Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19 provides culturally appropriate advice to the Department of Health, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services and communities about COVID-19.
Role
The Australian Government set up the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19 to advise on health issues related to COVID-19. The role of the taskforce is to:
- implement the Emergency Response Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and communities, across remote, regional and urban areas by developing a National Management Plan
- advise on implementing the Management Plan in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector and communities
- identify and escalate emerging and pressing issues
- review and inform key documents, guidelines and plans as needed – including relevant sections of the CDNA Series of National Guidelines for Public Health Units: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19 SoNG)
- liaise with Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and its standing committees
- review new communication materials to be sent out through existing channels
- present information and advice to the Department of Health’s Communications Branch
- help inform the flow of information with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health sector
- develop the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Epidemiology Report on COVID-19 (28 February 2021) which presents specific Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander surveillance indicators for COVID-19
National Management Plan
The taskforce has developed the Management Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. This plan has been endorsed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and supports the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The plan supports delivery of health care during the coronavirus pandemic that is:
- locally led
- holistic
- comprehensive
- culturally safe
Management Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Populations
The Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus guides the Australian health sector response. This Management Plan focuses on culturally appropriate testing and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and for specific locations including remote communities.
This document from the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) is specifically for urban and regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It gives guidance and considerations for preparing for and responding to COVID-19 cases, clusters and outbreaks.
CDNA National Guidance for remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities for COVID-19
This document from the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It provides nationally consistent guidance on how communities can protect themselves against COVID-19 (coronavirus).
Outbreak scenarios
The taskforce has worked with the University of Melbourne and the Kirby Institute Pandemic Modelling team to consider outbreak scenarios in a remote community. See our information below for health care workers and to support community-level decision making.
This document aims to help inform responses by examining a range of scenarios for COVID-19 transmission, case finding, quarantine, testing and community lockdown.
Impact of COVID-19 in remote and regional settings
This presentation includes an introduction to modelling, how COVID-19 could spread in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, and what individuals and communities can do to try and stop the spread of COVID-19.
Remote framework
The taskforce has developed a framework to inform decisions about lifting travel restrictions to remote communities. This framework has been endorsed by the National Cabinet.
Remote framework – conditions for easing remote area travel restrictions
This framework will help inform decisions around lifting remote area travel restrictions in Australia.
Members
The taskforce co-chairs are the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and the Department of Health
|
Role |
Member |
Background and experience |
|
Co-chair |
Dr Lucas de Toca |
Department of Health |
|
Co-chair |
Dr Dawn Casey |
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) |
|
Member |
Prof James Ward |
Communicable Diseases Network Australia and Aboriginal infectious disease expertise |
|
Member |
Dr Anthony Zheng |
Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of New South Wales, representing the CEO and Board |
|
Member |
Shane Mohor |
Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia |
|
Member |
John Paterson |
Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory |
|
Member |
Dr Liz Moore |
Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory |
| Member | Jill Gallagher | Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation |
|
Member |
Dr Nadia Lusis |
Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation |
|
Member |
Angela Young |
Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council |
|
Member |
Dr Mark Wenitong |
Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council |
|
Member |
Dr Maureen Davey |
Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation and state/territory government representative for Tasmania |
|
Member |
Dr Ana Herceg |
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service, representing the CEO and Board |
|
Member |
Dr Marianne Wood |
Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia, representing the CEO and Board |
|
Member |
Dr Lorraine Anderson |
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service, representing NACCHO Member Services |
|
Member |
Olga Havnen |
Danila Dilba Health Service, representing NACCHO Member Services |
|
Member |
Dr Jason Agostino |
Representing NACCHO |
| Member | John Boffa | Representing NACCHO |
|
Member |
Katrina Fanning |
Representing NACCHO |
|
Member |
Dr Belinda Greenwood |
State/territory government representative, Northern Territory |
|
Member |
Haylene Grogan |
State/territory government representative, Queensland (lead) |
|
Member |
Dr Pippa May |
State/territory government representative, Western Australia |
| Member | Donna Mak | State/territory government representative, Western Australia |
|
Member |
Geraldine Wilson-Matenga |
State/territory government representative, New South Wales |
|
Member |
Nicole McCartney |
State/territory government representative, Victoria |
|
Member |
Nicola Gotovac |
State/territory government representative, Australian Capital Territory |
|
Member |
Dr David Johnson |
State/territory representative, South Australia |
| Member | Ms Tanya McGregor | State/territory representative, South Australia |
| Member | Ms Belinda Fenney-Walch | State/territory representative, Tasmania |
|
Member |
Monica Barolits-McCabe |
Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association |
|
Member |
Kristy Crooks |
APPRISE Centre of Research Excellence |
|
Member |
Dr Bronwen Harvey |
Department of Health |
|
Member |
Andrea Kelly |
National Indigenous Australians Agency |
Meetings
The group meets regularly — currently twice a week — with urgent issues addressed daily.
Communiques
Lieutenant General John Frewen, Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly and CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) Pat Turner have co-signed a letter addressing COVID-19 vaccinations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19 Communiques
Communiques for the 2020 and 2021 meetings of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19.
Related committees or groups
The Advisory Group reports to the Chief Medical Officer, and regularly informs the:
Contact
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19 secretariat
Contact the secretariat if you have any questions about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19.