Specialist Outreach NT (SONT)

About SONT

Download: SONT Brochure (Adobe PDF document - 475KB)

For many years medical specialists in the Northern Territory have provided services to rural and remote areas. Often these services are based on the goodwill and philanthropic nature of the Doctors and over time some funding has been dedicated to expand and improve Territorians access to specialist services.

The Northern Territory Government funds Specialist Outreach NT (SONT). In addition the Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program (MSOAP) was established in 2002 and funded by the Commonwealth Government which contributes to travel and administrative expenses of outreach services.

At the Close the Gap National Indigenous Health Equality Summit (March 2008) the following Statement of Intent was signed:

"To developing a comprehensive, long-term plan of action, that is targeted to need, evidence-based and capable of addressing the existing inequities in health services, in order to achieve equality of health status and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians by 2030".

The Commonwealth Government has committed funding under the 'Closing the Gap - Indigenous Health, Improving Chronic Disease Management and Follow Up', which specifically targets increasing Aboriginal peoples' access to specialist services. Nationally there is $472 million over four years available for initiatives to improve chronic disease management and follow up and deliver coordinated care for Indigenous clients at risk, or with a chronic disease.

The funding program has specific links to specialist outreach services:

• Improved access to affordable specialist, allied health and medicines for Indigenous patients with a chronic disease
• The funding pledges a national increase of around 110,000 additional episodes of specialist care and more than 300,000 episodes of allied health care provided to Indigenous people

Part of the additional funding as proposed under this submission will improve rural and remote Aboriginal peoples' access to specialist services to achieve an acceptable level as per the Statement of Intent.

Through accessing this Commonwealth initiative the Department of Health and Families plans to:

• Secure more funding for Specialist Outreach
• Refine and simplify the funding and reporting arrangement across existing Specialist Outreach NT (SONT), current Commonwealth funded Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program (MSOAP) and additional funding under Closing the Gap
• Work with acute, remote health, NGO providers and other stakeholders on innovative models of care
• Secure long term sustainable funding in the outer years

Contacts

SONT Coordination Unit 

Top End SONT

Central SONT