ASSI Linker 

Community Information Support Services and the Queensland United Australian South Sea Islander Council will deliver the Australian South Sea Islander Health Linking Project.  This project will review health service delivery for Australian South Sea Islander peoples in the Mackay HHS.
 
The key objectives are:
 Support South Sea Islanders to access Health Services to reduce the burden of Chronic Disease
  1. Identify gaps in health service and to advise health pathways to support Australian South Sea Islanders.

The ASSI Linker will support the community to:
  • Access care delayed and disrupted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Improve Chronic Disease, Mental Health and Alcohol and other Drugs care access.
  • Build community resilience in preparation for disasters.
 
The ASSI Linker will address service gaps through:
  • Local engagement to identify options for existing services to meet identified
    needs, and
  • Assist and/or advocate agencies to access the relevant support to establish new
    Services that meet identified needs

The ASSI Linker will have systems focus through:
  • Working with service providers to increase access to culturally appropriate care for
    South Sea Islanders
  • Identification and collation of data to enable understanding of service and health needs
    of the South Sea Islander population to support advocacy and awareness raising.

South Sea Islander Link Worker roles within the Project will have the primary functions:
  • Provide direct client support for South Sea Islander people with mental illness and chronic
    disease to provide linkages to the relevant services.
  • Maintain and update information on specified platforms to create a local system that
    supports consumers and providers to navigate care, social and community services in the
    Region to both prevent and manage chronic health conditions.