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Katherine West Health Board, NT
The Katherine West Health Board Aboriginal Corporation (KWHB) was established
to
implement the Katherine West Coordinated Care Trial, covering the communities
west of
Katherine to the NT/WA border.
Prior to the Trial, all health services in the region were delivered
by the Northern Territory
Government. The Trial involved the NT and Federal Governments ‘pooling’
funds which
were put under the control of an elected Board of Aboriginal community
representatives from
throughout the region.
The NT Government contributed funds it would otherwise have spent on
health services in the region, while the Commonwealth contributed funds
based on a ‘cashout’ of the entitlements of the residents
of the region to the Medical Benefits Scheme and Pharmaceutical Benefits
Scheme (based on average Australian utilisation rates).[1]
In this way, KWHB did not just complement the role of Governments in
the region, it actually took over the role of Governments. Over the period
of the Trial, the level of Health Services have increased dramatically:
• Residential GP services were provided for
the first time ever.
• Staff numbers in clinics were increased.
• A mobile service was established to service
the needs of pastoralists.
• The number of Aboriginal health workers
trained and employed increased markedly.
• Community based health communities were
set up.
• The level of public health services provided,
particularly environmental, health and nutrition, increased many fold
over pre-Trial levels.
[1] Pharmecutical Benefits Scheme
(PBS) spending for Indigenous Australians is on average only one third
of that spent on non-Indigenous Australians.
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