2024

7 February 2024

AMSANT welcomes Review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap

The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) today welcomed the release of the Australian Government Productivity Commission’s Review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

AMSANT CEO, Dr John Paterson, said: “The National Agreement on Closing the Gap was signed in 2020 by all Australian Governments and the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations. It is the formally agreed foundation to address the poor health, poverty and discrimination that our people continue to suffer due to the historical and continuing processes of colonisation.”

“Unfortunately, the Productivity Commission’s first review of the Agreement shows, that all too often, governments are not delivering on their commitments.”

Dr Paterson said that in the Northern Territory there had been some positive changes in health outcomes for Aboriginal people over the last twenty-five years.

“We have seen life expectancy for our men increase by 9 years between 1999 and 2018, and by about 5 years for our women over the same period. These positive changes have been driven by better health services, particularly by expanded primary health care delivered by our Aboriginal community controlled health services. We commend those governments and their departments that have listened to us and supported these positive changes.”

However, Dr Paterson sounded a note of caution: “The health gap is closing in the Northern Territory, but too slowly. Our people are still living their lives much sicker and dying much earlier than non-Indigenous Territorians. More needs to be done.”

He also warned that further progress in improving health status requires some of the drivers of ill-health – such as poverty, inequality, poor housing, and poor education – to be taken much more seriously by government.

“Unfortunately, even the partial progress we have seen in the health system has not been matched in other sectors,” he said.

Click here to download the full Media Release (PDF)

Media Inquiries:
Dr Jenny Summerville
0411 056 670

 

5 February 2024

AMSANT Pays Tribute to the Legacy of Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue, a Trailblazer for Indigenous Rights and Healthcare

The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) Board, it’s members and staff pay tribute to Dr Lowijta O’Donoghue.  A pivotal figure in advancing the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Dr O’Donoghue will be sadly missed but her legacy will remain.

Rob McPhee, Chair of the AMSANT Board, said, “Dr O’Donoghue will be remembered for her fearless leadership and tireless advocacy to improve the lives of our people.  Her strength and resilience serve as an inspiration for those of us who will continue in the fight.”

“She never shied away from a challenge or gave up on a fight.  Her dedication was unwavering.  She was truly one of Australia’s most remarkable leaders,” he said.

Rob McPhee, Chairperson, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory

John Paterson, CEO, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory

Media Inquiries:
John Paterson
0418 904 727

Click here to download the full Media Release (PDF)

2023

13 November 2023

Farewell to a passionate advocate for Aboriginal land rights

The news of the passing of Northern Land Council Chairman Dr Bush-Blanasi was a very sad day for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory and beyond, AMSANT CEO Dr John Paterson said today.

On behalf of AMSANT Board, members, and staff we extend our deepest condolences to Dr Bush- Blanasi’s family, NLC Board, members and staff.

“Growing up in Maningrida and Wugularr, Dr Bush-Blanasi learned from his Elders from a young age, both in the artistic community and the land rights movement,” said Dr Paterson.

“A major turning point for him was his presence at the Eva Valley Statement meeting and a growing involvement with the NLC, both as an elected member, an executive member and the second longest serving chair.

“In that role he was a passionate advocate for sea and land rights and Two-Way Learning on Country programs.

Dr Bush-Blanasi also served as a member of ATSIC as well as a number of other organisations. In 2023, Dr Bush-Blanasi was awarded an honorary doctorate by Charles Darwin University and was the Northern Territory Australian of the Year.

“He was also a strong friend and supporter to the Aboriginal community-controlled health sector— and provided affective leadership to ensure remote communities were kept safe and protected from covid spreading throughout our remote communities.

Media Inquiries:
Dr John Paterson
0418 904 727

Click here to download the full Media Release (PDF)

 

19 October 2023

Statement by the AMSANT regarding calls for a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT), representing Aboriginal community controlled health services across the Northern Territory, we reject attempts to politicise the issue of child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities.

Any abuse of any child is abhorrent, and profoundly offensive to Aboriginal culture which has at its heart the care and nurture of children.

We note calls in recent days for the establishment of a Royal Commission into Sexual Abuse in Indigenous communities.

Our Aboriginal organisations and communities do not minimise the issue of the abuse and neglect of children. This is why we support the work of the Northern Territory Children and Families Tripartite Forum, whose membership includes the Northern Territory and Australian governments working with Aboriginal organisations on child protection and youth justice issues.

This is how to make progress: Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, government and community, working together. It is not easy, but it is the focused, long-term work needed to make progress and protect our young people.

Rather than generate more recommendations from yet more inquiries, we need to ensure we implement existing recommendations from previous inquiries, including from the Royal Commission into the Care and Protection of Children.

On the other hand, political grandstanding by those who actively campaigned against Aboriginal communities having a voice on matters that concern us can only be divisive and destructive.

We also remind politicians that they are subject to the same laws on mandatory reporting of sexual abuse as all members of the community. If anyone has a reasonable belief of a case of a child being sexually abused, they are required by law under the Northern Territory’s Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 to report the matter to the police or other authorities.

Rather than yet another inquiry, we believe that the substantial resources required for a Royal Commission would be better used in services for our communities on the ground.

In particular, we suggest that those who have genuine concern for our Aboriginal children should demand action on the poverty and inequality in which so many of our children are forced to live; to ensure that they have access to schools and teaching that meet their needs; and to address the accelerating rates of incarceration of our young people.

Rob McPhee, Chairperson, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory

John Paterson, CEO, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory

In recognition of the Week of Silence we will not be making media comment on this matter.

Click here to read the full Media Release (PDF)

 

17 May 2023

Supporting the Uluru Statement From the Heart

The Board of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT) has reconfirmed its strong support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its recommendations regarding the establishment of a constitutionally enshrined ‘Voice to Parliament’ alongside a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making and truth-telling.

At its meeting in Katherine on 12th May, the AMSANT Board considered current circumstances impacting on the recognition and achievement of the Statement’s objectives. “Our Board Directors are strongly of the view that the Uluru Statement From the Heart provides the nation a precious opportunity to begin to resolve our unfinished business and to achieve fundamental change for our people”, said AMSANT Acting Chair, Rob McPhee.

“The vision and goodwill that has been offered to the nation through the Statement requires and deserves our trust.

The AMSANT Board emphasised its strong endorsement of the First Nations-led process that culminated in the National Constitutional Convention at Uluru in May 2017, bringing together First Nations delegates from across Australia to meet and to form a consensus position on the form that constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should take.

“We are now faced with a fast-approaching opportunity to progress the Statement’s call for the establishment of a National Voice to the Australian Federal Parliament that is established through a referendum and enshrined in the Australian Constitution,” Mr McPhee said.

“We must do our best to ensure that the referendum is given every chance of succeeding so that we can take the next steps with trust in our parliamentary process.

“AMSANT will be urging a ‘yes’ vote at the referendum.

“As a peak Aboriginal community-controlled health body we recognise only too well the substantive structural change that is required given the ongoing burden of poverty, discrimination and ill-health that our people continue to bear.

“The Uluru Statement From the Heart will make a difference but can only do so if we allow it to succeed. It is both a gift and a challenge that we ignore at our peril,” Mr McPhee concluded.

Media comment: David Cooper, 0418 486310

Click here to read the full Media Release (PDF)

2022

27 October 2022

AMSANT response to ABC TV Four Corners program on murdered and missing Aboriginal women

AMSANT today expressed deep concern about the crisis of murdered and missing Aboriginal women in Australia, documented in the recent ABC TV Four Corners program ‘How many more?’

AMSANT Chief Executive Officer, Dr John Paterson, said: “I know that the level of concern and despair that we feel is shared by very many people across the nation.

“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those First Nations women who have suffered unimaginable deaths at the hands of perpetrators. We express to them our deepest condolences and respects.

“The individual and collective trauma that accompanies the wholly unacceptable violence against Aboriginal women is made all the more painful by our knowledge of the institutional racism that helps to fuel this epidemic.

“The policing and justice systems must be accountable for their actions in failing to protect Aboriginal women by not taking their pleas for help seriously.

“Their systems must be reformed to recognise and respond to the danger signals and to provide culturally safe responses to Aboriginal women reporting domestic violence.

“Importantly, we must elevate the voices of Aboriginal women in this space, including through strong mechanisms for Aboriginal governance. We already have great examples of inspiring leadership being shown, for example, from Aunty June Oscar through the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) project:

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are calling for all Australian governments to significantly refocus and invest in early intervention and prevention support. They want a system grounded in their self-determination and underpinned by healing and restorative approaches, aimed at supporting individuals and families, while also improving the conditions, and transforming the context in which people live”.

“We must listen to their voices”, Dr Paterson concluded.

Media comment: Dr John Paterson, 0418 904 727

Click here to read the full Media Release (PDF)

 

17 June 2022

AMSANT Chair, Donna Ah Chee, awarded Honorary Doctorate

AMSANT is proud to acknowledge the awarding of an Honorary Doctor of Arts to our Chair and Congress CEO, Donna Ah Chee, by Charles Darwin University yesterday.

The award took place at a ceremony in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) where she has lived and worked for the past 30 years.
AMSANT CEO, Dr John Paterson congratulated Ms Ah Chee on her well-deserved honour in recognition of her significant contribution to the health of First Nations peoples.

“Donna has distinguished herself through the outstanding leadership she has provided to the Aboriginal community-controlled health services (ACCHS) sector, including many years as CEO of Central Australia Aboriginal Congress and as Chair and Director of AMSANT”, Dr Paterson said.

“Her leadership has also been recognised through many high-level appointments to boards and advisory bodies in Aboriginal health and related areas, including the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (NACCHO), the NT Aboriginal Health Forum and the NT Children and Families Tripartite Forum.

“Donna has been a driving force in the development and expansion of the model of Aboriginal comprehensive primary health care delivered by our ACCHSs and broader reforms of the health system that together are required to achieve better health outcomes for our people.

“Her passion and significant contribution in the areas of early childhood development, education, health research and reducing alcohol harm have been widely recognised.

“Donna has also made a significant contribution over the past two years to the NT’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Donna’s many achievements, tireless dedication and respect as an Aboriginal leader and proud Bundjalung woman more than qualify her for this honour and I am pleased to convey our heart-felt congratulations to her on behalf of our staff, board and members”, Dr Paterson concluded.

Media inquiries: John Paterson 0418 904 727

Click here to read the full Media Release (PDF)

 

18 May

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

CONSULT NOW: Aboriginal Communities Must Not be Blindsided by New Liquor Laws 

A coalition of Territory Peak organisations for Health, Justice and the Community Sector are demanding better consultation for Aboriginal Communities and a commitment to better process from government, after the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly passed new Liquor Act amendments last night. 

Even before Commonwealth legislation was introduced 15 years ago, restricting alcohol sales in Aboriginal Communities, many remote communities were already dry as General Restricted Areas. Over 400 new areas were added to this as Alcohol Protected Areas (APAs). Now, without proper consultation, new laws passed by the NT Parliament last night will see free access to take-away alcohol for people living in more than 400 APAs as of the 17th July 2022. 

The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT (AMSANT), North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), Northern Territory Council of Social Service (NTCOSS), Danila Dilba Health Service (DDHS), Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (CAAC), Alcohol and Association of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies NT (AADANT), NT Police Association and the People’s Alcohol Action Coalition (PAAC) are calling for urgent consultation, so Aboriginal Communities aren’t blindsided by these new laws. 

NAAJA CEO Priscilla Atkins 

“You need to ask: ‘Who benefits from this?’ It’s not your Territory, and it’s not our community, it’s the people selling alcohol! So why has this legislation gone through? 

“What the NT Government has done now is opened up the floodgates. There should have been genuine consultation on this over the past two years, speaking to the elders in the community. Some communities might want to have alcohol, but they’ve got to have strong alcohol management plans in place. 

“The impact this will have on Territorians will be absolutely devastating. We already have so many problems related to alcohol. Our hospitals are full, our domestic violence rates are the highest in the nation and rising, and the justice system is clogging up. 

“What the NT Government has just done will add to that harm. It’s absolutely disgusting.” 

AMSANT CEO Prof. John Paterson 

“We’re calling on the NT Government to ensure that no take-away alcohol can be newly accessed until there is an open transparent negotiation process, that involves key community stakeholders, including women’s groups and youth groups. There must be genuine consultation. 

“This is disappointing legislation from the NT Government and the process around it has been shameful. We want a commitment from the Northern Territory Government to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the development of any future legislation that impacts our communities. 

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must be consulted on the laws affecting us.” 

NTCOSS CEO Deborah Di Natale 

“The rushed passage of this legislation, before adequate consultation with Aboriginal communities and against the advice of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in the NT, is disgraceful. 

“The NT Government must begin genuine consultation with Aboriginal people as a matter of urgency. The Fyles Government also need to provide more funding for the prevention and response to alcohol related harm and resource the NGO sector to manage the increase in need predicted.” 

AADANT CEO Peter Burnheim 

“The lack of consultation on this significant change to alcohol management in communities, and the Government’s lack of engagement or sufficient response to serious and legitimate concerns that have been raised around this change is highly problematic. 

“We want to be working constructively with Government to identify and develop appropriate and effective solutions to the Territory’s alcohol crisis, but in this instance they have completely ignored members of the communities that will be affected, the Community Sector and Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations.” 

Danila Dilba Health Service CEO Rob McPhee 

“Our frontline health services are stretched as it is, and the impact of this legislative change will be significant. 

“Alcohol-related harm contributes to high rates of anti-social behavior, assaults, crime, domestic and family violence, and road fatalities. 

“We know the devastating impacts of alcohol in our community and this decision is a step in the wrong direction. We urge the government to engage with our sector and with communities in a genuine way before this goes any further.” 

Central Australian Aboriginal Congress CEO Donna Ah Chee 

“This will turn the clock back towards the days where Alice Springs was far from a normal town due to alcohol-related social disorder. 

“We know that the PALIs are only working because of the Alcohol Protected Areas and this will make their job unworkable. 

“I in the first year after their introduction in Alice Springs we saw over 1800 fewer alcohol related emergency department presentations, over 500 fewer alcohol related assaults and over 250 fewer domestic violence assaults. 

“The High Court’s decision in Palm Island was clear that: 

[it] is the right of Aboriginal persons, in particular women and children, to a life free of violence, harm and social disorder brought about by alcohol abuse.’ 

“Access to take-away alcohol should be regulated to protect these fundamental rights and we know how effective the PALIs have been in this regard. 

“Both the NT and Commonwealth Governments have failed to ensure Aboriginal people are properly protected from the harm that we know alcohol causes.” 

People’s Alcohol Action Coalition Dr John Boffa 

“It is not often that an alcohol policy measure is as effective as the PALIs have been in reducing alcohol-related harm. 

“There is nothing in the short to medium term that will offset the harms that this will cause in spite of the continuation of all the funding that came with Stronger Futures. 

“Alcohol related assaults, including domestic assaults and other harms, such as the negative impact on healthy development in young children will now get worse again. 

“This is a Special Measure under the Racial Discrimination Act because it is so effective and enjoys significant support from the Aboriginal community including no legal appeal in the last decade. 

“It will now be up to the Federal government to do what is needed given the failure of the NT Government to listen and respond to requests for an ‘opt out system.” 

Northern Territory Police Association President Paul McCue 

“The Northern Territory Government committed to consulting with communities and key stakeholders in 2017 at the release of the recommendations of their own Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review. 

“The passing of this legislation goes completely against what the Government claims to be achieving in relation to reducing alcohol-related harm, and our members have raised significant concern about the impacts on the frontline as a result of these changes. 

“Our already stretched resources will now undoubtably suffer further strain, not to mention the risk to them, other frontline workers and the wider community as a result of alcohol related harm. 

“Residents in communities and town camps will now likely be subject to an increase of violence and isolation given we already know the NT has the highest per capita consumption of alcohol in Australia, the highest rate of risky alcohol consumption in Australia, the country’s highest rates of hospitalisation related to alcohol misuse, and that forty percent of all road fatalities in the NT involve an illegal blood alcohol concentration (Alcohol Review). 

“We urge the Government to immediately consult with key stakeholders in a meaningful way, to ensure important protections for workers and families are not lost.” 

Media Contacts:
NTCOSS 0487 888 753
Danila Dilba 0419 634 686
AMSANT 0418 904 727
CAAC 0408 741 691
AADANT 0429 009 599
PAAC 0418 812 141 NT Police Assoc. 0499 017 654 

Click here to read the full JOINT Media Release (PDF)

 

22 April 2022

NT Government must withdraw Stronger Futures Alcohol Bill

The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory (AMSANT), the Northern Australia  Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) and the Aboriginal Housing NT (AHNT) are calling on the Northern  Territory Government to immediately shelve legislation that could allow take-away alcohol into more  than 430 Community Living Areas, town camps and other small communities from mid-July *. 

These communities became Alcohol Protected Areas (APAs) under the 2007 Federal Intervention, and this  continued under Federal Labor’s Stronger Futures legislation. The alcohol-related Stronger Futures  provisions will expire on 16th July. Territory communities that were already ‘dry’ General Restricted Areas  for many years, through their own choice, will keep that status – but the APA communities will have to  apply to stay alcohol-free or the condition will lapse and they will have no restrictions. 

If the Government’s amendments to the Liquor Act Bill is passed in May, it will open the floodgates to  take-away alcohol unless communities ask the Director of Licensing to declare them ‘dry.’ 

“There has been no proper consultation, and there simply cannot be any in the short time available.  Aboriginal health organisations and peak bodies did not know about the Bill,” said Mr Paterson, CEO of  AMSANT. 

“Consultations for the proposed changes have not even begun”, Mr Paterson said. 

“This is a dangerous move that could undo the good results of many of the Government’s own alcohol  reforms. It will affect many small communities, homelands and outstations close to larger ones and some  larger remote communities as well. If they either do nothing or choose to let take-away alcohol in, the  upshot will be a mix of ‘dry’ and unrestricted communities that will be impossible to monitor, with alcohol  flowing freely between them – a recipe for disaster,” said Priscilla Atkins, CEO of NAAJA. 

“This Government has introduced many excellent alcohol reforms, and this sudden and puzzling change is  a backward step that has not been explained properly to anyone. Why not move to an opt out system  instead which would ensure all communities make an active decision about what they want to do rather  than simply have the current protections taken away,” added Mr. Paterson. 

“The alcohol-related Stronger Futures provisions, combined with the Minimum Unit Price (MUP) or floor  price, and especially the presence of Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors (PALIs) in Alice Springs, Tennant  Creek and Katherine, has kept a lot of alcohol out of these communities. 

“What will happen in central Australia under the proposed NT amendments, for example, is that residents  of communities that don’t ask to stay alcohol-free, such as outstations, town camps, and communities like Amoonguna, will be able to buy take-away alcohol and drink it in their home communities. Some of these  communities are very close to larger, historically ‘dry’ communities – Ntaria/Hermannsburg for example.

It’s as clear as day that alcohol will end up all over the place.”

“We predict that this will lead to an increase in alcohol-related harm, including illness, injury and  offending. In many Territory towns, residents, businesses, police and other agencies are struggling with  ongoing high rates of property and personal offences, mostly committed by youth. We don’t need more  trouble,” said Leeanne Caton from Aboriginal Housing NT. 

“How will the PALIs in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine be able to differentiate between  customers from the continuing, historically restricted communities and what could be hundreds that will  be allowed to have alcohol if they don’t ‘opt in’?”, she continued. 

“What will happen to women, kids and other at-risk people in Darwin’s town camps and remote Top End  outstations when people can buy take-away alcohol again? It is simply not possible for them to have a  say about this in such a short time. Consultations on the proposed changes have not yet begun”, she  added. 

“The Chief Minister and other NT Ministers are trying to justify the change to the general public by saying  the current law is racist. We say it is a beneficial special measure under High Court’s current definition  and should continue for at least two years with provision for communities to opt out after proper  consultation if they so choose. To pull out now without such consultation would be utterly irresponsible,”  said Priscilla Atkins. 

The NT Government has negotiated continued Federal funding, including for children’s services, mental  health and alcohol treatment services in the NT with the cessation of Stronger Futures in July. It should  not turn around and simultaneously let alcohol flow into these communities, and the Federal  Government should not stand by and let it happen. 

“We call on the Chief Minister in the strongest terms to cease playing with Aboriginal people’s lives. High  levels of alcohol consumption continue to lead to serious health and social problems in the Territory. This  Bill must be withdrawn now, or the Federal Government must act.” concluded Mr. Paterson 

Media Contacts: 
John Paterson: 0418 904 727
Priscilla Atkins: 0427 045 665
Leeanne Caton: 0419 749 226

https://ministers.pmc.gov.au/wyatt/2022/extension-remote-aboriginal-investment-northern-territory

Click here to read the full AMSANT Media Release (PDF)

 

 

8 April 2022

AMSANT CEO, John Paterson, awarded Honorary Doctorate of Arts

AMSANT is very proud to recognise the significant achievement of our Chief Executive Officer, John (Patto) Paterson, in being awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of Arts by Charles Darwin University (CDU).

John, received the honour in recognition of his leadership, commitment, and exemplary work over many decades, particularly in the Aboriginal community-controlled health sector and advocating for Aboriginal Territorians during COVID-19. John’s achievement is especially significant for the ‘AMSANT Family’ that John has led for the past 16 years as our CEO, supporting the personal and professional development of so many staff and strongly advocating for our Aboriginal community-controlled health service members.

John is a proud born and bred Territorian with family ties to the Ngalakan people in Ngukurr and has worked in Aboriginal affairs in the public and community sectors since 1979 at a local, Territory and Federal level, focusing on First Nations health, housing and education.

Donna Ah Chee, Chair of AMSANT said, “John’s commitment and leadership in Aboriginal Affairs has essentially been life long, and is now being rightly highlighted and formally acknowledged by Charles Darwin University. “It is important to recognise people like John, who are local, who have lived experience, and believe change for the better can and will happen when we listen to the people we serve and work together with our hearts in the right place.”

At the Territory level, John currently chairs the NT Aboriginal Health Forum, and has championed its strategic importance in Aboriginal health, particularly in the process of transitioning government health clinics to Aboriginal community control. A similar vision has characterised John’s strong leadership as part of the engagement of the Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT (APO NT) as a member of the National Coalition of Peak Aboriginal Organisations (CoPs) in the development of the Closing the Gap National Agreement. John also represents the CoPs on the National Council on Closing the Gap.

John has held many leadership roles in Aboriginal organisations as well as in community and government roles. Recently, he was appointed the co-chair of the new CDU-Menzies School of Medicine board, where he has committed to the growth of the Territory’s own Aboriginal medical and health workforce.

His award of the title of Honorary Doctor of Arts by Charles Darwin University is very well-deserved, and in his own words “is representative of not only personal achievement, but more so an acknowledgement of the efforts of all AMSANT and member service staff and our united vision of improving the health and wellbeing of all Aboriginal Territorians.”

Media inquiries: David Cooper 0418 486310

Click here to read the full AMSANT Media Release (PDF)

 

 

23 February 2022

SHAMEFUL BACKFLIP ON SPIT HOODS AND RESTRAINTS

Aboriginal leaders and community sector advocates are calling on the Northern Territory Government to stop playing games on the detention and protection of children.

Revelations in the NT News that spit hoods and restraints are still being used on children in the Northern Territory, years after the Chief Minister Michael Gunner and the Northern Territory Government promised they would be banned, are both shocking and concerning.

The Royal Commission into the Detention and Protection of Children in the Northern Territory was clear in its findings that spit hoods can cause distress.

The Royal Commission recommended the use of spit hoods and restraints be prohibited in the NT and those recommendations were fully supported by the Gunner Government.

The Territory government again confirmed its position on the use of spit hoods and restraints in Parliament just last year.

In debate on the Labor Government’s new bail laws, Minister Kate Worden told Parliament: “We will not reintroduce things like spit hoods or strapping young offenders into chairs, and we will not be locking them up 24 hours a day in solitary confinement.”

Aboriginal Leader and AMSANT CE John Paterson says:

“These revelations are disgraceful,” said Mr Paterson.

“At a time when we have been working to build better relationships with NT Police over Covid-19, the use of these methods betray our young people—instead of therapeutic rehabilitation, we are seeing retribution.

“Yes, young kids do get in trouble—no one denies that—but to respond with the violence that has been condemned by the 2016 Royal Commission is totally the wrong answer.”

Danila Dilba CE Rob McPhee says the use of spit-hoods in unacceptable.

“Spit hoods are degrading and harmful to young people with the very real risks of asphyxiation and choking,” Rob McPhee said.

“Their continued use is a direct retreat from the recommendations of the Royal Commissions, not to mention a backflip to statements made by representatives in both Governments in 2016, committing to prohibiting the use of spit hoods.”

“The fact that spit hoods are increasingly used is alarming and should stop immediately.”

The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency Principal Legal Officer David Woodroffe says the use of spit hoods and restraint on children must stop.

NTCOSS: media@ntcoss.org.au or 0487 888 753
John Paterson 0418904727
Danila Dilba: communications@ddhs.org.au or 0419 634 686

Click here to read the full AMSANT Media Release (PDF)

 

7 February 2022

Control of COVID outbreak questioned

AMSANT today expressed concern at the description of the NT COVID-19 outbreak as “under control”. “The COVID outbreak has demonstrated that complacency and overly-optimistic assurances present a real risk of avoidable adverse consequences”, AMSANT Chief Executive Officer, John Paterson, said.

“AMSANT is concerned that evidence that the NT COVID response is not under control is not being sufficiently acknowledged:

  1. Hospitalisations are now higher than the peak Doherty Institute said we could safely cope with.
  2. All elective surgery has been cancelled and hospitals are relying on overtime and double shifts with more staff away with COVID at the same time as they are full of COVID patients.
  3. The NT has the highest per capita rate of hospitalisations in the country – our current rate is the equivalent of double the NSW peak.
  4. There are still too many people who have not had their boosters.
  5. About 10 government clinics in Central Australia remain with reduced or only visiting services.
  6. Specialist outreach services remain cancelled.
  7. There has been a significant shortage of RATS which has slowed testing in many communities.
    This is now improving.
  8. People can’t self-isolate due to overcrowding.
  9. Workforce burnout and disruption of non-COVID PHC care is a threat to the current outbreak response and recovery.

“We are very thankful for the low number of deaths but every death matters.

“We understand that this is largely a mild disease for those who are fully vaccinated especially where boosted but too many people aren’t. Boosters are essential protection particularly for older and sicker people who still have significant risk of hospitalisation if they are only double vaccinated.

“We need to do more to flatten the curve and the single most important additional measure is to ensure positive people are provided a safe place to isolate where they can be fed and supported when this cannot be achieved in their homes. This would help stop positive people moving around in the community because they have to get food and because they don’t want to stay at home and infect others. This will slow the spread.

“Continuing with a mask mandate outdoors is also an important tool in reducing spread. We know positive people are moving round in towns and communities and we need them to be wearing masks at all times.

“We know we can’t stop spread but we need to still flatten the curve as case numbers continue at 1000 a day with no sign of the peak they have been promising for weeks. The high case numbers will continue to translate into high hospital numbers if we don’t slow it down.

“We once again call on the government to immediately establish group isolation facilities that could be supportive places for many positive people who then don’t have to infect their households. We are going to need these places for the next 12 months or more and isolated hotel rooms are not acceptable. People need to be able to mix and move while infected inside a supportive facility. This has not been possible in Central Australia at all.

“There should be group isolation facilities at least in all the regional centres so transport is not the major barrier it has been and it’s not too far from home”, Mr Paterson concluded.

Media inquiries: John Paterson 0418 904 727

Click here to read the full AMSANT Media Release (PDF)

 

“Good news for the Tackling Indigenous Smoking National Programs. Keep up the great work all the Tackling Indigenous Smoking teams, AMSANT will provide as much information as possible once more details are announced”

“Tackling Smoking is everyone’s business!”

[Read the article here]

2021

20 Dec 2021

CALL FOR BARKLY-TENNANT CREEK COMMUNITY COVID LOCKDOWN–NOW!!

The opening of NT borders at midnight last night is deeply concerning for our people whilst the NT is unable to contain the Katherine outbreak which has now spread to the highly vulnerable  Barkly region with a very concerning escalation of cases in the last 24 hours including to Ali Curung,” AMSANT CEO John Paterson said this morning.

“We are calling—now—for a community-by-community lockdown on our communities in the Barkly-Tennant Creek region until at least COB Friday,” said Mr Paterson.

“No ifs or buts.

“The outbreak comes at the worst possible time with the Commonwealth surge vaccination workforce now ceasing work till January and with primary health care staffing shortages at an unprecedented level

“We are calling on the army to be bought in to work with the police on enforcement and to bolster our health workforce if we are unable to get health staff from other sources urgently’.

All of the seven remote clinics in the Barkly LGA needs to be well staffed so any cases can be detected promptly through screening and so that vaccination can be offered to all eligible community members given low vaccination rates across the region. We also need to ensure that there is enough surge vaccination and testing staff in Tennant Creek.

“This requires additional staff to be bought in immediately across the Barkly given we are facing unprecedented staffing shortages and the Barkly is struggling more than most areas to staff remote clinics across the region.

“It will be very difficult to find nurses through usual sources at this time of year so army clinical staff or AUSMAT teams should be  mobilised to ensure there is enough support.  

“We know, and both Territory and Commonwealth governments know, that the Barkly is the LGA with the lowest Indigenous vaccination rates in the NT, with Commonwealth data from last week demonstrating that only 45% of Aboriginal people are fully vaccinated. The health profile of Aboriginal people in the Barkly is one of the worst in the NT with very high rates of diabetes and kidney disease.

 “We are pleased that Tennant Creek is in lockdown—this is very necessary and needs to be extended despite the hardship this is causing.  

“We are urging the Government to put every single community in the Barkly into a community lockdown to stop people moving between communities. At present people can move between remote communities in the Barkly but they are unable to leave the whole region without permission. We do not know how many communities may be harbouring the virus and we need to take action to reduce the risk that the outbreak spreads to further communities.”

The Barkly is a vast and sparsely populated region with many back roads. 

“We just do not have enough police across the whole Barkly region enforce the lockdown in Tennant and lockout in the Barkly,” said Mr Paterson.

“AMSANT still thinks it is unwise to open the borders today. The government needs to have a low threshold for reversing the decision and requiring at least one week of home quarantine.

“We are the most at risk jurisdiction in Australia with the sickest population and the most fragile health system. We cannot afford to take the risks that other jurisdictions are taking. 

“AMSANT is asking that the NT government immediately introduce a mask mandate for all indoor spaces and large outdoor gatherings, and institute a vaccine passport system for entertainment venues including pubs, clubs, restaurants and non-essential shops right across the NT.  

“Tasmania has just introduced a mask mandate, and Victoria and Queensland have a strong vaccine passport system. These are prudent measures which will reduce the risk of super spreader events and drive up vaccination rates in our people which are still too low.

Media Inquiries: John Paterson 0418 904 727

Click here to read the full AMSANT Media Release

 

21 Nov 2021

AMSANT’s position statement following Chief Minister’s announcement on 20 Nov (Saturday NT News).

We are very pleased with how the NT Government has reacted to the outbreaks in Katherine and Robinson River and a very likely outbreak in Binjari (no positive cases but strongly positive sewerage testing). The “contain and test” remote outbreak response in Robinson River has been implemented as planned and has been very effective.  NT Government staff have gone above and beyond to protect our people and we thank them all sincerely.

Our services in the Katherine region have also worked very hard. This has been a particularly hard time for Wurli Wurlijang with many staff in quarantine. Our thoughts go out to all our people who are sick with COVID or are who in quarantine. It is very sad to see that it has affected our elders and a 3 week old baby.

There are some great steps forward in today’s announcement. We are especially pleased that only fully vaccinated people will be able to enter the NT from Monday. This is a great step forward and it represents a hard border for the unvaccinated.  This is something AMSANT has wanted for quite some time.

We are concerned about a weak positive sewerage testing in an area of Palmerson and believe that the mask mandate should have stayed at least for the Palmerston area until we had a second sewerage test. We do not think it is wise to downgrade the protections that were already in place in the situation of a new positive sewage test. [Such a mistake arguably contributed to cluster 2 in Katherine].

We are generally supportive of the next phase of the home quarantine trial but we note the trial reduces the quarantine period to one week and at the same time removes restrictions on the movement of household residents – only the person in quarantine is restricted. The next step should not be taken until the trial is evaluated. There are some additional risks in the trial and we need to proceed carefully.

We would like our communities to be at least 80% double vaccinated for those 12 and over,  and preferably 90% prior to open borders and ideally we would have liked children aged 5-12 to be vaccinated before full opening of the borders as the Doherty Institute has recommended. This of course can’t happen until the vaccine become available for this age group.

It is important to note that the second dose is not fully effective for up to two weeks after the vaccination. Even if every unvaccinated Territorian had their first vaccine on Monday – they would not be fully protected by December 20th

Some of our most vulnerable people will still be at risk even with two vaccinations. This includes the large number of dialysis patients who really need 3 vaccines to be fully protected. This won’t be achieved for many of these people by December 20th.

We were pleased with the increase in vaccination rates across our sector last week.  However, our vaccination rates did not jump up by 9% everywhere. Some low vaccination communities increased by that much. Others increased much less and that may be due to staffing shortages and the need to undertake COVID 19 testing.

From Friday’s data, 17 out of 29 of our services have reached the threshold of 70% first vaccination in their communities and most of those are also at the 80% threshold.  That leaves 12 of our communities who are less than 70% first vaccination and some of these have much lower rates than 70%.   Services in some of these low vaccination communities are facing significant staffing shortages. Staffing shortages often get worse leading up to Christmas. There are also still a lot of NTG clinics that have vaccination rates that are less than 70% as well, although there has been some very good improvements in both government and community controlled services.  First vaccination rates from Commonwealth data in Aboriginal people in Katherine and Alice Springs have not hit 70% yet from Commonwealth data although they are close. The Barkly is only at 46% at least one dose.

We really need to ramp up the vaccination in all our communities next week. We are asking the NT and Commonwealth governments to work urgently to provide us with a crisis surge vaccination workforce in all low vaccination communities that have significant staffing shortages. Some have additional surge workforce coming in 3 weeks but with the timelines suddenly being shortened, this is too long to wait.

If we can’t ramp up the surge vaccination rates next week, and if communities (including urban communities) are still at risk in early December, we need to reconsider the plan move to quarantine free travel on 20 December. All local government areas should be at 80% double vaccination but it is hard to see the Barkly region getting up to 80% double vaccination by December 20th. We will however work hard to try to achieve this by then in all LGAs across the NT.

The government is also relying too heavily on rapid antigen testing (RAT). For people who do not have symptoms, it will only pick up 6 out of 10 infections – it is nowhere near as reliable as the gold standard PCR tests. The usefulness of RAT improves if it is done more often and when we do move to no quarantine it will probably need to be done daily for the first week. It is much less invasive and easy to use than the PCR test and daily testing increases the sensitivity significantly.

The World Health Organisation does not recommend use of rapid antigen testing in areas like the NT with low rates of COVID 19. High risk people without symptoms should have the more accurate PCR test as should people with symptoms. The main use of this test, with all its additional convenience, is in areas where there is already a lot of virus in the community known as high prevalence areas. We are not ruling out its use but one negative RAT for a person coming from a red zone, even though they will be double vaccinated, is not enough to be confident they are not infected – at this point we are starting to take a big risk and we need to know we have the vaccination levels to protect us.

We were not involved in the decision about the date to move to no quarantine. We do need to be involved in how to reduce the risk to our people moving forward.

Media Inquiries: John Paterson 0418 904 727

 

20 Nov 2021

Stay Safe, Stay on Country, Care for Family and Get Vaccinated!

An important message to community members in the Greater Katherine area from the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory (AMSANT) and the Northern, Tiwi and Anindilyakwa Land Councils

On Sunday 21 November the Chairmen and CEOs of the Northern, Tiwi and Anindilyakwa Land Councils and AMSANT held an urgent meeting in Darwin to send a strong message about the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in the Katherine region, particularly at the Robinson River community in the Gulf and the Binjari and Rockhole communities near Katherine.

AMSANT and all of the Land Councils, in particular the Northern Land Council, have been receiving many calls and requests for information and advice from people concerned about potential spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Today’s meeting authorised the following statement for attribution to AMSANT and the three Top End Land Councils:

“The Land Councils and AMSANT are confident that the NT government is taking all appropriate steps to protect the community members at the Binjari and Rockhole communities and they are satisfied with the earlier responses at Robinson River and Katherine township.

The broader community in the Katherine region and beyond should take appropriate steps to make sure that COVID-19 does not spread to any other Aboriginal communities in the Katherine region and beyond. If you have been in Katherine after 7 November you must get tested. This virus is coming for us Aboriginal people so we need to do the right things to stop it spreading.

Community members in and around the Katherine region should follow these three steps:

  • Stay Put – as NLC Chair Samuel Bush-Blanasi said earlier this week: ‘Countrymen and whitefellas need to stop moving in and out of Aboriginal communities,’
  • Wear a Mask if you are in Katherine, Robinson River, Binjari or Rockhole communities and the Roper Gulf and West Daly local government areas,
  • Get Vaccinated as soon as you can.

The best thing that Aboriginal people can do is ‘Stay Safe, Stay on Country, Care for Family and Get Vaccinated.’” For up-to-date information go to: https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/

NLC Media contact: Bob Gosford 0448 226 943

 

16 Nov 2021

Better safe than sorry–for all of us!

AMSANT has called for Territory-wide caution in light of our first Aboriginal COVID-19 cases, including our first on a very remote community.

AMSANT CEO John Paterson said “this is potentially our Wilcannia moment—this is our call for maximum vigilance at a clinical and political level—but more importantly a call for maximum care and love for our families and friends.

“What we need now is for all of us in remote communities, as well as our larger towns and cities, to refocus on the simple issues we have emphasised from the first,” said Mr Paterson.

“Stay at home, care for your families, protect your communities. Call the clinic if you are experiencing any
health difficulties.

“This applies wherever you are in the Territory, not just Katherine and Robinson River.

“And do the right thing: get vaccinated as a matter of urgency to protect our Elders and Kids,” said Mr. Paterson.

Media inquiries: John Paterson 0418 904 727

Click here to read the full AMSANT Media Release

 

10 Nov 2021

A safe COVID opening for the Northern Territory

The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT) today outlined key principles and actions required for a safe COVID opening up of the Northern Territory. These were agreed to following the release of the new Doherty modelling for the NT and following a meeting of AMSANT’s Board in Darwin yesterday.

“Critical to reopening is the need to achieve a safe threshold of high vaccination rates across NT communities as well as reliable data to tell us when we have reached these thresholds and can safely take the next steps,” AMSANT CEO, John Paterson said.

“AMSANT has supported the agreed road map which requires 80% double dose coverage across all five regions. The Doherty modelling that has been released is clear that inclusion of children aged 5-11 is critical to protecting our communities. We agree with a revised target of 80% vaccine coverage from 5 years and above before opening up, beginning two months after vaccination becomes available for this group. In the meantime we need to maintain the need for 90% coverage for Aboriginal people over the age of 16.

The AMSANT Board supports home quarantining with regular testing as long as it occurs only in urban areas with vaccine coverage of at least 80% double dose and only in households where everyone is vaccinated who is eligible to be vaccinated. To ensure compliance, there needs to continue to be signed agreements by all that make it clear that if there is a breach of quarantine, the whole household will be required to enter supervised quarantine at their own expense.

“With regard to the requirement for rapid antigen testing and mask wearing in remote communities below 70% first vaccination levels for people 16 years and over, AMSANT was not included in discussions about the justification for this specific new measure. We have been involved in discussions about the need for additional measures to protect vulnerable remote communities with low vaccination rates which we support. We are also concerned that an overly punitive approach to the implementation of this measure could undermine efforts to accelerate vaccination in these communities. It is critical that the government engages meaningfully on why and how this measure should be implemented and alternatives, such as vaccine passports, that would avoid punitive and potentially criminalising consequences.

“Reliable data is essential to tell us when it is safe to act. The Commonwealth Australian Immunisation Register estimation of NT immunisation coverage is currently 67% double dose, or about 11% lower than NT Government estimates. We trust the Commonwealth methodology, that every other jurisdiction, including those with remote regions, are using. We know that the NT’s data (using a jab in arms methodology) includes many visitors, causing an overestimate of the immunisation rate for people who actually live in the NT.

“Consequently, we believe that the current stated intention of the NT Government to take crucial steps in relaxing COVID restrictions at the 80% double dose level based on its faulty data is unsafe and so we are asking that the NT Government agrees to use Commonwealth data.
“AMSANT believes that data sharing between the NT Government and the ACCHS sector is essential, and wishes to clarify that, contrary to the claims of the Chief Minister, our sector has been sharing immunisation data at a community level with the NT Government for months now.

Click here to read the full AMSANT Media Release

 

29 Apr 2021

Health advocates welcome announcement to halt Darwin Dan Murphy’s and encourage an earlier release of the Independent Panel Review report

An Independent Panel Review appointed by Woolworths to investigate the proposed development of a Dan Murphy’s megastore in Darwin has recommended that Woolworths halt their plans.

The independent panel, chaired by Danny Gilbert AM, presented a suite of recommendations to the board of Woolworths and confirmed what Darwin health and community advocates have known for years. Woolworths did not conduct adequate stakeholder engagement about the proposed large- scale liquor store and should not proceed with the development.

While the community health organisations welcome today’s announcement and acknowledge the important step, Woolworths is taking in considering its social impact, they remain cautious of intentions for further development.

For John Paterson, CEO of AMSANT, Olga Havnen (CEO of Danila Dilba Health Service) and Deborah Di Natale (CEO of NTCOSS), the announcement brings an end to five years of advocating against the store due to the increase in alcohol related harm it would bring to Darwin.

“As a long-term advocate against this Dan Murphy’s store, it’s really great to see that the concerns of health professionals and community leaders are finally being heard after five long years. However, this is only a small part of the work we do every day in mitigating the acute and long-term harm that alcohol causes in our community” Mr Paterson said.

Read More >> Health Organisations Welcome Woolworths decision