Central Australian Aboriginal CongressABORIGINAL CORPORATION | ICN 7823

BOARD COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUE 20, October 2016

Board Meeting WrapThe following topics were discussed at the last Congress Board of Directors Meeting held 6 October 2016:

• Congress2015/16BusinessPlanReport• MedicareBenefitsScheme(MBS)Review• RoyalCommissionintotheProtectionandDetentionofChildren

intheNT• 2015-16FinancialStatements• TenderforExternalAuditors• CashManagementandCashAllocationPolicy• SatelliteClinics• AugustBusinessServicesReport

• DirectorRemuneration• 2016DirectorNominationsApplications• Research• MaleHealth• Women’sHealth• ResignationofBoardMembers

Thenextmeetingwillbeheldon24November2016.

Congress 2015/16 Business Plan ReportThe board noted the 2015/16 Business Plan report with particular focus on those areas for continued improvement.ThebusinessplanactivitiesfortheprecedingsixmonthstoJune2016reportagainstthefive(5)StrategicObjectivesoutlinedintheCongressStrategicPlan2015-18.

Thereportoutlinedinformationonoverallepisodesofcare,numberofuniqueclients,includingvisitors,foreachclinic,progressonnegotiationswiththeAliceSpringsHospitalontheMidwiferyGroupPractice,STIandpapsmearcoveragerates,childhoodanaemiaprevalence,waitingtimes,researchactivities,newprograms,HumanResourcedataonstaffturnover,vacanciesandotherimportantworkforcemattersincludingeducationandtrainingandprogressonenhancingsoundfinancialmanagement.

Noteworthyimprovementscomparedtothepreviousreportingperiodincluded:

• AnincreaseintheoverallepisodesofcareprovidedatCongressservicesinAliceSprings(includingheadspace)(140,000upfrom132,000);

• Anincreaseintheadulthealthcheckrateformen15to54yearsinAliceSprings(37%upfrom36%)andwomeninMutitjulu(67%upfrom60%),remainingstableformalehealthchecksinMutitjulu(46%),womenatMpwelarre(90%)andmenatMpwelarre(89%);

• AreductioninthenumberofbabiesbornoflowbirthweightinAliceSprings(10%from12%),Mpwelarre(0%ornolowbirthweightbabiesfrom8%or1lowbirthweightbaby),Mutitjulu

14 Leichhardt Terrace, Alice Spring, Northern Territory ph (08) 8951 4400 fax (08) 8953 0350 website www.caac.org.auPO Box 1604, Alice Springs NT 0871 email info@caac.org.au ICN 7823

(0%ornolowbirthweightbabiesfrom14%or1lowbirthweightbaby),Utju(33%or1of3babiesbornfrom50%or1of2babiesborn)Ntaria(5%from4%lastperiodbutdownfrom20%in2010)andremainingstableinAmoonguna(0%);

• AdeclineinanaemiaratesforMpwelarre(2%from20%withthehighnumberinthepreviousperiodlikelyduetoincreasedtesting),Utju(6%from10%),Amoonguna(13%from28%,thelowestraterecorded);

• AnincreaseintheoverallimmunisationcoverageinAliceSprings(95%from91%),remainingstableatMpwelarre(100%)andNtaria(94%);and,

• AnincreaseinthepapsmearcoveragerateforMpwelarre(61%from55%),Mutitjulu(52%from48%),andAmoonguna(56%from27%).

NoteworthyimprovementstoHumanResourcesKPIsincluded:

• Anincreaseinthenumberofemployees(313from309);• AstableAboriginalworkforceatamanagerlevel;• AslightdeclineinAboriginalstaffturnover

rate(9.5%from10.3%);and,• AnincreaseinAboriginalworkforce(137from126).

OutcomeshighlightedforfurtherimprovementinsomeservicesincludedAdultHealthChecks,childhoodanaemia,immunisationcoverage,smoking,overweightandobesityandPAPsmears.

BOARD COMMUNIQUÉ

14 Leichhardt Terrace, Alice Spring, Northern Territory ph (08) 8951 4400 fax (08) 8953 0350 website www.caac.org.auPO Box 1604, Alice Springs NT 0871 email info@caac.org.au ICN 7823

ISSUE 20, October 2016

MBS ReviewThe board approved a Congress submission to the Medicare Benefits Schedule Review.Mainpointsmadeinthesubmissioninclude:

• Recognisethevalueofprimaryhealthcareanditscontributiontopopulationhealthoutcomesespeciallythegrowingburdenofchronicdiseasessuchasdiabetes;

• EnsureincomegeneratedbystateandterritorygovernmentsthroughS19(2)exemptionsoftheHealthInsuranceActisreinvestedbackintoprimaryhealthcareinthecommunityfromwhichitisgenerated;

• ConsiderproposedstrategiestoaddresstheundersupplyofGPsinruralandremoteareas;

• IntroducenewitemnumberforAHPsandNursesinAboriginalHealthServicesandremoveorincreasethecapforMBSitemsforAHPsprovidingfollowupforhealthassessmentsandsupportingchronicdiseasemanagement;

• IntroducenewitemstosupporttheuptakeofclinicaltechnologyinruralandremoteprimaryhealthcareservicesandanAboriginalspecificMBSitemforcardiovascularriskassessment;and,

• Ensurethecontinuationofexistingchronicdiseasemanagement(CDM)itemsuntilnewfinancingmechanismsareinplace.

ThecompletesubmissionwillbemadeavailableforviewingontheCongresswebsiteoncefinalised.

Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the NT

The board approved a draft outline of Congress’ submission to the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the NT subject to an addition of a new section on adult literacy based on the Literacy for Life Model.Thesubmissionisorganisedaroundthreekeydomainswhicharefoundationaltocomprehensiveprimaryhealthcare.Theseare:

1. Promotionandprotectionofhealthandwellbeing(primaryprevention):measuresaimedatthewholepopulation–addressingthesocialandculturaldeterminantsofhealth.

2. Prevention(secondaryprevention):measuresaimedat‘atrisk’populationstoreducethenumberofAboriginalchildrenenteringthechildprotection,criminaljusticeordetentionsystems.

3. Treatmentandrehabilitation:ensuringthatthosealreadywithinthechildprotection,criminaljusticeordetentionsystemshaveaccesstoservicestoaddressthesocialandemotionalwellbeing,physicalandmentalhealthissuestheyface,andtosupportthemtoreintegratewiththeirfamiliesandcommunities.

Thesubmissionwillmake17recommendationstoaddresseachofthethreedomains.

Theclosingdateforthesubmissionsis28October.AcopyofthesubmissionwillbemadeavailableontheCongresswebsiteafterthedocumenthasbeenfinalised.

Finance, Risk and Audit Subcommittee Report

2015-16 Financial Statements

The directors approved the 2015-16 Financial Statements.Theresultfortheyearhasbeenasurplusof$1.4m.Themajordriversforthissurplushavebeen:

• $970KofcapitalgrantsrevenuefortheMutitjuluClinicrefurbishmentwheretheexpenditurehasbeencapitalized.

• $190KofteachingallowancereceivedfromNTGPEtoemployGPRegistrars.

ItwasnotedthatCongresshasimproveditsfinancialpositionoverthe12monthsduetoanincreaseininvestmentinproperty,plantandequipmentandareductioninliabilities,inparticularunexpendedgrants.

TheboardalsonotedsignificantchangesinthedisclosurenotesthatnowprovideextradetailwithintheFinancialStatements.ThisisawelcomeddevelopmentthatdemonstratestheboardscontinuedcommitmenttoimprovedtransparencyandaccountabilitytonotonlyCongressmembersandfundingbodiesbutalsotowiderstakeholdergroupsandthebroadercommunity.

Tender for External Auditors

The Congress directors will recommend the appointment of RSM Australia as Congress external auditor to the Congress members at the 2016 AGM, for a further two (2) year period.Thedecisionfollowsaselecttendercompletedbyapproachinganumberofauditproviders(i.e.6)tosubmitatendertoconducttherequiredauditforthecomingthreeyears.

TheselecttenderensuredcompliancewithCongress’externalauditpolicywhichrequiresittotenderitsauditservicesafterthree(3)yearsaccessingservicesbythesameauditor.Congresspolicyallowsthereappointmentofanauditorforafurthertwoyearperiod,withthetermnotexceedingfiveyears.

Cash Management and Cash Allocation Policy

The board approved a revised draft Cash Management and Cash Allocation Policy. This policy has been amended to deal with the increase in Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) income.TheupdatedpolicywillensurethattheprimarypurposePIPrevenueisforexpenditureonthoseitemswhichcannotgenerallybecoveredbyMedicareorGrantrevenue.

BOARD COMMUNIQUÉ

14 Leichhardt Terrace, Alice Spring, Northern Territory ph (08) 8951 4400 fax (08) 8953 0350 website www.caac.org.auPO Box 1604, Alice Springs NT 0871 email info@caac.org.au ICN 7823

ISSUE 20, October 2016

Satellite Clinic Report

The board noted the activity report to 23 September 2016 since the opening of both clinics on 15 August which indicates that unique clients for each clinic have been steadily increasing. Thereportindicatesaverypositivestarttothetwonewclinics.

GPS Tracking System

The board approved the fitting of GPS tracking systems to the remaining fleet vehicles.Thedecisionisbasedonarigorousselectionprocess,includingafinancialanalysisandareviewofruralandremoteworkersafetyrequirements.

Congresswillfitoneortwotestunitsontovehiclestoensurethatthesystemisfullytestedandoperable,beforeinstallingthesystemonremainingvehicles.

August Business Services Report

The board approved the August 2016 Financial accounts including the Profit and Loss Statement the detailed Balance Sheet, the program balance report and the investment report.Theboardnotedthatthecurrentratiois1.88i.e.thereis$1.88ofcurrentassetsforevery$1ofcurrentliabilities.

TheGMBSnotedthatthePIPrevenuenumbershadincreasedby300%(asarate)andthatMedicarerevenueforthemonthofAugustwasthehighestmonthforthelastthreeyears.

Governance Subcommittee ReportDirector Remuneration

The Board approved that a proposal be put to the Congress membership at the 2016 AGM recommending a move to the payment of annual Directors fees in line with common practice.TheBoardapprovedtheuseofexistingDirectorsmeetingfeesasalreadysetbythemembershipasabasisforcalculatingannualfees.

Thedirectorsalsoapprovedthecarryingoutofanindependent‘benchmarkingprocess’toreviewtheagreedfees,forpresentationatthe2017AnnualGeneralMeetingofmembers.

2016 Director Nominations ApplicationsThe board endorsed the nominations of Ms Nicolette Dunn, Mr Michael Liddle, Mr William Tilmouth and Ms Sheralee Taylor for this year’s three (3) member director vacancies.Astherewerefour(4)nominationswithonlythree(3)vacantpositionsavotebythememberswillberequired.VotingmaterialswillbedistributedtomemberswiththisOctobereditionoftheBoardCommunique.

Research Subcommittee ReportVariations to two existing research projects were considered by the subcommittee and subsequently approved by the board. OnevariationwastoapprovetheuseofoneofCongress’dentalchairsforaresearchprojectintotherelationshipbetweengumdiseaseandkidneydisease.TheotherwastoexpandtheexistingevaluationintotheCongressFamilyPartnershipsProgramtoenableadeeperanalysisofthecomplexityofthefamiliesontheprogramandtimerequiredbyprogramstafftoimplementtherequiredservices.

Male Health Subcommittee ReportThe board noted the report of the Male Health Subcommittee.AnupdatewasgivenontheprogressoftheIngkintjareviewimplementation.

AnewclinicmanagerhasbeenappointedandtheAHPpositionhasbeenfunded.

ThenewnameforIngkintjaisbeingimplementedanditisnowknownasIngkintja:Wurra apa artwuka pmara(ameetingplaceforboysandmen).

Women’s Health Subcommittee ReportThe board noted the report of the Women’s Health Subcommittee.AlukuraWomen’sHealthServiceiscurrentlyfocussedonreactivatingtheprocessforaMoUwiththeAliceSpringHospitaltoensurecontinuityofcareandsaferbirthingservicesforAboriginalwomanthroughtheestablishmentofamidwiferygrouppractice.

Resignation of Board Members The meeting acknowledged the two resignations from Mr Rossingh and Mr Paech due to the outcome of the recent NT elections.RecognitionandavoteofthanksweregiventoacknowledgetheirdemonstratedcommitmentandthededicationthattheygaveasdirectorsontheCongressboard.Theboardwishesthembothalltheverybestwiththeirnewcareers.