Danila Dilba considering legal action after federal government knocks back request for Medicare funding at Don Dale

A DARWIN-BASED Aboriginal health organisation is considering legal action against Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt

A DARWIN-BASED Aboriginal health organisation is considering legal action against Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt after he rejected its request for Medicare funding to provide comprehensive health services at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre.

Danila Dilba was tasked with providing healthcare at the facility in July this year, and while the organisation receives NT Health Department funding to deliver some services, head of clinical governance and GP Andrew Webster said it needed Medicare funding to cater to more complex cases of need.

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The organisation sent a formal request for Medicare access to Mr Hunt in July but it was knocked back late last month.

Dr Webster said the decision meant staff would be unable to provide services for more complex healthcare needs, including alcohol and drug dependency, mental health issues and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder at Don Dale because of a lack of funding.

“Essentially it means that we will continue to provide an okay service when these kids need an excellent service,” he said.

“These kids have very large health needs that are very complex and they need a health team that can take a multidisciplinary approach.

“We can see the exact same kinds of cases in the care of Territory Families in the community … and yet when they walk through those gates in Don Dale, they stop being able to access Medicare.”

Dr Webster said while Danila Dilba already received federal funding as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO), it had sought Medicare access for Don Dale under a legislative exemption available to ACCHOs in recognition of the health disadvantages faced by Indigenous Australians.

The Don Dale Youth Detention Centre. Picture: Glenn Campbell

He said Danila Dilba’s eight other clinics in the NT had been granted the exemption, but prisons and detention centres – even one being run by Territory Families – appeared to be treated differently.

Dr Webster said Danila Dilba was now considering an appeal to the Minister or seeking a judicial review into his decision.

“There are further avenues and it’s something we’re not going to stop fighting,” he said.

A Federal Health Department spokeswoman said the funding and provision of health services in detention facilities was the responsibility of states and territories.

“No direction has been provided to any Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) to allow access to Medicare benefits to provide services into prisons or other detention facilities,” she said.

“The Commonwealth funds Danila Dilba approximately $9.6 million each year for the provision of comprehensive primary healthcare.

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“Consistent with their responsibilities, states and territories, including the Northern Territory, can provide additional funding to ACCHOs to provide care in detention settings as an alternative to the direct delivery of healthcare that they would otherwise be required to provide in these facilities.”

Allowing Medicare benefits to be paid for NT detainees’ health services was one of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into youth detention in the Territory, though Mr Hunt and the Federal Government have previously rejected that recommendation.