South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership (SAAHP)

South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership logosThe South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership (SAAHP) brings together the State and Commonwealth Governments and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector to improve Aboriginal health and wellbeing outcomes in South Australia.

Under a Framework Agreement signed by the South Australian Department of Health, the Australian Government Department of Health and Wellbeing and the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia Inc, the partners work together and also with Aboriginal people and communities, in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration.

The Framework Agreement provides a means for the partners to:

  • Commit to an ongoing partnership with the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector through its representative peak body - the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia.
  • Commit to enhancing and increasing the capacity of the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector.
  • All parties acknowledge that the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people is not just about the provision of health services. It is about their participation in the design and delivery of such services.
  • Provide leadership and commitment to ongoing cooperative and collaborative health system reforms and linkages with other sectors responsible for economic, social and environmental initiatives.
  • SAAHP is an agent of change and is committed to achieving greater equity of health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal people.
  • All parties of the Agreement will work together to:
    • improve Aboriginal people’s access to health and wellbeing services.
    • respond to emerging health issues in the Aboriginal community; and
    • identify priority areas for action.

The Coordination and Support Team (CST) acts as the secretariat of SAAHP and works with the partners to achieve the aims of the agreement.

SAAHP is not a service provider but a high level strategic coordination mechanism which allows the partner organisations to work cooperatively and collaboratively to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal South Australians.

SAAHP Business Plan

Our current South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership Business Plan (PDF 96KB) supports the following key focus areas:

Key Focus Area 1 — Improving Aboriginal people’s access to health and wellbeing services

Key Focus Area 2 – Identifying priority areas for action

Key Focus Area 3 – Responding to emerging health issues in the Aboriginal community
Keep abreast of and where possible provide expert advice on policy and influence the Health Reform Agenda specific to Aboriginal health business Engage with providers, consumers and community to identify emerging issues and provide information on new initiatives and information, where available.

Key Focus Area 4 – Capacity building
Enhance opportunities to recognise and share examples of good practice as well as support capacity building and willingness to undertake continuous quality improvement

Key Focus Area 5 – Workforce development
Maximise opportunities for a sustainable Aboriginal health workforce in South Australia, including training, long-term employment, recruitment and retention

SAAHP publications

Agreement on South Australian Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing 2010-2015 (PDF 501KB)

Evaluation of the 2005-2010 Framework Agreement - Executive Summary (PDF 74KB)

SAAHP Aboriginal Health - Everybody's Business

Knowing the Business - South Australian Health Indicators 2005 (PDF 5033KB)

Aboriginal Health - Everybody's Business, SAAHP Regional Resource Package 2005-2010

Reports

Contact

Email: health.aboriginalhealthenquiries@sa.gov.au