Health

Health outcomes for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory continue to be the worst in Australia. Key measures under the NTER targeted health, in particular the health of children.

What needs improving?

Average life expectancy for Indigenous males and females in the Northern Territory is lower than in all other States and Territories. The Territory also has the highest infant mortality rate in Australia and the largest gap compared with the non-Indigenous population.

What is being done?

The NTER began with rapid response health checks for more than 10,600 children, with more than 24,000 follow-ups services provided.

The NTER also supported greatly expanded health-care services. More than 690 health professionals have undertaken short-term placements in the Territory, and more than 273 new positions for doctors, nurses and Aboriginal Health Workers have been established. People in remote communities are now receiving a better primary health care and a higher level of treatment in relation to oral health, hearing health and the trauma associated with abuse.

Directions for the future?

The Government supports the continued expansion and reform of primary health care through regionally based community-controlled services.

Additional initiatives could include:

• improving specialist and other services so more Indigenous children are referred for treatment in areas such as hearing and oral health
• more alcohol and other drug treatment services
• improving the services available for children dealing with the trauma of abuse.

The Government wants to hear from community people how health services can be further improved.