Category: Issue 1, June 1997

National performance indicators for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

At its meeting on 20 February 1997, the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) endorsed a set of national performance indicators for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. The set comprises 53 indicators grouped into eight categories: health outcomes, access, health service impacts, workforce development, risk factors, intersectoral issues, community involvement, and quality of service provision. The AHMAC endorsement was subject to further work being undertaken over the following six months on:

  • the technical refinement of the indicators and targets; and
  • consultations by the Aboriginal community-controlled health sector with their constituents, with particular reference to indicators and targets for community control and related to the wider issues underlying poor health.

AHMAC also agreed to put the indicators and targets to Health Ministers, and that:

  • all jurisdictions should take immediate steps to improve the quality of data related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health to enable reporting against indicators;
  • all jurisdictions should report to AHMAC in six months against those indicators where data are available, and their progress in developing the capacity to report where they are currently unable to report due to inadequate data;
  • Heads of Aboriginal Health Units should report to AHMAC in six months on the outcomes of the indicator refinement process and the outcomes of the community sector’s consultations; and
  • there be subsequent annual reporting to AHMAC.

Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Tropical Health

The Commonwealth Department of Science and Industry has provided funds for the establishment of a CRC for Aboriginal and Tropical Health, involving the Menzies School of Health Research, the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Darwin’s Danila Dilba Medical Service, the Northern Territory University, the Territory Health Services and Flinders University of South Australia. Once negotiations currently underway are finalised, the Commonwealth will provide $14 million over seven years to be matched on a 2:1 basis in cash and kind by the participating agencies.

The CRC will be managed by a Board with an independent Aboriginal chairperson and a majority of Aboriginal members. The Board will set the priorities for the research to be undertaken. The Governor-General, Sir William Deane, has agreed to be Patron of the Centre and Professor John Mathews, Director of Menzies School of Health Research, has been named as the inaugural Director.

The Centre will have five major programs with commitment to improving interaction between health research, Aboriginal health, health service delivery and education sectors. Strategic research and conveyance of existing knowledge will be undertaken in appropriate cultural contexts.

New director for the New South Wales Aboriginal Health Branch

Mr Tim Agius has been appointed Director of the New South Wales Aboriginal Health Branch. His office is located at Level 9, 73 Miller Street, North Sydney NSW. Contact details are Aboriginal Health Branch, NSW Department of Health, LMB 961, North Sydney NSW 2059 Phone: (02) 9391 9521 Fax: (02) 9391 9480

NACCHO appoints Executive Director

Mr Steve Larkin, formerly Aboriginal Health Advisor for the Australian Medical Association, has been appointed the inaugural Executive Director of NACCHO (National Aboriginal Community-controlled Health Organisation). Steve has established an office in Canberra located at Unit 2/4 Phipps Close, Deakin ACT. Contact details are P.O. Box 168, Deakin West ACT 2600 Phone: (06) 282 7515 Fax: (06) 282 7516.