Outcome 8: Indigenous Health

Outcome 8 aims to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Islander people have access to essential care, services and programs that improve their health and life expectancy.

To help achieve this in 2007–08, the Department managed programs under Outcome 8 which aimed to provide high quality, coordinated, primary health care. A focus in 2007–08 was also on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, promoting healthy activities and reducing substance misuse. In addition, the Department worked to improve the health of Indigenous children and families through the whole-of-government Northern Territory Emergency Response.

This chapter reports on the major activities undertaken by the Department during the year, addressing each of the key strategic directions and performance indicators published in the Outcome 8 chapters of the 2007–08 Health and Ageing Portfolio Budget Statements and 2007–08 Health and Ageing Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements.

Outcome 8 was managed in 2007–08 by the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and the Department’s State and Territory Offices. Other program areas across the Department also contributed to this outcome.