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Aboriginal organisations throughout Victoria are funded to deliver quality services to Aboriginal people through HACC, Aged Care, and Disability programs. Services are delivered in a culturally appropriate way taking into consideration the Aboriginal way of life and taking a holistic approach which may include the whole family. These services may be in the homes or in residential care facilities.Service Co-ordination was targeted recently with linkages and relationships being made between Aboriginal services and mainstream services to find best practices on how to deliver services to Aboriginal people. A 5 stage consultation process occurred and many communities had great results in achieving their goals and outcomes.A booklet was developed by the Elders, HACC & Disability Services at GEGAC as an information sharing tool for use within the Aboriginal Community for those with Dementia, their families, and the staff involved in their care. In consultation with the local Aboriginal community, the book provides a method of recording a person's life as well as giving them the opportunity to tell their story. It also provides conversation points for aspects that they remember well.Elders who have shared their story have taken great delight in sharing their childhood experiences, life journey, trials and tribulations with staff. All staff have a better insight into the clients life and challenges that they have had to overcome. This booklet has had an extremely positive result from the local community and health related services.

It is twelve months since the development of an “Information sharing tool” for use within the Aboriginal Community. There has been an increase in service coordination and the use of services for those with Dementia, those requiring palliative care and other services to remain living in their community. Research has shown that a record of a client's life story (including medical, family, career, likes/dislikes information) is beneficial for staff to provide culturally appropriate care and conversation. Medical Officers are now contacting the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) to request the booklet be completed with their Aboriginal clients. This has increased the relationships between the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation staff and mainstream Organisations that provide palliative care services to the clients. Aboriginal clients tend to go directly to the ACCO for support in the first instance. In most cases the ACCO staff has the trust and relationship with the client that the mainstream service may have not had time to establish. Studies have shown that conversations and a trusted relationship are key to providing optimal care. Whilst the booklet was first established to ensure a person's life history was not lost, when diagnosed with dementia, it is now being recognised as a useful tool to engage with clients to increase the uptake of services and to ensure the appropriate care is offered and received.

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