Central Australian remote community health clinic ends special administration introduced in wake of ‘dysfunction’
Health services are returning for a Territory clinic following the suspension of its funding after an ongoing dispute between the clinic’s board of directors and senior management.
Northern Territory
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HEALTH services are again increasing for a remote clinic in Central Australia following the suspension of its commonwealth funding earlier this year after an ongoing dispute between the clinic’s board of directors and senior management.
The Ampilatwatja Health Centre Aboriginal Corporation was placed under special administration in April by the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) at the request of the board, who wrote to the corporation on March 28 this year.
Operating since 1995, Ampilatwatja provides health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Alyawarr nation, 320km northeast of Alice Springs.
The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Selwyn Button, announced on July 30 the end of the special administration of the Ampilatwatja.
In late March, Ampilatwatja’s board sought assistance from the Registrar to deal with an intractable dispute between themselves and the CEO.
When the matter was tested by the Registrar they reaffirmed their need for a special administrator.
On April 12, the Registrar placed the corporation under special administration until June 25 and later extended it for one month.
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“The disputes between the board and senior management compromised the operations of Ampilatwatja and the health of people it’s funded to serve,” Mr Button said.
“Funding from the Commonwealth to deliver critical primary health care services was withheld because of the dysfunction.”
In the 2019–20 financial year, Ampilatwatja received $2m in funding for comprehensive primary health care.
Mr Button said the relationship between a board and CEO was critical to a corporation successfully achieving its purpose.
Significant change came early during the special administration with the appointment of a new interim CEO.
“The change is going well for the corporation, with broad support from the community demonstrated by a continuing increase in patients returning,” he said. “In the month preceding the appointment there were 222 episodes of care – a 12-month low for Ampilatwatja – but rates climbed to 391 and 399 in the two months after.
“The incoming board has endorsed this change by recently confirming the CEO’s appointment for two years.”
The NT News understands some community members were choosing to travel to neighbouring clinics, including Alice Springs, for health care as a result of the dysfunction.
The special administration also provided an opportunity to improve clinic services.
For example, the clinic now provides onsite GPs improving access to patient services for community members.
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