WA Suicide Prevention Taskforce long overdue
The WA government has set up a new taskforce to review the treatment of at-risk prisoners after the fourth death in jail in three months, three of them Aboriginal people. The taskforce will assess whether prisons are following the state’s suicide prevention strategy. The director of the National Suicide Prevention Trauma Recovery Project Megan Krakouer, said the taskforce is long overdue, “my people keep dying”. “The 1991 royal commission [into Aboriginal deaths in custody] made recommendations about the removal of ligature points, but suicide prevention is not just about ligature points. It needs to be a holistic approach of investing in intensive psycho-social supports and of 24/7 outreach to families. If the WA government is serious, they need to implement these wraparound services and make social investments in our communities. Prisons should be about rehabilitation, not a death sentence.”
To view the full article in The Guardian click here.
Essendon Football Club health initiative for Tiwi communities
The Essendon Football Club has instigated a community health initiative that will see Deadly Choices, the preventative arm of Australia’s Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) implement a range of programs to bring about positive change across the NT communities of the Tiwi Islands. Tapping into the well-established relationship the Victorian AFL Club has with its namesake, the Tiwi Bombers, is a perfect vehicle to bring about desired change by motivating and empowering community members towards taking control of their own health. IUIH will directly subcontract Essendon Football Club to employ a Deadly Choices Program Officer who will be based full-time on the Tiwi Islands.
To view the media release click here.
Image source: NT News.
AMSA concerned about proposed HELP funding cuts
The Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) has called on the Federal Government to reconsider proposed cuts to HELP funding for university students, warning they could significantly affect student mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. AMSA pointed out that government funding and subsidies are particularly vital for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students and those from rural and regional backgrounds, and low socioeconomic backgrounds to pursue medical education. These vulnerable student groups, the AMSA said, already carry a heavier mental health burden than average Australians.
To view the AMSA’s media release click here.
Image sources: AMA, ABC News – Dr Vinka Barunga.
National cancer screening health worker engagement project
The University of Melbourne is undertaking a project to understand how the primary healthcare workforce engages with the national cancer screening program (bowel, breast and cervical). Findings from the study will lead to the development of materials and initiatives to assist in boosting cancer screening participation.
During the first phase of the project the researchers are interested in interviewing nurses, GPs and Practice Managers to understand more about their role, their go-to-resources when they need more information about the screening programs and resources they would like to have access to.
Everyone that will be interviewed will be reimbursed with a $50 Gift Card. We intend to carry out interviews during the month of September. The interviews will be recorded with your permission.
For information about how to become involved in the project please contact Ebony Verbunt, Research Assistant, University of Melbourne over ebony.verbunt@unimelb.edu.auemail or phone 0429 928 039.
Image source: Cancer Council Victoria website.
Working from home – anywhere in Australia
On-call Psychologist
CRANAplus is the peak professional body for health professionals working in remote and isolated areas across Australia with the purpose of ensuring the delivery of safe, high quality primary healthcare to remote and isolated communities. The Bush Support Line is a flagship service provided by CRANAplus and offers phone counselling (psychological services) 24 hours a day/7 days per week, by a team of experienced psychologists.
CRANAplus is seeking experienced registered and clinical psychologists to join CRANAplus’ Bush Support Services Team to offer after hours care through an on-call roster.
You can view the CRANAplus website here and find details of the psychologist position here.
Perth – WA
FT or PT Social Worker x 1
Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service Aboriginal Health Service Corporation (DYHS) is the largest Aboriginal community-controlled health service in Perth, employing over 130 staff to deliver culturally safe holistic and integrated primary health care services to over 15,000 Aboriginal people across four clinics in the Perth metropolitan region. DYHS is seeking to employ a Social Worker to a new position responsible for providing a culturally responsive Social Work assessment and intervention service to clients to build self-efficacy, sufficiency and resilience.
To view the job description click here – applications close Monday 31 August 2020.