Better health and ageing for all Australians

Media Releases

Nganampa health council boosted by further funding under national health initiative

The Australian Government has announced that the Nganampa Health Council in South Australia's Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands will receive up to $145,000 in additonal funding under a new national child and maternal health care initiative.

In this section:

16 September 2003

Nganampa health council boosted by further funding under national health initiative

The Australian Government today announced that the Nganampa Health Council in South Australia's Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands will receive up to $145,000 in additonal funding under a new national child and maternal health care initiative.

Marking the Nganampa Health Council's 20th birthday, Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, said the Nganampa Health Council has made significant impacts on the health and well-being of Anangu throughout the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands.

"The Nganampa Health Council's 20th birthday celebrations really do mark a significant chapter in health service delivery to the people of this region," Senator Patterson said.

"One example of its high class health care is the organisation's Child and Maternal Health Program which I am delighted to formally announce as the second of three National Child and Maternal Health Exemplar Sites.

"The National Child and Maternal Health Exemplar Site Initiative has been established as an important method to help drive national policy development on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child and Maternal Health, as well as supporting critical health service development and delivery.

"This funding is particularly important as the Council's Child and Maternal Health Program has already been highly successful on a number of fronts including significant increases in antenatal care attendance, large reductions in peri-natal mortality rates and low birthweights, and close to 100 per cent vaccine coverage for all children under five years of age.

"I am also pleased to announce that the Nganampa Health Council has been granted an additional $100,000 in recurrent funding per annum under the Service Activity Report (SAR) Enhancement Funding Round for 2003-04.

"This funding will allow for supplementation of existing GP and nurses salaries and is an important element in ensuring that remote health services like Nganampa can offer attractive and competitive salaries to assist in the recruitment and retention of skilled professionals.

"I congratulate the Council on 20 years of fine work and the difference it has made to the lives of many throughout the Pitjantjatjara Lands," Senator Patterson said.

Media inquiries: Randal Markey or Sarah Higginbottom, Media Advisers, Senator Patterson's office, 02 6277 7220.