Alcohol and Other Drug AND Mental Health Services Directory

Primary Health Care - Remote
Health Centres and Aboriginal
Medical Services
Health centres in rural and remote communities are generally arranged around
a primary health care framework. This framework incorporates clinical services,
social and preventative programs and primary health care support that includes
local, specialists and allied health services.
There is a wide dispersion of highly mobile, small groups of people across vast
areas of the Northern Territory. The primary health care system attempts to
address the health needs of these people, along with larger population groups.
Many services are clinic based in rural and remote areas, where Aboriginal
Health Workers, nurses and doctors work together. Many rural and remote health
centres are able to provide support for people experiencing or recovering from
mental health or alcohol and other drug related issues. For contact details for the
nearest remote health centre, see the Northern Territory Department of Health’s
listing at:
www.health.nt.gov.au/Service_Locator/Remote_Health_Centres/print.
aspx?printView=true
General Practice Network Northern Territory’s (GPNNT) Rural and Remote
Mental Health Program may also be able to assist with connecting people to
rural and remote services. The program is divided into three regional areas –
Arnhem Land, Central Australia (including the Barkly region) and Darwin and
Katherine regions. For details of Central Australian services, contact GPNNT’s
Alice Springs office. For Arnhem Land and Darwin and Katherine services,
contact GPNNT’s Darwin office. See the details provided for General Practice
Network N.T. at page 49 of this directory.
Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) also provide an extensive range of services
and programs, and play a critical role in providing comprehensive primary health
care to Aboriginal people. AMS are found in urban, rural and remote settings.
The Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum (which includes the Federal
and Northern Territory Government and Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance
of the Northern Territory) is committed to expanding community control of, and
participation in, primary health care services. It has recognised that “community
controlled governance of health services is the optimal expression of the right of
Aboriginal people to participate in decision making”, and the framework document
Pathways to Community Control (Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum
2009, p. 5) contemplates a progressive expansion of the community controlled
health service model.
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