Public Health Network

The Public Health Network (PHN) is a forum for health professionals working in the Aboriginal community controlled sector in the NT, as well as others with expertise in Aboriginal primary health care. The network is hosted by AMSANT and is supported by our public health medical officers. The broad aims of the network are:

• To improve health outcomes by encouraging a quality improvement approach to primary health care
• To improve the quality of primary health care provided by the sector through disseminating best practice, including guidelines and new research findings
• To inform clinicians of changes to the health service sector, including changes to specialist services and the allied health sector
• To obtain feedback from clinicians about barriers to providing primary health care, including funding and staffing issues and wider health system issues, so that this information can be used by AMSANT for advocacy and policy work
• To provide information to clinicians about AMSANT’s current policy and advocacy work and to obtain  input from clinicians into this work
  

The network was established in 2006 when AMSANT’s first Medical Officer was appointed on a part-time basis. Teleconferences are now held every two months with most Aboriginal health services having a representative at the meeting.

There have also been two face-to-face meetings involving representatives from OATSIH and the Department of Health and Community Services.

An evaluation conducted by Menzies Institute of Health Research has recently demonstrated strong support for the network and there has been consensus from participants and stakeholders that the main focus must be on improving Aboriginal health outcomes through enhanced delivery of primary health care�