1.South Australia Pika Wiya Aboriginal Health Service 

2.Victoria : Kirrae Health Service

3. Queensland: Institute for Urban Indigenous Health /Apunipima Cape York Health Council 

4.Aboriginal Health Council of WA

5.WA : Wirraka Maya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation

6.Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service

7.NT : Maningrida community Living ” Sugar Free “

8.Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre

 Lets celebrate and share our ACCHO’s success

NACCHO supported survey : Help us to help you : What the most important health issues are for people living in the bush.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) of Australia has been caring for country people for almost ninety years.

Together with the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), we are conducting research to know what the most important health issues are for people living in the bush.

If you are 18 years of age or older, we would like to invite you to complete our 10 minute survey and share it with those you know who live in country Australia.

All responses are confidential and responses will be compiled together and analysed as a group.

To complete the survey click on this link at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bushhealth.

1.South Australia Pika Wiya Aboriginal Health Service 

THE PIKA Wiya Aboriginal Health Service will receive about $2.4 million over four years through a major grant from the Department of Health, addressing the healthcare of mothers and babies. From HERE

Pika Wiya will focus on extending its services in healthcare for pregnant women, new mums and their young children, and information and support for baby care and parenting issues.

Services for women and children are currently provided at Pika Wiya’s Well Women’s House, but Pika Wiya Board Chairperson Margaret Stuart said they will seek more suitable accommodation to cope with their growth in these services.

“We don’t think we can work this new program within the confines of the highly successful Well Women’s House,” Ms Stuart said.

“Having said that, it is a really exciting time for Aboriginal mothers and babies with the expansion of our service.

“It is exciting to think that we can strengthen our services in the areas of immunisation, breast feeding, nutrition, parenting and child health generally.”

Pika Wiya will gain $817,000 by June 30, 2018, before receiving about $530,000 annually for at least a further three years. The health practitioners and management have begun planning how to implement the grant as quickly as possible.

Ms Stuart congratulated staff for their enormous effort to win the funding.

“The commitment by Dr Julia Vnuk, Kate Warren and Therese McCourt to work so hard to get this grant was fantastic,” she said.

Pika Wiya’s Well Women’s House was opened in November 2013, with an aim to provide a targeted, confidential screening and support service to Aboriginal women within the community. Located at 2 Marryatt Street, the house is open from Tuesday through to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Pika Wiya Aboriginal Health Service is located on Dartmouth Street, providing culturally appropriate health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In addition to Port Augusta, the organisation has clinics in the communities of Davenport, Copley and Nepabunna.

2.Victoria : Kirrae Health Service 

Kirrae Health Service and IHHP joined forces to tackle Indigenous smoking, thru Easter school holiday program, producing this song and video clip.

Tanaya Harradine organised for IHHP crew to attend Fram Community and run an intense week of song writing and filming in various locations around Framlingham.

The youth of Fram have been doing early education on tackling Indigenous smoking, and produced

View Here

3. Queensland: Institute for Urban Indigenous Health /Apunipima Cape York Health Council 

The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health Deadly Choices program with support of the Queensland Government today renewed and extended their partnership  for 3 yrs with the Brisbane Broncos.

Announced in the Far North Qld community of Coen, IUIH CEO Adrian Carson, Minister for Qld Health Cameron Dick, Apunipima Cape York Health Council CEO Cleveland Fagan, CEO Brisbane Broncos Paul White and Mayor Cook Shire Council Peter Scott along with Benji Marshall & ScottPrince7 were proud to also announce the extension of the Deadly Choices program into the Cape.

Updated PM 13 April

Minister of Health, Hon Cameron Dick visited Coen on Tuesday (11 April) under the Ministerial Government Champion’s program.

Minister Dick’s first visit was back in September, where he worked closely with the mayor and community leaders from Coen to establish the current needs of the community.

On Tuesday he presented to community the developments the government has committed to, the expansion of the ambulance service and the upgrade of the recreation field.

With the news of the new field, The Coen Cults football team tightening up their football boots with excitement. With thanks to the Department of Sport, Cook Shire Council and Queensland health commitment the upgrade is estimated to cost $500,000 which will include Irrigation, new turf, goal posts and lighting. He spoke of how he saw the projects potential to expand leadership within community through new possible activities.

Minister Dick visioned the field becoming a community hub for health and engagement, with the grounds becoming the home of the next Jonathan Thurston.

“We want this field to be owned by community, not to just be seen as something the government funded. With the upgrade to include lighting, this gives community the opportunity to hold more events at night and grow and nurture that next Jonathan Thurston.”

Along with the excitement of the field upgrade, Minister Dick presented to an interagency meeting announcing the expansion of the Ambulance service, which is to include an additional paramedic for Coen from the months April to October. Along with a new vehicle to accompany the additional paramedic, office and accommodation to the estimated investment is $580,000.

“Coen being a community that welcomes a tourist population over the months of April to October, this will ensure that we can follow the health motto of right place, right time and right people and skills to provide best practice care.”

Chair of Apunipima Cape York Health Council, Thomas Hudson travelled along with the Apunipima executive team in Coen and had nothing but praise for the Ministerial Government Champions program.

“Palaszczuk governments introduction to the Ministers champions program for the communities are proving to be a great success, already showing how a collaborative approach to community health brings a harmony and cohesive approach to different services and the government departments.”

The evidence will be in the improvements on the close the gap targets, healthy babies, Cap York people living longer, healthier lives.

Mr Hudson says “He is looking forward to seeing this evidence in day to day health care services for Cape York people.”

With dates yet to be set of when both projects are to be completed, the community eagerly await for what is next to come in Coen

4.Aboriginal Health Council of WA,

Around 200 delegates have wrapped up a three-day conference in Perth which highlighted some of the major issues in Aboriginal health.

The annual state sector conference, hosted by the Aboriginal Health Council of WA, was held at the International on the Water Hotel in Ascot from April 4-6.

The conference was attended by representatives of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services from around WA, as well as state and federal government delegates and observers from the not-for-profit sector.

New Minister for Health Roger Cook addressed the member planning day on April 4, summarising the relevant WA Labor election promises, such as a patient ‘meet and greet’ service for remote Aboriginal patients flown to Perth to help them with orientation.

The conference was officially opened by new Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt, who said one of his key ambitions for this term of government was to significantly reform the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

Some of the topics discussed at the conference included child growth and development, a patient-centred Medicare model, the needs of LGBTI people, the role of Aboriginal men in addressing family violence, and dealing with suicide.

AHCWA Chairperson Michelle Nelson-Cox said the conference was a great opportunity for people involved in Aboriginal health to come together.

“Because our state is so large and so remote, we don’t get many opportunities to all come together and talk about common issues in the sector,” she said.

“This conference gave people the chance to discuss problems, hear stories about what is working and what’s not, and put forward culturally appropriate solutions.

“It’s very important that Aboriginal people are given opportunities to find our own solutions to problems and then work out how to implement them.”

The conference also hosted a youth forum facilitated by AHCWA’s Youth Coordinator which identified the key health issues affecting young people around the state.

Over the two days, more than 10 workshops were held. The recommendations from those workshops will be collated into a report and presented to the state and federal governments.

5.WA : Wirraka Maya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation

Our view video HERE