Framework Agreements on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

The Agreements on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (Framework Agreements) are the primary vehicle for ensuring collaboration in resource allocation, joint planning and priority setting for service delivery between key stakeholders in Indigenous health within each state and territory.

Aboriginal Health Forums or partnerships are established under the Framework Agreements to oversee this collaborative work.

Until 30 June 2004 the signatories to the Framework Agreements and membership of the Forums included: the Australian Government; State/Territory governments; the Aboriginal community controlled health sector; and ATSIC and the Torres Strait Regional Authority.

Since the abolishment of ATSIC and ATSIS, Framework Agreements and Forums will in future involve the three remaining partners plus the Torres Strait Regional Authority.  

The development of Indigenous Coordination Centres at the regional level will provide one mechanism for ongoing representation of Aboriginal communities in whole-of-government planning and priority-setting. State policy managers from the Office for Indigenous Policy Coordination have been invited to participate in the Forums.

The Framework Agreements commit signatories to four key areas:

Increased level of resources allocated to reflect the level of need;
Joint planning;
Access to both mainstream and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific health and health related services which reflect their higher level of need; and
Improved data collection and evaluation.

Framework Agreement Reports

The 2003-04 reports will be the last in the current format. From 2004-05, Framework Agreement reporting will be incorporated into the reports against Implementation Plans for the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.