Ntaria Primary Health Care Centre
Clinic Profile
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Location
The historic community of Ntaria, also known as Hermannsburg, is located 130 kms South-West of Alice Springs.
Category
John Flynn Scholars, Prevocational Doctors (PGPPP) and GP Registrars
Population
The population of Ntaria and its surrounds is approximately 1250, of which nearly all are Indigenous.
Major Language Groups
The main language group is Western Arrernte but most residents in the community speak English. Other languages spoken include Luritja/Pintupi and Pitjantjatjara (mainly spoken at Areyonga).
Access via Road
130 kms (about 1.5 hours) to Ntaria from Alice Springs, along the sealed Larapinta Drive (2 km to the community). The same road bypasses Ntaria to give access to Areyonga, the Mereenie oil and gas fields, Palm Valley and Kings Canyon. The condition of the community roads is reasonable and there is basic access to all areas, depending on cultural activities.
Access via Air
35 mins from Alice Springs to Ntaria. The airstrip is only open in dry weather and during daytime, although there are lights for night time evacuation if urgent.
Seasonal Access
In periods of heavy rain, Larapinta Drive can be cut by water flowing over the Finke River, Hugh River, Jay Creek and Ellery Creek crossings, but is usually passable in a 4WD. Airstrips in the district can be also closed after steady rains.
Outstations Serviced
The Health Service area tends to over 40 outstations in the Hermannsburg area. Ntaria is also the base for the Western Aranda Health Aboriginal Corporation (WAHAC), formed in 1993. WAHAC and the clinic provide primary health care services to the communities of Ntaria, Areyonga (Utju), Wallace Rockhole and the numerous outstations around Ntaria.
Health Centre Information
Facilities and rooms: The Ntaria Community Health Centre has seven consulting rooms. Previously the old Strehlow Memorial hospital, it was renovated in 1999 to be more functional as a community health centre with specialized areas for men and women, and a children’s area.
Clinic Staff: The health centre employs around 12 staff including 4 RNs, 4 AHWs, support staff and a Trainee Aboriginal Health Worker. WAHAC also employ a team of staff.
Community Programs
Chronic diseases
Male well being programs
Female well being programs
Mental health
Specialist renal services
Visiting Specialists
Dental/oral health
Eye and ear specialists
Gynaecologist
Sexual health team
Audiologist
Paediatrician
Physician
Nutritionist
Mental health
Podiatrist
Maternal health
Child health
FACS
Aged care and disability
Open Times
Monday – Thursday: 0900 hrs – 1200 hrs | 1300 hrs – 1700 hrs
Friday: 0900 hrs – 1600 hrs
After hours emergency service: RANs and AHWs at clinic for emergencies only.
Contact Details
Ntaria Primary Health Care Centre
CARHS, 6 Gap Road, (Accessed by the service road parallel to Stuart Tce) Alice Springs, NT 0870
PO Box 721, Alice Springs, NT 0871
P (08) 8956 7433 | F (08) 8956 7473
E: [email protected]
Additional information
WAHAC is currently being managed by Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (the largest and oldest Aboriginal community controlled health service in the Northern Territory).
The Primary Health Care Centre provides all common aspects of clinical operations to the community. For most routine surgeries people are referred to Alice Springs Hospital. Emergency evacuations are done by clinic staff and patients are evacuated by either RFDS or by road using the community clinic ambulance. There is a daily WAHAC bus to Alice Springs for medical appointments.
On arrival in the community, it is advisable to ask an Aboriginal staff member for advice of any locations (e.g. sacred sites) to avoid.
Community Profile
Community Information
Ntaria is the area of land around the former mission of Hermannsburg, near the geographic centre of Australia. It is on the traditional land of the Western Arrernte people. The surrounding ranges include the Western MacDonnell National Park to the North and Finke Gorge National Park to the South (Palm Valley area). Mt Hermannsburg (Larlkintanherrama) is the sandstone backdrop to the town, in the Krichauff Ranges. The Finke River and Ellery Creek are the main watercourses passing through the district and the main roads are Larapinta Drive, Namatjira Luritja Road, Ernest Giles Road and the Mereenie Loop Road.
History
Aboriginal people have inhabited this region for more than 40,000 years. Established in 1877, the Lutheran Finke River Mission (the first mission in Central Australia) was a site for distributing government rations until 1963, and a refuge for Aboriginal people during violent frontier conflicts over some early pastoral settlement. In 1970 a local council was set up, which caused a lot of people to move out of the town to surrounding outstations. In 1979, responding to requests from the community, the Finke River Mission handed its Government lease back to the Western Arrernte people. In 1982 the land was returned to its traditional owners and in 1983 the Ntaria Council was set up, the Finke River Mission withdrew as administrator and the township took the name Ntaria. In 2008, the Ntaria Council became a part of the MacDonnell Shire Council, the provider of local Government to the community.
Art & Culture
Local Aboriginal art including paintings by the famed Albert Namatjira can be appreciated at the art gallery in the community’s historic precinct. Art can be purchased from the shop within the Ntaria Art Centre located at the Women’s Centre.
City/Shire Council
Ntaria Council
The MacDonnell Shire
The Central Land Council (the land council to the community)
Local & Govt Services
Police station, primary school and Alice Springs School of the Air.
Facilities
Ntaria community store, Finke river mission store, Lutheran church, football and softball fields, basketball courts, mechanical workshops, child care centre.
Attractions
Palm Valley National Park, Ellery Big Hole and Boggy Hole (ideal for picnics, barbecues and swimming), the Finke Gorge plus the West MacDonnell and the Watarrka National Parks. The Kings Canyon Resort has motel, camping and restaurant facilities.
Telecommunications reception and internet access
Phone access
ADSL Internet/email access
Satellite dish
Permits required ie camping, alcohol, beach etc
Alcohol restrictions apply on sale of alcohol and bringing alcohol into the community (Ntaria is an Alcohol Restricted Zone under the Liquor Act).
Permits are required for outstations and other areas off the main Highway (e.g. travel on to Kings Canyon via the Mereenie Loop Road). Permits are not required to visit the community, the mission, general store or supermarket.
Visitors’ permits to other areas are required from the Central Land Council and can be purchased at the Ntaria supermarket.
Useful Links
www.caac.org.au/profiles remote communities
www.rahc.com.au/Hermannsberg
www.workingfuture.nt.gov.au/Ntaria/docs
