Health Advisory
Committees
FACTSHEET
Health Advisory Committees were established as part of the new governance
arrangements for the Northern Territory’s public health system. There are two Health Advisory Committees in the Northern Territory, one for each Health Service:
Top End Heath Service Health Advisory Committee
Central Australia Health Service Health Advisory Committee
What are the Health Advisory Committees?
Health Advisory Committees play a key role in promoting and facilitating community consultation and engagement to assist in the shaping of health service delivery for people in the Northern Territory.
What is the role of the Health Advisory Committees?
Health Advisory Committees:
Enable timely and effective communication between the community and the Health Service
Provide advocacy and advice on issues affecting the health, well-being and cultural values of the community
Consult with, and provide feedback on the health experience of consumers, their families and carers and the effectiveness of health service delivery
Provide local advice into the planning and operation of health service activities and supporting systems
Report annually to the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Health on the Committee’s business
Who are the members of the Health Advisory Committees?
For more information visit health.nt.gov.au
Health Advisory Committees - FACTSHEET
The Health Advisory Committees are made up of between eight and eleven members of the local community served by each Health Service. A committee comprising members drawn from across the region covered by the Health Service is preferred.
Appointments to the Committee are made by the Minister for Health, and provide for a sufficient mix of background, skills and expertise by including members who:
Are a Health Service consumer
Are a carer
Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Are a clinician or administrator in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
Have clinical experience
Have a remote or very remote place of residence
Are other relevant stakeholders in the health system
What are the responsibilities of the Health Advisory Committees?
Health Advisory Committee members are appointed for one, two or three years, with potential reappointment for a single three year term.
Health Advisory Committees will meet no less than four times per year. Members are required to attend a minimum of three of these meetings.
A Chairperson is appointed by the Minister from among the members following
consultation. The Chairperson is responsible for ensuring the roles and responsibilities of the Committee as set out in the Terms of Reference are fulfilled. The Chairperson may call for special meetings to occur.
How do the Health Advisory Committees fit within the governance arrangements for NT Health?
From 1 July 2017, a Service Administrator was appointed for each of the two Health Services in place of the Health Service Board. The Service Administrators fulfil the functions of the respective Health Service Boards for the term of their appointment.
The Health Advisory Committees enable community engagement and consultation at the local level. The Health Advisory Committees provide advice to the Chief Operating Officer of the Health Service who advise the Service Administrator. The two Health Advisory Committees also report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Health on the Committee’s business.
The Department of Health has established a Territory-wide Clinical Senate which provides a forum for clinicians drawn from across the Northern Territory to participate in system- level strategic discussions with the Department of Health, and provide clinical input and advice on a wide range of health system-level policies and plans.
Further information
Further information on Health Advisory Committees can be obtained by contacting:
For more information visit health.nt.gov.au
Health Advisory Committees - FACTSHEET
System Performance NT Department of Health
(08) 8999 2418 [email protected]
For more information visit health.nt.gov.au
