Documents
About the KAHPF
Governance
The Kimberley Aboriginal Health Planning Forum (KAHPF) is the peak regional health forum for improving health outcomes for Aboriginal people in the Kimberley region of Western Australia (refer Terms of Reference).
The KAHPF Strategic Plan 2024-2028 was developed and endorsed by the KAHPF to outline the key priorities to drive improvements in health outcomes for Aboriginal people in the Kimberley. KAHPF takes ultimate responsibility for overseeing its implementation through its members and Sub-committees.
Meeting Communiques
2025: 24 February
2024: 23 October, 29 August, 12 July, 24 April, 7 March
2023: 11 December, 31 August, 27 April
Kimberley Aboriginal Health Plans
The first Kimberley Aboriginal Health Plan was completed in 1999. That plan laid the groundwork for the many important developments in primary health care that have occurred in the Kimberley region since then. The KAHPF was formed because of the desire by all signatories to the first plan to keep working in partnership to achieve better health outcomes for Aboriginal people in the region.
A second Kimberley Aboriginal Health Plan was released in 2012. The plan paid particular attention to the importance of the social determinants of good health, noting that without addressing people’s physical living environment and family social circumstances, closing the gap would not be possible.
The previous KAHPF Strategic Plan 2018-2028 was released in 2018 to outline the KAHPF’s collective strategic priorities.
KAHPF Logo
The KAHPF logo cannot be used without permission. Approval can be sought via a written request to the Secretariat, including artwork, associated copy, or social media post, and any other collateral where the KAHPF logo will be used.
Position Papers and Submissions
The KAHPF provides a collective voice for the regional planning, coordination and advocacy of key actions required to deliver high quality comprehensive, culturally responsive primary health care services to Aboriginal people in the Kimberley. Past position papers and submissions include:
Environmental Health
Kimberley Public Health Planning Reports: estimates of the costs of hospitalisations for Aboriginal people resident in the Kimberley due to their environment
Referrals to Environmental Health Services
Increasing referrals to environmental health services in the Kimberley: current position and strategies for change (2017)
Why a social determinants approach is required to address the high rates of scabies that can be found in remote Aboriginal communities (2016)
Presents the philosophy of a regional partnership to improve the overall health of Aboriginal people in the Kimberley by a concerted focus to promote the health of their skin, particularly to remedy the poor skin of Aboriginal children (2015)
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Kimberley Aboriginal-led Alcohol and Other Drug Plan
The KAHPF have advocated for the development of a Kimberley Aboriginal-led Alcohol and Other Drug Plan. As part of this project, a Desktop Review (and detailed appendix) has been completed . (January 2025)
The KAHPF, through the Drug, Alcohol and Mental Health Sub-committee, presents their views on the Section 64 liquor restrictions, with an emphasis on increasing the evidence base around supply reduction, consideration of unintended consequences and ensuring that supply reduction initiatives draw on best practice, by coinciding with locally driven demand and harm reduction initiatives. (2020)
Other
Ear Health Strategic Plan 2016-2018
Describes the then agreed aspirations and key components to guide all ear health service providers that work in partnership with primary health care providers in the Kimberley (2017)
Oral Health
Technical paper and recommendations to improve oral health in the Kimberley region (2016)
Patient Assisted Travel Scheme
Submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into PATS (2014)
Submission to the National Senate Inquiry the into operation and effectiveness (2007)
Remote health service delivery
A position paper on how delivery of health services in and to remote communities could be reformed (2016)
Details the situation, underlying causative factors, protective factors and steps to improve primary health responses (2016)