Category Archives: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Registered Training Organisation National Network (ATSIHRTONN)

For further infomation
ATSIHRTONN Secretariat
Darrien Bromley
ATSIHRTONN National Coordinator
darrien.bromley@ahcsa.org.au
08 8273 7256

and
Denise Burdett
WIPO
Workforce Information Policy Officer
NACCHO
Ph:02 6495 3870
Mob: 0417 983 581
Email: denise.b@naccho.org.au

Apr 19 2013

NACCHO press release: National Aboriginal health authority welcomes the Victorian ” COAG challenge”

Justin Mohamed high res

Justin Mohamed, Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) has welcomed the Victorian Government’s challenge to the Federal Government to match its increased investment improving Aboriginal health through a new National Partnership Agreement.

Mr Mohamed was commenting on the urgent need for all COAG state and territory premiers to match Federal Government’s $777 million under a new 3 year agreement similar to Victorian Government 4 year of commitment of $61.7 million, the largest ever investment in Aboriginal Health

Justin Mohamed said “NACCHO’s affiliates in each state and territories are the only structured systems who have worked with each State and Territory health minister and premiers as part of the COAG push for the sign up to the NPA.

Victorian Minister David Davis has acknowledge the partnership with the NACCHO affiliate VACCHO (Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation) in ensuring their government continued their commitment to Closing the Gap and calling on other COAG states and Territories to do the same”

“All NACCHO state and territory affiliates have a significant role at a jurisdictional level to ensuring that Closing the Gap commitment are kept ” Mr Mohamed said

“As I said earlier this week the pressure is now squarely on the states and territories as signatories of the 2008 Close the Gap Statement of Intent in which they committed to work together to close the disgraceful seventeen year gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians by 2030.

The states and territories need to uphold their commitment to this important goal and sign up to continue the National Partnership Agreement which is due to expire in less than two months.”

Improving Aboriginal health is not a quick fix – it requires a long-term commitment by all levels of government.’

Nov 7 2012

Urgent info & action: 20 support packages for Aboriginal Health Workers forum AGM

We would urgently like your assistance in passing on this NACCHO COMMUNIQUE to your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers (and other networks) about our upcoming ‘NATSIHWA 2012 National Health Worker Professional Development Forum and AGM’ on 28-29 November in Melbourne.

It promises to be an exciting event with key leaders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health speaking about crucial topics affecting our sector today.

 To assist you, there are 20 support packages available.

You can register for the packages and RSVP at www.natsihwa.org.au or via email to operations@natsihwa.org.au

NATSIHWA will also be holding the NATSIHWA Health Worker of the Year Awards Ceremony on the evening of Tuesday, 28 November.

We encourage you and your staff to nominate for the awards. Nominations can be made at:  https://www.research.net/s/NATSIHWA_Awards

 Some of the topics being discussed at the forum are:

• e-Health and the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCeHR)

• National Registration and Accreditation

• Closing the Gap initiatives

• Good practice models of Health Worker practice

• Up-skilling and training opportunities

• The implementation of recommendations resulting from the Health Workforce Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Project

• Areas of specific health and clinical focus – including drug & alcohol, men’s & women’s business, sexual health, social & emotional wellbeing

 NATSIHWA is the peak national association representing, supporting and assisting with the professional development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers. We are passionate about securing the future of our profession.

 Thanks for your assistance in getting this information out to our front-line Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers.

 Regards,

 Clarke Scott

CEO-NATSIHWA

operations@natsihwa.org.au

Sep 24 2012

Sydney Pharmacy Indigenous Camp Jan 2013 application open

What is the Sydney Pharmacy Indigenous Camp (SydPIC)?

SydPIC is a camp that incorporates pharmacy workshops, laboratory sessions and field trips that will give you a taste of university education and a career in pharmacy.

It will be held from Sunday 20 January to Thursday 24 January 2013 for up to 15-25 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, male and female, from Years 10 and 11 in this current year. The SydPIC program will run over four days during which you will be introduced to the University, campus life and pharmacy.

Is Pharmacy for me?

If you…

  • are good at maths and science
  • enjoy working with people
  • like working as part of a team
  • like to tackle challenging problems

…then pharmacy may just be what you’re looking for!

What will I do at SydPIC?

You will tour the university campus, live on-site in college accommodation; participate in challenging workshops and fun team-building exercises including working in the laboratory to prepare creams and lotions, make tablets and extract the active ingredients from medicines. In addition you will learn about the benefits and harmful effects from commonly used medicines.

Guided by your tutors – pharmacy teachers and a practising indigenous pharmacist – you will visit and speak with hospital and community pharmacists, and be introduced to the science and practice of pharmacy. You will also have the opportunity to meet current students to find out firsthand what it is like to study pharmacy at the University of Sydney.

You will also have the opportunity to discover more about the city of Sydney via a night out on a harbour cruise.

If you would like to know more about the study camp, please read our brochure.

Cost

SydPIC is a fully sponsored event by the Faculty of Pharmacy. All your travel costs to and from Sydney, as well as accommodation, tuition, insurance and food will be covered. The only money you many require is pocket money when travelling and during your stay in Sydney.

Applications

If you wish to apply for SydPIC you will need to complete an application form. Applications need to be submitted by 26 October 2012. Further details can be found on the application form.

Or for more information, please contact:
SydPIC coordinator
Faculty of Pharmacy
T +61 2 9036 7647
E pharmacy.sydpic@sydney.edu.au
SydPIC is associated with the University of Sydney Wingara Mura-Bunga Barrabugu Indigenous strategy.

Sep 20 2012

Health heroes to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students to consider a career in health.

This newsletter provides an update on the Department of Health & Ageing’s Health Heroes campaign, which aims to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students to consider a career in health.
 

Health Heroes at the Townsville and Bendigo Vibe Alive festivals

 
   

This year the Health Heroes campaign was a proud sponsor of Vibe Alive, which is a fun two day festival for young Australians of all backgrounds celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and promoting school attendance, retention and healthy lifestyles.

Following the Port Hedland event in June, the campaign’s involvement in the festivals continued in Townsville on 26 and 27 July and wrapped up with the final event in Bendigo on 8 August. Health Hero, medical student and hip-hop artist Joel Wenitong performed at the opening and closing ceremonies, and talked to students, teachers and parents about the need for more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to take up jobs in health.

During the day ‘Health Heroes’ from the local Townsville and Bendigo areas worked with Joel to engage with students and encourage them to consider a career in health. Representing a range of professions including mental health workers, physical activity and nutrition workers, paramedics and medical students, these ‘Health Heroes’ also spoke with teachers and provided them with resource kits to support in-class and career guidance activities.

Students were also encouraged to think about careers in health through the incorporation of Health Heroes messaging into the festival’s Move It Mob Style hip-hop workshops. Overall, the Health Heroes campaign was able to engage directly with more than 5,000 primary and secondary students across Vibe Alive.
 
 

Health Heroes ambassador Joel Wenitong performing at the opening ceremony of the Townsville Vibe Alive festival (26 July)
 
 
 

Joel Wenitong with local ‘Health Heroes’ Gemma and Hannah at the Health Heroes stand in Townsville (26 July)
 
 
 

Students attending the opening ceremony of the Bendigo Vibe Alive festival (8 August)
 

Health Heroes resources distributed to AMSs and Universities

During August the Health Heroes campaign distributed campaign materials to 150 Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) around Australia. This included Health Heroes posters to be displayed around each centre, and “Genie” comic books (developed to inspire young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to take up careers in health and community services) to be placed in each AMS as reading material.

The campaign is also in the process of contacting Universities and TAFEs to provide a range of resources for engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in recruitment activities or during in-school visits. These resources include:

  • Health Heroes campaign brochures – encouraging students to consider a career in health and visit the Health Heroes website.
  • Health Heroes campaign posters – targeted at the secondary target audience, influencers that can be placed around campus, in waiting rooms and other communal spaces.
  • Health Heroes career quiz – based on the interactive career quiz on the campaign website, this quiz is designed to provide a selection of recommended health jobs based on the skills and interests of participants and direct them to the Health Heroes website.
  • Lesson plans for teachers – providing suggestions to help teachers incorporate Health Heroes campaign resources into classroom activities.

If you or your organisation are interested in ordering any of these resources, please visit the Health Heroes website at www.australia.gov.au/healthheroes, or email healthheroes@health.gov.au to place an order.
 

Health Heroes career quiz

 
   

The Health Heroes career quiz is an interactive resource available on the Health Heroes website.This quiz provides a selection of recommended health jobs based on the preferences of participants. A shortened mobile version of the career quiz is also available for people with smartphones.

The Health Heroes career quiz is a great resource for anyone considering a career in the health sector. We encourage you to share this quiz broadly with friends, family and colleagues, and anyone who could be interested in getting into the health sector.
 

Career pathways tool now available

 
   

The Health Heroes website also recently launched a ‘career pathways tool’ that provides the opportunity for students to map out career paths for various health professions based on education levels, qualifications and work experience.

Recognising the range of pathways students can take to achieve their career goals; this tool provides them with simple steps for working out where they are now and what options are available for pursuing the wide range of health careers available.
 

Get involved

 
   

There are a number of ways that you can get involved in supporting the activities and key messages of the Health Heroes campaign:

  1. Link your organisation’s website to the Health Heroes website
    We have a developed a web badge that can be provided to your organisation if you are interested in linking your organisation’s website to the Heath Heroes website. Please email us on healthheroes@health.gov.au for further information.
  2. Stakeholder activities
    If you have any upcoming events, let us know about them! A range of resources have been developed and may be able to support your event. Please email us on healthheroes@health.gov.au and let us know what you have planned.
  3. Share this newsletter and our website address with your networks
    Please hit share to forward this newsletter to interested friends, contacts and colleagues. If you are interested in being added to the mailing list, please email your details to us at healthheroes@health.gov.au.
  4. Use and promote Health Heroes resources
    Visit the Health Heroes website at www.australia.gov.au/healthheroes, or email healthheroes@health.gov.au to place your order for a range of Health Heroes resources
May 7 2012

IRG ATSIHRTONN representative appointed

Terry Smith Manager of Aboriginal Health College of the AH&MRC of NSW (Education and Training Aboriginal Health College ) in Sydney has accepted the nomination to sit on the CS&HISC IRG as the ATSIHRTONN rep.

Terry brings a wealth of knowledge regarding training, packages and our sector.

 Background re: the above

CS&HISC are reviewing Membership and the Terms of Reference for the TPAC going forward as it is now a Joint TPAC of both Community Services and Health.

The role of TPAC will be more strategic, with the new proposed governance structure of the IRGs providing the technical input necessary.

It is expected that NACCHO and other key stakeholders will have Technical Advisors on the relevant IRG/s.

Forums regarding  the current CHC08 &HLT07 will be held nationally commencing in May.

Please follow the link to the ATSIHRTONN Communique, Issue 5, Autumn 2012.

CONTENTS

  • FIVE GRADUATE ASSESSORS FOR NGANAMPA HEALTH COUNCIL
  • PROGRESS ON LEARNING RESOURCES REVIEW
  • ATSIHRTONN SHARED RESOURCES

PROJECTS

  • EAR & HEARING
  • SIMULATED LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
  • TAE FOR SENIOR ATSIHWS
  • CLINICAL LOG BOOK UPDATE
  • CHARLATAN REPORT RESPONSE

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

 

Apr 13 2012

Press release: 30 March 2012 What will race base research really achieve?A response to Charlatan Training of Aboriginal Health Workers

Mr Justin Mohamed, Chair of the NACCHO’s approx 150 Aboriginal community controlled health services throughout Australia today questioned the motives of research undertaken by the Indigenous Affair program at The Centre for Independent Studies, who in their own words examines “the unintended consequences of having race-based policies and whether the problems faced by Aboriginal Health Workers (AHW) are symptomatic of this separatism.”

 Mr Mohamed was responding to concerns by his member organisations and  Aboriginal Health Workers in these community controlled health services throughout Australia who were universally astonished, angry and embarrassed by a report released last week titled Charlatan Training, How Aboriginal Health Workers Are Being Short Changed by researcher Sara Hudson.

 Mr Mohamed said “As pointed out by a number our Aboriginal Health organisations and researchers this report is full of gross inaccuracies, outdated research, selective editing, and wilful misinterpretation of reality and in general only refers selectively to quotes that will promulgate the racist myth that Aboriginal people are unable to cope in mainstream health positions.

 Aboriginal Health Workers are an important part of clinical services in the over 150 Aboriginal community controlled health  services as well as in mainstream health services”.

 Clinically trained Aboriginal Health Workers perform a range of frontline clinical procedures, according to their qualification level, from internal and external examinations, suturing and specimen collection and they have a direct link with the Aboriginal communities they are part of allowing them access to the most difficult to reach and marginalised of patients”.

 NACCHO continues to directly support the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Association (NATSIHWA) to ensure the interests of Aboriginal Health Workers are properly represented and the profession has the chance to be part of the National Regulation and Accreditation of health professionals.

 We believe that NATSIHWA is the appropriate organisation to work for the interests of its Aboriginal Health Worker members by supporting their careers, professional development, networking, accreditation of the profession and representing their interests at peak regional, state and national forums.”

Mr Mohamed said in summary “the report does not appropriately recognise and acknowledge the significant role, value, expertise and contribution Aboriginal and Health Workers make to their communities.”

 “Whilst we welcome evidence based factual debate we would seriously question the racist motives of this basically flawed report.” Mr Mohamed said.

 NACCHO Media Contact: Colin Cowell   0401 331 251

Mar 7 2012

Feb 2012 CEO update-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Registered Training Organisation National Network (ATSIHRTONN)

NACCHO agreed to continue to support the auspice arrangement between AHCSA and ATSIHRTONN for another 12 months on the basis that any key strategic decisions regarding the future of the network be done in consultation with NACCHO.