HealthInfoNet is a national
innovative Internet resource that
aims to inform practice and policy
in Indigenous health by making the
evidence base readily accessible.
The HealthInfoNet is helping to
`close the gap' in health between
Indigenous and other Australians.
and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. It makes published,
unpublished and specially-developed material about Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander health available to people involved in
the area to enhance their knowledge and skills, and improve
their practice and/or policy work. Access to all information on the
site is free and available to everyone.
HealthInfoNet has been operating since 1997 when it was known
as the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Clearinghouse. In recognition of its `value-adding' as well as
literature clearinghouse functions, it was re-named in 2000. The
work of the HealthInfoNet is undertaken by a small team based in
Kurongkurl Katitjin, Centre for Indigenous Australian Education
and Research at Edith Cowan University in Perth.
Core funding for the HealthInfoNet's work is provided by
the Australian Department of Health and Ageing's Office for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) with the
Department's Drug Strategy Branch funding sections devoted to
substance misuse. Other research is supported by funds from a
variety of sources.
research (TR) contributes to `closing the gap' in health between
Indigenous and other Australians by informing practice
and policy in Indigenous health. It does this by making the
knowledge generated by various types of research and other
in the area of Indigenous health. Since its establishment in 1997,
the HealthInfoNet has been addressing the need for policy-
makers and practitioners to have access to the best, up-to-date
knowledge and information about Indigenous health. As with all
TR, an important focus of the HealthInfoNet is on the synthesis
of knowledge and information related to specific health issues.
The HealthInfoNet provides comprehensive reviews of specific
health conditions of the knowledge-support type to provide
comprehensive, authoritative, up-to-date reviews of health
issues among Indigenous people to inform practice and, to a
lesser extent, policy and in the area.
comprising of 10 prominent representatives from key stakeholder
organisations of which 7 are Indigenous. They provide expert
strategic advice to the Director and Executive Group of the HealthIn-
foNet to assist in optimising our contributions to `closing the gap'.
easily access the information they're seeking. The home page
provides navigation to ten main areas: