Rogerson, Bernadette, Jacups, Susan, Haynes-Jonkers, Charmaine S., and Tsey, Komla (2013) Return to country: addressing Indigenous health and homelessness in far north Queensland. In: Proceedings of the 12th National Rural Health Conference. pp. 1-5. From: 12th National Rural Health Conference, 7-10 April 2013, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

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Abstract

Cairns has high numbers of homeless people, 10% of whom are from remote areas of Cape York. Many residents of Cape York communities become stranded in Cairns following visits to health services or upon release from the local prison. Financial constraints, such as low incomes and overpriced flights (up to $550 one way), prevent them returning to their home communities. Many also suffer from substance abuse, chronic health problems and mental health disorders, which are further compounded by homelessness. The response to homelessness is also a drain on medical resources due to high numbers of hospital admissions, and street-based security and police resources due to many public nuisance calls.

This research followed 22 participants who were returned to their remote communities in 2012 under a pilot program offered by the Cairns police, the "Return to Country" project. The project assists homeless individuals who want to return to their communities by providing monetary advances from Centrelink, booking flights subsidised by the local airline, undertaking medical heath checks, obtaining clothes/hygiene packs, transport to airport and ensuring the individual is on board the aircraft. Participants who have consented to participate in a follow up study will be interviewed to ascertain their satisfaction with the Return to Country project, to determine their trajectories to homelessness, their health and housing needs, engagement with services, and current situation in their home community.

The interviews will provide information on how the program can be improved and how services may be delivered within their home communities. The outcome of this study will be to develop and implement a revised, sustainable Return to Country project, by collaborating with the 28 homelessness service agencies, Indigenous health services, Queensland (QLD) Health and the QLD Police Service.

Item ID:	30324
Item Type:	Conference Item (Non-Refereed Research Paper)
ISBN:	978-1-921219-23-8
ISSN:	1445-3363
Related URLs:	Publisher
Date Deposited:	11 Mar 2014 02:47
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111701 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health @ 60% 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111708 Health and Community Services @ 40%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9203 Indigenous Health > 920303 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health - Health System Performance (incl. Effectiveness of Interventions) @ 50% 92 HEALTH > 9203 Indigenous Health > 920302 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health - Health Status and Outcomes @ 50%
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