“What I have seen in Alice Springs are examples of good news stories – committed people, adequately resourced, who are engaged with the Indigenous community, doing good things”
Professor Sir Michael Marmot visited Alice Springs last week to speak at a seminar ( View 90 minute broadcast Part 1 below ) and witness Congress Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service’s work in reducing the impact of disadvantage and the effects this has on health outcomes for Aboriginal people.
Picture above Sir Michael at the CAAC health clinic Areyonga, NT
Sir Marmot, Director of the University College London’s Institute of Health Equity and a leading researcher on health inequality issues, is a powerful international advocate for the social determinants of health.
Principal Investigator of the Whitehall Studies of British civil servants, Sir Marmot has investigated the reasons for the striking inverse social gradient in morbidity and mortality.
1.Flinders University Lecture
Kath Martin welcome to Arrernte Country
Why treat people and send them back to what made them sick !
Watch Sir Michaels 90 minute presentation here
Noting that it will start at the 15 Minute mark
“Welcome to my fantasy land & let’s imagine a fairer world”, closing words from @MichaelMarmot #SDoH #CDoH #healthequity … such wonderful, inspiring, lecture
Read background to Fantasy Land
2.Alcohol & overcrowding – Sir Michael Marmot talks on the NT health challenge
Overcrowded houses and alcohol ravaging families are just some of the many challenges which face the health system in the Northern Territory.
But how well is the Territory tackling these issues?
Paul Serratore speaks with Sir Michael Marmot, a professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London, to find out.
3. Sir Marmot visited Congress specifically to learn how Aboriginal Community Controlled health services improve the lives of Aboriginal people.
“Importantly, through our use of data we have been able to clearly demonstrate to Sir Marmot how effective Congress is as a leading Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service” Congress CEO, Donna Ah Chee, said.
“The way we collect and use data is building an evidence base about what works, and he commented on the importance of this approach. He was also clear that one of the key ways that health services implement a social determinants approach is by providing Aboriginal employment and in this regard, he was very impressed with the current 50% Aboriginal employment rate and strategic target of 60%.
He was impressed that there are so many good things happening in Aboriginal health as compared with the doom and gloom he had previously heard about.”
“This has been a fantastic opportunity to show case the great work of Congress to an internationally renowned advocate for social determinants of health” Ms Ah Chee said.
“We are very pleased that Sir Marmot will be taking what he has learnt here to the rest of the world.”
Local Aboriginal health worker, Sarah and @baumfran, in local health clinic Areyonga, NT
Downtown Areyonga/Utju – an Aborigine population of about 150, with a well-resourced health centre