Danila Dilba Health Service
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Danila Dilba Health Service 2017–2018 Our name, our Our Vision people, our region That Aboriginal and Torres Strait Our full name, Danila Dilba Biluru Butji Islander peoples’ health, well-being Contents Binnilutlum, was given by the Larrakia and quality of life equals that of people, the traditional owners of the non-Indigenous Australians. Chairperson’s report 2 land where Darwin and Palmerston Chief Executive Officer’s report 4 are situated. In the Larrakia language, Board of Directors 6 Danila Dilba means ‘dilly bag used to Our Purpose collect bush medicines’ and Biluru Butji Our purpose is to improve 1.Health for Life 10 Binnilutlum means ‘blackfella (Aboriginal the physical, mental, spiritual, people) getting better from sickness’. 1.1 Introduction 11 cultural and social wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander the Biluru community in the 1.2 Why an Aboriginal community controlled health service? 13 people from around Australia have Yilli Rreung (Greater Darwin) 1.3 Comprehensive primary health care 15 visited Larrakia country for generations. area. We achieve this through 1.4 Care across the life course 16 Some of the visitors stayed and we innovative comprehensive are now blessed with a rich cultural primary health care programs, 2. Outreach, education, engagement & partnership 32 diversity. community services and advocacy. 2.1 Health promotion and education 33 When we describe ourselves in the Our work is based on principles 2.2 Counselling and social support 36 2015–2016 Annual Report, we use the of equity, access, empowerment, words Biluru, Aboriginal, Torres Strait self-determination and collaboration. 2.3 Events and outreach 39 Islander and Indigenous. 2.4 Health research partnerships 41 Our Values 2.5 Research for advocacy 43 Our logo • Respect 3. About Danila Dilba 44 • Trust, honesty and integrity 3.1 Overview 45 • Fairness, transparency and 3.2 Our services 46 accountability 3.3 Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) 54 • High professional standards, 3.4 Organisational development 57 ethics and quality 3.5 Our people 59 Our logo was designed by 4. Financial Reports 69 Larrakia elder Reverend Wally Fejo. The story of the logo is: the fish being in a school are excited when jumping around and convey to us our exciting, healthy life. The turtle going back to lay her eggs represents the people. The stick represents a hunting tool on how to find her eggs. The overall Danila Dilba Biluru Butji Binnilutlum circle is like looking inside a dilly bag from Health Service Aboriginal Corporation above. The snake brings the threat of ABN 57 024 747 460 / ICN 1276 danger to our wellbeing and reminds us that we should always sustain ourselves and be on guard for our health. This year we were greatly assisted again by our Audit and Risk Management Chairperson’s report Committee, which provides independent advice to the Board on risk, 2017-18 was another exceptional year for Danila Dilba, with control and compliance and financial responsibilities. the addition of two clinics, further strengthening of our Board and Our staff staff, and great work in outreach and community engagement. The Danila Dilba Board values the great work of our staff and supports Danila Dilba’s Board has leadership responsibility for a big community professional development of all staff. We especially encourage our Aboriginal and owned and controlled organisation that now manages seven primary Torres Strait Islander staff to step up to take on training and career development. health care clinics across the Greater Darwin region. Aboriginal Health Practitioners (AHPs) have a vital role in primary health care This year we opened our new clinic at Rapid Creek and welcomed and this year, we initiated four AHP traineeships, an important step in ‘growing the Bagot Community Clinic under DDHS management. The Bagot our own’ skilled clinicians. Four trainees were employed from a strong field of Community Health Centre has served Bagot, Kulaluk and Minmarama nearly 40 applicants. Park communities for some 40 years. We are confident that by working I am pleased to report that the DDHS Human Resources Strategy and together we can build up this service for long-term sustainability and a Indigenous Employment and Career Pathways Strategy have been very secure future. successful, increasing Indigenous staffing at all levels. The outcomes reflect a The Board growing Indigenous professional staff in our organisation. In 2017-18, Indigenous staff were: I thank the directors for their hard work this year. As well as directors’ general responsibilities, everyone contributed to building up the Board’s • 65% of our leadership team (CEO, General Managers, all Clinic Managers), and capacity and skills, including: • 63% of non-GP clinicians and community/social and clinical support staff • attending an executive masterclass for healthcare boards on (AHPs, RNs, clinical administration, community services and client support). Responsibilities for Leading Quality and Safety, Our vision is to ensure continuing leadership by a well-qualified, skilled • corporate governance training with the Australian Institute of Indigenous management team. The Board approved creation of a new identified Company Directors, and position of Deputy CEO as part of long term succession planning, aiming to • five day directors’ course with the Australian Institute of Company make an appointment to this position in 2018-19. Directors, undertaken by two Board members. Community An independent review in 2017 found our Board is performing well As this Annual Report shows, Danila Dilba works to support our community – and improved in every area compared with the previous review in 2015. getting involved in community events, outreach and health education for The review of our CEO, Olga Havnen, also ranked her highly on each all ages, with active social media on Facebook, YouTube videos and regular measure of her performance. quarterly newsletters. There were changes to the Board this year. Former Chair, Braiden Abala, Special thanks go to our Community Services team and manager Joseph Knuth. former Larrakia Officer, Phyllis Mitchell and Independent director, Priscilla DDHS now provides regular breakfasts for the homeless and people sleeping Atkins (formerly, Collins), retired this year. On behalf of the Board and rough, with support from Orange Sky who provide an additional portable staff, I thank the former Chair and retiring Board members for their clothes washing service. commitment and service to Danila Dilba. On behalf of the Board, I also acknowledge and thank our staff who Continuing Directors were myself (Chairperson), Nicole Butler volunteered their time to work with the ‘breakfast team’ and with the (Deputy Chair), Vanessa Harris, Mark Munnich, and independent Youth Support Team working with young people in detention. non-member director David Pugh. We welcome new directors Timmy Duggan, Shannon Daly, Malcolm Hauser, and Larrakia Officer, Wayne Kurnoth. Our new independent non-member director Dr Bronwyn Rossingh, brings valuable high-level financial expertise to the Board. Mrs Carol Stanislaus Director / Chairperson page 2 Danila Dilba Health Service ANNUAL REPORT 2017–2018 Danila Dilba Health Service ANNUAL REPORT 2017–2018 page 3 Chief Executive Officer’s report 2017-18 was a year of solid growth, expansion Advocacy for children and families and consolidation for Danila Dilba. Since the 2016 Four Corners TV program on Aboriginal youth in detention in Darwin, Danila Dilba has been active in advocacy for This year we expanded our clinical services with the addition of children in the NT Child Protection and Youth Justice systems. two clinics – a new DDHS clinic at Rapid Creek, and the inclusion of the Bagot Community Clinic under Danila Dilba management. As the Royal Commission that followed has shown, there is a hugely disproportionate level of contact with Aboriginal families and We now operate seven clinics in the Greater Darwin region and children in both systems, and far too many Aboriginal children taken have achieved substantial growth in the number of clients, shown into out of home care. DDHS is now hosting a project to develop by a 20% increase in the number of episodes of care to more Aboriginal-led and managed out of home care and family support than 55,000 this year. services in the NT. Investing in our people We made submissions to the Royal Commission and following Danila Dilba continues to grow our workforce and invest heavily its recommendations, have advocated for legislative change and in our staff and their professional development. We aim to make partnered with peak bodies to call for a tripartite Commonwealth- Danila Dilba an employer of choice, both to attract talented staff Territory-NGO forum to lead the strategic response. and to increase professionalism and capability of staff at every level of the organisation. In May-June 2018, Danila Dilba was delegated on behalf of AMSANT1 to conduct extensive community consultations to hear Investment in training and development has shown enormous about community experiences of the current systems and ideas returns this year. Most importantly, we now have a much more stable about proposed changes to the legislation. workforce to provide the continuity of care for our clients that is essential to their well-being and health. In addition, our more stable Although we have only a small dedicated team of policy and workforce means we are less reliant on agency and short-term staff, research workers, Danila Dilba has been recognised and has generating savings of about $400,000 per year. achieved a solid reputation for high quality, well informed research and the capacity to influence and drive long overdue changes in Australian Nurse Family Partnerships these areas. One of the great success stories this year was the Australian Nurse Family Partnership Program (ANFPP). This home visiting service Finally, I warmly thank and acknowledge all of our Danila Dilba strengthens families and gives first time mothers the nursing and staff for embracing yet another year of change and for your social support they need until their child is two years old.