NT Emergency Response Health Expert Panel

The NT Emergency Response Health Expert Panel has been established as a collaborative initiative between the Australian Government and a range of health professional peak organisations to facilitate the improvement of health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory.

Co-Chairs

• Dr Bill Glasson
• Ms Paula Arnol

The NT Aboriginal Health Panel is supported by the following organisations:

Members

• Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses
• Australian Indigenous Doctors Association
• Rural Health Workforce Australia
• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
• Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory
• National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
• Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia
• Australian General Practice Network
• Royal College of Nursing, Australia
• Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
• Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health
• Australian Medical Association
• General Practice and Primary Health Care
• Australian Rural Nurses and Midwives
• Rural Doctors Association of Australia
• Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges – Australia
• Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand

Ex-officio

• Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
• Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services

The panel will be used to support the development and implementation of services and projects to improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory.

Northern Territory Emergency Response - Child Health Checks

As part of the Australian Government's Northern Territory Emergency Response, doctors, nurses and other health professionals from all around Australia have been providing their time and expertise to perform much needed Child Health Checks in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory - but to sustain the effort, we need more people to help.

This is a unique opportunity to assist in making a real difference to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous children. The Child Health Checks are very similar to the standard Medicare Item 708 and will provide children with a comprehensive health check that will be followed up by specialist care where appropriate. Child Health Checks are not compulsory and parent or carer permission is required at all times.

Child health check teams are usually scheduled for a three week stay in the remote community, preceded by an orientation course, held in Darwin. Previous experience of working in remote Indigenous communities is not required. The orientation covers everything needed for the child health check, from the clinical process to cultural awareness and data collection. A per diem remuneration is paid to all team members throughout their deployment.

Some health professionals may want to make a longer term commitment to working in Aboriginal communities. Expressions of interest from those who might want to explore opportunities for secondments, to provide locum cover or even to relocate to the Northern Territory are also most welcome.

If you are interested in participating or assisting, please register your interest. Once you have registered your interest, you will have the option of emailing through your CV immediately.