The Federal Government has put up $4.5 million for an Indigenous health website.

The Government is providing the money to Edith Cowan University in Western Australia to continue support for its Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet website and associated resources.

The website provides easy access to a wide range of information as well as a knowledge exchange and online discussions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The funding consists of:

  • More than $4 million for operational core funding for three years from 1 July 2020
  • $412,000 targeted to resources for alcohol and other drug issues, preventive health and chronic disease support
  • $75,000 for an environmental health portal

The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet is a Level II Research Centre within Edith Cowan University.

It is helping to close the gap in health by providing the evidence base to support delivery of, and access to, high quality, culturally appropriate health care and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Government has funded Edith Cowan University to deliver the HealthInfoNet since it was established in 1997.

Specific funding has been provided for the alcohol and other drugs component for the past eight years, to reduce the harms from alcohol and drug misuse on Indigenous people and communities.

The new funding will allow HealthInfoNet to maintain and update its content, with new evidence-based resources.

The Environmental Health Yarning Place portal within HealthInfoNet is a resource for environmental health practitioners working in Indigenous health services. It allows workers to exchange critical information on public health, in a culturally safe manner, regardless of their location and at no cost.