Our role
We’re proud to support more than 70 communities across the NT access health services through our outreach program. These outreach services include diabetes educators, podiatrists, physios, and dietitians.
Program
Our outreach program, specifically the Medical Outreach Indigenous Chronic Disease Program, aims to increase access to health services, such as primary health care in the prevention, detection, treatment and management of chronic conditions, to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Chronic disease is defined as a condition that has been (or is likely to be) present for six months or more.
The program involves five working groups with members from Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services and NT Government health services who monitor and evaluate how programs are delivered across the following regions:
- Barkly Region
- Central Australia Region
- Katherine Region
- East Arnhem Region
- Darwin Remote Region (Top End Central, West and West Arnhem/Maningrida)
To ensure health service equity is achieved, an Outreach Health Services Funding Methodology is used to allocate funding. This methodology is based on illness, population, remoteness and community size. The model has been validated by the Principal Health Economist from the NT Government Department of Health.
Visiting service providers and host health centres are encouraged to develop a formal agreement to clearly outline the roles, responsibilities and requirements to ensure safe and high-quality health care. Generally, an agreement should be made within the first few visits to a community and be kept by both parties.
Here's an example of what the health service agreement could include.
Service providers are required to complete an outcome report after each community visit. This data is collated and analysed to report back to the funding bodies, our Board, working groups and health services.
Here's an example of an outcome report.
To find out what, and when, services are visiting your region, please visit NT Government or BushTel.
