Chief Executive's Foreword
Download full report: DHF Annual Report 2008 - 2009 (Adobe PDF document - 3771KB)
Amidst what is widely acknowledged as the world's greatest economic contraction in the past fifty years it may seem surprising to characterise the past year for our agency as one of continued growth. Yet this is indisputably so, as a reading of the following sections in this report will confirm.
The activities of the Department of Health and Families expanded significantly in order to meet an increased demand for primary health and acute care services, the need for more support for NT families and children, and the challenges of consolidating a skilled workforce in the unique service environment of the Northern Territory.
The figures on the following pages detail these challenges and the ways in which they were identified and invariably met. This would not have been possible without the support of the Northern Territory Government.
We did not and never will, take this investment of trust lightly, for it embodies a high level of responsibility. There is a keen awareness within the NT, nationally, and indeed, internationally, that Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people still face greater health problems and significantly lower life expectancy, than the general population.
The Australian Government, in conjunction with the NT Government and other Australian jurisdictions, is practically committed to addressing this issue and our Department is playing a central role.
The indicators contained within this report confirm that we are making inroads towards reducing the gap in life expectancy and improving the health of Aboriginal people. They also highlight that further gains are yet to be made.
The Territory's economy has been buoyant over the past year and our population has continued to grow. More people want to move and stay here. The number of retirees has trended upwards, and so has the younger population, especially in remote areas. These demographic parameters are presenting particular challenges in terms of health and community support services.
This report quantifies how our Divisions and program areas have met the challenges they have faced. It outlines a number of major achievements, including the development of the Radiation Oncology Unit in Darwin due for completion early in 2010. This facility will provide lifesaving or pain remediating treatment to hundreds of cancer patients each year. Accessing such high level services closer to home is a major advance in the provision of local health care.
Another major initiative was the opening, in late 2008, of the Palmerston Urgent Care After Hours service. The service has been well patronised and continues to offer an urgent care service for local people not needing hospital care.
However, the bricks and mortar achievements and the performance statistics do not adequately show how our goals are reached largely through the professionalism and dedication of over 5 500 staff, working together in diverse yet coherent teams.
Throughout the year I have had opportunity to meet many of our staff. During staff forums I have been encouraged by the many innovative things staff do, changes and new approaches they introduce that help make us a better Department and improve the quality of the services we provide.
The past year has presented many challenges, but working as a team we have gone on to convert these challenges into notable achievements.
I wish to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all staff for their efforts over the past year.
David Ashbridge
Chief Executive
October 2009
