COMMUNIQUÉ
ISSUE 2: AUGUST 2026
AMSANT Board Meeting, Mparntwe (Alice Springs)
The AMSANT Board acknowledges the Arrernte people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which this meeting was held in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), and pays respects to Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the Northern Territory.
Welcome to the second AMSANT Board Communiqué of 2026. This communiqué provides an update following the AMSANT Board meeting held on 11 August 2026.
Updates included in this communiqué
• Accelerated Pathways to Community Control (AP2CC)
• Economic Impact Assessment and cost modelling projects
• AMSANT Education Advocacy Strategy
• Members’ Needs and Priorities Project
• AMSANT Research Strategy
• National Health Reform Agreement – Schedule B
• People’s Health Movement Australia
• AMSANT representation on the NT Aboriginal Health Forum
• Closing the Gap and partnership reform
• Finance, Risk and Audit Committee (FRAC) update
Accelerated Pathways to Community Control (AP2CC)
The Board received an update on the Accelerated Pathways to Community Control (AP2CC) project and endorsed the draft AP2CC Framework to enable further consultation and consideration through the NT Aboriginal Health Forum (NTAHF).
The Board reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating transitions to community control while ensuring transition processes are community-led, appropriately resourced and grounded in the established Aboriginal community controlled comprehensive primary health care model.
Board members provided feedback on the guiding principles and steps to transition and will have a further opportunity to provide input into the framework through an upcoming information session. The framework will continue to be refined before being presented to the Board and NTAHF for final endorsement later this year.
Economic Impact Assessment and Cost Modelling Projects
The Board received an update on procurement processes underway to support two major strategic projects:
1. An Economic Impact Assessment of the Aboriginal community controlled health sector in the Northern Territory.
2. Cost modelling work to support implementation of AP2CC.
The Economic Impact Assessment will include analysis of health benefits, avoided costs and broader social and economic impacts generated by Aboriginal community controlled health services in the Northern Territory. This work will strengthen the evidence base for future advocacy, policy development and investment in the sector.
Education Advocacy Strategy
Recognising the strong relationship between education and health outcomes, the Board endorsed AMSANT’s Education Advocacy Strategy. The strategy provides a framework for AMSANT’s advocacy to improve educational outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people and to promote an education system that is culturally responsive, equitably resourced and accountable for outcomes.
The Board noted the opportunities presented through the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement and the importance of ongoing engagement to ensure Aboriginal communities benefit from future education reforms and investments.
Members’ Needs and Priorities Project
The Board considered the draft final report from the Members’ Needs and Priorities Project. The project has highlighted opportunities for AMSANT to strengthen support to member services through