesan

Other Staff

Nursing: 9 Nurses and Health Workers

Administration: Reception, IT Support, Medical admin (total 7)

Services

Procedures carried out: Diabetes and Chronic Diseases Clinic, Aged assessments, Herbal Clinic, "Mothers and Babies" Clinic, Well Women’s clinic, Outreach.

Other health professionals in practice: Dental, Podiatry, Dietitian, Eye Health (visiting Optometrist and Ophthalmologist), Social Services (psychologists and visiting psychiatrist), Internal Medicine (Visiting Physician), Endocrinology (Visiting Endocrinologist).

Page last modified: 29 Oct 2007


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