Closing the Gap: Northern Territory

Closing the Gap: Northern Territory (previously Northern Territory Emergency Response)

A range of measures have been implemented following the release of the Little Children are Sacred report from the NT Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse.

Since July 2007, the health components of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) have evolved from their initial focus on the roll-out of child health checks into a program of follow-up service delivery which will continue through until 30 June 2009. From 1 July 2008, implementation of the longer term responses to Indigenous health needs in the Northern Territory began with the Expanding Health Service Delivery Initiative as well as continuing commitments in Child Special Services and Alcohol and Other Drug services.

In 2007-08, $53.4 million was expended on NTER related health measures including:

• Child health checks
• Follow-up primary health care services
• Follow-up specialist services in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), hearing and dental health
• Alcohol and other drug treatment, rehabilitation and outreach services
• Child special services including the commencement of a Mobile Outreach Service for children affected by the trauma of sexual abuse, and their families.

Final Report on the Child Health Check Initiative and Follow-up data collections

The Northern Territory Emergency Response Child Health Check Initiative: Third and Final report on the Child Health Check and follow-up data collections is available here. This report shows a continuing transition over the period since December 2008 from a focus on Child Health Checks to a sustained focus on increased service delivery in response to referrals from those checks and the pre-existing unmet need for services. It also includes information from the Northern Territory Government Department of Health and Families health data warehouse on hospital services provided to children who had a Child Health Check.

Progress Reports of the Child Health Check Initiative and Follow-up data collections

The Progress of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Child Health Check Initiative: Preliminary Results from the Child Health Check and Follow-up data collections is available here and provides information on the number and types of health conditions identified and the number and types of referrals made as part of the child health checks. It also includes results from the follow-up Child Health Check Initiative data collections, the purpose of which is to measure the extent to which children who had a child health check have received the follow-up care that they need.
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The checks analysed for this report were undertaken from July 2007 to October 2008.

The Progress of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Child Health Check Initiative: Health Conditions and Referrals is available here and provides information on the number and types of health conditions identified and the number and types of referrals made as part of the child health checks. The checks analysed for this report were undertaken from July 2007 to May 2008.

Expanding Health Services Delivery Initiative (EHSDI) and Health Related Services

Through the 2009-10 Budget measure Closing the Gap – Northern Territory – Indigenous health and related services, the Australian Government is providing a further $131.1 million that includes $92.7 million over two years commencing in 2010-11 for the extension of the Expanding Health Service Delivery Initiative. This is in addition to $50.706 million already committed for the Expanding Health Service Delivery initiative in 2009-10. This funding provides for the:

• continuation of increased primary care services for increased access to comprehensive and better coordinated primary care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the Northern Territory,
• continued regional reform of remote Indigenous primary care health services in the Northern Territory as a key requirement to closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous health outcomes in the Northern Territory,
• continuation of the Remote Area Health Corp which will deliver and support more doctors, nurses and other health professionals; and
• continuation of AOD activities commenced under the NTER (refer to ‘Alcohol and Other Drug Response’ above).

The Australian Government has also committed $15 million over three years for dental services and ENT follow-up services. ENT follow-up services will be provided for one year (2009-10) and dental follow-up services will be provided over three years (to 2011–12).

In addition the Australian Government is funding a Mobile Outreach Service connected to the existing regional NT Sexual Assault Referral Centres to deliver counselling, support and education services to children and families in remote communities and town camps who have suffered sexual assault-related trauma. These services commenced in 2007-08, and continue for a further four years from 2008–09 to 2011–12 with a $6.2 million funding allocation as a result of a 2007 Election Commitment funded under the Better Outcomes for Hospitals and Community Health measure.
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From July 2009, the existing Mobile Outreach Service will be substantially strengthened and expanded through allocation in the 2009–10 Budget of an additional $9.4 million over the next three years (to 2011–12). The extra funding will allow the Mobile Outreach Service to increase its capacity to meet the needs of children and young people in remote NT communities who have experienced any form of child abuse-related trauma. The Mobile Outreach Service Plus funds will also increase access to training services for remote primary health care providers in this sensitive area over three years commencing in 2008-09.

Evaluation of Child Health Check Initiative and the Expanding Health Services Delivery Initiative

An independent evaluation of the Child Health Check Initiative and the Expanding Health Services Delivery Initiative commenced in June 2009 and will report by June 2010.

The evaluation is being conducted by Allen and Clarke Policy and Regulatory Specialists (Allen and Clarke). An Evaluation Design Report developed by Allen and Clarke is available.

Evaluation of the Child Health Check Initiative and Expanding Health Services Delivery Initiative - Evaluation Design Report

An HTML version of this report will be available shortly. If you are having trouble downloading the document please email OATSIH enquiries or phone 02 6289 5291. Further information about the evaluation is available at allenandclarke.co.nz

Northern Territory Emergency Response Taskforce – Report to Government

On 20 May 2009 Minister Macklin released the Australian Government’s final response to the Review Board’s Report on Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) and a Discussion Paper on Future Directions for Northern Territory.

The Government is moving the Northern Territory Emergency Response to a sustainable development phase to ensure measures will be effective in the long term, including stronger engagement and partnerships with Indigenous communities.

The discussion paper seeks to re-set the relationship with Aboriginal people in the NT stating that the Australian Government is committed to a more respectful and supportive relationship with Indigenous Australians.

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