The gap

Indigenous children in the Territory are more than twice as likely as non-Indigenous children to die before the age of one. Life expectancy at birth is 16 to 20 years lower for Indigenous Territorians than non-Indigenous Territorians. Non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer account for almost 80% of the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous life expectancy, with poor access to primary health care services also responsible for disparity.

The approach

Early childhood experiences have a significant impact on health and educational outcomes later in life. Health, growth and development in the first three years in particular are critical, as these are the years of greatest brain development. In order to reduce the gap in life expectancy, chronic disease management and increased access to quality primary health care are essential.

Primary health care services in remote Aboriginal communities provide essential clinical services such as emergency care, illness treatment, chronic disease management, preventative care such as immunisation, antenatal care, health screening and follow-up care for emerging health conditions, and specific programs to address the underlying causes of ill health and family dysfunction, such as substance misuse, nutrition and environmental health programs.

Over the next 5 years, the Northern Territory Government will:

Early Childhood and Family Services

• Implement integrated early childhood and family services in communities, at a cost of $9.6m
  This will include:
  • establishment of family centres in remote communities
  • delivery of programs around antenatal care and maternal health
  • delivery of programs that strengthen the development and learning of 0-5 year olds, including child care and early education services.

Preventative Health

• Provide sport and recreational officers, facilities and programs in each shire, at a cost of $4.5m
  These programs will:
  • improve sport and recreational facilities in remote communities to engage young people in healthy behaviour
  • Increase funding to local governments to assist them in the development and maintenance of sport and recreational facilities/infrastructure
  • promote the importance of sport and recreation to a healthy lifestyle in education programs and curriculum.

Primary Health Care

• Expand alcohol and drug rehabilitation services in remote communities in partnership with the Australian Government, at a cost of $0.5m
  This will include:
  • expanding the alcohol and other drug workers program linked to existing primary health care infrastructure
  • supporting clinical interventions in acute settings
  • establishing a new facility in Darwin to provide residential withdrawal
  • providing additional clinical resources in Darwin and Alice Springs to support community based and residential withdrawal capacity.
• Expand programs targeting hearing loss and preventable chronic diseases including diabetes, through earlier identification, best practice management and monitoring, at a cost of $8.8m
• Work with the Australian Government and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector to develop and to complete the roll out of a Primary Health Care strategy and improved service system across the Northern Territory. i.e. to complete the Australian Governments Primary Health Care Access Program or alternative program to address shortfall in Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme funding to remote Territorians.

Health Fact Sheet (PDF document, 810 kilobytes)