Community controlled and governed by a board of directors, five service sections make up the organisation:
Anyinginyi Health service delivery area totals almost 150,000 square km. It stretches north of Tennant Creek to Elliott, eastward almost to the Queensland border and south to Ali Curung. We provide services to over 7500 people.
Aboriginal people in the Barkly region enjoy equity in health status with that of other Australian citizens.
To be a provider of high quality holistic primary health care services to the Aboriginal communities of the Barkly region in a culturally responsive way.
Anyinginyi Health is a community controlled Aboriginal health organisation governed by a Board of Directors that are voted in by members of the organisation.
The Board of Directors provide strategic direction for the leadership team and give a voice to all residents in the Barkly Region.
Anyinginyi Health’s day-to-day operations are managed by our leadership team who have diverse qualifications and experience.
Membership of Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation is open to residents of the Barkly region who meet the eligibility criteria in part 3.1 of the Rule Book.
Applications are welcome from people of Aboriginal descent, aged 18 or over who have lived in the region continuously for at least 2 years. Full criteria are listed on page 5 of the Anyinginyi Health Rule Book.
Completed forms can be returned to Memberships, Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation, by any of the following:
Hand deliver | to 1 Irvine Street Tennant Creek, or
Email |
to
reception@anyinginyi.com.au, or
Mail | to PO Box 403, Tennant Creek NT 0861
Rights of members
Members can:
Further information on members’ rights and responsibilities are listed on page 6 of the Rule Book.
Anyinginyi Health is governed by an Aboriginal Board. The Board performs its duties with the support of management and staff, in line with the objectives of our constitution and relevant Commonwealth and Territory laws. The Board also regularly consult with members of the community.
We recognise culture is intrinsic to achieving health education and change in Aboriginal people. We operate within a Cultural Framework that supports a cultural environment.
The Anyinginyi Health Board aims to:
embed cultural responsiveness and behaviours into operational and employee functions
have clear objectives and functions understood by members
be made up of directors who are representative of various interest groups while balanced with the skills required for good governance
show transparency in structure and decision making
implement evidenced-based goals and strategies
invest in resources that are responsive to community needs.
Anyinginyi Health adopts a social community development approach to delivering primary health care ensuring Aboriginal people have the right to affordable, accessible and appropriate health care. Primary Health care has a broad focus on the social conditions and environment rather than just health care service. Anyinginyi Health holistic approach is based on social justice, equity, community inclusion and social acceptability broadly linked with the social determinants of health.
The integration of preventative measures through public health awareness, education, health promotion and community development are key to community capacity build and to empowering Aboriginal individuals, families and community accepting self-responsibility for health and wellbeing. When managing Aboriginal client care the three components of family, community and culture are intrinsic to good health outcomes.
The model recognizes the strong role Culture and Cultural Authority plays in a holistic approach to good health and well — being. The model respects the diverse cultural leadership structures and cultural identities of Aboriginal people, families and clients. Culture sets the foundation for Anyinginyi to strive to be compliant with maintaining cultural respect and ensures the principles of cultural responsiveness are considered in the design & implementation of health care.
Our model integrates Primary Health Care best practice and Cultural best practice – this is how we do business.
Anyinginyi’s Strategic Plan guides the direction and outlines performance areas for the organisation.
The six priorities of the 2020 – 2022 Strategic Plan are:
As an Aboriginal community controlled health service, we will listen to the community and always show respect for culture and cultural practices.
We will continue to build upon our reputation as a professional, well managed organisation.
We will offer high quality, comprehensive primary health care services to support our clients’ physical and social and emotional wellbeing in a way that supports them to take responsibility for their own health.
We will support all our staff to be the best they can be, including through providing employment for Aboriginal people and supporting them to be leaders within our organisation.
We will continue to be a voice for the community and to work with others to address the intergenerational disadvantage carried by the Aboriginal people and families of the Barkly.
We will try new ways of delivering our services and running our organisation, while ensuring that Anyinginyi continues to operate from a sustainable and stable base.
In implementing our Strategic Plan, we are guided by the following principles:
Read the full Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation Strategic Plan 2020 – 2022 here:
Anyinginyi Health will not be accepting new research applications until further notice, to ensure that current approved studies receive the necessary support and attention.
This webpage will be updated as soon as applications are open. Enquiries can be directed to Anyinginyi Health Research Officer, Heather Burton email to: research@anyinginyi.com.au to make enquiries.
Research application form For reference only until notice is given that Anyinginyi Health is accepting applications:
Aboriginal people have lived in the Barkly Region for over 40,000 years. The area around what is now the town of Tennant Creek was used by Warumungu people during times of drought due to the presence of permanent water holes.
When the Tennant Creek Telegraph station was built in the 1870s the Warumungu people experienced their first interactions with Europeans, some worked for the station and received rations.
From the 1880s onwards, as vast tracts of Warumungu country were granted as pastoral leases and stocked with cattle, Aboriginal people were unable to conduct their traditional hunting and gathering practices. People were forced to settle on stations or the Aboriginal reserve. Many men worked as stock-men, drovers, butchers and gardeners. Women carried out domestic work in the station houses. Payment was generally in rations only and conditions were usually poor.
The discovery of gold in the 1930s saw the establishment of the township of Tennant Creek. It was off limits to Aboriginal people until the 1960s. Aboriginal people worked on the gold mines, many of which were located on what had been the Warumungu Reserve.
The federal Labor Government led by Gough Whitlam adopted the policy of ‘self-determination’ for Indigenous communities in 1972. This policy saw Aboriginal people move, or return to Tennant Creek from cattle stations and Warrabri Aboriginal settlement (Ali Curung). Aboriginal people now make up over half of the population of Tennant Creek and nearly 70% of the greater Barkly population.
Many Aboriginal people speak several different languages. Frequently English is a third or even fourth language. Languages spoken throughout the Barkly Region include:
The Barkly Region is a huge expanse of land that covers more than 300,000 square kilometres from the tropical north to the arid desert south. It is an area larger than Victoria or New Zealand. The town of Tennant Creek is located between Katherine and Alice Springs along the Stuart Highway.
Tennant Creek has a population of approximately 3,500 people. It is the fifth largest town in the Northern Territory and is serviced by:
A primary school
& high school
2 daycare facilities
supermarket
post office
gymnasium
town swimming pool
several pubs & clubs
several restaurants
Popular tourist attractions in the area include:
Links to Tennant Creek and Surrounding Area sites:
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