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NACCHO Aboriginal Health and #Obesity : Download @AIHW report : A picture of overweight and obesity in Australia

Obesity

 ” Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adolescents are more likely to be overweight or obese than non-Indigenous children and adolescents.

In 2012–13, 30% of Indigenous children and adolescents aged 2–14 were overweight or obese, compared with 25% of their non-Indigenous counterparts. One in 10 (10%) Indigenous children and adolescents aged 2–14 were obese, compared with 7% of their non-Indigenous counterparts (ABS 2014a).

Prevalence among Indigenous children and adolescents see section 2 below

 ” In 2012–13, more than two-thirds (69%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults were overweight or obese (29% overweight but not obese, and 40% obese). Indigenous men (69%) and women (70%) had similar rates of overweight and obesity (ABS 2014a).

One-third (32%) of Indigenous men and more than one-quarter (27%) of Indigenous women were overweight but not obese, while 36% of Indigenous men, and 43% of Indigenous women were obese ”

Prevalence among Indigenous adults see section 3 below

Read over 30 NACCHO Aboriginal Health and Obesity articles

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Download AIHW Report HERE

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 ” Australian food ministers expect parents to make healthier choices for their families, but take no action on giving them the tools to know how much added sugar is in food. Shameful, given AIHW stats showing obesity has doubled in 2-5 year olds in the last 20 years.

 Health Ministers acknowledge that added sugar labelling is an issue but delay taking any action. Added sugar labelling has been delayed since 2011, this is very disappointing.”

Communique : The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (the Forum) met in Melbourne Friday 24 Nov . The Forum is chaired by the Australian Government Assistant Minister for Health, Dr David Gillespie 

Download full Communique Forum Communique 24 November 2017

Sugar Labelling

In April 2017, the Forum Ministers agreed a work program on sugar that included:

  • ̵further evidence gathering activities by Food Standards Australia New Zealand on consumer understanding and behaviour;
  • ̵international approaches to sugar labelling; and
  • ̵an update of the policy context.

Noting the desire of Forum Ministers to take a whole-of-diet, holistic approach to food labelling, Forum Ministers considered that information about sugar provided on food labels does not provide adequate contextual information to enable consumers to make informed choices in support of dietary guidelines. Forum Ministers agreed to continue examining regulatory and non-regulatory options to address this issue.

Forum Ministers also noted the range of existing complementary initiatives outside of the food regulation system that address sugar intakes, such as the current review of the Health Star Rating system, policy work underway on the labelling of fats and oils, and the work of the Healthy Food Partnership.

Jane Martin Obesity Coalition updating our NACCHO Post from last week

NACCHO Aboriginal Health #sugar and #Sugardemic : Todays meeting of Health Ministers is a real chance to improve #HealthStarRatings for our Mob

Part 1 Executive summary

Overweight and obesity is a major public health issue in Australia. It results from a sustained energy imbalance—when energy intake from eating and drinking is greater than energy expended through physical activity.

This energy imbalance might be influenced by a person’s biological and genetic characteristics, and by lifestyle factors.

This report brings together a variety of information to create a picture of overweight and obesity in Australia.

It summarises factors that influence people’s energy intake and expenditure and contribute to the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity, as well as some approaches aiming to reduce its prevalence.

It presents the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children, adolescents, and adults, and includes trends over time, differences among population groups, and the health and economic impact of overweight and obesity.

One-quarter of children and adolescents are overweight or obese

In 2014–15, 1 in 5 (20%) children aged 2–4 were overweight or obese—11% were overweight but not obese, and 9% were obese.

About 1 in 4 (27%) children and adolescents aged 5–17 were overweight or obese—20% were overweight but not obese, and 7% were obese.

For both children aged 2–4 and 5–17 years, similar proportions of girls and boys were obese. For children aged 5–17, the prevalence of overweight and obesity rose from 21% in 1995 to 25% in 2007–08, then remained relatively stable to 2014–15.

Nearly two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese, and obesity is on the rise

In 2014–15, nearly two-thirds (63%) of Australian adults were overweight or obese. The prevalence of overweight and obesity has steadily increased, up from 57% in 1995—which has largely been driven by a rise in obesity.

The prevalence of severe obesity among Australian adults has almost doubled over this period, from 5% in 1995 to 9% in 2014–15.

In 2014–15, 71% of men were overweight or obese, compared with 56% of women. A greater proportion of men (42%) than women (29%) were overweight but not obese, while a similar proportion of men (28%) and women (27%) were obese.

More men than women were overweight or obese in 2014–15; a similar proportion were obese overweight or obese overweight but not obese

For children aged 5–17, the prevalence of overweight and obesity rose from 1995 to 2007–08 and remained relatively stable to 2014–15

Some groups are more likely to be overweight or obese than others

Compared with non-Indigenous Australians, Indigenous adults are more likely to be overweight or obese, and Indigenous children and adolescents are more likely to be obese.

Those who live outside of Major cities, or who are in the lower socioeconomic groups are more likely to be overweight or obese than others.

Overweight and obesity has high health and financial costs

Among adults, overweight and obesity has adverse health and economic impacts, including a higher risk of developing many chronic conditions, and of death (due to any cause).

Overweight and obesity was responsible for 7% of the total health burden in Australia in 2011, 63% of which was fatal burden. In 2011–12, obesity was estimated to have cost the Australian economy $8.6 billion.

Small changes, big health gains

If all Australians at risk of disease due to overweight or obesity reduced their body mass index by just 1 kilogram per metre squared, or about 3 kilograms for a person of average height, the overall health impact of excess weight would drop substantially.

Maintaining any weight loss is critical for long-term health gains.

Indigenous Australians and those living outside Major cities or who are in lower socioeconomic groups are more likely to be overweight or obese

Approaches for reducing overweight and obesity

Population health approaches to address overweight and obesity provide an opportunity for widespread benefit. They include laws and regulations, tax and price interventions, community-based interventions—including those in schools and workplaces—and public education through platforms such as social marketing campaigns.

Individual-level approaches are also important, and may either be preventive, or incorporate treatment strategies such as weight loss surgery.

Part 2 Prevalence among Indigenous children and adolescents

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adolescents are more likely to be overweight or obese than non-Indigenous children and adolescents.

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In 2012–13, 30% of Indigenous children and adolescents aged 2–14 were overweight or obese, compared with 25% of their non-Indigenous counterparts. One in 10 (10%) Indigenous children and adolescents aged 2–14 were obese, compared with 7% of their non-Indigenous counterparts (ABS 2014a).

At age 15–17, 35% of Indigenous adolescents were overweight or obese, compared with 24% of non-Indigenous adolescents of the same age, and 14% of Indigenous adolescents were obese, double the proportion (7%) of non-Indigenous adolescents.

Indigenous boys and girls were most likely to be overweight but not obese at age 10–14 (26% for boys, and 25% for girls) (Figure 3.4), and they were most likely to be obese at age 15–17 for boys (17%), and 5–9 for girls (13%).

Part 3 Prevalence among Indigenous adults

In 2012–13, more than two-thirds (69%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults were overweight or obese (29% overweight but not obese, and 40% obese). Indigenous men (69%) and women (70%) had similar rates of overweight and obesity (ABS 2014a).

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One-third (32%) of Indigenous men and more than one-quarter (27%) of Indigenous women were overweight but not obese, while 36% of Indigenous men, and 43% of Indigenous women were obese.

Indigenous men were most likely to be overweight but not obese at age 45–54 (38%), and to be obese at 55 and over (47%). Indigenous women were most likely to be overweight but not obese at 55 and over (32%), and were more likely to be obese, rather than overweight but not obese, at all ages. This was most noticeable in women aged 45–54, who were more than twice as likely to be obese (51%) than overweight but not obese (25%) (Figure 4.7).

In 2012–13, after adjusting for differences in age structure, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults were 1.2 times as likely to be overweight or obese as non-Indigenous adults, and 1.6 times as likely to be obese (ABS 2014a).

Part 4 Prevalence by Primary Health Network area

There are 31 Primary Health Network (PHN) areas across Australia, and reporting at these smaller, local areas can provide results that could be masked in national-or state/territory-level results.

PHNs commission and connect health services within PHN area boundaries, which are defined by the Department of Health (Department of Health 2016). The information in this section relates to the population living within the area covered by a particular PHN.

In 2014–15, of measured PHN areas, the Country South Australia PHN area had the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity, at almost three-quarters of adults (73%) (Figure 4.8). The Northern Sydneyfile-5

PHN area had the lowest prevalence, with just over half of adults being overweight or obese (53%). Four PHN areas had proportions of overweight and obese adults of 70% or more—Country South Australia, Western New South Wales, Darling Downs and West Moreton (Queensland), and Western Victoria.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults varied between metropolitan and regional PHN areas. In 2014–15, regional PHN areas had higher proportions of adults who were overweight and obese (69%) than metropolitan PHN areas (61%).

There was no significant difference between the proportion of overweight but not obese adults in metropolitan (36%) and regional (34%) PHN areas. But the difference was significant for obesity alone—more than one-third (35%) of adults in regional PHN areas were obese, compared with about one-quarter (24%) in metropolitan PHN areas (AIHW 2016e).

Structure of this report

  • Chapter 2 describes the factors that influence overweight and obesity in Australia, including food and nutrition, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and the ‘obesogenic environment’.
  • Chapters 3 and 4 present the most recent Australian data on prevalence and trends in overweight and obesity, including breakdowns by remoteness area, socioeconomic group, and Indigenous status, as well as international comparisons of obesity prevalence, and data on overweight and obesity for Australian mothers during pregnancy.
  • Chapter 5 presents data on the health impacts of overweight and obesity in Australia, including chronic conditions, death, and the burden of disease associated with overweight and obesity, as well some of the direct and indirect economic impacts.
  • Chapter 6 describes approaches that have been implemented in Australia to target overweight and obesity at the individual level, such as weight loss surgery, and population level, including laws and regulations, tax and price interventions, community-based interventions, and health promotion measures.
  • Supplementary data tables for the data presented in figures throughout this report are available on the AIHW website at: <https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/ a-picture-of-overweight-and-obesity-in-australia/data>.

Table of contents

1 Introduction

  • Defining overweight and obesity
  • Measuring overweight and obesity in children
  • Structure of this report

 

2 Factors leading to overweight and obesity

◦Food and nutrition

◦Physical activity

◦The obesogenic environment ◾Schools

◾Workplace

◾Home and neighbourhood

◾Media influence

◾Increase in convenience foods and portion sizes

3 Overweight and obesity among children and adolescents

◦Prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents

◦Trends in prevalence

◦Prevalence by birth cohort

◦Prevalence by remoteness area

◦Prevalence by socioeconomic group

◦Prevalence among Indigenous children and adults

4 Overweight and obesity among adults

◦Prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults

◦Body mass index

◦Waist circumference

◦Trends in prevalence

◦Prevalence by birth cohort

◦Prevalence by remoteness area

◦Prevalence by socioeconomic group

◦Prevalence among Indigenous adults

◦Prevalence by Primary Health Network area

◦International comparisons

◦Maternal overweight and obesity

5 Impact of overweight and obesity

◦Health impacts

◾Chronic conditions

◾Mortality

◾Burden of disease

◦Economic impacts

6 Approaches for reducing overweight and obesity

◦Laws and regulations

◦Tax and price interventions

◦Community-based interventions

◦Health promotion

◦Weight loss surgery

  • Appendix A: Classification of overweight and obesity for children and adolescents
  • Appendix B: Defining socioeconomic groups
  • Appendix C: Measuring overweight and obesity
  • rates at Primary Health Network area level
  • Appendix D: State and territory policy actions and infrastructure support actions
  • Glossary
  • References
  • List of tables
  • List of figures
  • List of boxes
  • Related publications

Obesity

NACCHO Aboriginal Health and #WhiteRibbonDay : @HealingOurWay @WhiteRibbonAust Report calls for overhaul of #violenceprevention programs for #Indigenous men and boys

 

 

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 Australia needs to overhaul violence prevention programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and boys .

  A discussion paper released today by White Ribbon and the Healing Foundation said, “inappropriate and ill-targeted strategies” are not working to change the behaviour of violent Indigenous men.

Co-author Dr Mark Wenitong, a respected Aboriginal GP and men’s health expert from North Queensland, said generational trauma was not being addressed.”

Report

Download the Report Here

HF_Violence_Prevention_Framework_Report_Oct2017_V9_WEB 

“I think if you look at the current discourse in Australia it’s just heavier prison sentences and better policing,” he said.

“We can build lots more women’s shelters, but that’s not the point, we want it to stop.

Dr Wenitong, who works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in prison, said programs in jails did not appear to be effective.

“The prison offender programs are mostly mainstream programs … I talk to men in prison who go ‘that anger management program doesn’t mean anything when I go back to my community’,” he said.

The report said an urgent priority was “elevating the voice of men in family violence prevention”.

“Men do need to lead this, because it’s men who are the main perpetrators of violence,” Healing Foundation chief executive Richard Weston said.

The paper recommend that Indigenous men and women have a greater say over new behaviour-change programs — including consulting with reformed perpetrators of domestic violence.

“We have high levels of violence, we have high levels of substance abuse, we have a whole range of challenging social issues in our community,” Mr Weston said.

“Mainstream programs are failing us because we’re not involved in the design.”

Dr Wenitong said Indigenous mothers and children were often left in unsafe situations.

“When there’s violence in a community — in a household — why do we take the women and children out of the house for their safety, why aren’t we taking the men out?”

The paper said there had been “little opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to influence the policies and programs designed to improve safety for them and their children”.

“Arguably, the voice and perspective of men is absent, and sometimes excluded in this domain,” Dr Wenitong said.

Aside from family breakdown, alcohol and drug abuse was the most significant factor associated with family violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the report said.

An effective framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and boys to prevent and reduce family violence needs to include the following critical elements:

  • violence should be understood within a historical context, recognising the effects of foundational and structural violence, and the wide ranging continued impacts on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and boys
  • the many strong Aboriginal and Torres Islander men must be supported to lead work with men and boys, and reconnect men to their core cultural practices and protocols as a central factor to creating change
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women should be involved in the design and development, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the framework
  • prevention strategies must be positioned within broader community strategies that address intergenerational trauma through individual, family and community healing approaches – drawing from both local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and western therapeutic practice
  • all work should be developed in partnership with communities through a genuine co-design process that respects and supports local cultural governance and self-determination, and empowers communities to drive change
  • a focus on collective wellbeing should be supported through referral pathways to trauma-informed holistic health and wellbeing services. Crucially, any strategy must be adequately resourced; implemented in a safe

A taskforce led by the Victorian Aboriginal Children’s Commissioner in 2016 found that in nine-out-of-ten cases, family violence had been present in the home when an Indigenous child was removed.

Mr Weston said the discussion paper also refuted claims by some Aboriginal men that violence against women and children had “a cultural basis”.

NACCHO Aboriginal Health #sugar and #Sugardemic : Todays meeting of Health Ministers is a real chance to improve #HealthStarRatings for our mob

Sugar

 ” Right now, there’s a Sugardemic threatening the health of our kids, with skyrocketing rates of obesity threatening to make this generation the first one to live shorter, less healthy lives than their parents.

But the food industry tries to bamboozle us with dozens of different names for sugar.  Busy shoppers can’t tell at a glance how much added sugar is in their food. It’s time for clear labeling of added sugar.

Health ministers from around the country will meet today November 24. This is our chance to get real change.

For once, it would be nice for the Health Ministers to make a decision that favours public health rather than the food manufacturers. “

See Choice Campaign

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” The consumption of sugar is much higher in Indigenous populations. In fact, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people consume 15 grams (almost 4 teaspoons) more free sugars on average than non-Indigenous people.

Beverages is the most common source of free sugar for both populations. Two thirds of all the free sugars consumed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people came from beverages, mostly in the form of soft drinks, sports and energy drinks. “

See over 30 NACCHO Aboriginal Health #Nutrition # sugartax articles

 

Adr M

 ” The Sugary Drinks Proper No Good – Drink More Water Youfla campaign is a social marketing campaign developed with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Cape York. It aims to help children, young people and adults be more aware of the poor health outcomes associated with consumption of sugary drinks, as recommended by community members during initial consultations for this project.

Regular consumption of sugary drinks is a key contributing factor in development of tooth decay, overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease for both young people and adults. 1-4

One of the key messages of this campaign is water is the best drink for everyone – it doesn’t have any sugar and keeps our bodies healthy.

The Sugary Drinks Proper No Good – Drink More Water Youfla campaign materials are designed to encourage Cape York community members to rethink drink choices and choose water or healthier options instead of sugary drinks like soft drinks, fruit drinks and sports drinks. This will help keep kids, families and communities healthy and strong. Campaign materials feature former professional rugby league player, Scott Prince, promoting the Sugary Drinks Proper No Good – Drink More Water Youfla messages.

This Cape York campaign is linked to the national Rethink Sugary Drink campaign through Apunipima’s membership of the Rethink Sugary Drinks Alliance. The Alliance aims to raise awareness of the amount of sugar in sugar-sweetened drinks and encourages all Australians to reduce their consumption.

untitledThe  ” PHAA is inviting members and other interested parties to a Forum on improving the Health Star Rating (HSR) on Monday 27 November 2017 at Mercure Canberra.

Most importantly, the overall goal will be to consider ways that the HSR can be used to improve diets in Australia and New Zealand.

More Info Here as

In Australia, food labels will only tell you the total sugar in a product, not the added stuff. And you can’t rely on the ingredient list because there are over 43 different names for added sugar.

It’s essential that people can easily tell the difference between foods with naturally occurring sugars, like lactose in yoghurt, and added sugars which have virtually no nutritional benefits. Currently this is virtually impossible.

The World Health Organisation and our Dietary Guidelines recommend we reduce our added sugar intake on the basis that overconsumption of added sugars presents serious health issues.

A CHOICE investigation found that added sugar labelling could help consumers avoid 26 teaspoons of unnecessary sugar per day – that’s up to 38 kilograms a year!

At their most recent meeting, Food Ministers renewed their commitment to improve the health of Australians. They want to help people make healthy food choices. Sugar labelling is a necessary step to achieving this.

Asugar 

 ” Aboriginal , Consumer and Public Health organisations are calling on Health Ministers to make a decision at their meeting today November 24, to ensure that food companies are required to clearly label added sugar on their products.”

Matthew Hopcraft is a clinical associate professor, dental public health expert, co-founder of SugarFree Smiles and the CEO of the Australian Dental Association (Victorian Branch). 

So far, more than 20,000 people have contacted their State or Territory Health Minister calling on them to support added sugar labelling (data collected by Choice).

This is a critical issue. The average Australian teenager consumes up to 22 teaspoons of added sugar per day, and one in 10 teenagers has a staggering 38 teaspoons of sugar daily. No wonder diet-related diseases are so prevalent. One third of Australian children have tooth decay by the age of six, rising to 40 percent by the age of 12-14 years, and one in four children are overweight or obese.

The problem for consumers is that there is no way for them to know how much added sugar is in the foods that they buy. The ingredient list on the packet seems like a good place to start — the higher up the list, the more sugar it is likely to contain. But added sugar can be disguised on the label under more than 40 different names, making it hard for the consumer to decipher.

We probably all know that sugar, sucrose and glucose are sugars. But do we really know or think of honey, fruit juice concentrate, agave nectar, panela, maltose or rice syrup as added sugars? Furthermore, the nutrition panel doesn’t distinguish added sugars from those sugars that are naturally occurring in food, such as fructose in fruit or lactose in milk.

It is this added sugar, over and above the naturally occurring sugar, that is causing these health problems. This was clearly identified by the World Health Organisation in their report on added sugars in 2015. They showed good evidence that reducing the amount of added sugar to less than 12 teaspoons per day reduces the risk of obesity and tooth decay, and a further reduction to less than six teaspoons per day would provide additional health benefits.

At present it is almost impossible for consumers to know whether they are exceeding these limits, because there is not sufficient information on the food labels to guide them.

Eating whole real foods is the simplest way to avoid added sugar, but the reality is that people are consuming more processed food than ever before.

Right now, the food industry is winning this debate because they don’t have to declare the amount of added sugar in their products, so Australian consumers are unable to make healthy choices for their families.

Naturally, industry will argue strongly against this proposed regulation, in the same way that they also oppose a sugar tax and regulations on advertising and marketing — all measures that would improve health outcomes.

For once, it would be nice for the Health Ministers to make a decision that favours public health rather than the food manufacturers.

Sugar

 

 

Aboriginal Health News : Our #NACCHO Members #Deadly good news stories #NT #NSW #QLD #WA #SA #VIC #ACT #TAS

info@swams.com.auOct 25

1. National NACCHO CEO Pat Turner and @AMSANTaus @CAACongress respond #NTRC #DonDale Royal Commission demands sweeping change – But how can we make it happen

2.1 QLD : Deadly Choices : A re-elected Labor Government will provide $16 million for expansion of the Deadly Choices Healthy Lifestyle Program statewide

3.1 NSW Leonie Morcome celebrates 30 years at Biripi Aboriginal Medical Centre

3.2 Bulgar Ngaru Aboriginal Medical Service supports Camp ‘on country’ for men and boys

4.SA Nganampa Health Service desert war waged against deadly disease outbreak

5. ACT : ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK 2017 REPORT (ACT)

6. NT : ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK 2017 REPORT (NT)

7. VIC Message from VAHS CEO ” Congratulations one of our VAHS members Lidia Thorpe first Aboriginal Woman to be elected to a seat in the Victorian Parliament

8.Tas : Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre : Ida West Aboriginal Health Scholarship

9.WA : SWAMS celebrates two decades of Aboriginal health care

 View hundreds of ACCHO Deadly Good News Stories over past 5 years

How to submit a NACCHO Affiliate  or Members Good News Story ? 

 Email to Colin Cowell NACCHO Media    

Mobile 0401 331 251

Wednesday by 4.30 pm for publication each Thursday

1. National NACCHO CEO Pat Turner and @AMSANTaus @CAACongress respond #NTRC #DonDale Royal Commission demands sweeping change – But how can we make it happen

 

Read all press releases here

2.1 QLD : Deadly Choices : A re-elected Labor Government will provide $16 million for expansion of the Deadly Choices Healthy Lifestyle Program state wide

A re-elected Labor Government will provide $1.7 million to fund the expansion of the popular Deadly Choices Healthy Lifestyle Program for Indigenous communities in north west Queensland, Labor candidate for Traeger Danielle Slade announced.

The funding is part of a $16 million expansion of the Deadly Choices program statewide announced by Health Minister Cameron Dick.

Ms Slade said the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health would work with local Indigenous service providers across the State to roll out the successful preventive health and positive lifestyle choices program in Mount Isa and in Gulf communities.

“It is well known that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience poorer health outcomes than Queenslanders generally,” Ms Slade said.

“This is not acceptable. Encouragingly, however, things are starting to improve.

“Closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Queenslanders across a range of performance areas has been a focus of the Palaszczuk’s Government’s efforts over the last three years.

“This is why the government has been to strengthen Indigenous health services and programs throughout the state.

“The Deadly Choices Healthy Lifestyle Program continues to be a powerful vehicle for positive change in Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“It is kicking goals when it comes to improving health knowledge, attitudes and lifestyle behaviours in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

Ms Slade said that since the start of the program in 2012–13, there had been a significant increase in the number of health checks undertaken by Indigenous Queenslanders.

“Deadly Choices focuses on increasing levels of physical activity, reducing smoking, better nutrition and regular health checks,” she said.

“The support of the Brisbane Broncos and prominent Indigenous ambassadors and sporting identities has proven to be a winning formula for the program.

“Research confirms that screening at Deadly Choices community days results in community members being twice as likely as other Indigenous people to engage with their local health service for a full health check.”

Ms Slade said the $1.7 million funding injection also provide employment opportunities for eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as program facilitators, personal trainers, data managers and multi-media officers.

“By working with Indigenous communities and service providers and programs such as Deadly Choices, we are gradually making headway in closing the gap of disadvantage in Indigenous communities.

“This is made possible by delivering better outcomes in health, life expectancy, education, employment and economic participation,” she said.

Mr Dick said as was the case for all Queenslanders, much of the chronic disease burden in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities was avoidable, and could be prevented through adopting healthy lifestyles and identifying health risks earlier.

The Deadly Choices Healthy Lifestyle Program will help Indigenous people have regular health assessments, learn about healthy lifestyles and make healthier choices. It will include activities such as:

  • community days and sporting events featuring rock climbing, jumping castle, Zumba, traditional Indigenous games, arts and crafts, sprint races, traditional food, physical activities for Elders, and Good Quick Tukka food choices.
  • tackling Indigenous smoking
  • sporting events including Murri Rugby League Carnival
  • Deadly Choices leadership camp
  • school education program – focusing on leadership and mentoring, chronic disease awareness, tobacco, nutrition, physical activity, harmful substances, healthy relationships and awareness of and access to health services.

The Deadly Choices Healthy Lifestyle Program also complements the Palaszczuk Government’s diabetes and chronic disease prevention focus of the My Health for Life program, which aims to reach 1600 Indigenous people across Queensland over four years.

CEO of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health Adrian Carson welcomed the new funding, saying it would bring life-saving and life-changing benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.

“More and more of our community are participating in Deadly Choicescommunity days and sporting events,” Mr Carson said.

“We know that people participating in Deadly Choices events are twice as likely as other Indigenous Queenslanders to engage with their local health clinic.

“This means more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are being exposed to health assessments and follow-up health care.

“We are encouraged by this recognition that health promotion and early identification of illness are vital to closing the health gap and welcome the Government’s commitment to supporting our preventive health efforts,” Mr Carson said.

“The size and scope of this initiative also means the creation of quite a number of jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through their involvement in delivering the Deadly Choices preventive health and health promotion program.”

CEO of Gidgee Healing in Mount Isa Dallas Leon said the Deadly Choicesprogram equipped young people with the knowledge to not only adopt healthy lifestyles themselves, but also to become healthy role models for family, friends and the broader community.

“This has proved to be by far the most effective way of influencing behaviour change,” Mr Leon said.

Mr Dick said a re-elected Labor Government would also provide $500,000 for expansion of multimedia, community engagement and education programs to promote the sexual health of Indigenous Queenslanders.

This would be be done through incorporating sexual and reproductive health promotion and screening for sexually transmissible infections into community events, school-based education activities and health checks.

Further, a Labor Government would provide a one-off $75,000 grant to the Queensland AIDS Council to work with Deadly Choices and the Queensland Injectors Gealth Network to develop strategies to reach LGBTIQ Indigenous people and injecting drug users.

3.1 NSW Leonie Morcome celebrates 30 years at Biripi Aboriginal Medical Centre.

“It’s a milestone I’ve reached in my life as I continue to strive to work in Aboriginal health which I take as a passion in my work and my community.”

These are the words of Leonie Morcome who has celebrated 30 years of work with the Biripi Aboriginal Medical Centre.

Leonie started in 1987 after being urged to become a trainee health worker.

“The following Monday I came into work and I haven’t looked back,” she said.

She later attended university to receive her first qualification in Aboriginal health before becoming a public health worker in 1991.

A stint in senior health work followed before becoming a cultural security and safety co-ordinator and a family health worker (working with domestic violence and sexual assault cases).

“We make sure we continue their journey with them along the way to get a better outcome for what they need,” she said.

Leonie said she has seen many changes in Aboriginal health over her career and inspires her cultural awareness students to do the same.

When she started in the profession, Leonie saw drug, alcohol, diabetes and AIDS as major health factor to Aboriginal people. Today, it’s health, nutrition, cancer and diabetes as leading health issues. Leonie added that she takes a “holistic approach” when discussing Aboriginal health.

“It’s not just the major health problems we face, it’s the deal with the social well-being of it all and holistically we look at other areas to do with housing, education and mental health,” she said.

Having worked in an assistant management role, Leonie said would like to be in a mentor/manager position in the future and act as a role model for the Biripi people.

She encouraged young people to take up a career as a health worker.

“I want them to strive to reach goals and be dedicated,” she said.

“They’re going to be our next generations and will be leading the way as we get older.”

She also encouraged health workers and nurses to continue to work together.

“We all work together side-by-side and we come across the same pathway but we walk down that pathway together,” she said

2.2 Bulgar Ngaru Aboriginal Medical Service supports Camp ‘on country’ for men and boys

INSPIRING VISIT: Michael Laurie and former NRL player Nathan Hindmarsh with two of the camp participants

GROUP of Aboriginal boys and young men recently got the chance to experience their Aboriginal culture “on country” at a camp at Woody Head in the heart of Yaegl country.The five-day camp featured a combination of cultural learning, sports, fishing, fun, fresh air, and good advice for the future.

Male elders (fathers, uncles, grandfathers and other prominent community members) provided cultural guidance to the 12 boys aged between eight and 16 years old. The older men told stories of growing up and of their life experiences.

HAPPY CAMPERS: Enjoying the five-day cultural camp at Woody Head.

The camp was held by Waanyji Yaegl Aboriginal Men’s Corporation, with the assistance of local businesses and community organisations, including CRANES, Social Futures, Bulgar Ngaru Aboriginal Medical Service, Birrigan Gargle Local Aboriginal Land Council, Yaegl Local Aboriginal Land Council, Maclean RSL Club, Maclean Bowling Club, Gurehlgam Corp, and Bi-Rite.

John Skinner, director of Waanyji Yaegl and a Police Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer at Grafton, said the camp taught the boys respect for themselves and for others. There was a focus on making smarter lifestyle choices which would help young people succeed in life. The older participants also learnt responsibility, as they were given the task of looking out for the younger boys.

The young people were introduced to various service providers, including Solid Mob, who run a quit smoking program, Bulgar Ngaru Aboriginal Medical Service, Aboriginal Community Health, Warruwi ,who advocate for responsible gambling, and Police Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers.

A guest appearance by former Parramatta Eels and Australian Kangaroos player Nathan Hindmarsh proved an inspiration. Nathan started by outlining his glory days as a champion rugby league player. He then described his descent into a nightmarish existence as his gambling addiction took control, and how he managed to take charge of his life once again.

This was the first camp that Waanyji Yaegl has held, and both organisers and participants considered it to be a great success. The organisers are keen to hold further camps next year.

The young participants were so energised by the camp that they later indicated they too, wished to set up their own group. This idea is wholeheartedly supported by the older Yaegl males.

Waanyji Yaegl was established in July 2016 to help meet the needs of Aboriginal men in the Lower Clarence area. They meet regularly in Maclean with chairman and Yaegl elder Lester Mercy organising the get-togethers.

Waanyji Yaegl is holding a community barbecue at Hillcrest Hall, Hillcrest Aboriginal Reserve, Maclean on Friday, November 24 from 9.30am-noon. Everyone is welcome to attend. The barbecue will give the public the opportunity to learn more about the great work the men are undertaking and their plans for the future.

4.SA Nganampa Health Service desert war waged against deadly disease outbreak

SA

An outbreak of a potentially deadly strain of meningococcal bacterial infection in remote South Australian Indigenous communities has been countered by an extraordinary vaccination program that covered almost 2500 people across 100,000sq km in just over a month.

Four cases of the W strain have been diagnosed in the vast Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands this year in an outbreak that has also hit communities in the southern Northern territory where health authorities have also been working against time and distance to protect vulnerable residents – especially children. At least three of the people diagnosed are aged under 12.

In the APY Lands, which cover much of far north South Australia , the Nganampa Health Service staffed by indigenous health workers used its own detailed population register to reach 2483 people in October and early November.

About 3000 people live on the lands and the program’s reach has included more than 600 transient people outside communities.

Two of the diagnosed cases were in Amata and there was one each in Fregon and Pukatja (formely Ernabella).

The most recent diagnosis was confirmed in early October and none has been found since.

Nganampa medical director Professor Paul Torzillo told the Advertiser that the local health organisation’s database was key to the building of an immunisation barrier against the disease.

“We have consistently achieved childhood immunisation rates which are higher than those of non-aboriginal children in SA and in fact across the country, “Prof Torzillo said.

The APT campaign initially focused on people aged 1 to 19, and was then extended to all people aged over two months. By early this month 84 per cent of the first target group were vaccinated as well as 76 per cent of all people.

North of the border, NT authorities have been immunising against the A,C, Y and W strains in remote communities.

Federal health authorities are considering a national immunisation program that covers these four strains, Free vaccination against the C Strain is already available for children aged 12 months.

Symptoms can include fever, headache, neck stiffness and aversion to bright lights joint pain and a rash. Babies may refuse food and drink.

5. ACT : ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK 2017 REPORT (ACT)

b17d4c2d-d580-489d-9def-6bf1835a7a06

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a new reports today: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2017 report: Australian Capital Territory.

See: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/indigenous-health-welfare/health-performance-framework-2017-act/contents/table-of-contents

 

6. NT : ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK 2017 REPORT (NT)

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a new report today: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2017 report: Northern Territory. See: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/indigenous-health-welfare/health-performance-framework-2017-nt/contents/table-of-contents

7. VIC Message from VAHS CEO ” Congratulations one of our VAHS members Lidia Thorpe first Aboriginal Woman to be elected to a seat in the Victorian Parliament

23658458_1731518593555883_7267874717336594946_n

Dear Community

VAHS wishes to congratulate one of our VAHS members Lidia Thorpe following her election win on Saturday for the seat of Northcote.

As is reported in the news VAHS understands Lidia is the first Aboriginal Woman to be elected to a seat in the Victorian Parliament. It has come as no surprise.

As a descendent of a proud family, VAHS knows her mother and grandmother will be beaming with pride at what she has achieved.

VAHS knows Lidia will have the Aboriginal Community at heart. The Green’s Party has chosen wisely to endorse and support Lidia. Along with the Leader of the Greens at the National level (the Hon Richard Di Natale, a former Doctor of VAHS in the mid-2000’s) who no doubt backed her, Lidia will find her journey into politics at a local and state level challenging. However, she is a quick learner and will no doubt have the advice from her close followers and family and through that, she will prove to be a force.

I am sure that the Aboriginal Community and other people from across the State of Victoria will gain some and maybe many benefits from her time in the Victorian parliament.

As our National NAIDOC theme for 2018 says, “Because of her – we can”, VAHS recognises that our people have survived because some very strong women have supported us in our lives; I know Lidia’s family are proven in that respect and I am sure Lidia will follow in their footsteps.

VAHS wishes her well and are confident that she will be a great asset to the Greens party and the Victorian parliament.

Mick Graham
VAHS Chief Executive Officer

So please come and celebrate this momentous occasion with MP Lidia Thorpe, following her election win on Saturday for the seat of Northcote!

When: This THURSDAY 23 November
Time: 6pm-7:15pm
Where: VAHS Preston (238-250 Plenty Rd, Preston

8.Tas : Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre : Ida West Aboriginal Health Scholarship

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9.WA : SWAMS celebrates two decades of Aboriginal health care

SWAMS 20th Anniversary Festival Flyer A4

The South West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS) is celebrating its milestone 20th birthday with a week-long festival of events being held across the South West from 16-22 December 2017.

SWAMS, an Aboriginal Community Controlled organisation, plays a pivotal role in improving the quality of life for Aboriginal people in the South West, through the delivery of culturally focused primary health care.

“Twenty years ago, no such service existed. Aboriginal people were dying from preventable disease, diabetes was rife, and a lack of cultural awareness in tertiary medicine made it difficult for Aboriginal people to get the specialist care needed,” SWAMS CEO Lesley Nelson said.

“All that has changed now. We are a thriving organisation with highly trained staff working across six clinics to improve the quality and quantity of life for thousands of Aboriginal people under our care,” Ms Nelson said.

“This isn’t just a celebration for SWAMS. This is a celebration for an entire community and for those community members who had a vision for better Aboriginal health care back in 1997.”

“We still have a long way to go, but I think it’s safe to say that they would be proud of the organisation SWAMS has become and the difference we make to the community.”

The celebrations will take place in Bunbury, Busselton, Manjimup, Collie and Harvey and will include a series of free family picnics in each town, featuring a BBQ lunch, birthday cake and entertainment.

The highlight of the festival programme is a ticketed 20th Anniversary Gala Evening at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, with live entertainment by The Merindas and comedian Kevin Kropinyeri.

Gala tickets can be purchased from http://www.trybooking.com/329821 or from the SWAMS administration building located at 3/30 Wellington Street, Bunbury (cash only).

SWAMS 20th Anniversary Festival events:

Please refer to the attached schedule.

For more information on the SWAMS 20th Anniversary Festival, contact the office on (08) 9791 1166 or email info@swams.com.au.

Oct 25

Aboriginal Community Controlled and Health Sector #JobAlerts #Doctors #Nursing This week @MiwatjHealth 26 Positions @DanilaDilba @UrapuntjaAMS

 

This weeks #Jobalerts

Please note  : Before completing a job application please check with the ACCHO

1. Dandenong & District Aborigines Co-Operative Ltd : Health Promotion, Indigenous, Project Management Applications close: 01 December, 2017.

2-9 NT : Danila Dilba ACCHO Darwin 7 Positions Including a GP and Aboriginal Health Workers : Most Close 27 Nov

10. Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation Health Administration Manager – Arnhem land Maternity Leave Vacancy – Eight Months

 11. WA : General Practitioner Organisation: Derby Aboriginal Health Service (DAHS) Closing Date: 12/01/2018

12. Clinical Director Gidgee Healing Mount Isa

 13. Quality and Risk Manager Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service (OVAHS)

14.November : Applications open for the 2018 Australian Medical Association (AMA) Indigenous  Medical Scholarship : Close 31 January 2018 

 15. URAPUNTJA HEALTH SERVICE ABORIGINAL CORPORATION  SEWB Social Worker

16. NT : URAPUNTJA HEALTH SERVICE ABORIGINAL CORPORATION : REMOTE AREA NUR

17-43  Miwatj Health NT 26 Positions including 10 Nurses

44 -54  Congress ACCHO Alice Springs 10 positions

55 -65  JOBS AT IUIH Brisbane

66 .IEH TRACHOMA EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

 67 .Indigenous Immunisation Coordinator

VIEW Hundreds of past Jobs on the NACCHO Jobalerts

 

How to submit a Indigenous Health #jobalert ? 

NACCHO Affiliate , Member , Government Department or stakeholders

If you have a job vacancy in Indigenous Health 

Email to Colin Cowell NACCHO Media

Tuesday by 4.30 pm for publication each Wednesday

1. Dandenong & District Aborigines Co-Operative Ltd : Health Promotion, Indigenous, Project Management Applications close: 01 December, 2017.


Short Description

The Dandenong & District Aborigines Co-operative Ltd (DDACL) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) which is governed by a community elected Board of Directors. DDACL is committed to the provision of a high quality range of services which will foster and support positive and fulfilling lifestyles for individuals and families within our community.

The DDACL provide a range of services including Primary Health Care through the Bunurong Health Service.

Personal attributes required:

  • Commitment: To the organisation’s goals and objectives and take direction from the management.
  • Empathy and Cultural Awareness: Communicates well, diplomatic, empathetic, caring and relates to and sees issues from the perspective of people from the local Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander community.
  • Teamwork: Cooperates and works well with others in the pursuit of team goals; collaborates and shares information; shows consideration, concern and respect for others’ ideas; accommodates and works well with the different working styles of others; encourages resolution of conflict within a group. Focuses on the pursuit of best practice in service delivery and ability to develop strong working relationships with staff and external contacts.
  • Resilience: Perseveres to achieve goals, copes effectively with setbacks and disappointments; remains calm and in control under pressure; accepts constructive criticism in an objective manner, without becoming defensive.
  • Reliable and Punctual: A high level of punctuality and reliability is required.

About this role:

The Indigenous Health Project Officers (IHPO) provide leadership on Indigenous health issues. They work as team members within the region and help develop and implement a coordinated team based approach aimed at increasing awareness of services whilst maximising links between services for ATSI community members. They are accountable for the achievement of agreed targets and indicators for the programs.

How to apply for this jobA copy of the Position Description is available from Manager Corporate Services via email: graeme.bird@ddacl.org.au.

Applicants must address criteria specified within the Position Description and a current Resume with two professional referees to:

Manager – Aboriginal Health Services
Dandenong & District Aborigines Cooperative Ltd
PO Box 683
Dandenong VIC 3175

Or via email to: graeme.bird@ddacl.org.au, using the subject line: Indigenous Health Project Officer application via EthicalJobs.

2-9 . NT : Danila Dilba ACCHO Darwin 7 Positions Including a GP and Aboriginal Health Workers

 

1 Aboriginal Health Practitioner – Trainee
2 Clinic Manager (Darwin/Palmerston)
3 Aboriginal Health Practitioner (AHP) / Registered Nurse
4 Team Leader, Mobile Unit
5 General Practitioner (Palmerston)
6 Family Partnership Worker – ANFPP
7 Nurse Home Visitor

 

10. Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation Health Administration Manager – Arnhem land Maternity Leave Vacancy – Eight Months

Laynhapuy Health is looking for a motivated and skilled administration person to join the Health team for an eight month maternity leave vacancy.

Working with a skilled and committed multidisciplinary health team, this position is pivotal to the effective and efficient delivery of services by Laynhapuy Health to Yolŋu in remote Homelands through the management and coordination of the administrative functions of the service.

You will need excellent administrative and organisational skills, well developed people skills, along with health administration experience in a busy workplace.

A great opportunity to experience working in the top end with generous terms and conditions including subsidised housing.

For further information or to obtain a position description contact Ebony Tinirau on 08 8939 1860 or email health.admin@laynhapuy.com.au.

Applications close COB 30th November.

11. WA : General Practitioner Organisation: Derby Aboriginal Health Service (DAHS) Closing Date: 12/01/2018

 

Link to apply: http://kamsc-dahs.applynow.net.au/jobs/93905

Short Description: Rewarding full-time opportunity for a GP helping to ‘close the gap’ within an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service in remote WA.

About Derby Aboriginal Health Service

Derby Aboriginal Health Service (DAHS) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) providing holistic primary health care services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Derby and surrounding communities. DAHS provides a wide range of innovative public health programs in addition to direct comprehensive primary health care services. It is required to comply with a number of Service Agreements with Commonwealth and State departments and agencies, and to operate with a number of government and private medical and health delivery organizations.

About the Opportunity

Derby Aboriginal Health Service (DAHS) has a truly rewarding opportunity for a General Practitioner to join their multidisciplinary team in Derby, WA, on a full-time basis.

Reporting to the DAHS Senior Medical Officer, you’ll provide clinical care in DAHS town-based and remote clinics and contribute to the maintenance of high quality health services as a member of the DAHS multidisciplinary team.

About the Benefits

DAHS is an organisation that truly values its team, and is committed to improving employee knowledge, skills and experience. In addition, staff development programs are not only encouraged, but are often paid for by DAHS. This position presents a highly attractive opportunity for someone with a desire to develop their professional knowledge and experience in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

While you will face diverse new challenges in the role, you will also enjoy an attractive salary package including a base salary of $236,383, alongside a further host of benefits, including:

  • Salary sacrificing up to $31,000;
  • Full medical indemnity;
  • Access to a vehicle for personal use;
  • Fully furnished accommodation, including paid utilities;
  • Mobile phone allowance of $100 per month;
  • On call allowance of $500 per week when on call between 4.30pm and 8am;
  • 6 weeks annual leave; and
  • 2 weeks study leave.This is an excellent opportunity to develop your skills, advance your career, and enhance your cultural knowledge in this stunning outback location. Make a positive difference — Apply Now!
  •  People of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent are strongly encouraged to appl

12. Clinical Director Gidgee Healing Mount Isa

An exciting opportunity exists for a Clinical Director to join our team at Gidgee Healing Mount Isa an organisation dedicated to making a long-term positive impact on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in the Mount Isa, North West and Lower Gulf of Carpentaria regions

https://www.seek.com.au/job/34926216?savedSearchID=15851604&tracking=JMC-SAU-eDM-Lite2.14-4564

 13. Quality and Risk Manager Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service (OVAHS)

We are is seeking a Quality and Risk Manager to join their team on a full-time, fixed term basis for 6 months in Kununurra, WA.

In this pivotal leadership role, you will be primarily responsible for managing and coordinating quality and risk systems, projects and functions across the organisation. You’ll provide leadership in risk assessment and management, and will lead a team in all quality initiatives, including accreditation standards preparation.

https://www.seek.com.au/job/34914925?savedSearchID=15851604&tracking=JMC-SAU-eDM-Lite2.01-4551

 

14.November : Applications open for the 2018 Australian Medical Association (AMA) Indigenous  Medical Scholarship : Close 31 January 2018

Applications are now being sought for the 2018 Australian Medical Association (AMA) Indigenous  Medical Scholarship. Applicants must be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background.

Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time at an Australian medical school and at least in their first year of medicine. Preference will be given to applicants who do not already hold any other scholarship or bursary.

The Scholarship will be awarded on the recommendation of a selection panel appointed by the AMA. The value of the Scholarship for 2018 will be $10,000 per annum. This amount will be paid in a lump sum for each year of study.

The duration of the Scholarship will be for the full course of a medical degree, however this is subject to review.

Applications close 31 January 2018.

To receive further information on how to apply, please contact Sandra Riley, Administration Officer, AMA on (02) 6270 5400 or email

indigenousscholarship@ama.com.au

An application package can be also downloaded from the AMA website http://www.ama.com.au/indigenous-medical-scholarship-2018

The Indigenous Peoples’ Medical Scholarship Trust Fund was established in 1994 with a contribution from the Australian Government. In 2016, the Trust Fund became The AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship Foundation.  The  Foundation is administered by AMA Pty Ltd.

The AMA would like to acknowledge the contributions of the following donors:  Reuben Pelerman Benevolent Foundation; the late Beryl Jamieson’s wishes for donations towards the Indigenous Medical Scholarship; the Anna Wearne Fund and Deakin University.

15. URAPUNTJA HEALTH SERVICE ABORIGINAL CORPORATION  SEWB Social Worker

               Responsible To                Clinic Manager

               Location                             Amengernternenh Community, Utopia

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Urapuntja Community is situated on the Sandover Highway some 280 km north east of Alice Springs. Urapuntja Community comprises 16 Outstation communities spread out over some 3230 square km of desert. There are some 900 people who are mainly Anmatyerre and Alyawarra speaking people. Distances to the outstations vary from 5 to 100 kms from the clinic.

Urapuntja Health Service developed from many years of negotiations by Aboriginal people to have their own health service. Urapuntja is a community controlled health service with a Board of Directors which is elected from and by the community at the Annual General Meeting held each year. The Directors meets regularly to discuss issues and make decisions relevant to the Organisation.

The SEWB Social Worker will work as a member of the SEWB program ‘Wellbeing for Our Mob’ team including a psychologist, community support worker and RAN, to provide Social and Emotional Wellbeing services to community members. At times the SEWB Social Worker will work under the supervision of the Medical Officer and/or the Clinic Manager. At other times the SEWB Social Worker will be required to work with limited assistance. The SEWB Social Worker will be required to travel by 4WD vehicle to provide services to remote outstations.

The SEWB Social Worker will plan, implement and evaluate local wellbeing and support programs and help to embed good social and emotional wellbeing practices into the Urapuntja footprint.

DUTIES OF THE POSITION

  1. Develop and deliver SEWB program in conjunction with the SEWB Team, that focus on engaging and supporting community members and their families.
  2. Work within the Wellbeing Shed and associated programs
  3. Provide social support to all clients
  4. Liaise with relevant community groups and stakeholders
  5. Participate in opportunistic and community screening activities
  6. Enter data accurately into the Communicare system and in line with NTPHN and Commonwealth reporting requirements
  7. Provide monthly and quarterly reports on activities in line with funding requirements
  8. Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities
  9. Collect specified data on all client contacts in accordance with Clinic and community health program requirements
  10. Liaise with other staff within Urapuntja Health Service and external providers in regards to patient care, referrals and follow up as required
  11. Assist other health staff requiring community, cultural and/or linguistic assistance with clients where culturally appropriate
  12. Participate in on-going training
  13. Provide quality and professional service of care and work ethics at all times
  14. Work within strict confidentiality guidelines, ensuring all client and organisational information is kept secure
  15. Undertake any other duties at the request of the Clinic Manager which are considered relevant to the position and the level of classification

 

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

  • Experience in, and a commitment to, community development.
  • Understanding of vicarious trauma, including self-care
  • Familiarity of working in a remote community or setting where flexibility and extensive travel is required.
  • Demonstrated case management experience with families and children.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop good working relationships across a range of sectors and in a variety of settings.
  • An understanding of the Social And Emotional Wellbeing Framework
  • Excellent communication skills, in particular the ability to communicate sensitively in a cross-cultural environment
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a team
  • Demonstrated experience in working with minimal supervision when dealing with common social support matters
  • Current AASW/AHPRA registration
  • Current Drivers Licence
  • Able to drive a manual vehicle
  • Understanding of the legal and ethical issues for staff and clients in a primary health care setting
  • Ochre Card (Working with Children Clearance)

 

Desirable

    • Awareness of/sensitivity to Aboriginal culture and history
    • Demonstrated understanding of issues pertaining to Aboriginal primary health care.
    • Experience in using a Patient Information and Recall System
    • Experience utilising and billing appropriate Medicare
  • Experience working in the area of Indigenous Primary Health
  • Highly developed cross cultural communication skills and willingness to take cultural advice from Aboriginal staff
  • Previous experience working with remote Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal organisations and groups

Special Conditions

  • Willingness to work in remote communities for extended periods of time.
  • Out of hours’ work requiring overnight absences may be required.
  • Satisfactory criminal history check.
  • Current Ochre Card (Northern Territory Working with Children check
  • Current Australian manual driver’s licence.
  • A current First Aid certificate or a willingness to undertake training.
  • Experience in operating a manual 4WD vehicle or a willingness to undertake training.
  • A good level of health and fitness that matches the requirements of the role. Note: If so required by Urapuntja Health Service at any time, you must undergo a satisfactory medical examination (including a pre-employment medical examination) for the purpose of determining whether you are able to perform the inherent requirements of your position. Any such medical examination will be at the employer’s cost, and copies of any medical report will be provided to you. You must advise Urapuntja Health Service of any illness, injury, disease, or any other matter relating to your health or physical fitness which may prevent you from performing your duties, or which may affect your ability to work safely.

http://www.urapuntja.org.au/employment/

 16. NT : URAPUNTJA HEALTH SERVICE ABORIGINAL CORPORATION : REMOTE AREA NURSE  Amengernternenh Community, Utopia

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Urapuntja Community is situated on the Sandover Highway some 280 km north east of Alice Springs. Urapuntja Community comprises 16 Outstation communities spread out over some 3230 square km of desert. There are some 900 people who are mainly Anmatyerre and Alyawarra speaking people. Distances to the outstations vary from 5 to 100 kms from the clinic.

Urapuntja Health Service developed from many years of negotiations by Aboriginal people to have their own health service. Urapuntja is a community controlled health service with a Board of Directors which is elected from and by the community at the Annual General Meeting held each year. The Directors meets regularly to discuss issues and make decisions relevant to the Organisation.

The Remote Area Nurse/Midwife will work as a member of a clinical team including a GP, Aboriginal Health Workers and other Remote Area Nurses, to provide medical services to community members. The role is primarily that of a Remote Area Nurse with a component of midwifery for the small number of  clients requiring ante and post natal care. At times the Remote Area Nurse/Midwife will work under the supervision of the Medical Officer and/or the Clinic Manager. At other times the Remote Area Nurse / Midwife will be required to work with limited assistance. The Remote Area Nurse / Midwife will be required to travel by 4WD vehicle to provide clinical services to remote outstations on a daily basis.

DUTIES OF THE POSITION

  1. Provide general health care through the assessment and management of a broad range of clinical problems, in consultation with Aboriginal Health Workers, Registered Nurses and General Practitioner as required according to the CARPA Standard Treatment Manual and the Women’s Business Manual.
  2. Develop and deliver health programs with an emphasis on chronic disease, women’s health and STI’s
  3. Participate in opportunistic and community screening activities
  4. Perform consultations with community health program clients including the provision of basic physical examination and advice on the treatment and management of clients’ health problems
  5. Dispense and administer pharmaceutical therapies including vaccines and prescribed pharmaceuticals for common conditions as per the Carpa Manual, Women’s Business Manual and NT Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2012.
  6. Work with other community health program staff and seek advice and assistance from a General Practitioner
  7. Enter data accurately into the Communicare system
  8. Collect specified data on all client contacts in accordance with Clinic and community health program requirements
  9. Participate in the after-hours on-call and emergency care roster.
  10. Provide health promotion and education
  11. Provide ante and post natal care
  12. Liaise with other staff within Urapuntja Health Service in regards to patient care, referrals and follow up as required
  13. Coordinate the evacuation of patients transferring to Alice Springs Hospital including liaison with DMO and RFDS, provision of emergency care until evacuation, transport of patient to airstrip and handover of patient care
  14. Assist other health staff requiring community, cultural and/or linguistic assistance with clients where culturally appropriate
  15. Participate in on-going training and provide on-the-job training for less experienced RNs/AHWs
  16. To provide quality and professional service of care and work ethics at all times
  17. Work within strict confidentiality guidelines, ensuring all client and organisational information is kept secure
  18. Undertake any other duties at the request of the Clinic Manager which are considered relevant to the position and the level of classification

 

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

  • Registered or eligible for registration as Registered Nurse / Midwife with the Australian Health Professional Registration Authority (AHPRA)
  • High level of clinical skills, knowledge, and health promotion skills in particular in the areas of STI’s and Womens’ Health
  • Excellent communication skills, in particular the ability to communicate sensitively in a cross-cultural environment
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a team
  • Demonstrated experience in working with minimal supervision when dealing with common health matters
  • Current Drivers Licence and ability to drive a manual vehicle
  • A good level of health and fitness that matches the requirements of the role. Note: If so required by UHSAC at any time, you must undergo a satisfactory medical examination (including a pre-employment medical examination) for the purpose of determining whether you are able to perform the inherent requirements of your position. Any such medical examination will be at the employer’s cost, and copies of any medical report will be provided to you. You must advise UHSAC of any illness, injury, disease, or any other matter relating to your health or physical fitness which may prevent you from performing your duties, or which may affect your ability to work safely.
  • Understanding of the legal and ethical issues for staff and clients in a primary health care setting
  • Ochre Card (Working with Children Clearance)
  • NT About Giving Vaccines certification or the ability to obtain this

 Desirable

    • Awareness of/sensitivity to Aboriginal culture and history
    • Demonstrated understanding of issues pertaining to Aboriginal primary health care.
    • Experience in using a Patient Information and Recall System
  • Experience working in the area of Indigenous Primary Health
  • Highly developed cross cultural communication skills and willingness to take cultural advice from Aboriginal staff
  • Previous experience working with remote Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal organisations and groups

17-43  Miwatj Health NT 26 Positions including 10 Nurses

 

Employment at Miwatj Health

Miwatj Health offers a wide range of employment opportunities for health and other professionals, in a unique primary healthcare environment. We offer satisfying career paths for doctors, nurses, Aboriginal Health Practitioners, allied health staff, public/population health practitioners, health informatics specialists, administrative, financial and management personnel. If you are suitably qualified and are looking for a rewarding and challenging experience in one of the most diverse, beautiful and interesting regions of Australia, we invite you to apply for any of the current vacancies listed below.

All applications for current vacancies must include:

  • a current Resumé,
  • names and contact details of at least two referees, at least one of whom must be a employment referee.

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly those with links to and knowledge of local communities in the region.

Separately from the list of current vacancies, you may also submit a general expression of interest, with a current Resume, and we shall retain it on file for future reference if an appropriate vacancy arises.

Miwatj strongly prefers that all applications and expressions of interest submit your application via our recruitment platform by clicking the link below.

You may contact HR via recruitment@miwatj.com.au. However, if that is not possible, EOI or resume may be mailed or faxed, to arrive by the closing date, to:
Miwatj Health – Human Resources Department
PO Box 519
Nhulunbuy NT 0881
Fax number (08) 8987 1670

Milingimbi, NT
MHAC74

Aboriginal Community Worker – Mental Health Full Time 31 Dec 2017 Galiwin’ku, Elcho Island, NT
MHAC80
Case Manager Connected Beginnings Full Time 31 Dec 2017 Galiwin’ku, Elcho Island, NT
MHAC86
Clinic Receptionist Full-Time 31 Dec 2017 Galiwin’ku, Elcho Island, NT
MHAC71
Clinic Receptionist – Casual Pool Casual contract 31 Dec 2017 Galiwin’ku, Elcho Island, NT
MHAC76
Dental Assistant Full-time 31 Dec 2017 Galiwin’ku, Gunyangara, Milingimbi, Nhulunbuy, Ngalkanbuy, Yirrkala, and other Miwatj Health locations as required
MHAC65
Groundpersons/ Cleaner 31 Dec 2017 Galiwinku, NT
MHAC85
Miwatj NDIS Community Connector Full Time 31 Dec 2017 Yurrwi, NT
MHAC83
Miwatj NDIS Community Connector Full Time 31 Dec 2017 Nhulunbuy, Gunyangara, Yirrkala, NT
MHAC84
Miwatj NDIS Community Connector Full Time 31 Dec 2017 Galiwin’ku, NT
MHAC81
NDIS Team Leader Full Time 31 Dec 2017 Galiwin’ku, Gunyangara, Yurrwi, Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala, and Other
MHAC82
Patient Travel Liason Officer Full Time 1 Dec 2017 Galiwin’ku, Elcho Island, NT
MHAC45
Registered Nurse – Child and Family Health Full-time 1 Jan 2018 Nhulunbuy, Gunyangara, Yirrkala
MHAC67
Remote Area Nurse – Adult Acute Care Full-time 31 Dec 2020 Galiwin’ku, Elcho Island, NT
MHAC14
Remote Area Nurse – Adult Acute Care Full-time 31 Dec 2020 Milingimbi, NT
MHAC15
Remote Area Nurse – Casual Pool Casual 31 Dec 2020 Galiwin’ku, Gunyangara, Yurrwi, Nhulunbuy, Ngalkanbuy and Yirrkala
MHAC59
Remote Area Nurse – Casual Pool Malmaldharra Full-time 31 Dec 2020 Milingimbi, NT
MHAC30
Remote Area Nurse – Child Health Full-time 30 Dec 2020 Milingimbi, NT
MHAC16
Remote Area Nurse – Chronic Disease Full-time 31 Dec 2020 Milingimbi, NT
MHAC24
Remote Area Nurse – Midwife / Women’s Health – Casual Pool Full-time 31 Dec 2020 Milingimbi, NT
MHAC32
Remote Area Nurse – Midwife / Womens Health Full-time 31 Dec 2020 Milingimbi, NT
MHAC22
Remote Area Nurse – School Nurse Full-time 31 Dec 2020 Galiwin’ku, Elcho Island, NT
MHAC23
Senior SEWB Therapeutic Clinician Full-time 1 Jan 2018 Regional East Arnhem, NT
MHAC47
SEWB Therapeutic Clinician Full-time 1 Jan 2018 Regional East Arnhem, NT
MHAC46
Tackling Indigenous Smoking Community Worker Part Time 31 Dec 2020 Yurrwi, NT
MHAC18
Tackling Indigenous Smoking Community Worker Part Time 31 Dec 2020 Ramingining, NT
MHAC1

.

44-54  Congress ACCHO Alice Springs 10 positions

Thank you for your interest in working with Congress!

CONGRESS HR Website

We have two types of applications for you to consider:

General Application

  • Submit an expression of interest for a position that may become available.
  • This should include a covering letter outlining your job interest(s), an up-to-date resume and three current employment referees.

Applying for a Current Vacancy

  • Applying for a specific advertised vacancy.
  • Before applying for any position general or current please read the section ‘Job App FAQ‘.

TRANSPORT OFFICER

Hourly Rate: $22.78 + 25% casual loading

Location: Alice Springs | Job ID: 3696530| Closing Date: 01 Dec 2017

GENERAL PRACTITIONER – ALICE SPRINGS

Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (Congress) has over 40 years’ experience providing comprehe …

Location: Alice Springs | Job ID: 3677297| Closing Date: 30 Dec 2017

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST – EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS

Multiple Positions Available

Location: Alice Springs | Job ID: 3683459

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST- CLIENT SERVICE ROLES

Client Service Officer     …

Location: Alice Springs | Job ID: 3672944| Closing Date: 31 Dec 2017

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST- CLINICAL ROLES

Location: Alice Springs | Job ID: 3672893 | Closing Date: 31 Dec 2017

 

55-65  JOBS AT IUIH Brisbane

 

IUIH and its members are constantly looking for healthcare workers, GP’s, allied health professionals, medical and health related students to fill short or long term vacancies within their growing operations.Current job opportunities are listed below:

Website HERE

66 .IEH TRACHOMA EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Job no: 0044385
Work type: Fixed Term
Location: Other

Indigenous Eye Health Unit
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

Salary: $99,199 – $107,370 p.a. plus 9.5 % superannuation

  • Exciting opportunity working with remote communities based in Alice Springs
  • Use your health, education and engagement skills to close the gap for vision
  • Engage with a diverse range of stakeholders in Aboriginal Eye Health
  • Salary loadings commensurate with experience and vehicle provided
  • Indigenous Australians are strongly encouraged to apply.

Indigenous Eye Health (IEH) at the University of Melbourne is looking for a Trachoma Education and Engagement Manager (TEEM) based in Alice Springs. This new position will be an integral on-the-ground part of the IEH team. Travel to remote communities and work in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia is required.

The TEEM is responsible for engagement and local linkage with communities and organisations in the tri-state border region. Project management and educational skills are requisite. The person needs to be an energetic and enthusiastic self-starter who can develop partnerships and identify opportunities. The TEEM will be responsible for education and training to a wide range of people of all ages to broaden community awareness about clean faces and ways to prevent trachoma.

Over several years IEH has developed health promotion resources, conducted social marketing and created partnerships that support the World Health Organization endorsed SAFE strategy particularly around facial cleanliness. The position will build on existing partnerships to raise awareness about the importance of clean faces and good hygiene and pursue strategies to increase knowledge that result in behaviour change.

Close date:         29 Nov 2017

Position Description and Selection Criteria

Download File 0044385.pdf

For information to assist you with compiling short statements to answer the selection criteria, please go to http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/search/info/selection-criteria

Advertised: AUS Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: AUS Eastern Daylight Time

67 : Indigenous Immunisation Coordinator

Employment StatusTemporary Part Time (up to 30/06/2019)

The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network

 

Nov 22

 

   
 
   

 

NACCHO Aboriginal Health and #Alcohol : New review explores the harmful effects of alcohol use in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander context

 ” The review highlights that alcohol use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people needs to be understood within the social and historical context of colonisation, dispossession of land and culture, and economic exclusion.

While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are around 1.3 times more likely to abstain from alcohol than non-Indigenous people, those who do drink alcohol are more likely to experience health-related harms than their non-Indigenous counterparts.

 Furthermore, the evidence presented in this review suggests that effective strategies to address the problem of harmful alcohol use include: alternative activities, brief interventions, treatment and ongoing care; taxation and price controls and other restrictions on availability; and community patrols and sobering up shelters “

The Australian Indigenous Alcohol and Other Drugs Knowledge Centre (Knowledge Centre) has published a new Review of the harmful use of alcohol among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Read over 188 NACCHO Aboriginal Health and Alcohol Articles published over the past 5 years

https://nacchocommunique.com/category/alcohol-and-other-drugs/

The review explores the harmful effects of alcohol use in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander context examining: patterns of use; health impacts; underlying causal factors; policies and interventions to address these impacts; and ways to further reduce harm.

View in Full Here

This review will help to inform, support and educate those working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Australia.

Ah 99

Key facts

The Australian context

  • Harmful use of alcohol is a problem for the Australian community as a whole. It is estimated that in 2011, alcohol caused 5.1% of the total burden of disease in Australia.
  • The social cost of all drug use in Australia in 2004–05 was estimated at $55.2 billion ($79.9 billion in 2016 dollars), with alcohol alone contributing 27.3%, and alcohol combined with illicit drugs adding a further 1.9%.

Extent of alcohol use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

  • Alcohol use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people needs to be understood within the social and historical context of colonisation, dispossession of land and culture, and economic exclusion.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are about 1.3 times more likely to abstain from alcohol than non-Indigenous people.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are at least 1.2 and 1.3 times more likely to consume alcohol at levels that pose risks to their health over their lifetimes and on single drinking occasions than non-Indigenous people.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men are more than twice as likely as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to consume alcohol at risky levels.

Health impacts of alcohol use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

  • Excessive alcohol consumption poses a range of health risks – both on single drinking occasions and over a person’s lifetime, including alcoholic liver disease, behavioural disorders, assault, suicide and transport accidents.
  • In NSW, Qld, WA, SA and the NT from 2010–2014 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males and females died from conditions solely caused by alcohol more frequently than non-Indigenous males and females (4.7 and 6.1 times respectively).
  • The overall rate of suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in 2015 was 2.1 times higher than among non-Indigenous people. For the period 2011–2015, 40% of male suicides and 30% of female suicides were attributable to alcohol use.
  • There is strong qualitative evidence linking alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and poor mental health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  • Age standardised rates of hospitalisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the years 2012–13, 2013–14 and 2014-15 were 2.7, 2.3 and 2.4 times those of non-Indigenous people.
  • In 2011, alcohol accounted for an estimated 8.3% of the overall burden of disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians; a rate 2.3 times higher than among non-Indigenous people.
  • In addition to harms to health, high levels of alcohol use can contribute to a range of social harms, including child neglect and abuse, interpersonal violence, homicide, and other crimes.

Policies and strategies

  • Initial responses to the concerns about harmful alcohol use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the 1970s were driven not by governments but by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people themselves who recognised that non-Indigenous mainstream responses were non-existent or largely culturally inappropriate.
  • The level of harm caused by alcohol in any community is a function of complex inter-relationships between the availability of alcohol, and levels of individual wellbeing and social conditions that either protect against or predispose people or groups to harmful levels of consumption.
  • As well as addressing the consequences of harmful levels of alcohol consumption, policies and intervention strategies must also address the underlying causal relationships. In the case of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people this means addressing social inequality.
  • As part of the current Australian Government’s Indigenous advancement strategy (IAS), a number of programs are in place that aim to address social inequality and the broad social determinants of harmful alcohol use.
  • Government policy documents most directly relevant to the minimisation of alcohol-related harm among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the National drug strategy 2017–2026 (NDS) and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ drug strategy 2014–2019 (NATSIPDS).
  • The National drug strategy 2017–2026 provides a tripartite approach to reducing the demand for and supply of alcohol, and the immediate harms its causes.
  • There is a strong evidence base for the effectiveness of a range of interventions including: alternative activities, brief interventions, treatment and ongoing care; taxation and price controls and other restrictions on availability; and community patrols and sobering-up shelters.
  • Government programs to address Aboriginal and Torres Islander inequality have been in place since the 1970s – what is now the National Drug Strategy was introduced in 1985. While there have been some improvements, as evidenced by various Government reports, progress has been slow and while there have been increases in funding these have not been sufficient to meet need.
  • There is evidence that – provided with adequate resourcing – the culturally safe services provided by community-controlled organisations result in better outcomes. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be key players in the design and implementation of interventions to address harmful alcohol use in their own communities, with capacity building within Aboriginal community-controlled organisations a central focus.
  • The way forward is for Australian Governments to honour the commitments made in the NATSIPDS to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to resource interventions on the basis of need.

HealthInfoNet Director, Professor Neil Drew says ‘The latest review, written by Professor Dennis Gray and colleagues from the National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) in Western Australia, is a vital new addition to our suite of knowledge exchange resources.

It makes the large body of evidence available in a succinct, evidence-based summary prepared by world renowned experts.

This delivers considerable time savings to a time poor workforce striving to keep up to date in a world where the sheer weight of new information can often seem overwhelming.

I am delighted to release this important new resource to support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander alcohol and other drug (AOD) sector.’

The review highlights that alcohol use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people needs to be understood within the social and historical context of colonisation, dispossession of land and culture, and economic exclusion.

While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are around 1.3 times more likely to abstain from alcohol than non-Indigenous people, those who do drink alcohol are more likely to experience health-related harms than their non-Indigenous counterparts.

Furthermore, the evidence presented in this review suggests that effective strategies to address the problem of harmful alcohol use include: alternative activities, brief interventions, treatment and ongoing care; taxation and price controls and other restrictions on availability; and community patrols and sobering up shelters.

http://aodknowledgecentre.net.au/aodkc/alcohol/reviews/alcohol-review

This review will help to inform, support and educate those working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Australia.

 

NACCHO 1 of 100 Organisations supporting @Change_Record #NationalAction4Kids #FreetobeKids call for PM @TurnbullMalcolm to take national action through #COAG

 

” We are horrified by the abuses and torture of children in detention in the Northern Territory, highlighted throughout the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory (the Royal Commission)

We are deeply concerned at the worsening rate at which Australia is locking up Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, which is now 25 times the rate of non-Indigenous children. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children make up more than half the total number of children in prisons Australia-wide.”

NACCHO has joined nearly 100 other organisations to call for immediate national action so we never see abuse again. The Federal Government must act now on make change for children in the justice system

See NACCHO post

NACCHO @AMSANTaus @CAACongress respond #NTRC #DonDale Royal Commission demands sweeping change – But how can we make it happen?

https://nacchocommunique.com/2017/11/20/naccho-amsantaus-caacongress-respond-ntrc-dondale-royal-commission-demands-sweeping-change-but-how-can-we-make-it-happen/

We note the report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Ms Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, following her visit to Australia in March 2017 who found “the routine detention of young indigenous children the most distressing aspect of [her] visit.”

We note that this abuse is not isolated to the Northern Territory. Throughout the past 18 months there have been independent Inquiries into youth detention in every jurisdiction except South Australia.

In addition to removing children from their families and communities, children are being subjected to prolonged abuse including isolation, restraint chairs, spit hoods and tear gas in youth prisons.

This is unacceptable.

All Australian governments must take immediate measures to reform our youth justice systems and address the recommendations of the Royal Commission. These must be developed collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to ensure that all of Australia’s children thrive.

The undersigned organisations call on the Australian Government, working with the Northern Territory Government and other State and Territory governments through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), to seize the landmark opportunity presented by the Royal Commission to:

  • Work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their representative bodies to deliver a comprehensive and ongoing response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission
  • Lead national reform through COAG of youth justice systems, laws, policies and practices. This must build on the recommendations of the Royal Commission, with a view to developing national minimum benchmarks for laws and policies
  • Prioritise this issue as a standing item at future COAG meetings to ensure an ongoing comprehensive Commonwealth, State and Territory response to this pressing national issue
  • Ensure there is independent oversight and monitoring of the implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission.

For media comment from Change the Record Co-Chairs Antoinette Braybrook or Cheryl Axleby, contact Rashmi Kumar, Principal Advisor, at 0409 711 061 or rashmi@changetherecord.org.au.

Signed by the following organisations:

Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Legal Service Victoria

ACOSS

ACTCOSS

Amnesty International Australia

ANTaR

Article 26

Australian Association of Social Workers

Australian Capital Territory Law Society

Australian Child Rights Taskforce

Australian Council of Trade Unions

Australian Health Promotion Association

Australian Indigenous Alpine Sport Foundation

Australian Indigenous Doctors Association

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights

Australian Physiotherapy Association

Australian Youth Affairs Coalition

Bar Association of Queensland

Canberra Police Community Youth Club

Centrecare Inc.

Child Rights Australia

Children and Young People with Disability Australia

Common Grace

Community Legal Centres NSW

Community Legal Centres Queensland

Community Legal Centres Association WA

CREATE Foundation

Democracy in Colour

Elizabeth Evatt Community Legal Centre

Federation of Community Legal Centres (Victoria)

First Peoples Disability Network

Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre

GetUp

Human Rights Law Centre

Indigenous Allied Health Australia

Indigenous Eye Health

Infinite Hope

International Social Service Australia

Jesuit Social Services

Just Reinvest NSW

Justice Reinvestment SA

Koorie Youth Council

Law Council of Australia

Law Society of NSW

Law Society of South Australia

Making Justice Work

Melbourne City Mission

Muticultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN)

NACCHO- National aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

National Association of Community Legal Centres

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services

National Children’s and Youth Law Centre

National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples

National Council of Single Mothers and their Children

National FVPLS Forum

NCOSS

NTCOSS

Oxfam Australia

People with Disability Australia

PIAC

Plan International Australia

Protect All Children Today Inc.

Public Health Association of Australia

QCOSS

Reconciliation Australia

Reconciliation Victoria

Relationships Australia

SACOSS

Save the Children Australia

Sisters Inside

Smart Justice for Young People

SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children

Social Determinants of Health Alliance

Southern Aboriginal Corporation

St Vincent de Paul Society of Australia

TEAR Australia

The Bridge of Hope Foundation Inc.

The Kimberley Foundation

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians

UNICEF Australia

VCOSS

WACOSS

Weave Youth & Community Services

Woden Community Service

Youth Action

Youth Advocacy Centre Inc.

Youth Affairs Council of Victoria

Youth Coalition of the ACT

Youthlaw

YSAS

NACCHO Aboriginal Maternal Health Services News : Part 1.@AIHW releases Report : Part 2 .@HealthInfoNet Free #FASD Webinar 29 Nov

AMAT 

” The gap between the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and non-Indigenous children begins before birth, with babies born to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers significantly more likely to have been exposed to tobacco smoke in utero, to be born pre-term, and to have a low birthweight (weighing less than 2,500 grams at birth) (AIHW 2015b).

These inequalities continue throughout early childhood for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, with higher mortality rates and higher rates of illness and poor health.

 This report presents the findings of a project which assessed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s access to hospitals with public birthing services and 3 other types of maternal health services across Australia, then investigated possible high-level associations between access, maternal risk factors and birth outcomes.”

Download the report here

AIHW Indigenous Maternal Health .pdf

The findings of a project which assessed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s access to hospitals with public birthing services and 3 other types of maternal health services across Australia,

Access to services

The study examined the geographic access of Indigenous women of child-bearing age (15–44) to 4 types of on-the-ground maternal health services: hospitals with a public birthing unit; Indigenous-specific primary health-care services (ISPHCSs); Royal Flying Doctor Service clinics; and general practitioners (GPs).

Using 1 hour drive time boundaries around these locations and population counts from the 2011 Census at a range of geographic levels (SA2, remoteness, jurisdiction), the study found:

  • approximately one-fifth (25,600 or 21%) of Indigenous women of child-bearing age lived outside a 1 hour drive time from the nearest hospital with a public birthing unit
  • nearly all (97%) Indigenous women of child-bearing age had access to at least 1 type of maternal health service within a 1 hour drive time. The lowest levels of access were for women in Very remote and Remote areas, where 84% and 93%, respectively, had access to at least 1 type of service.
  • Indigenous women of child-bearing age in Major cities, Inner regional and Outer regional areas had more types of services available to them within a 1 hour drive time than did women in more remote areas. Thus, they had more choice in which service they use

Association with area-level maternal risk factor and birth outcomes

Examining possible associations between geographic accessibility to services, maternal risk factors and birth outcomes at the Indigenous Region level, the study found that poorer access to:

  • GPs was associated with higher rates of pre-term birth and low birthweight
  • ISPHCSs with maternal/antenatal services was associated with higher rates of smoking and low birthweight
  • hospitals with public birthing units was associated with higher rates of smoking, pre-term birth and low birthweight
  • at least 1 service was associated with higher smoking rates and higher rates of pre-term delivery and low birthweight

An analysis at Primary Health Network (PHN) level found fewer significant associations, which is likely to be due to the PHNs’ size—particularly in jurisdictions with large Indigenous populations (such as the Northern Territory and Western Australia)—which may mask important intra-area variation.

This report was not able to take into account ISPHCSs which did not report to the Online Services Report collection, including state or territory maternal health services, outreach services, and antenatal/postnatal clinics conducted from hospitals which do not have birthing units.

It also focused on spatial accessibility and did not take into account other aspects of maternal health services such as cultural competency. Future analyses could incorporate other indicators or measures of access, maternal risk factors and birth outcomes.

1.Introduction

The gap between the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and non-Indigenous children begins before birth, with babies born to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers significantly more likely to have been exposed to tobacco smoke in utero, to be born pre-term, and to have a low birthweight (weighing less than 2,500 grams at birth) (AIHW 2015b).

These inequalities continue throughout early childhood for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, with higher mortality rates and higher rates of illness and poor health.

The factors that contribute to poor infant and child health are complex and include maternal health (maternal weight, pre-existing health conditions); maternal risk factors (smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy, maternal nutrition); maternal age; social determinants (socioeconomic position and education); cultural determinants; and access to health services (such as antenatal care and child health services).

While access to health services will not eliminate the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous babies and young children on their own, services have an important role to play in ameliorating the effects of the other factors listed above.

This report focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s geographic access to public birthing units and maternal health services, in order to identify areas with potential gaps in these services.

The report then examines whether there is an association between accessibility to services, maternal risk factors during pregnancy, and birth outcomes. It builds on a series of analyses the AIHW has been undertaking which are aimed at identifying geographic areas with potential gaps in services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (AIHW 2014a, 2015c).

Background

Fetal health and development represents an intersection between physiological processes and the greater social context and environment. Inequalities in infant health outcomes are not randomly distributed throughout society, but are a reflection of broader social, environmental, historical, economic and cultural conditions (known as the ‘social determinants’ of health).

Figure 1.1 provides a conceptual overview of these processes, illustrating how these higher-level factors (‘distal’ determinants) affect contextual factors and individual mothers’ resources (intermediate factors)—which, in turn, affect ‘proximal’ determinants of both maternal health and maternal risk factors. These proximal determinants are those which then have a direct effect on fetal development.

Distal determinants (such as the long-term effects of colonisation and its effect on factors such as self-determination, the disruption of ties to land), and the adverse impact of racism, have all had an effect on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s socioeconomic and psychosocial well-being (Osborne et al. 2013; Reading & Wein 2009).

Compared with non-Indigenous mothers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have higher rates of the factors associated with poor infant health outcomes: on average, they have poorer socioeconomic status, lower levels of education, higher levels of psychosocial distress, are more likely to live in poor housing and are more likely to live in areas with fewer health services (intermediate determinants).

These intermediate determinants affect the proximal determinants of maternal health and maternal risk factors during pregnancy, which then have physiological effects on fetal health and development and increase the likelihood of pre-term birth. Available data show that Indigenous mothers have higher rates of a variety of health risks: they are 1.6 times as likely to be obese as non-Indigenous mothers and to have higher rates of pre-existing hypertension and pre-existing diabetes (which are linked with poorer birth outcomes) (AIHW 2016).

One of the strongest behavioural risk factors for poor birth outcomes and subsequent infant mortality and child mortality is smoking. Maternal smoking during pregnancy has been linked with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), poor lung development, stillbirth, pre-term birth, and placenta abruption. IUGR and low birthweight can increase the risk of poor perinatal outcomes such as necrotising enterocolitis and respiratory distress syndrome, and have long-term effects such as increased risks for short stature, cognitive delay, cerebral palsy, and poor cardiovascular health (Reeves & Bernstein 2008). Babies born to mothers who smoke during and after pregnancy are also more likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

AIHW multivariate analyses of perinatal data for the period 2012–2014 indicates that, excluding pre-term and multiple births, 51% of low birthweight births to Indigenous mothers were attributable to smoking, compared with 16% for non-Indigenous mothers (AIHW 2017). Evidence suggests that maternal exposure to second-hand smoke reduces birthweight as well.

While rates of smoking during pregnancy have decreased, data from 2013 show that 47.3% of Indigenous mothers smoked during pregnancy, compared with 10% of non-Indigenous mothers (AIHW 2016). The likelihood of smoking is not randomly distributed throughout society, but is related to the intermediate and proximal determinants shown in Figure 1.1.

Role of services

Figure 1.1 positions antenatal care/birthing services as mediating factors that can ameliorate the effects of distal, intermediate and proximate determinants, by working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers to ensure they have the knowledge, medical care, practical support and social support they require to improve their chances of having a healthy baby.

For example, early access to care can improve infant health through promoting positive change (such as reducing or stopping smoking), and identifying physiological risk factors which may require more specialised management (AIHW 2014b). High-quality, evidence-based and culturally competent (refer to Box 1.1) maternal and child health services, working in partnership with pregnant Aboriginal and Torres women, can help improve maternal and birth outcomes.

Women’s use of antenatal care services is affected by a number of factors, however, such as the availability and the financial and cultural accessibility of services as described above, as well as maternal factors such as early recognition of pregnancy and the perceived value attached to antenatal care (Kruske 2011; Pagnini & Reichman 2000).

Previous work has shown that, while nearly all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers access antenatal care prior to giving birth, they are less likely than non-Indigenous mothers to access care early in the pregnancy (51% of Indigenous mothers attend an antenatal visit in the first trimester, compared with 62% of non-Indigenous mothers).

Spatial variation in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s access to maternal health services 3

Box 1.1: Culturally competent maternal and child health services

Culturally competent antenatal care services are those in which woman-centred care is provided in ways that are respectful, understanding of local culture, and meet the emotional, cultural, practical and clinical needs of the women.

There are a number of aspects which characterise culturally competent maternal care services, some of which include having Indigenous-specific programs, having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members, providing continuity of care, viewing women as partners in their care, having a welcoming physical environment, and ensuring that cultural awareness and safety is the responsibility of all staff members in the service (Kruske 2011).

Part 2 Prevalence of FASD Among Youth Under the Care of Juvenile Justice in Western Australia: How Shall We Work Together to Close this Gap? [webinar]

The Australian Indigenous Alcohol and Other Drugs Knowledge Centre (the Knowledge Centre) is hosting a Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) webinar on Wednesday 29 November with guest presenter Dr Raewyn Mutch from the Telethon Kids Institute.

The theme for the webinar is Prevalence of FASD among youth under the care of Juvenile Justice in Western Australia: how shall we work together to close this gap? The webinar will run for approximately one hour, and will discuss a recent program that investigates FASD and the criminal justice system.

Dr Mutch is a Consultant Paediatrician, and works with Refugee Health at the Department of General Paediatrics, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, as well as the Alcohol, Pregnancy and FASD department at Telethon Kids Institute. In addition, Dr Mutch also works as a Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Western Australia.

The webinar will be free to attend, but you will need a browser with the latest version of Flash, and a stable internet connection. We’d recommend that participants use a pair of headphones, rather than their computer’s sound, as the sound quality will be better.

The webinar will be held at:

  • 1pm AEDT (NSW, Vic, Tas, ACT)
  • 12.30pm ACDT (SA)
  • 12pm AEST (Qld)
  • 11:30am ACST (NT)
  • 10am AWST (WA).

To attend the webinar, please click on this link about five minutes before it’s due to commence. If you have any queries about the webinar please refer to the contact details below.

Contacts

Millie Harford-Mills
Research Officer
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
Ph: (08) 9370 6358
Email:

 

NACCHO @AMSANTaus @CAACongress respond #NTRC #DonDale Royal Commission demands sweeping change – But how can we make it happen?

Adis

‘ This Commission has been a landmark opportunity to expose the brutal and inhumane treatment of children in youth detention centres in the Northern Territory. Children have been stripped, assaulted and have been left languishing in cells in isolation for extended periods of time. This is no way to treat children. We need to do things vastly differently so that these abuses do not happen again.

 APO NT is encouraged to see the Commission has emphasised the importance of youth diversion, prevention and early intervention initiatives, and the need for a single Act covering youth justice and child protection.

Now is the time for the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments to accept all the Commission’s recommendations and commit to adequate resourcing of and independent oversight  and monitoring of all recommendations of the Royal Commission’

 John Paterson CEO AMSANT and APO NT Spokesperson  :see Part 2 for full Press Release

Download 68 Page Summary Full report 2,000 Pages

Royal-Commission-NT-Findings-and-Recomendations

VIEW Press Conference HERE

file-5

” We commend the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission, particularly where it is apparent that the experiences of those young people and their families were taken into account along with the submissions from key Aboriginal community controlled organisations and expert evidence from all over the world about what really works

“We know that many young people who appear before the courts come from traumatised backgrounds, which in many cases has caused their offending. As a community we need to learn to ask “what’s happened to you?” rather than “what’s wrong with you?”

Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Chief Executive Officer, Donna Ah Chee

“You don’t set up a royal commission and then walk away from the implementation of it. I urge the Federal and NT Government to give resources directly to Aboriginal community controlled groups, as white non-government organisations “need to get out of that space”. Those days are over.

“We are much more strategically placed and our service delivery is much wider.”

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations chief executive Pat Turner calling on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to “put his money with his mouth is.

Hear ABC World News Today Interview Pat Turner and Olga Haven CEO Danila Dilba ACCHO

See Part 4 below or NACCHO Press release HERE  

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“We really welcome this report because it’s really taken into account the things we have been lobbying for many, many years now and it’s always fallen on deaf ears.”

North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency CEO Priscilla Atkins see Part 5 below

Part 1: Don Dale royal commission demands sweeping change – is there political will to make it happen? From The Conversation

The Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory’s final report, which was handed down on Friday, revealed “systemic and shocking failures” in the territory’s youth justice and child protection systems.

The commission was triggered following ABC Four Corners’ broadcasting of images of detainee Dylan Voller hooded and strapped to a restraint chair, as well as footage of children being stripped, punched and tear-gassed by guards at the Don Dale and Alice Springs youth detention centres.

The commission’s findings demonstrate the need for systemic change. However, the commission will not, in itself, bring about that change. Its capacity to make lasting change lies with the government implementing its recommendations.

What did the commission find?

The commission found that the NT youth detention centres were not fit for accommodating – let alone rehabilitating – children and young people.

It also found that detainees were subjected to regular, repeated and distressing mistreatment. This included verbal abuse, racist remarks, physical abuse, and humiliation.

There was a further failure to follow procedures and requirements under youth justice legislation. Children were denied basic human needs, and the system failed to comply with basic human rights standards and safeguards, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The commission also found that the NT child protection system has failed to provide appropriate and adequate support to some young people to assist them to avoid prison.

Importantly, the commission found that isolation “continues to be used inappropriately, punitively and inconsistently”. Children in the high security unit:

… continue to be confined in a wholly inappropriate, oppressive, prison-like environment … in confined spaces with minimal out of cell time and little to do for long periods of time.

What did the commission recommend?

Based on these findings, the commission recommended wide-ranging reforms to the youth justice and child protection systems.

Not surprisingly, a central focus of the recommendations relate to detention. They ranged from closing the Don Dale centre to significant restrictions on the use of force, strip-searching and isolation, and banning the use of tear gas, spit hoods, and restraint chairs.

There is a focus on greater accountability for the use of detention through extending the Commissioner for Children and Young People’s monitoring role. Recommendations also cover health care (including mental health and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder screening), education, training, and throughcare services for children exiting detention.

Among its suite of proposed reforms, the commission recommended developing a ten-year strategy to tackle child protection and prevention of harm to children, and establishing an NT-wide network of centres to provide community services to families.

Youth justice reforms include improving the operation of bail to reduce the unnecessary use of custodial remand; expanding diversionary programs in rural and remote locations; and operating new models of secure detention, based on principles of trauma-informed practice.

Adequate and ongoing training and education for police, lawyers, youth justice officers, out-of-home-care staff and judicial officers in child and adolescent development is also recommended.

The commission also emphasised the importance of developing partnerships with Indigenous organisations and communities in the child protection and youth justice systems. Several organisations in written submissions to the commission identified the importance of appropriately resourcing community-controlled, and locally developed and led, programs for Indigenous young people.

Summary Key recommendations ( added by NACCHO)

1. Close Don Dale Youth Centre (and report progress on this by February 2018) and replace with a new, purpose-built facility.

2. Immediately close the high security unit at Don Dale.

3. Raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 .

4. No child under 14 to be ordered to serve detention unless they have been convicted of a serious and violent crime, present a serious risk to the community and their sentence is approved by the head of the proposed new children’s court.

5. Set up a new Children’s Court.

6. Set up a specialist youth division within the police force and make sure all police cells are suitable for detaining children.

7. Establish a Commission for Children and Young People, with jurisdiction for all children and young people in the NT.

8. Stop the use of tear gas and continue to ban spit hoods and the restraint chair.

9. Set up at least 20 family support centres to help children and their families.

10. Develop a 10 year strategy for generational change around child protection and the prevention of harm to children. This would be led by the NT chief minister with specific targets and measures.

Increasing the age of criminal responsibility a good place to start

One of the commission’s most significant recommendations is to increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12 years, and only allowing children under 14 to be sentenced to detention for serious offences.

If this recommendation were to be implemented it is likely to have far-reaching implications across Australia. Currently, the minimum age is ten years in all states and territories.

Of particular relevance to the commission is the adverse affect of a low minimum age of criminal responsibility on Indigenous children.

The majority of children under the age of 14 who come before Australian youth courts are Indigenous. In 2015-16, 67% of children placed in detention under the age of 14 were Indigenous. This concentration is even higher among those aged 12 or younger.

Nationally, 73% of children placed in detention and 74% of children placed on community-based supervision in 2015-16 were Indigenous.

Raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility opens the door to responding to children’s needs without relying on criminalisation, given its short- and long-term negative impacts.

It enables a conversation about the best responses to children who often – as the commission’s findings acknowledged – have a range of issues. These can include trauma, mental health disorders and disability, coming from highly disadvantaged backgrounds, having spent time in out-of-home care, and – particularly among Indigenous children – being removed from their families and communities.

A positive outcome from the commission will require political will and leadership to respond effectively to broader systemic issues. Raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility is a good place to start

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Part 2 : APO NT welcomes Royal Commission final report and calls for immediate commitment from Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments

The Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory (APO NT) welcomes the Royal Commission’s final report, handed down in Darwin today.

Over the past 14 months, the Royal Commission has examined the failings of the youth justice and child protection systems in the Northern Territory and heard ideas for change including from Aboriginal young people and families directly impacted by these systems.

‘This Commission has been a landmark opportunity to expose the brutal and inhumane treatment of children in youth detention centres in the Northern Territory. Children have been stripped, assaulted and have been left languishing in cells in isolation for extended periods of time. This is no way to treat children. We need to do things vastly differently so that these abuses do not happen again’, said John Paterson CEO AMSANT.

The Commission has made unequivocal findings that the Northern Territory’s youth justice and care and  protection systems continue to fail young people and that wholesale reform is required.

‘APO NT is encouraged to see the Commission has emphasised the importance of youth diversion, prevention and early intervention initiatives, and the need for a single Act covering youth justice and child protection’, said Mr Paterson .

The report recognises the critical involvement of Aboriginal organisations and communities in reforming all aspects of the system to bring about real change for Aboriginal people across the Territory. As a first step, Government must immediately establish a process with Aboriginal organisations and community leaders to ensure Aboriginal people are actively involved in the change that lies ahead.

The Royal Commission represents a significant step in addressing the crisis facing our child protection and youth justice systems. ‘The work doesn’t stop here. We’ve got to keep the spotlight on these issues so the abuses our kids have faced in detention and in the child protection system don’t happen again. Now is the time for the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments to accept all the Commission’s recommendations and commit to adequate resourcing of and independent oversight  and monitoring of all recommendations of the Royal Commission’, Mr Paterson said.

APO NT pays tribute to the courageous Aboriginal young people and families who came forward to tell their story to the Commission. It is through their crucial involvement that the Commission has been able to expose the systemic failings and abuses and provide a roadmap for a better future for all children in the Territory.

‘Engagement with Aboriginal organisations and communities has to be front and centre of the reform agenda. We know the extent of change required is going to take time. Aboriginal people across the Northern Territory are ready to work with government to implement the Commission’s recommendations. We want to see commitment from both levels of government so we know we are in this together for the long haul.’

The Northern Territory has the opportunity to lead the way in reforming care and protection and youth justice in Australia. We must build on the momentum for change and work together towards a future where all children have the opportunity to thrive as part of strong and loving families and communities.

Part 3 : Time to commit to action after NT Royal Commission

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Today, Congress welcomes the release of the final report from Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory.

“We commend the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission, particularly where it is apparent that the experiences of those young people and their families were taken into account along with the submissions from key Aboriginal community controlled organisations and expert evidence from all over the world about what really works” Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Chief Executive Officer, Donna Ah Chee said.

“We know that many young people who appear before the courts come from traumatised backgrounds, which in many cases has caused their offending. As a community we need to learn to ask “what’s happened to you?” rather than “what’s wrong with you?”

“We also know that the ‘get tough’ rhetoric in relation to youth offending does not work and that a preventative and therapeutic approach is what is required. This point was articulated by Commissioner White today drawing on evidence from all over the world. Commissioner White also made clear that a paradigm shift to a treatment and rehabilitation approach rather than a “lock them up” punitive approach could save the NT more than $300 million per year in ten years.

Congress welcomes Commissioner Gooda’s impassioned plea for change, acknowledging that throughout the Territory he heard that Aboriginal parents everywhere are ready for change and there is an acceptance that there is a need to do better.

Congress was pleased to see the major recommendations in our submission accepted including the need to increase the minimum age for criminality from 10 to 12, and the need to establish small scale secure care rehabilitation facilities for young people in need whilst also ensuring our young people are diverted away from the criminal justice system.

“The journey to this point has been a long one for those affected, beginning not just with the events that precipitated the Royal Commission. This report is the product of every similar enquiry, and every action – and inaction ­– that has taken place before this in our history.

“Recently, the NT Government has shown their commitment to tackling many of the issues that affect young people today including early childhood and alcohol.

“Congress looks forward to working with the Northern Territory and Commonwealth governments and other leading Aboriginal organisations, including AMSANT and APONT to ensure that the recommendations detailed in this report do not just sit on the shelf, but are implemented in a timely manner with Aboriginal communities and organisations at the forefront of decision making and delivery.

Part 4 :The Northern Territory Government must work with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in true partnership on Royal Commission recommendations

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The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) calls on the Northern Territory and Australian Governments to work with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations on the implementation of recommendations of the Royal Commission and Board of Inquiry into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory released today.

It is clear from the report that the current system of detention in the Northern Territory is failing our children and young people, leaving many more damaged than when they entered. The system of detention is punitive, harsh, and not in keeping with modern rehabilitative standards. We also know that the child protection system in the Northern Territory is letting down children and their families and is inextricably linked to youth justice issues.

Aboriginal children and young people living in the Northern Territory are overwhelmingly impacted with ninety four per cent of children and young people in detention being Aboriginal.

“The extent of this over-representation of Aboriginal children and young people compared with all other children and young people compels a special Aboriginal led response.” said NACCHO Chief Executive Officer Ms Pat Turner.

“The Northern Territory Government must now sit down with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to work in true partnership on the implementation of the recommendations.”

“Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO) have the greatest coverage across the Territory and work with Aboriginal children, young people and families everyday on child protection and youth justice system prevention and early intervention support.”

Ms Turner called on the Northern Territory Government to show national leadership in responding to the recommendations, “The Northern Territory Government has a unique opportunity to lead the rest of the nation in developing a children and family centered public health approach to youth justice and child protection, responsive to Aboriginal people needs.”

NACCHO acknowledges the young people and their families who shared their stories of trauma and survival and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations that supported them.

“I particularly want to acknowledge the work of Danilla Dilba, led by Ms Olga Haven, in providing evidence based submissions to the Northern Territory Government and the Royal Commission to inform their considerations,” said Ms Turner.

“Danilla Dilba has also provided immense support to families and young people to share their own stories and experiences throughout this time, as well as ongoing health and wellbeing services to Aboriginal people across the top end.”

It is now time for the Northern Territory Government to take full responsibility and lead a change by working with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations on the implementation of the Royal Commission recommendations.

Part 5 Other REACTIONS TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY YOUTH JUSTICE REPORT:

“I think to be honest these recommendations should be not only for the Northern Territory, but for all states across Australia.” – Former Don Dale detainee Dylan Voller.

“We really welcome this report because it’s really taken into account the things we have been lobbying for many, many years now and it’s always fallen on deaf ears.” – North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency CEO Priscilla Atkins.

“This royal commission very much began there and it needs to end there.” – NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner.

“Early intervention, diversion and rehabilitation must be front and centre of Australia’s justice system to protect the lives of our children.” – National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples.

“The children who suffered in Don Dale and all Australian children need a guarantee that our governments will do everything they possibly can to stop this happening again.” – Human Rights Law Centre lawyer Shaleena Musk.

“This is clearly a backwards approach – there must be more funding for the beginning of the cycle, with an emphasis on early intervention, prevention, rehabilitation and community-led diversion programs.” – Law Council of Australia president Fiona McLeod.

“The Northern Territory and federal government must listen and work with local communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to take these important findings and recommendations by the Royal Commission forward.” – Amnesty International’s Roxanne Moore.

“We need to heed the recommendations of the Royal Commission, not only to prevent another Don Dale-type scandal but to stop more crimes from being committed, because we all deserve to be safe.” – Red Cross executive director Andy Kenyon.

“We will take the time to scrutinise this report in detail.” – Ben Slade from Maurice Blackburn lawyers.

“Jailing children does not work – it harms them and the community.” – Kathryn Kernohan from Jesuit Social Services.

Adis

 

NACCHO Press Release : Aboriginal Health and #NTRC Download : The NT Govt. must work with #ACCHO’s in true partnership on Royal Commission recommendations

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“The extent of this over-representation of Aboriginal children and young people compared with all other children and young people compels a special Aboriginal led response.

The Northern Territory Government must now sit down with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to work in true partnership on the implementation of the recommendations.”

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO) have the greatest coverage across the Territory and work with Aboriginal children, young people and families everyday on child protection and youth justice system prevention and early intervention support.”

NACCHO Chief Executive Officer Ms Pat Turner

Download the Report : The Report of the Royal Commission and Board of Inquiry into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory was tabled in Parliament on 17 November 2017.

Findings and Recommendations [PDF 1.28MB]

 

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) calls on the Northern Territory and Australian Governments to work with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations on the implementation of recommendations of the Royal Commission and Board of Inquiry into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory released today.

It is clear from the report that the current system of detention in the Northern Territory is failing our children and young people, leaving many more damaged than when they entered. The system of detention is punitive, harsh, and not in keeping with modern rehabilitative standards. We also know that the child protection system in the Northern Territory is letting down children and their families and is inextricably linked to youth justice issues.

Aboriginal children and young people living in the Northern Territory are overwhelmingly impacted with ninety four per cent of children and young people in detention being Aboriginal.

Ms Turner called on the Northern Territory Government to show national leadership in responding to the recommendations, “The Northern Territory Government has a unique opportunity to lead the rest of the nation in developing a children and family centered public health approach to youth justice and child protection, responsive to Aboriginal people needs.”

NACCHO acknowledges the young people and their families who shared their stories of trauma and survival and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations that supported them.

“I particularly want to acknowledge the work of Danilla Dilba, led by Ms Olga Haven, in providing evidence based submissions to the Northern Territory Government and the Royal Commission to inform their considerations,” said Ms Turner.

“Danilla Dilba has also provided immense support to families and young people to share their own stories and experiences throughout this time, as well as ongoing health and wellbeing services to Aboriginal people across the top end.”

It is now time for the Northern Territory Government to take full responsibility and lead a change by working with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations on the implementation of the Royal Commission recommendations

Background briefs

Link to briefing documents:

 

Royal Commission and Board of Inquiry into protection and detention systems of the Northern Territory has revealed systemic and shocking failures

Fundamental reform is needed to end approaches that continue to fail children, families and the community

The closure of the current Don Dale Youth Detention Centre, a new Children’s Court, implementation of an early intervention family support program and a Commission for Children and Young People are key elements of a comprehensive reform program aimed at restoring the failed detention and child protection systems in the Northern Territory.

Increasing the age of criminal responsibility to 12, closing the High Security Unit at Don Dale, improving the youth justice system including the approach to bail, only allowing children under 14 to be detained for serious offences and new models of secure detention are also proposed.

The Royal Commission and Board of Inquiry has found shocking and systemic failures occurred over many years and were known and ignored at the highest levels.

Children and young people were subjected to regular, repeated and distressing mistreatment in detention and there was a failure to follow the procedures and requirements of the law in many instances.

The detention system failed to comply with basic binding human rights standards in the treatment of children and young people and the Commission has found that children were denied basic needs, such as water, and that isolation continues to be used punitively and inconsistently with the Youth Justice Act (NT).

The child protection system has failed to provide the support needed to some children in care to assist them to avoid pathways likely to lead into the youth justice system, and the Northern Territory Government has failed to comply with the statutory requirements that all children in out of home care have timely care plans.

“The Northern Territory and Commonwealth Governments were right to commission this Inquiry and what we have found vindicates their decision,” said Commissioner Margaret White AO and Commissioner Mick Gooda.

“These things happened on our watch, in our country, to our children.

“The time for tinkering around the edges and ignoring the conclusions of the myriad of inquiries that have already been conducted must come to an end.

“Only fundamental change and decisive action will break the seemingly inevitable cycle we have found of many children in care continuing to progress into the youth justice system and detention.

“Perpetuating a failed system that hardens young people, does not reduce reoffending and fails to rehabilitate young lives and set them on a new course, is a step backwards.

“The failures we have identified have cost children and families greatly, they have not made communities safer and they are shocking.”

In detention, the Commission has found that:

  •  youth detention centres were not fit for accommodating, let alone rehabilitating, children and young people
  •  children were subject to verbal abuse, physical control and humiliation, including being denied access to basic human needs such as water, food and the use of toilets
  •  children were dared or bribed to carry out degrading and humiliating acts, or to commit acts of violence on each other
  •  youth justice officers restrained children using force to their head and neck areas, ground stabilised children by throwing them forcefully onto the ground, and applied pressure or body weight to their ‘window of safety’, being their torso area, and
  •  isolation has continued to be used inappropriately, punitively and inconsistently with the Youth Justice Act (NT) which has caused suffering to many children and young people and, very likely in some cases, lasting psychological damage.

In child protection, the Commission has found that:

  •  the Northern Territory Government has failed to comply with the statutory requirements that all children in out of home care have timely care plans
  •  there is a major shortage of available foster and kinship care placements
  •  Territory Families and its predecessors failed to provide the support needed to some children in care to assist them to avoid pathways likely to lead into the youth justice system, and
  •  the Office of the Children’s Commissioner is under-resourced to perform its full range of statutory functions in relation to the care and protection of vulnerable children in the Northern Territory.

To address the failed child protection, youth justice and detention systems, the Royal Commission and Board of Inquiry have recommended wide ranging reforms including:

1. Closing the current Don Dale Youth Detention Centre and High Security Unit.

2. Raising the age of criminal responsibility to 12 and only allowing children under 14 years to be detained for serious crimes.

3. Developing a 10 year Generational Strategy for Families and Children to address child protection and prevention of harm to children.

4. Establishing a network of Family Support Centres to provide place-based services to families across the Northern Territory.

5. A paradigm shift in youth justice to increase diversion and therapeutic approaches.

6. Developing a new model of bail and secure detention accommodation.

7. Increasing engagement with and involvement of Aboriginal Organisations in child protection, youth justice and detention

“Our recommendations are based on best practice and the proven experience of other jurisdictions that have experienced the same problems. They have taken bold steps and delivered paradigm change that has improved outcomes for children, families and communities.

“We recognise some of what we are proposing marks a profound shift from past practice in the NT. But it is necessary as what has been relied upon to date has and continues to simply fail the entire community.

“Increasing the age of criminal responsibility to 12, making greater use of diversion, ending detention for children under 14 unless there are exceptional circumstances and changing the model of secure detention are the bold but essential actions that must be taken if communities are to be safer and children protected.

“If no action is taken the financial cost to the Northern Territory will remain unsustainable in the short term, with detention costs rising from $37.3 million in 2016-17 to $113.4 million in 2026-27, according to Deloitte Access Economics.

“Conversely, changing the current approach to youth justice and detention as we recommend is estimated conservatively to deliver savings of $335.5 million by 2027.

“Human costs dwarf financial considerations and if no action is taken these will continue to escalate beyond the already unacceptable levels that are seen in the Northern Territory.

“The tragic conclusion we have drawn is that not only have the systems failed to address challenges faced by children and young people, that have in some cases made the problems worse.

“We now hope that both governments commit to a new course for child protection and detention based on our recommendations and the evidence that supports them,” said Commissioner White and Commissioner Gooda.

1. Key Detention recommendations in summary

The Northern Territory Government close the current Don Dale Youth Detention Centre and within three months report on the program for that closure.

  • Immediately close the High Security Unit at the current Don Dale Youth Detention Centre.
  • Prohibit the use of tear gas, and continue to prohibit the use of spithoods and the restraint chair.
  • Prohibit force or restraint being used for the purposes of maintaining the ‘good order’ of a youth detention centre or to ‘discipline’ a detainee.
  • Prohibit isolation for the purposes of behaviour management or punishment, and that isolation be permitted only in certain circumstances, such as to protect the safety of another person or restore order but only after all reasonable behavioural or therapeutic options have been attempted.
  • Prohibit extendable periods in isolation beyond 24 hours.
  • Investigate alternatives to strip searches, such as body scanners, pat down searches or metal detectors.
  • Retain CCTV footage for at least 12 months.
  • Introduce video and sound recording, in the form of body-worn video cameras, in youth detention centres.
  • No child under the age of 14 years be ordered to serve detention unless they have been convicted of a serious and violent crime against a person, present a serious risk to the community, and the sentence is approved by the President of the proposed Children’s Court.
  • The powers of the Commission for Children and Young People to be expanded to allow free and unfettered access to detention facilities, children and young people in detention, people who work with them and documents and records in the possession of the department.
  • Ensure that an initial health risk assessment of any young person in detention take place within 24 hours of admission.
  • Implement monthly medical checks for those in secure detention and provide specialist drug and alcohol treatment to detainees after release if needed.
  • The Commonwealth enable the payment of Medicare benefits for medical services provided to children and young people in detention in the Northern Territory, and ensure that supply of pharmaceuticals to children and young people in detention in the Northern Territory is provided under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
  • Design, develop and construct a new model of secure accommodation.
  • Ensure that the selection criteria for a youth justice officer include demonstrated experience working with vulnerable young people, that youth justice officers be required to obtain a Certificate IV in Youth Justice in the first 12 months of their employment, and they be required to participate in induction training before commencing work in youth detention centres.
  • Develop an integrated, evidence-based throughcare service to deliver adequate planning for release of young people from detention.
  • Appoint a female youth justice officer in each youth detention centre as a ‘Girl’s Officer’, who is responsible for monitoring female detainees’ access to education, training, recreation, health and facilities.
  • Ensure that staff members working in education in youth detention are appropriately qualified to conduct special education.
  • Tutors proficient in major Aboriginal languages deliver at least once a week a literacy program in Aboriginal language.
  • Transfers over long distances to or between detention centres should be conducted by air transport. If transfers occur by road, sufficient breaks (including toilet breaks) should be given and drinking water must always be available to the detainee.
  • Only transfer detainees to an adult facility with the approval of a Judge.

2: Key Child Protection recommendations in summary

The Northern Territory Government:

o commit to a public health approach to child protection and the prevention of harm to children

o establish consultation procedures with the sector, organisations and communities

o carry out prevalence, needs, service mapping and service referral studies (the studies) to gather information about the needs of children, families and subpopulations, and what services are currently available to meet those needs

o create and maintain a Services Register containing information about the services available in communities

o establish an early support research unit, which would implement a research agenda relating to risk factors, service needs and evaluated outcomes, and

o develop and implement an outcomes and evaluation framework.

Develop a 10-year Generational Strategy for Children and Families.

Establish a network of no fewer than 20 Family Support Centres, their location to be based on information gathered in the studies and specified in the Generational Strategy for Children and Families, to:

o provide services to and support families and children

o help families understand the child protection system

o act as Recognised Entities, and

o act as an entry point in a dual pathway model.

Amend legislation to enable organisations that are qualified and meet relevant criteria to participate and advise in child protection matters and be heard relation to a proceeding about a child.

Only use residential care as a therapeutic placement option for children with complex behavioural needs or disabilities, in accordance with therapeutic care criteria.

Phase out the current model of purchased home-based care over a 24 month period.

Develop a strategy to address the current backlog of overdue investigations.

Develop and implement a campaign in conjunction with Foster Carers Association NT, current carers and other relevant organisations to recognise the contribution of existing foster and kinship carers, draw attention to the current shortage of carers and encourage people in the Northern Territory, particularly in remote areas, to apply to become carers

Review the financial support provided to carers in the Northern Territory.

Work with Aboriginal organisations to implement a joint program dedicated to increasing the number of Aboriginal foster and kinship carers, using community awareness and individualised community engagement.

Ensure that quality respite care is available to foster and kinship carers.

Improve access for children and young people in out of home care to effective rehabilitation and counselling services including the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.

Ensure that all young people between aged 15 and 18 have leaving care plans in compliance with the relevant legislation.

Develop a new accommodation service model which meets the specific needs of young people leaving out of home care to live independently. The service should be responsible for finding and securing acceptable accommodation for all young people who have left care and be available to those young people until they are 25 years old.

Undertake further research in the Northern Territory to understand the characteristics and needs of children and young people who have been in both out of home care and detention.

Ensure that child protection caseworkers

o have regular face-to-face contact with any child in detention who is also under care and protection orders

o monitor the wellbeing of children in detention and ensure that their needs are being met, and

o be involved in transition planning for a child in detention from the time of their entry into detention, in consultation with detention staff, key stakeholders and the child.

Establish a Crossover Unit employing specialised case managers employing with training in supporting children in child protection and youth detention contexts, who are to provide flexible and dynamic support personalised to children in the crossover group who experience both out of home care and detention.

Establish a Commission for Children and Young People, with jurisdiction for all children and young people in the Northern Territory.

3. Key youth justice recommendations in summary

Raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 years.

Within the police, establish a specialist, highly trained Youth Division similar to New Zealand Police Youth Aid.

Expand the role of Aboriginal Community Police Officer to include the position of Youth Diversion Officer.

Ensure all police officers involved in youth diversion or youth engagement be encouraged to hold or gain specialist qualifications in youth justice and receive ongoing professional development in youth justice.

Amend the law so that a child or young person must not be interviewed by police until they have sought and obtained legal advice and assistance, or after exercising their right to silence.

Amend legislation to remove the restriction on police consideration of diversion.

Ensure that all police cells are made suitable for detaining children.

Ensure that appropriate facilities are available in Alice Springs for girls or young women who need to be held on remand.

Introduce a custody notification scheme requiring police to notify a lawyer from an appropriate legal service as soon as a child or young person is brought into custody.

Amend the bail legislation so that a child or young person is not denied bail unless:

(a) charged with a serious offence and a sentence of detention is probable if convicted

(b) they present a serious risk to public safety

(c) there is a serious risk of the youth committing a serious offence while on bail, or

(d) they have previously failed to appear without a reasonable excuse.

Provide bail support services for children and young people in Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Nhulunbuy, together with other such locations as are appropriate, which include the following features:

o accommodation services in small homelike residences, and

o bail support plans developed with a specialist youth worker, covering education, employment, recreation and sporting goals.

Establish a separate court venue in Alice Springs for proceedings under the Youth Justice Act (NT) and Care and Protection of Children Act (NT) as a matter of urgency.

Establish a Children’s Court, which is independent of the Local Court, to hear and determine matters currently within the jurisdiction of the Youth Justice Court and the Family Matters Division of the Local Court.

The new Children’s court will have a President appointed by the Executive Council and who has extra judicial powers and functions modelled on those conferred on the President of the Children’s Court in NSW.

Ensure that all legal practitioners appearing in a youth court be accredited as specialist youth justice lawyers after training in youth justice which includes child and adolescent development, trauma, adolescent mental health, cognitive and communication deficits and Aboriginal cultural competence.