Health check templates
With support from the Department of Health, NACCHO and RACGP established a working group in 2019 to review and update Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander annual health check templates.
A key recommendation was to update elements to better reflect age-appropriate health needs. This resulted in five new templates that span the life course:
- Infants and preschool (birth-5 years) PDF
- Primary school age (5-12 years) PDF
- Adolescents and young people (12-24 years) PDF
- Adults (25-49 years) PDF
- Older people (50+ years) PDF
These are example health check templates that include recommended core elements. The criteria for inclusion can be accessed here.
Adaptation of these templates to local needs and priorities is encouraged, with reference to current Australian preventive health guidelines that are culturally and clinically suitable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander needs.
These templates are not intended to promote a tick box approach to healthcare, but rather to prompt clinicians to consider patient priorities, opportunities for preventive healthcare and common health needs.
As the Partnership Project continues, we are exploring opportunities for integration of health check activities into clinical software.
We are also interested to hear about your experiences of providing health checks via telehealth.
Contact aboriginalhealth@racgp.org.au to understand more or contribute your ideas and experiences.
Links to key resources that support a quality annual health check
NACCHO RACGP: How to do a useful high quality health check for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Telehealth – considerations for an effective Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health check
Videos, posters and brochures for clinicians and patients
Medicare online module health check
Department of Human Services – Education suite on health checks
Your guide to Medicare for Indigenous Health Services
MBS online – Descriptor and Associated notes
Department of Health information page