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Congress Branches
Below is a general introduction to each branch at Congress. More detailed information can be obtained from the individual ‘Branches’ pages of this website.
Since its introduction in 1973, Congress has been providing comprehensive primary health care to Aboriginal people in Alice Springs, visitors and remote auspice locations.
Today Congress encompasses nine (9) branches in total;
- Head Office
- Corporate Services
- Alukura Women’s Health
- Childcare
- Education and Training
- Remote Health Services (RHS)
- Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB)
- Services (Clinical)
- Ingkintja Male Health
1. HEAD OFFICE
Head Office manages Congress’ external relations, including interagency matters, and develops health policy and provides policy analysis on health and social issues.
2. CORPORATE SERVICES
Corporate Services provides a range of corporate administrative and management support services to enable the whole of Congress to function efficiently and effectively within statutory, financial and corporate governance frameworks. This includes Human Resource Management, Asset Management, Information Technology (IT) Management, Financial Management and Corporate Communications.
3. ALUKURA WOMEN'S HEALTH
Alukura is a women’s only health service providing a range of services to Aboriginal women. It is situated in a purpose-built facility on the outskirts of Alice Springs; in a safe women friendly environment.
Programs and services include a specialised women’s health clinic, maternity care clinic, Maternal and Child Health program, weekly Obstetrician/Gynaecologist specialist clinic, weekly dietician, diabetic educator and psychologist sessions, Young Women’s Community Health Education Program and Midwifery Group Practice.
4. CHILDCARE
Ampe Kenhe Apmere, also known as Congress Childcare, the branch is funded jointly from NT and Federal governments and is a licensed Multi-Functional Aboriginal Children’s Service.
The service has a commitment to high quality, culturally appropriate child care. Staff are trained in all areas of development of children and provide a wide range of experiences based on this knowledge.
5. EDUCATION & TRAINING
Congress delivers the Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (Practice) course and students are enrolled through Central Australian Remote Health Services (CARHDS), (National Provider Number 70018).
The core business of the Branch is to facilitate and deliver this Vocational Educational Training to undergraduate Aboriginal Health Workers seeking registration to practice within the Northern Territory.
Block training is delivered and the branch and clinic placement is facilitated within Congress clinics and programs.
6. REMOTE HEALTH SERVICES
The Remote Health Services (RHS) Branch of Congress provides acute clinic, public health, medical, social and preventable population health interventions and alcohol and other drugs services to a number of remote Aboriginal communities in Central Australia.
Branch Staff generally live in the community where they work; however, the RHS Manager, administrative and corporate support staff are based in Alice Springs.
Congress believes in the philosophy of Community-Control and each community is actively engaged in the strategic management of health service delivery.
7. SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL WELLBEING
The Social & Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) social health team provides an extensive range of counselling and support services to clients confronting an increasingly complex range of social issues.
The SEWB branch also provides an extensive service to youth, through the Youth Outreach team, Safe and Sober Support Service, Targeted Family Support Service and Community Wellbeing Team.
Social Health teams in Aboriginal community-controlled health services are multi-skilled and multidiscipline teams that provide a range of social health services, including mental health, substance use, grief and loss, and family and welfare support.
8. CLINICAL SERVICES
The Services Branch provides services 7 days per week through clinic services and community health outreach programs to the Aboriginal community of Alice Springs and outlying communities at the Gap Road Clinic. Services Branch staff include GPs, Registered Nurses, Aboriginal Health Workers, Aboriginal Liaison Workers, Social Workers, Receptionists and Drivers. Clients also have access to a range of visiting medical specialists and allied health professionals.
9. INGKINTJA MALE HEALTH
The Ingkintja Team currently looks after male sexual health, health education and conducts health checks for males. Male Aboriginal Health Workers are available on request and can refer men to a male doctor in the main clinic as required. The Well Men’s Check targets the main risk factors for Aboriginal men and youths.
Congress plans to expand, relocate and refocus the Male Health program in the near future.
Male Health are currently undertaking consultations with men in the Community and the various agencies associated with Male Health in order to plan how to go about it and are looking for a new building that will be central to town, separate and private.
The expectation is that the new Male Health program will continue doing what it does now, with the main focus being on alcohol, smoking, and violence, and parenting.
Some of the ways that a Male Health centre might approach these issues, for example, are through sport, cultural support, a culturally and gender appropriate clinic service and assistance with education and employment.
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