AUSTRALIA 
Aborigines 'waiting up to three months to see doctors'
Wednesday, 23 July, 2008
Only one in five people living in remote communities of more than 50 people had access to doctors on a daily basis, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (Getty Images)
Aborigines in remote communities are waiting up to three months for local access to a doctor, official figures show.
Only one in five people living in remote communities of more than 50 people had access to doctors on a daily basis, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures from 2006, released today.
A further 41 per cent had local access to a doctor on a weekly or fortnightly basis.
But about three per cent were able to access a doctor in their own community less than once every three months, the ABS found.
About 93,000 of Australia's estimated 517,000 Aboriginal people live in a discrete indigenous community, most of which are considered remote.
In 2006, just one in 10 of those people were in a community which had a hospital.
Three-quarters had a community health centre in their township, but not all of those had full-time trained staff able to provide treatment.
The ABS also found that while the majority of people in remote indigenous communities had primary schools nearby, secondary school education was less accessible.
Only 29 per cent of people in remote indigenous communities had a secondary school that went up to year 10, and just 24 per cent had a school that went up to year 12.
Just 57 per cent of people in remote communities with a population of 50 or more had access to a childcare centre and 36 per cent had access to a library.
But there was some good news.
The ABS found the availability and quality of some essential services improved in the five years to 2001.
"In particular, there were improvements in water and electricity supply and sewage disposal," the ABS said.
Source: AAP
Only one in five people living in remote communities of more than 50 people had access to doctors on a daily basis, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures from 2006, released today.
A further 41 per cent had local access to a doctor on a weekly or fortnightly basis.
But about three per cent were able to access a doctor in their own community less than once every three months, the ABS found.
About 93,000 of Australia's estimated 517,000 Aboriginal people live in a discrete indigenous community, most of which are considered remote.
In 2006, just one in 10 of those people were in a community which had a hospital.
Three-quarters had a community health centre in their township, but not all of those had full-time trained staff able to provide treatment.
The ABS also found that while the majority of people in remote indigenous communities had primary schools nearby, secondary school education was less accessible.
Only 29 per cent of people in remote indigenous communities had a secondary school that went up to year 10, and just 24 per cent had a school that went up to year 12.
Just 57 per cent of people in remote communities with a population of 50 or more had access to a childcare centre and 36 per cent had access to a library.
But there was some good news.
The ABS found the availability and quality of some essential services improved in the five years to 2001.
"In particular, there were improvements in water and electricity supply and sewage disposal," the ABS said.
Source: AAP
