DHF Annual Report 2009 - NT Health Digital Library - Northern ...

Connecting CareAlmost every Australian will receive hospital care at some time in their life, whether in a birthing suite, outpatientsdepartment, emergency department, medical or surgical ward, cancer care facility, or a palliative care unit.Many will attend community health and remote health centres, and renal dialysis units, or receive help formental health concerns. Support services for families and children are also accessed frequently.A particular priority is to help people better manage their health and wellbeing in a non-hospital setting. Whenhospital visits are necessary, these should be handled in ways that are more convenient to the patient, offercare, earlier discharge and hospital-in-the-home strategies, and closer collaboration with General Practitionersand community health services.The Northern Territory is the nation’s most culturally diverse and geographically dispersed jurisdiction. It has a smallpopulation yet many complex health challenges. It also has the nation’s highest per capita rate of hospital admissions.Providing more alternatives to in-patient care must be the way of the future. Aboriginal people have a high burdenof disease that requires particular attention. This is aspecial challenge in the more remote communities.Key focus areasFamilies and the individuals who comprise them arecentral to the Northern Territory’s social fabric and to preventive, primary and acute health care provision, andthe support services that we provide. The Department’smatrix of health care and family services will continueto help Territorians have a good start in life, enjoy ahealthy childhood and adolescence.We delivered in 2009-10Working effectively and proactively with partners in thebuild the best possible service system for the NorthernTerritory.Placing clients and their needs at the centre of serviceplanning and service delivery.Ongoing participation in Territory Growth Town forums, collaborating with relevant agencies, to ensurethe Territory Growth Town initiatives.Planning is currently underway with a range of stakeholders to commence sexual health research into thecultural context and risk for adolescents. The Northern Territory component of this research is supportedthrough the Indigenous Early Childhood Development National Partnership Agreement with Menzies Schoolof Health Research managing the project. Research partners in the Northern Territory include Danila Dilba partners include South Australia and Western Australia governments.Appointed a Project Manager to conduct a needs analysis relating to opportunities for adolescent sexualhealth promotion in the Northern Territory. It is envisaged that seven Adolescent Sexual Health Promotion forms part of the Indigenous Early Childhood Development National Partnership Agreement. Senior Healthto provide support and advice to specialist and remote primary health care staff to develop and implementadolescent health programs.Employed a Project Coordinator in February 2010 to undertake a needs analysis investigating the current approach,barriers/opportunities and models of service delivery for adolescents with complex behavioural problems.36Department Health and Families