Our History
In its beginning, the Central Australian Remote Health Development Services Ltd (CARHDS) started life as a support organisation for the development of Aboriginal community controlled health services. From a demountable at the Institute for Aboriginal Development (IAD), its predecessor, the Central Australian Remote Training Unit (CARTHU) was established. In 2001 CARHDS was independently incorporated under ASIC and became its own entity with its membership comprised from Central Australian Health Services.

CARHDS has been responsible for much of the primary health care training, governance and cross-cultural training required by the ACCHOs as they established themselves as health services in Central Australia. Over time, CARHDS role shifted towards ATSIHP upskilling in ACCHOS and the NT Department of Health.

Between 2012 and 2016 government funding to CARHDS was limited and after a long period of funding the Commonwealth Department of Health ceased funding to the organisation. The Board took the opportunity to widen the training footprint to include remote communities in the Top End and to review the training scope to include accredited Language, Literacy and Numeracy training. The Board was also keen to explore how it could attract fee-for-service funding and build a more sustainable and viable organisation.

Today, CARHD's has been able to value add to the training products from the past and develop new projects for the future. It specialises in working with Aboriginal workers in their communities using a strengths based model and is mindful to include community members in decisions regarding training.