Addressing the Challenges
Reducing health disparity and improving the health of disadvantaged communities on the North Coast is a key North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS) objective. To work towards this, a peak NCAHS forum (Health Equity Committee) was established in February 2006 with the aim of planning for and overseeing the implementation of initiatives to reduce health disparity across the area.
Chaired by the Chief Executive, the committee meets 3 times a year and consists of North Coast Executive Directors plus senior management across the area. The Chair, Area Health Advisory Council is also represented on the committee. The Committee's secretariat liaises periodically with the NSW Department of Health.
Committee Membership
- Chief Executive (Chair)
- Executive Director Population Health, Planning and Performance
- Director Clinical Operations
- Director Corporate Services
- Director Workforce Development
- Director Nursing and Midwifery
- Director Clinical Governance
- A/Director Aboriginal Health
- Director Health Promotion
- Media Manager
- Coordinator Health Equity (Secretariat)
- Tweed/Byron Network Coordinator
- Richmond Network Coordinator
- Coffs/Clarence Network Coordinator
- Hastings/Macleay Network Coordinator
- Director Mental Health
- Director Clinical Streams
- Area Health Advisory Council (Chair)
Based on the NSW Health Equity Statement In All Fairness 
the committee has adopted a three strand approach to reduce inequities across the area.
1. Increase Organisational Capacity
To reduce inequities in health, Health Services must become better at addressing inequities in health and monitoring outcomes. Improved systems and processes are central in building capacity of the health system to achieve these goals.
Therefore the North Coast Area Health services aims to build the capacity of the organisation to address health inequities through:
- Improved systems such as data collection, access to information for professionals and clients
- Workforce development which includes practice principles in Area Health Service policies, education and training initiatives
- Encourage supportive workplace practices
2. Strong Beginnings
Evidence suggests that a good start in life results in long term physical, mental, social and emotional benefits. This begins with good maternal health, antenatal and postnatal care and ensuring an environment supportive of healthy development, particularly in the first 8 years of life.
Therefore to develop comprehensive and integrated antenatal, early childhood, paediatric services, the North Coast Area Health Service is investigating strategies that would aim to improve:
- Accessibility and appropriateness of health services
- The quality of health services provided
- The coordination of services within the health system and with other government and non-government agencies.
3. Community Focus Approach - Working Better Together
Many of the causes of ill health lie outside the health system. Therefore to improve health and reduce inequities it is vital that strong, reliable cooperative partnerships are developed across multiple government and non government organisations.
Targeting an area of locational disadvantage within the North Coast area, a mapping exercise has been undertaken of a local community identifying strengths, issues, gaps and possible cross sector strategies to improve health outcomes for that community. It is anticipated that strategies that evolve from this process will be beneficial across communities within the North Coast area.