ATNS - Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements project

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Western Australian Framework Agreement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Date:	5 July 2002
Sub Category:	Framework Agreement
Place:
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State/Country:	Western Australia, Australia
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Subject Matter:	Health and Community Services
Summary Information:
The Western Australian Framework Agreement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (the Agreement) was made between the State of Western Australia (represented by the Western Australian Minister for Health), the Commonwealth of Australia (represented by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing), the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) (represented by the Chairperson of ATSIC) and the Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (represented by the Chairperson of WAACCHO). The objective of the Agreement is 'to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Western Australia through a co-ordinated approach to the planning, funding and delivery of health and health related services.' (para 2). The Agreement is informed by the National Aboriginal Health Strategy, the Western Australian Aboriginal Health Strategy (WAAHS) and the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. The Agreement acknowledges that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has committed to a reconciliation framework centred on partnerships and shared responsibilities with Aboriginal communities and recognises the importance of a shared strategic agenda for improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Western Australia. The Agreement follows from an agreement of October 2001 between the Government of Western Australia and ATSIC 'to work together to build a new and just relationship between the Aboriginal people of Western Australia and the government of Western Australia to enhance the outcomes that protect and respect the inherent rights of Aboriginal people and to significantly improve the health, education, living standards and wealth of Aboriginal people.'
Detailed Information:
The Agreement is based on the following national key commitments (set out in detail in para 3 of the Agreement): Increased level of resources allocated to reflect the level of need Joint planning. In particular joint planning processes will include, at the national level a viable and independent Commonwealth funded National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (NAACCHO), and at the State level a viable and independent WAACCHO funded by the Western Australian Department of Health. Access to both general and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific health and health related services which reflect the higher level of need Data collection and evaluation. In particular reporting is to be against agreed health outcome indicators, specifically against the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Indicators. The Agreement also sets out: The role of the parties (para 4); Intersectoral collaboration: 'the Parties recognise the World Health Organisation's contention that the efforts of the health sector alone are not enough to bring about significant improvements in health and that other sectors may have an even greater potential for improving health than the health sector itself.' (para 5.1); Reporting and monitoring arrangements (para 6): 'the Western Australian Joint Planning Forum and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council will be responsible for evaluating the implementation of the Agreement within their respective jurisdictions' (para 6.1) and are to report annually to the Australia Health Ministers' Conference; and Duration of the Agreement, which is to continue in effect until the parties agree to terminate it, or a further agreement is made in substitution for this Agreement (para 7.1).