Michael Bentley has a research bursary from the South Australian (Primary Health Care) Research Network (SARNet) to conduct a project on Aboriginal health teams within community health services.

The aims of the project are to:

• develop a better understanding of the contribution that Aboriginal Health Workers within mainstream community health services make to Aboriginal health
• determine which structural and organisational factors (that affect the operation of Aboriginal health services within mainstream community health services) are most important in bringing about effective action to improve Aboriginal health.

Michael is developing a participatory action research and evaluation approach with Muna Paiendi (Northern Metropolitan Community Health Service) on this project, with the objectives of developing a program of engagement with Aboriginal Health team leaders and other stakeholders within community health services to define the research question and preparing a research grant proposal to the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health.

The project is due for completion by the end of October 2004.

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