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Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

OATSIH · Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services · OATSIHS

1 July 1995 – 2014

Office within the Commonwealth health department responsible for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health policy and for funding Aboriginal community-controlled health services and other Indigenous-specific primary health care programs.

How it came into existence

Created on 1 July 1995, initially styled the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services, within the Department of Human Services and Health when the Keating government transferred responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health programs and their funding from ATSIC to the Commonwealth health department.

Changes during its life

  1. 11 March 1996Became part of the new Department of Health and Family Services.
  2. 21 October 1998Became part of the new Department of Health and Aged Care.
  3. 26 November 2001Became part of the new Department of Health and Ageing.
  4. 18 September 2013Became part of the new Department of Health; most other Commonwealth Indigenous programs moved to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet at the same time, but Indigenous health stayed with the health department.
  • Took over functions from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services · 1 July 2004
    • Link-Up family tracing and reunion services

    Part of the transfer of ATSIS programs to mainstream departments; recipient office not confirmed from a primary source.

How it ended

Folded into the Department of Health's divisional structure around 2014, with its Indigenous health policy and program functions continuing within the department.

  • Absorbed into Department of Health · 2014
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health policy
    • Funding of Aboriginal community-controlled health services

Main functions

  • Funding Aboriginal community-controlled health services
  • Indigenous-specific primary health care programs
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health policy advice
  • Social and emotional wellbeing programs
  • Link-Up family tracing and reunion services (from 2004)
  • Capital works for Indigenous health services

Where it sits

Last in the portfolio of Department of Health.

Lineage

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Sources

Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.