Health Assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (MBS Item 715)

Health Koori Kids is a service for Aboriginal children aged 0-17 years who are at risk of entering or are in out-of-home care. The service offers a multidisciplinary team comprising a Paediatrician, Paediatric Psychologist, Speech Therapist, a Teacher and a Social Worker, providing a fortnightly clinic to address children’s health needs.

As part of the referral process to this service, all referrals are required to include a 715 GP health assessment that has been completed within the last 12 months. The 715 GP assessments are also known as the annual Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Checks. To assist general practice with completing these assessments, please refer to the following valuable resources:

Information for Health Professionals

Health Assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

1. Indigenous health education for health professionals webpage Indigenous health education for health professionals – Health professionals – Services Australia
2. RACGP Toolkit including templates for health assessments for different aged people RACGP – Resources to support health checks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

• Health-check-Primary-school.pdf 5-12 years
• Health-check-Adolescents.pdf 12-24 years

Useful infographics and fact sheets:

• IHSM05INFO1-Completing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessment (servicesaustralia.gov.au)
• IHSM05INFO2-GP led primary care planning for Indigenous patients (servicesaustralia.gov.au)
• PIP Indigenous Health Incentive Patient Registration IPM03INFO1-Practice Incentives Program (PIP)Indigenous Health Incentive Patient Registration (servicesaustralia.gov.au)

MBS item 715 information:

1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner and Aboriginal health worker MBS items Services Australia  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner and Aboriginal health worker MBS items – Services Australia
2. WestVic PHN Better Billing Webinar Series: The 715 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Assessment Better Billing Webinar Series: Session 1: The 715 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Assessment

Indigenous Health Incentive

1. Indigenous Health Incentive Services Australia webpage Indigenous Health Incentive for the Practice Incentives Program – Practice Incentives Program – Services Australia

Note: To meet the requirements of ATSI PIP criteria, there needs to be 2 people (1 who is a GP) who have done or are booked into cultural awareness training.

2. Services Australia Practice Incentive Program (PIP) Indigenous Health Incentive Information

• Incentive Programs – Infographics – Health Professional Education Resources
• Indigenous Health Services (IHS) – eLearning – Health Professional Education Resources

Information for patients:

Annual health checks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Department of Health and Aged Care webpage Annual health checks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care