Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory facts for kids
The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) helps improve health for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory of Australia. It's an independent group that doesn't aim to make money. It gets its funding from the Australian government, the Northern Territory government, and other charities.
AMSANT has offices in Alice Springs and Darwin. But it helps people with medical care all over the Northern Territory. It works with other big health groups. These include the Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO).
Contents
How AMSANT Started: A Brief History
AMSANT began in October 1994. It was started by healthcare services in Central Australia. A year later, AMSANT asked the Australian Government to change how Aboriginal healthcare was funded. They wanted money to go directly to health services.
AMSANT also asked the government for more money. This was to help Aboriginal health services during the "Intervention." This was a special plan for the Northern Territory.
What AMSANT Does: Helping Aboriginal Health
AMSANT supports Aboriginal health services. It works to make sure local Aboriginal communities can control their own health services. It also helps these services get enough money.
As a main group, AMSANT helps its members. It asks for better health for Aboriginal people. It also promotes Aboriginal people making their own decisions. This is called "self-determination." AMSANT also speaks for its members in meetings.
AMSANT's main goal is clear:
Aboriginal community controlled health services in the Northern Territory will be independent and successful organisations, integrated into the NT health system, to provide high quality and effective primary health care services that are responsive to the needs of the community.
AMSANT works with communities who want to start their own health service. It also helps communities who want more say in their local health services. Its main focus is to help its members. This ensures they provide excellent healthcare for Aboriginal communities.
How AMSANT Works: Structure and Members
All AMSANT member services meet regularly. These general meetings happen at least every four months. The general meeting is where most decisions are made. They try to agree on things together, so voting is rare.
AMSANT also has a board. This board is chosen by the members each year. The board can make decisions for AMSANT between the general meetings.
The chairperson of AMSANT is Marion Scrymgour. John Paterson is the CEO.
AMSANT Member Health Services
The health services that are members of AMSANT are:
- Amoonguna Health Clinic
- Ampilatwatja Health Centre Aboriginal
- Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation
- Balunu Foundation (Balunu)
- Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Program Unit (CAAAPU)
- Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (CAAC)
- Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services (CAAPS)
- Danila Dilba Health Service
- Ilpurla Aboriginal Corporation
- Kakadu Health Service
- Katherine West Health Board
- Laynhapuy Homelands Association
- Ltyentye Apurte
- Malabam Health Board
- Marthakal Homeland
- Miwatj Health
- Mutitjulu Health Service
- Ngalkanbuy Health Service
- Pintubi Homelands Health Service
- Sunrise Health Service
- Urapuntja Health Service, Utopia, Northern Territory
- Utju Health Service
- Western Aranda Health Aboriginal Corp (WAHAC)
- Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corp (WDNWPT)
- Wurli Wurlinjang Aboriginal Health Service
AMSANT's Activities and Programs
AMSANT runs many programs and projects. All of them aim to improve healthcare for Aboriginal communities. These services are controlled by the local community. As of 2010, some of their activities included:
- eHealth: Using technology to improve health services.
- Research and Policy: Working on research projects. They also create policies and suggest ideas to the government.
- Health Summits: Holding meetings to discuss important health topics.
- Public Health: Employing health experts. They also run a network and group for public health advice.
- Leadership: Running programs to help health workers become leaders.
- Training: Helping with training for doctors and other health staff.
- Media and Advocacy: Speaking out and raising awareness about Aboriginal health.
- Workforce Support: Helping health services find and keep staff. This includes doctors, nurses, and Aboriginal health workers.
- Other Support: Helping with computer systems and online guides. They also help services get official approval.
- Year of the Aboriginal Health Worker: A special focus in 2011–2012.
Why Community Control Matters
AMSANT only accepts Aboriginal community-controlled health services as members. AMSANT believes that community control is key. It helps provide the best healthcare to Aboriginal communities.
All AMSANT member health services must meet certain rules:
- They must be a legal group on their own.
- Their rules must ensure Aboriginal people control the group. They must also follow the idea of self-determination.
- They must have clear ways to be accountable. This includes open meetings for all local community members. The management team must be chosen by the local Aboriginal community.
About NACCHO
Pat Turner AM was the CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) in 2017.
