MEDIA RELEASE
UNDER EMBARGO—strictly not for publication before
1.00am Friday 4 December 2009
NT child health checks—many children benefit,
some still need follow-up services
Many children have benefited from health services following health checks in the Northern
Territory, but not all children have received follow-up services for their health problems,
according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The report, Progress of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Child Health Check Initiative:
final report on results from the Child Health Check and follow-up data collections shows that more
than 10,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged between 0 and 15 years
received a Child Health Check (CHC) under the Northern Territory Emergency Response
(NTER) between July 2007 and June 2009.
About 97% had at least one health condition or risk factor identified during their check, and
99% received some form of management for a health condition during the CHC including
tests (91%), referrals (70%), health advice (69%), medication (53%), vaccinations (7%) and
other tests and medical procedures (9%).
The most common health conditions were oral health problems (43%), skin conditions (30%),
ear disease (30%) and anaemia (16%).
‘Among children who had a health check, over 2 out of 3 children (70%) received at least one
referral for a health condition, most commonly for primary health care (39%), dental services
(35%), audiology (14%) and paediatric services (12%)’, said Dr Indrani Pieris-Caldwell from
the AIHW.
About 3,500 children received an audiology check, and 44% of those referred for follow-up
received subsequent services by an audiologist.
Around 3,350 children received a dental check and 38% of those referred for follow-up
received subsequent services by a dentist.
‘Many children still had health conditions requiring follow-up services, because of the
chronic nature of the health problems they experience’, Dr Pieris-Caldwell said.
Nearly 80% of all children were followed-up on their health conditions and the care they
received. Of these, 36% needed further health care for a health problem.
‘Although comparison of the data over time shows that there were improvements in some
areas and fairly high recovery rates for some conditions after a health check, the data also
indicate that children have a continuing high need for services.’
Canberra, 2 December 2009
Further information: Dr Indrani Pieris-Caldwell, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1162
For media copies of the report: Publications Officer 02 6244 1032
UNDER EMBARGO
—strictly not for publication before 1.00am Friday 4 December 2009
This report can be downloaded for free off our website.
NEWS 
