An historic agreement between the Tiwi people. the Territory Government and the Commonwealth providing greater autonomy for the community to decide health needs has been signed in Darwin.
The Tiwi Coordinated Care Trial Legal Agreement gives the green light to Medical Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme cashing out arrangements, pooling of health funding and coordination of care in the Tiwi Community Health Centres. The agreement will inject an additional $2.5 million of Commonwealth funds into Tiwi health services.
“This is a step forward for the Territory," NT Health Minister, Denis Burke said. "It marks the beginning of a new era in health care delivery for Aboriginal communities.
"The trial provides equity and access in health care delivery to Aboriginal Territorians."
Importantly, it will bring more of the much needed and entitled health funding to the community.
“I'm particularly pleased with the way the Tiwi have embraced the trial and their enthusiasm for it. I hope we'll soon see the Katherine trial signed up formally."
The Minister also congratulated the Commonwealth for the initiative.
Federal Minister for Health and Family Services. Dr Michael Wooldridge, said it was impossible to overstate the importance of the Tiwi coordinated care trial moving into the live phase.
"This marks a whole new approach to the way government works with communities to provide health services and meet their health challenges and needs," Dr Wooldridge, said.
"Coordinated care is very exciting because we are giving Tiwi much more choice and responsibility in how our funding is used, and a lot more flexibility in designing the health services that meets the community’s needs."
"This has the potential to dramatically lift the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, especially those living in remote and rural areas."
Currently the Tiwi Islands communities have extremely limited access to the medical and pharmaceutical benefit programs. The casing out of these programs represent approximately a 20-told increase in Commonwealth spending from these programs to the communities.
“The members of the Tiwi Health Board should be congratulated by all Australians because what they are doing is incredibly important and good," he said.
The signing was carried out by Tiwi Health Board Chair Therese Bourke, Territory Health
Services CEO Peter Plummer and the Federal Department of Health and Family Services' Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services (OATSIHS) First Assistant Secretary, Helen Evans.
The members of the Tiwi Health Board are: Therese Bourke (Chair), Denise Callender (Administrative Assistant), Lois Daniels, Gibson Farm, Darren Fernando, John Hicks
(Administrator/Executive), Walter Kerinaiua, Mark Mungatopi, Casimira Munkara, John Baptist Pupangaramirri, Marius Puruntatameri, Alberta Puruntatameni, Barry Purantatameri, Patrick Puruntatameni, Cyril Rioli, Maurice Rioli (MLA Representative), Claine Tiparui, Bernard Tipoloura (Executive Member and Liaison Officer), Charles Tipungwuti, Jimmy Tipungwuti, Robert Tipungwuti, Matthew Wonaeamirri.
"The Tiwi Health Board is very happy to be signing the agreement to commence the Tiwi Coordinated Care Trial, after all the development work that's been done." Board Chair, Therese Bourke said.
"'It is a great challenge for the Tiwi people. We’re grabbing with both hands this opportunity to improve the health of our people."
"We’re going to give it all we’ve got!"
The Commonwealth will contribute $I.7 million to the funds pool and a further $800,000 to support the trial. The Territory Government will also contribute to the pool for the services it currently provides.
This is in addition to the $1.8 million provided by the Commonwealth to assist in the development of the trial.
Dr Wooldridge said that funding has been provided for the development of similar coordinated care trials at Katherine in the Territory, Wilcannia in NSW and in Western Australia
