S.TRUEMAN PhD THESIS 2016

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mental healthcare delivery, there appears to be no fatal or discernible difference preventing extrapolation of these findings. 1.6.7 Generalist remote nurses caring for mental health clients Most remote nurses deliver general nursing duties, and do not work in a specialist area or program. They primarily deliver care from a primary healthcare centre or, for a lesser number, from hospitals as required to meet the demands of the community, region or district. Table 1.5 Number of Employed, Registered, Enrolled Nurses and Midwives in Work Setting by Remoteness Classification (Source: AIHW, 2012c)

Major Cities

Inner Regional

Outer Regional

Remote

Very Remote

Aboriginal Health service

260

164

233

250

369

Community mental health service

3,132

1,035

443

91

52

Hospital

121,177

26,869

12,960

2,307

1,076

Residential mental healthcare service Drug and alcohol service

1,594

528

86

8

5

884

282

99

13

15

With reference to Table 1.5, the comparatively large numbers of nurses working in Aboriginal health services in remote and very remote areas is consistent with the large proportion of communities in these areas populated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (see Chapter 1) and the establishment of the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) and Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS). Of all the identified