ATNS - Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements project

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Agreement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (Northern Territory)
Date:	1 April 1998
Date To:	30 June 2003
Sub Category:	Framework Agreement
Place:
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State/Country:	Northern Territory, Australia
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Subject Matter:	Health and Community Services
Summary Information:
The Northern Territory Agreement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health was made between the Northern Territory Minister for Health, Family and Children's Services, the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, and the Executive Secretary of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory. The Framework Agreement was initially signed in April 1998. It was resigned on 27 April 2001, with a nominal expiry date of 30 June 2003.
Detailed Information:
The health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is a major concern for all levels of government as these groups have the worst health of all Australians and are one of the most disadvantaged groups in the community. The intention of this agreement was to achieve equitable health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the broader community through a cooperative and sustained effort by the parties to the Agreement. Aim The aim of the Agreement was to improve health outcomes through: - Improving access to both mainstream and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific health and health related programs which reflect the level of need; - Increasing the level of resources allocated to reflect the higher level of need of Aboriginal and Torres Trait Islander peoples, including within mainstream programs, including prevention programs, and transparent and regular reporting for all services and programs; and - Joint planning processes which allow for: full and formal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in decision making and determination of priorities; improved cooperation and coordination of current service delivery, both Aboriginal; and Torres Strait Islander specific services and mainstream services, by all spheres of government; increased clarity with respect to the roles and responsibilities of the key stakeholders; and enhanced effectiveness and efficiency of health service delivery. Evaluation and Implementation A Northern Territory Forum at the State level, and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council at the Federal level, will be responsible for evaluating the implementation of the Agreement. The Northern Territory and the Commonwealth of Australia will report on progress in implementing commitments under this agreement at each Australian Health Minister's Conference. Context This agreement was among a set of Framework Agreements on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health entered into by all state and territory governments between July 1996 and February 1999. These were set to expire in June 2000, though the parties agreed to recommit to them and the resigning process began in 2001 (NATSIHC 2003, 23). They were created following an agreement made by Health Ministers in 1995 to create multilateral framework agreements. The Framework Agreements were designed to improve coordination between federal and statement governments and to improve relationships between governments and indigenous organisations (NACCHO 1999). Following the creation of the first set of Framework Agreements, a national level agreement was created (the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health). The first state and territory Framework Agreements have since been resigned or replaced under this national framework.