Advocacy

Advocacy at Danila Dilba

The vision outlined in the DDHS Strategic Plan 2022 – 2026 is that ‘Biluru people of the Yilli Rreung region experience health, wellbeing and quality of life outcomes that are equal to, or greater than that of non-Indigenous Australians’. To achieve this, we have adopted a ‘whole of life’ approach to the health of our clients, taking into account the social determinants which drive inequities in health outcomes. We strive to improve those outcomes through our services and advocacy.

The DDHS Advocacy and Policy team advocate for evidence-based policy and legislation that advances Aboriginal self-determination, leadership and wellbeing. We take an active role in advocating across a range of policy and practical issues that impact on health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including:

  • Child protection, safety and wellbeing
  • Youth justice
  • Housing and homelessness
  • Mental health
  • Impact of COVID 19 upon vulnerable populations
  • Indigenous evaluation issues
  • Sexual violence
  • Health systems and funding
  • Alcohol policy

DDHS has become a respected voice in a range of policy areas and is an active participant in advocacy, often in conjunction with peak organisations or other coalitions. DDHS is frequently invited by government, peak organisations and coalitions to contribute to submissions, inquiries and policy processes in a range of areas.

Key Aims of Our Scope of Care

  • Improve health and wellbeing across the life course.
  • Overcome the entrenched inequality faced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so that their life outcomes are equal to non-Indigenous Australians.
  • Provide the best quality services to our clients by providing culturally appropriate care in a safe environment.

Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health are the ’causes of the causes’ of poor health. These include living conditions, racism, educational opportunities, employment, working conditions and income, access to transport and health care. and community and social support. Working holistically and collaboratively to improve these attributes is a pathway to better health outcomes.

Four by four columns depicting icons (hand-drawn in style) relating to the 16 social determinants of health impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Current Danila Dilba Advocacy Projects

Danila Dilba is a strong advocate for system reform in the child protection, safety and wellbeing sector. We promote greater involvement of the Aboriginal community-controlled sector in family support and early intervention, as well as child-centred approaches to addressing safety and wellbeing.

We work extensively with other Aboriginal and child-centred organisations to advocate for evidence-based initiatives including the introduction of a confidential children’s helpline, a child-friendly and multidisciplinary justice and protection model and legislative reform.

Danila Dilba has a longstanding involvement in the youth justice sector. Our experiences delivering primary health care and youth social support services at Holtze Youth Detention Centre (previously Don Dale Youth Detention Centre) have led us to extensively research best policy, legislation and practice in this area.

We are passionate about addressing Aboriginal overrepresentation and the high prevalence of complex health needs among young people in detention. We advocate for increased access to comprehensive and culturally safe health care in detention, evidence-based policy, and the provision of therapeutic, trauma-informed models to reduce offending and cater to young people.

Recognising that having a safe and reliable place to live is a key determinant of health, Danila Dilba works closely with other organisations, researchers, community members, and the mainstream health sector to reduce homelessness and rough sleeping in the Northern Territory. We advocate for the development of affordable, safe and appropriate housing to reduce large rates of overcrowding and homelessness, and for better policy to address the root causes of rough sleeping amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Danila Dilba’s aspiration is for a robust, efficient and modern mental health and wellbeing system, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination, culture and dignity are respected and upheld in the design and delivery of treatment, care and support. We recognise that as well as the social determinants of health, factors such as culture, language, family, kinship, and connection to land are all vital to the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal people.

Danila Dilba recognises the prevalence and effects of sexual violence in the Northern Territory as well as the ill-informed rhetoric and policy surrounding the issue. Danila Dilba advocates for a different approach to sexual violence, including engagement with the Territory’s context and provision of the necessary reforms to improve disclosure and support for victims, and rehabilitation for those who have committed harm.

Danila Dilba advocates for greater investment into Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to provide comprehensive, culturally appropriate primary health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. Danila Dilba believes that Indigenous-led health systems that embrace Aboriginal knowledge, traditions and culture will redress the health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders by empowering communities to take lead of their health and wellbeing.

Danila Dilba has been a strong advocate for legal and policy reform in the liquor industry, providing input into multiple governmental inquiries to reduce alcohol-related harm in Aboriginal communities. Notably, Danila Dilba successfully prevented the development of a large-scale liquor outlet bordering several ‘dry’ communities in Darwin through our persistent campaigning and advocacy.

Submissions

Danila Dilba Health Service makes submissions to parliamentary inquiries and other organisations that provide recommendations to improve the overall health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. All submissions can be found on our Research page.

On 28 August 2025, Danila Dilba was a signatory on the Civil Open Letter to the Finocchiaro Government in response to the Country Liberal Government’s Pepper Spray introduction.

The quote attributed to CEO Rob McPhee stated:

“Danila Dilba Health Service believes a safer community will be achieved through evidence-based approaches and improvements in the real root causes of violence – reducing poverty, improving housing and addressing trauma. It will not be achieved by increasing the presence of weapons in our community.”

On 26 June 2025, Danila Dilba joined with AMSANT to condemn the NT Government’s cruel and discriminatory bus dress code.

“The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) is deeply disappointed by the NT Government’s decision to enforce a “bus dress code” that allows passengers to be refused travel for wearing “dirty or stained clothing”, describing it as a cruel and discriminatory policy that unfairly targets people experiencing poverty, homelessness and mental ill health.

AMSANT CEO Dr John Paterson said the policy will disproportionately impact Aboriginal people, particularly those sleeping rough or without access to housing, laundry facilities, or appropriate healthcare.”

On 29 April 2025, Danila Dilba was part of a submission to Chief Minister the Hon. Lia Finocchiaro: Community Responses to the Root Causes of Crime that Work Must Be on the Table.

“We urge you to invest in the community-led, culturally appropriate programs and services that
are already operating effectively across the Territory. With appropriate backing these
successes can be scaled up to address the size of the issues and become more widespread
with crime stopped at its cause. The cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of action.

We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss how your government can lead
the way for a new approach in the NT, with real lasting outcomes when it comes to safe and
healthy communities.”

On 16 October 2024, Danila Dilba joined submissions to Chief Minister the Hon. Lia Finocchiaro: Putting the Health, Wellbeing and Safety of Territorians First.

The letter was in response to the CLP’s consideration of the removal of Minimum Unit Pricing and was signed by over 200 health and community services, industry leaders, local and interstate professionals and GPs, including our GPs and DDHS CEO Rob McPhee.

“Your government’s consideration of the removal of Minimum Unit Pricing will not make
women and children in the Northern Territory safer. It will increase violence and harm.
Any increase in trading hours will have a similar effect.
We urge you to abandon any plans to remove or relax these policies, and to prioritise the
health, wellbeing and safety of families and communities.”

The media release from this submission followed on 17 October 2024. To read it, please click here.

On 11 February 2025, a follow-up media release issued an urgent call to the NT Government: Do not abandon alcohol harm reduction measures.

Danila Dilba was a signatory on the Coalition of Voices on Justice Open Letter in July 2024.

The letter addressed how over-incarceration in the Northern Territory causes significant harm to children, families and the whole community.

The coalition put forward three key areas to focus on to make a significant difference in the lives of Territorians:

  1. Commit to fully implementing the Aboriginal Justice Agreement
  2. Reduce the number of young people in contact with out of home care, police and custody
  3. Programs not Prisons: A call for investment in community led safety approaches outside of the justice system

On 19 October 2023, as a member of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT), Danila Dilba was part of the Statement by AMSANT regarding a Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse in Aboriginal Communities.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT), representing Aboriginal community controlled health services across the Northern Territory, we reject attempts to politicise the issue of child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities.

Any abuse of any child is abhorrent, and profoundly offensive to Aboriginal culture which has at its heart the care and nurture of children.”

The following submission was sent to Chief Minister the Hon. Natasha Fyles from AMSANT CEO Dr John Paterson on 10 October 2023, with DDHS CEO Rob McPhee as a signatory.

It was written in response to the appointment of the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Panel and the consultation process that was being planned. Please click here for more information.