Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum (NTAHF)

The NT Aboriginal Health Forum (NTAHF) is the principal NT jurisdictional Aboriginal health planning partnership that provides strategic guidance and makes decisions about key policy issues to improve Aboriginal health and wellbeing. It supports health organisations across the NT to plan, share information and coordinate their programs and activities.

NTAHF is made up of AMSANT (Chair of NTAHF); the NT Department of Health; the NT Primary Health Network (NTPHN); Department of Chief Minister; the Commonwealth Department of Health, the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA); and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

NTAHF has a strong 20 year history and meets at least four times a year and acknowledges that all levels of government have a shared responsibility to Closing the Gap on Aboriginal disadvantage, as outlined in the National Indigenous Reform Agreement.

Importantly, the Forum oversees the transition or ‘regionalisation’ process that is planned for all NT Aboriginal health services under the Pathways to Community Control policy; and it considers and manages all requests from Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) for this transition. Many of the Forum’s priorities are those shared by AMSANT itself: primary health care; Social & Emotional Wellbeing; CQI; Aboriginal employment; the NDIS; digital health; data management.

The Forum is developing a Work Plan 2021-2024 that will complement the work of other agencies in Closing the Gap, and will focus on four key areas:

  • Social and cultural determinants of health
  • Primary health care
  • Hospitals, specialist care and allied health
  • Strengthening and monitoring health systems.