Emergency Department Taskforce newsletter- Issue 11

The co-chairs of the Emergency Department (ED) Taskforce provide regular updates on the activities of the Taskforce through the ED Taskforce newsletters.

Last updated: 12 June 2025
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Dear colleagues, 

We are excited to say that our most recent Taskforce meeting was focused on Aboriginal Health in collaboration with the Centre for Aboriginal Health.  

A key role of the Taskforce moving forward will be to support strategies aimed at improving outcomes for Aboriginal patients in the ED in partnership with our Centre for Aboriginal Health colleagues. 

Key highlights from the most recent Taskforce meeting:
  • ​Aboriginal Patients receiving incomplete care in the ED: Incidences of ‘Take Own Leave’ (comprising 'Discharge Against Medical Advice' and 'Incomplete ED Attendances (‘Did not wait' and 'Left at own risk') have a significant detrimental impact on health outcomes for Aboriginal patients who are over-represented in the data. The Centre for Aboriginal Health conducted a deep dive into the data for Aboriginal presentations to an ED within 10 days of previous unplanned presentation, analysis highlighted Aboriginal people were 27% more likely to have multiple presentations without admission. Aboriginal patients with multiple presentations were 60% more likely to suffer a severe health event within 10 days. These critical Aboriginal patient safety issues were a focus of the Clinical Excellence Commission’s REACH roundtable held in April 2025. 
  • Aboriginal Frequent Presenter Model of Care at Bankstown Hospital: the innovative award winning Aboriginal Frequent Presenter Model of Care at Bankstown Hospital (2022 winner of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine Al Spilman award for Culturally Safe EDs). This model reduced the number of Aboriginal patients who frequently presented to the ED, including incidents of ‘Take Own Leave’. Central to this model is a multi-agency approach, with an Aboriginal Liaison Officer as the centra​l care coordinator.
  • Workforce models supporting Aboriginal patients in the ED: Aboriginal Health Practitioners in the ED have been proven to add significant value to the experience and outcomes for Aboriginal patients and the functioning of the broader multidisciplinary team. Embedding Aboriginal Health Practitioners into multidisciplinary teams is a priority for ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health. 

The Taskforce is dedicated to creating a safer, more culturally responsive emergency care environment for Aboriginal patients. Your ongoing support and commitment are vital as we work together towards these goals.

Together, we can make a meaningful difference.!

Kind Regards,
Dr Trevor Chan
Co-Chair ED Taskforce
Clinical Director, Emergency Care Institute

Matthew Daly
Co-Chair ED Taskforce
Deputy Secretary, System Sustainability and Performance





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Current as at: Thursday 12 June 2025
Contact page owner: System Management