Contemporary management issues for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services

Abstract

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services face particular management issues as they adjust to the dominantWestern paradigm of managerialism and the market model of health service provision. Their cultural orientation leadsto distinctive organisational features which both advantage and disadvantages them in this environment. The holisticmodel of health used and community control enable the delivery of integrated, culturally appropriate health care.However, effective community control is difficult to achieve. Services may benefit from partnerships with collaboratorssuch as hospitals, regional health services and university departments of rural health if the partnerships are based onmutual respect and ensure that community control is retained.