The Northern Territory (NT) Department of Health and Families has worked with partners in the non-government, private and Aboriginal health sectors and consulted widely with other stakeholders to develop the Strategy. It identifies key evidence based strategies and serves as the framework for building and strengthening a system-wide response to prevent and reduce the impact of chronic conditions for all people in the NT and across the continuum of care. This is from infancy to old age, those living in urban and remote settings, Aboriginal and non Aboriginal people.
The rapid rise in the prevalence of chronic conditions is impacting on health and social systems nationally and internationally and is predicted to increase over the coming decades. The prevalence of chronic conditions in the NT reflects this national trend with the added burden of even higher rates in the Aboriginal population. This situation makes it imperative that the NT places a priority on the prevention and management of chronic conditions.
Strategy aim:
To improve the health and well being of all Territorians by reducing the incidence and impact of chronic conditions
The Strategy focuses on the following conditions:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Rheumatic heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Chronic Airways disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic mental illness
- Cancers (associated with common risk factors for other chronic conditions)
The Strategy highlights the impact of the social determinants of health on chronic conditions and identifies that a broad holistic approach that is equitable and sustainable is required. Reducing inequity through targeting disadvantaged populations underlies the strategy.
To fully achieve the goals of the Strategy a collaborative approach is requiredand needs to be supported by all partners including the Australian Government, various NT Government departments, public and private health professionals, non-government and community organisations, consumer representatives and education and research organisations.
Reducing the incidence and impact of chronic conditions is a key to closing the gap between Aboriginal and non Aboriginal health outcomes and this strategy is consistent with Australian and NT Government strategies to close this gap.
Effective actions:
- Reducing smoking
- Improving nutrition
- Increasing physical activity
- Reducing rates of harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption
- Improving social and emotional well being
- Improving socioeconomic status
There are four key elements of the framework:
- Individual, carer, and family centred care
- Community capacity
- Strategic supports to enable interventions to be effectively implemented
- Interventions across the care continuum
In order to progress the strategy the following key action areas have been identified:
- Action on social determinants of health
- Primary prevention
- Secondary prevention and early intervention
- Self management support
- Care for people with chronic conditions
- Workforce planning and development
- Information, communication and disease management systems
- Quality improvement
The ten year time frame of the Strategy reflects the long term approach that is needed to reduce the incidence and impact of chronic conditions in the population. Ongoing three year action plans addressing these key action areas complement this document and will provide direction for collaborative actions across the NT.
The implementation of the Strategy will support better access to primary health care, improve and support an itegrated and coordinated approach to key risk factors and provide more efficient and targeted use of health resources across the health continuum.
CCPMS Documents:
Executive Summary of NT Chronic Conditions Prevention and Management Strategy (NT CCPMS) Annual Report 2010 | |
Annual Report of the NT CCPMS 2010 | |
Northern Territory Chronic Conditions Preventions and Management Strategy 2010 - 2020 | |
Chronic Conditions Preventions and Management Strategy - Implementation Plan 2010 - 2012 | |
Burden of Disease and Injury in the NT 1999 - 2003 | Burden of Disease and Injury in the Northern Territory 1999 - 2003 (Adobe PDF document - 720KB) |
Background paper: Chronic Disease in Aboriginal Populations | Preventable Chronic Diseases in Aboriginal Populations (Adobe PDF document - 502KB) |
| Evaluation (2007) of the NT Preventable Chronic Disease Strategy | |
NT Preventable Chronic Diseases Strategy, Overview and Framework 1999 | |
Preventable Chronic Diseases, Evidence Base 1999 |
Original Preventable Chronic Disease Strategy
The original PCDS 1999-2007 strategy provided a three-point framework for Government and non-government stakeholders across the Northern Territory to collectively address five chronic diseases:
- type 2 diabetes
- hypertension
- heart disease
- kidney disease
- chronic airways disease
The Strategy encompassed a lifecourse approach focusing on Prevention, Early Detection and Management of Chronic Diseases in the NT. The strategy had a 3-year goal, a 10-year goal and a number of objectives it aimed to achieve in key result areas.
In March 2007, RhED Consulting Pty Ltd was commissioned to complete the evaluation of the NTPCDS. The methodology included undertaking focus group interviews, sourcing information and data identified in a gap analysis, collating and analysing materials and finalising a report with recommendations.
