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| National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023 | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023 |
| Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Adopted | 2013 |
| Timeframe | 2013–2023 |
| Related | Close the Gap (campaign), Closing the Gap |
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023 The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023 is a ten-year strategic framework developed to guide health policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. The Plan was released within the context of national initiatives such as the Close the Gap (campaign), coordinated intergovernmental arrangements including the Council of Australian Governments and collaboration with peak bodies like the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. It set priorities for partnerships among federal, state and territory programs, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, and research institutions such as the Lowitja Institute.
The Plan emerged amid policy debates involving actors including the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Australian Human Rights Commission, and representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, influenced by historical processes exemplified by events like the Mabo v Queensland (No 2) litigation and the 2012 National Apology to the Stolen Generations public discourse. Consultations incorporated contributions from organisations such as the Australian Medical Association, universities including the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne, and regional health councils like the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia. The drafting process reflected commitments in international instruments such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and was shaped by jurisdictional health plans from the Northern Territory Government and Queensland Government.
The Plan articulated objectives aligned with milestones from campaigns like Close the Gap (campaign) and principles echoed by bodies such as the Lowitja Institute and the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples. Core aims included reducing health disparities referenced in reports by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and improving life expectancy metrics tracked against indicators used by the World Health Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Guiding principles emphasized cultural respect informed by frameworks from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and community control models promoted by the Aboriginal Medical Service (Sydney) Limited.
The Plan specified strategies across thematic priority areas parallel to works by the Public Health Association of Australia and research outputs from the Menzies School of Health Research, including: strengthening primary health care through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services akin to models used by the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery Organisations; addressing chronic conditions highlighted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease; improving maternal and child health drawing on protocols from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians; and tackling social determinants discussed in scholarship from the Lowitja Institute and reports by the Australian Institute of Family Studies. Strategies also targeted workforce development linked to professional colleges like the Australian College of Nursing and enhanced use of data systems similar to those maintained by the National Cancer Institute (United States) for surveillance analogies.
Implementation arrangements outlined roles for the Department of Health (Australia), state and territory health departments including the New South Wales Ministry of Health, and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services coordinated through the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. Governance mechanisms referenced intergovernmental forums such as the COAG Health Council and advisory inputs from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee and academic partners like the Australian National University. Funding pathways involved Commonwealth program architectures comparable to grant frameworks administered by the Department of Social Services (Australia) and service delivery collaborations with primary health networks across jurisdictions.
Monitoring and evaluation were structured to draw on indicator sets used by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and reporting cycles paralleling those of the Productivity Commission (Australia), with an emphasis on disaggregated data consistent with recommendations from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Periodic progress reviews were intended to align with targets promoted by the Close the Gap (campaign) and to inform parliamentary oversight via committees such as the Senate Community Affairs References Committee. The Plan envisaged partnerships with research entities including the Lowitja Institute and the Menzies School of Health Research for independent evaluations.
Evaluations and commentary by stakeholders like the Australian Medical Association, the Lowitja Institute, and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation noted mixed progress: improvements in some child health and immunisation indicators reported by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare contrasted with persistent gaps in life expectancy and chronic disease prevalence documented in clinical audits from institutions such as the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Critics including commentators from the Australian Human Rights Commission and analysts associated with the Australian National Audit Office argued that implementation was uneven across states such as Western Australia and the Northern Territory and that resourcing and accountability mechanisms required strengthening. Advocacy groups including the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service highlighted intersections with broader socioeconomic issues signalled in inquiries like the Bringing Them Home report.
The Plan informed subsequent initiatives and reviews, contributing to the architecture underpinning the refreshed Closing the Gap framework and influencing policy instruments produced by the Department of Health and Aged Care (Australia), the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and state health departments. Lessons from the Plan shaped national discourse involving entities such as the Lowitja Institute and the Australian Medical Association and provided a reference point for future treaty discussions including dialogues involving the Referendum Council and constitutional recognition debates catalysed by the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The decade covered by the Plan remains an important phase in continuity between historic milestones like Mabo v Queensland (No 2) and ongoing reforms in Indigenous health governance.
Category:Health policy of Australia