Aboriginal Policy is a discrete division of the Department and the Assistant Secretary is a member of the Department Executive.
It provides policy advice, support and evaluation to the Department's Divisions, the Executive and Ministers on matters of strategic importance relating to Aboriginal health. core functions include monitoring the implementation of policy, and representing the Department and the Northern Territory Government at local and national forums on Aboriginal health and community service matters.
History
The Office of Aboriginal Health, was established through the recommendations of the 'Review of the Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services undertaken by Banscott Health Consulting Pty Ltd, which was handed to government in January 2003.
The Office had four major roles:
- policy development and facilitation
- engagement with internal and external government (Northern Territory and Commonwealth agencies) and community sector representatives, and the main interface with AMSANT
- co-ordination of demographic, epidemiological and other data and information in order to forecast and identify trends, inform policy and practice and expand evidence; and
- evaluate policy and program activity to ensure efficient and effective outcomes, encouraging the use of evaluation.
Its role has now been further expanded and incorperated into System Performance and Aboriginal Policy Division when a restructure of the Department occurred in 2006.
Aim/Mission
The principal aim of is the creation and facilitation of strategic policy relating to Aboriginal health, families and social wellbeing. It has established relationships with other Divisions and agencies, and the community sector and works to strengthen these relationship as a strategic goal, as well as being a major stakeholder through formal agreements such as the Framework Agreement, which is a course of action that has national uniformity.
The Department has made a full commitment to reforming the health and wellbeing service platform in the Northern Territory. The intention is to ensure that services are accessible, balanced, and that the delivery of services is focused on a set of balanced core services. The Department is committed to actions that will ensure improved development and management of health services and that are delivered in an efficient and timely manner.
