Katherine West Health Board Aboriginal Corporation
Health in Katherine

Catherine HOT SPRINGS Situated in the Heart of Katherine, our have our own thermal springs which are a vast deposit to have a dip in. Nathan RIVER ROAD (ROPER HIGHWAY MATARANKA TO BORROLOOLA) Looking for a slight detour off the bitumen for the day or at your leisure with an overnight camp at a river crossing? KWHB is an Aboriginal community controlled health organization, governed by our Directors who are elected by our members. Katherine West Health Board (KWHB) provides a holistic clinical, preventative and public health service to clients in the Katherine West Region of the Northern Territory of Australia, as well as being an employer and trainer of local Aboriginal people. KWHB is now into our 15th year of providing health services to people in our region, with a arrogant history of improving health outcomes, facilities and services on behalf of our communities. It is controlled by the members of the community, through the board. This person reports to the Board Directors on a routine time frame and the Board Directors in turn pass the information on to their community members, so that feedback, consultation and further direction can then be taken back to the board meetings. We foster people in the Katherine West region to become members so that we can have quality representation on our Board of Directors. Ensure member communities are involved in health planning, program development implementation. Urge community development, education, employment and training opportunities for member Communities, in notable the training and employment of local Aboriginal people chosen by the community to be Aboriginal Health Worker. The promotion of culturally appropriate methods of managing and preventing health problems in the region involving the recognition and promote of the vital role of conventional health practitioners and birth attendants in the provision of primary health protection services in our region. The Commonwealth funding represented 'new money' being provided for health services in the region. The glossy of public health services provided, particularly environmental, health and nutrition, increased many fold over the levels provided before the Trial. Through intensive training and regular exposure to the administrative activities and details of the organization, elected Board members have over ten years, reach to grasp the complexities of managing a health board. Drifting along these two roads, we will labor together to provide high quality and good services to all people in the region. We will work with other organizations to improve the health of our region. Our strategies for occupied together will be: Strategy 2.1 Building strong relationships with our communities, so we can deliver culturally safe care. Strategy 2.3 Promoting effective communication and team work across our organization. Katherine West has brought about a massive increase in health services across the region. Strategy 3.1 Working towards local, community based primary health care teams. We will employ and foster Aboriginal peoples to work in all roles throughout our organization, including in senior positions. Strategy 4.1 Improving retention of staff in our health centers. All people in the Katherine West region should be able to travel reliably and safely to access the health protection they need.

KWHB is now into our 15th year of providing health services to people in our region, with a elated history of improving health outcomes, facilities and services on behalf of our communities. The ingenious concept for this Trial arose from a decision of a meeting in 1995 of the Council of Australian Governments (coal) to call for proposals to establish a number of coordinated concern trials around Australia. These trials were originally to focus on mainstream (that is, not specifically Aboriginal) populations and were characterized by the pooling of funds from StateTerritory and Commonwealth Governments and the development of 'care plans' for individuals with multiple coexisting morbidities. Under the arrangements of the Trial, both Governments contributed funds to a 'pool' which was put under the oversee of an elected Board of Aboriginal community representatives, from throughout the region. HHS contributed those funds which it would otherwise have spent on health services in the region. The Commonwealth Government contributed funds based on a 'washout' of the entitlements of the residents of the region to the Medical Benefits Scheme and Pharmaceutical Benefits Manipulate (calculated by reference to the ordinary Australian utilization rates of these schemes). The Commonwealth funding represented 'new money' being provided for health services in the region. The process of setting up the Board involved lengthy and detailed consultations with all communities of the region. The intensive and time consuming consultation process was a key factor in the Board gaining encourage from the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Government