CARHDS - Central Australian Remote Health Development Services

WHO WE ARE

Central Australian Remote Health Development Services (CARHDS) is a:-

• Community controlled organisation governed by the PHC Services in Central Australia (NT)
• Incorporated public company limited by guarantee (established 1 October 2001)
• Directly controlled by and accountable to the PHC industry to meet in-service training needs as determined by the employer
• Membership is open to all existing, new and emerging (local & zone) organisations which provide primary health care services to Aboriginal communities

WHAT WE DO

GOALS

• To develop the capacity of Aboriginal people & health professionals employed by PHC Services to improve community health outcomes
• To increase effective Aboriginal control over PHC service delivery

OBJECTIVES

To provide regional support to providers of PHC services including:

1. providing in-service training to the primary health care workforce of central Australia, particularly to Aboriginal health workers, but also including administrators, nurses, doctors, health board members, and other staff and community members as required by those organisations providing health services;
2. improving access to, and equity in, the provision of such training, particularly for Aboriginal health workers;
3. encouraging participation by primary health care workers in primary health care training, with a particular focus on Aboriginal health care workers

Historical Background

CARHDS formerly known as CARHTU began operations in 1997 after 5 years of lobbying by CAAC, ACAC & Other ACCHOs for a new and appropriate in-service training model for the PHC sector in Central Australia.

Their vision was a work-based training approach which would respond to employer needs to train the PHC workforce with a particular focus on Aboriginal Health Workers and community health leaders, as well as orientation of new staff.

 In alliance with DHCS (was THS) & OATSIH, CARHTU was established under an auspicing arrangement with IAD which delegated it’s powers to a PHC Management Committee. In mid 2001 IAD advised the funding bodies it wished to terminate the auspicing agreement by 30 September 2001 and thereby it was resolved that CARHTU would become an independent incorporated agency.