• Indigenous Australia – A New Way of Working
• Innovative medical student admission program
• Latest COVID-19 guidance for First Nations people
• Hearing impairment under-reporting a substantial issue
• Reimagining healthcare in Australia
• Chronic Disease Management workshops
• Job Alerts

Indigenous Australia – A New Way of Working

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt has delivered a speech entitled ‘Indigenous Australia. A New Way of Working’ explaining why the approach to Indigenous affairs to date has struggled to make even modest gains. He has called for a new way of working with Indigenous Australians.

The transcript of the speech can be viewed here.

Innovative medical student admission program

The University of Newcastle’s Thurru Indigenous Health Unit is recruiting for its next intake of aspiring doctors. Its unique Miroma Bunbilla Program provides an alternative pathway for Indigenous medical students. Miroma Bunbilla is a week-long intensive selection process that gives aspiring doctors the chance to prove their passions, aptitude and suitability to commence a medical degree.

To view the University of Newcastle’s media release about its Miroma Bunbilla Program click here.

Latest COVID-19 guidance for First Nations People

The National Justice Project, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services and University of Technology Sydney Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research have worked together to clarify and communicate restrictions relating to COVID-19 activities for the First Nations people living in remote communities across Australia.

They have developed a series of information guides and fact sheets that summarise the various state and territory public health directions issued as a result of the pandemic and address the stricter measures being imposed on Indigenous Australians living in remote communities. By disseminating the information, the contributors hope to ensure those living in these communities are aware of their rights under the lockdown measures as they currently stand.

The information guides and fact sheets provide the latest COVID-19 guidance for each state and territory and can be accessed and downloaded here. You are invited to share these resources widely.

Hearing impairment under-reporting a substantial issue

Under-reporting of hearing impairment is a substantial issue for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, according to new analysis by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Western Sydney University. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged seven years and over across Australia participated in the voluntary hearing test as part of the 2018–19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey. The independent hearing test found more than four in 10 (43 per cent) people had a hearing impairment in at least one ear on the day of testing.

To see the media release click here.

Reimagining healthcare in Australia

There has been a rapid acceleration of Australia’s virtual care capacity as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic. There are however, a myriad of questions relating to the role of virtual health in Australia and how we ensure that the capability meets the ultimate aspiration for this model in the future.

Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Curtin University, Deloitte and Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre have joined forces to produce a free webinar ‘Reimagining healthcare in Australia: The role of digital in future health delivery’. You can access the webinar here and also download the webinar’s discussion paper.

Chronic Disease Management workshops

CDMPLUS has a range of online virtual workshops relating to chronic disease management (CHM) and face-to-face CHM workshops. To access further details about the 2020 virtual workshops and 2021 face-to-face workshops click here.

Please also note you may be eligible for Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) funding for online CDM training in your practice. The HWSP provides scholarships and bursaries to help health professionals in rural and remote Australia retain and enhance their skills, capacity and scope of practice. It is available to medical, nursing, midwifery, allied health, dental and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals providing primary health care in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services sector, non-government organisations and private practice. CDMPLUS can assist individuals and organisations to complete HWSP applications. To view more information about the HWSP click here.

VIC – Shepparton – Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative

PT Project Support – Rainbow Tick

Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative have a vacancy based at their Shepparton Office for a Project Support – Rainbow Tick. Rainbow Tick is a national accreditation program that supports organisations to understand and implement LGBTIQ+ inclusive service delivery against six standards and reassures LGBTIQ+ consumers and staff that Rainbow Tick organisations will be aware of, and responsive to their needs.

To view details about the position click here. Applications close at 4:00 pm on Wednesday 30 September 2020.

NSW – Taree, Inverell – Biripi Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre

Multiple  positions – Aged Care Manager, Program Manager, Psychologist, Regional Manager (Inverell)

Biripi Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre (ACMC) provides a wide range of culturally-appropriate health and well-being services covering communities across the mid-northern NSW region. Biripi ACMC have four vacant roles to fill. Click on the position title below to view the job description for each vacancy:

Aged Care Manager – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identified

Programs Manager – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identified

Psychologist

Regional Manager – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identified

Applications for all of the above positions close at 5:00 pm Sunday 27 September 2020.