Monthly Archives:

31 May 2023

feature tile image: hand holding vape; text 'BIG TOBACCO SLAMMED "It's our duty to ensure young people know vaping is harmful, and those selling vapes to minors need to be stopped"

The image in the feature tile appeared in the article Maari Ma Slams Big Tobacco on World No Tobacco Day written by Stuart Kavanagh and published in the Barrier Truth yesterday Wednesday 30 May 2023.

The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.

We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.

Health leaders slam Big Tobacco

World No Tobacco Day is a time to inform the public on the dangers of using tobacco and highlight what the World Health Organisation (WHO) is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic. NSW ACCHO Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation is rallying against Big Tobacco’s insidious influence, calling for communities to join in the battle.

Maari Ma’s CEO, Richard Weston says there is an urgent need to support those trying to quit smoking and the young from health damages caused by vaping: “Health authorities are now reporting that 99% of vapes in Australia contain nicotine, and they are being marketed towards our young people – the next generation of smokers for Big Tobacco.”

Mr Weston said Big Tobacco is targeting the next generation of smokers with sweet-smelling, coloured and flavoured vapes laden with highly addictive nicotine. Despite the federal government’s recent introduction of regulations to prohibit selling vapes to anyone under the age of 18, schools have reported an alarming rise in vaping among students. Mr Weston said the entire community has a role to play in addressing this health crisis, “We are ready to support our community to kick the addiction and prevent our children from becoming the next generation of smokers through vaping.”

You can find out more about World Tobacco Day on the WHO website here and read the Barrier Truth article Maari Ma Slams Big Tobacco on World No Tobacco Day in full here.

Racism continues to plague lives of mob

Dr Hannah McGlade, Kurin Minang human rights expert and member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, says “Australia is a racist country. It has a racist history which continues to impact on the lives of Aboriginal people. Evidence of racism in Australia against Aboriginal people is extensive.” Nearly three decades on from her 1997 analysis of the Race Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) review, Dr McGlade said “with racism and racist views being displayed overtly to Aboriginal people, including from politicians, we must ask – how far have we really come in addressing racism, a serious violation of human rights?”

The issue of racism against Aboriginal people took national stage recently over the treatment of ABC journalist Stan Grant who stood down in the face of shocking racial abuse directed towards him and his family. This abuse had intensified during Grant’s reporting of the King’s Coronation where perspectives of Indigenous peoples on the Crown were aired. Initially no one from ABC’s management spoke publicly in his defense, although they had in the past done just that when it concerned a prominent white journalist who’d experienced harassment. Stan Grant told us to keep our sympathy for those in our community that don’t have his privilege, and who are feeling alone and abandoned.

Dr McGlade said that she has recently for the first time in her life been on the receiving end of racist emails, in response her speaking out about the children at Banksia Hill Detention Centre; Aboriginal children who’d had guns pointed at their heads by police after they rioted in response to successive lockdowns, which have been declared unlawful by the Supreme Court. Dr McGlade said she knew she could simply delete the racist messages and continue her human rights advocacy in relative safety. She acknowledged, however, that this was not so for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

To view the National Indigenous Times article Racism continues to plague the lives of Aboriginal people in full click here.

ABC staff outside of ABC Sydney HQs holding 'I stand with Stan' signs

ABC staff gathered outside the organisation’s Sydney headquarters in support of Stan Grant. Photo: Keana Naughton, ABC News.

Ear health vital to improve education outcomes

Up to nine in 10 Aboriginal children in remote areas experience middle ear disease, according to Ear Science Institute Australia, which left untreated can cause hearing loss and have a profound effect on language development, education and employment. Ear Science Institute Australia recently formed a partnership with Mineral Resources (MinRes) to increase resourcing to the Lions Healthy Hearing Outback program for the Nyiyaparli and Martu people in the East Pilbara region in WA. Under the partnership Ear Science Institute Australia is able to deliver an integrated service model combining telehealth with an Ear Health Coordinator providing on-the-ground logistical support to patients that need treatment.

Audiologist Lucy Mitchell took on the role of Ear Health Coordinator in March and will travel to Newman, Jigalong, Punmu, Parnngurr and Kunawarritji to tackle what she described as “a massive social justice issue”. “Aboriginal children will experience ear disease earlier, sometimes from two weeks old, they’ll experience it more severely and more frequently than non-Aboriginal children. This will have long lasting impacts throughout someone’s life because if you can’t hear, you can’t learn,” she said. “Even with mild hearing loss it can be very difficult to hear the teacher in a classroom or to communicate with family at home. Overcrowding in housing, hygiene and nutrition are all factors that can contribute to poor ear health.”

The program is run by Ear Science, Rural Health West and the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS), with MinRes’ $600,000 commitment over three years bolstering service delivery. Nurses and Aboriginal health workers in the communities will be trained to use a video otoscope that captures photographs and video inside a patient’s ear, with the examinations facilitated by an ENT specialist 1,600km away in Perth.

To view the National Indigenous Times article Tackling the ear health gap vital to improving education outcomes for Indigenous children in full click here.

Dr Anton Hinton-Bayre, ENT Consultant Aboriginal girl's ear

Dr Anton Hinton-Bayre, ENT Consultant, at work. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

Uni receives $3.5m Birthing on Country grant

Imagine being 38 weeks pregnant and having to leave your family and community behind to travel hundreds of kms to get the care you and your baby will need for the birth. Though far from ideal, this is the reality many Aboriginal women in remote communities face when it’s time to have their babies – and it’s something Southern Cross University (SCU) and its partner organisations are committed to changing.

SCU has secured a $3.558m grant from the Department of Health and Aged Care to collaboratively scope and design an innovative program for Birthing on Country with three ACCHOs. The Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme – Workforce and Maternity Services Grant will include help for Aboriginal mums-to-be to quit smoking. The project will be led by Professor Gillian Gould and Australia’s first Aboriginal Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialist, Dr Marilyn Clarke, both from the University’s Faculty of Health.

“I’m very excited to be part of this successful research grant, which will allow the Birthing on Country movement in Australia to be further explored and integrated with culturally competent smoking cessation care.” said Dr Clarke. Professor Gould leads iSISTAQUIT, a program for pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who are wanting to quit smoking. “We know that Birthing on Country has a very powerful impact on Aboriginal women, and that quitting smoking is one of the most important things they can do for their own health and the health of their babies,” said Professor Gould. “Coupling the already successful iSISTAQUIT program with a long-term plan to facilitate safe Birthing on Country will create a holistic pre-natal health plan for Aboriginal women living remotely.”

To view the Southern Cross University News article Southern Cross receives $3.5m Birthing on Country grant to improve Indigenous midwifery services and quit smoking program in full click here.

Professor Gillian Gould & Dr Marilyn Clarke holding iSISTAQUIT purple carboard frame text ' change starts with a chat - I'm helping mob to be smoke-free'

Project leads Professor Gillian Gould and Dr Marilyn Clarke. Image source: Southern University News webpage.

Study finds smoking target ‘cannot be achieved’

A plan to cut adult smoking rates in Australia to 5% by 2030 is likely to fall short by several years, the authors of new research have warned. The target, which also forms part of the recently published National Tobacco Strategy 2023–30, will not be met according to modelling carried out by the Daffodil Centre, a joint venture between Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney. Their research, available here, was published this month in the Tobacco Control journal.

The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) indicate around one in 10 adults (10.1%) smoked in 2021–22. However, while smoking has fallen significantly in recent decades – with more than one in four adults (26%) recorded as smokers as recently as 1998 – plans to halve the current rate by the end of the decade are not on track, the article suggests.

“[The] 5% adult daily smoking prevalence target cannot be achieved by the year 2030 based on current trends,’ the authors wrote. “Urgent investment in concerted strategies that prevent smoking initiation and facilitate cessation is necessary to achieve 5% prevalence by 2030.” Professor Nick Zwar, Chair of the RACGP’s smoking cessation guidelines’ Expert Advisory Group, agrees that without further action the target is likely to be missed. However, he remains hopeful of an improved outlook. “The recently released National Tobacco Strategy 2023–2030 sets out actions, proposed by the Government at the Commonwealth level, which could change that situation,’ he said.

To view the RACGP newsGP article Smoking target ‘cannot be achieved’ on current trends: Study in full click here.

Aboriginal woman's hand holding a cigarette

Aboriginal smoking rates can be over 70% in some remote communities. In the early days after invasion Aboriginal people were paid with tobacco. Source: Creative Spirits webpage.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

Key Date – Reconciliation Week – 27 May–3 June

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) runs from 27 May to 3 June each year, with the dates representing significant milestones in the fight for justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Advocates say this year’s event is especially significant due to the upcoming Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum. NRW organisers say the 2023 mission is to encourage “all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise”. Each year, NRW features community events around the country that promote greater awareness and respect for First Nations culture and history and aims to strengthen the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.

In the regional city of Armidale in NW NSW, the anniversary of the Bridge Walk (28 May 2000) is marked with a community event at a local bridge, drawing 200 people from around the region for a day of music, speeches and food. Co-organiser Diana Eades said attendance has grown over the past 13 years.

“It’s the biggest event in this region for reconciliation. And really what we’ve been saying, especially this year now more than ever, is it is the time for non-Aboriginal people to stand with Aboriginal people very publicly and say that we stand for justice, equality, respect. And we stand against racism and scaremongering,” she said.
To read the SBS News article National Reconciliation Week is here. What does it represent and why is it significant? in full click here.
CEO of Reconciliation Australia Karen Mundine (right) addresses Stolen Generations survivors and advocates on the first day of Reconciliation Week 2023

CEO of Reconciliation Australia Karen Mundine (right) addresses Stolen Generations survivors and advocates on the first day of Reconciliation Week. Source: Image source: Twitter / Reconciliation Australia – SBS News website.

30 May 2023

The image in the feature tile is of Wiradjuri man Stan Grant as he announced he was taking some time out from his high-profile media role. Photo: Getty Images. Image source: article True Reconciliation or just history repeating? published on the University of Melbourne Pursuit webpage on 27 May 2023.

The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.

We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.

Protecting mental health in referendum lead up

Campaign messaging in the 2017 marriage equality plebiscite saw LGBTQIA+ communities experience frequest sex and gender discrimination. It’s beginning to feel like history is repeating itself, with hatred and racism toward Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people being shared publicly amongst Australian citizens amidst the referendum.

Discourse, particularly on social media, surrounding the Voice highlights the prevalence of racism in Australia. Proud Wiradjuri man, Stan Grant, who recently stepped down from his high-profile media role to prioritise his health, urged others to: “Please send that support and care to those of my people, and all people, who feel abandoned and alone, who are wondering whether they have a place in this country and do not have my privileges.”

There’s concern for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are faced with the current racist abuse dominating conversations across the country, who do not have a support network. The Government has provided extra funding to support mental health during this time, but the mental health system is still in crisis mode following COVID-19. The educational campaign promoting empathy understanding and social inclusivity needs to be intensified and promoted.

To view the Pursuit article True reconciliation or just history repeating? in full click here. You can also read a related article We need to learn from our mistakes in the Marriage Equality Voice and Support First Nations Peoples during the Voice debates published in Lifehacker Australia here.

The same-sex marriage Yes vote provided the LGBTQIA+ community with a feeling of being accepted and supported, protecting against poor mental health. Photo: Wikimedia. Image source: The University of Melbourne Pursuit webpage.

NACCHO Sexual Health Update webinar

Please join the NACCHO Communicable Diseases Team for an update on sexual health during the NACCHO Sexual Health Update webinar.

This webinar will include:

  • Review of the Kirby Surveillance Report
  • Changes to ASHM testing guidelines
  • Training/workshop needs in ACCHOs
  • Discussion and question time

WHEN: Wednesday 31 May 2023, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (AEST)

We look forward to having you attend the event!

To join the on-line webinar click here.

tile re NACCHO Communicable Diseases Team update on sexual health webinar

Aboriginal peacemakers discuss conflict resolution

Fifty “peacemakers” from remote communities across the NT have met in Katherine to discuss ways to resolve disputes without using violence. The program, run by the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), brought community leaders together last week from Yuendumu, Galiwin’ku, Wurrumiyanga, Lajamanu, Groote Eylandt and Yirrkala. Peacemaker Danny Garrawurra, from the remote community of Galiwin’ku, said he worked with service providers to resolve disputes while maintaining his Yolngu cultural obligations. “We are facing those problems within family to family, and it really is a struggle for us,” he said.

Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) showed the rates of hospitalisations of Indigenous Territorians due to assault were the highest in Australia, particularly in disadvantaged remote areas. Last week, a young man from Wadeye was sentenced to prison for his involvement in a violent riot that left a man dead.

NAAJA’s principal legal officer Nick Espie said local mediators required more support and resourcing to prevent family and domestic disputes from escalating. “There are a lot of people here that have worked very hard in this role that often takes a personal toll,” he said. “They’ve done this unnoticed, and often without funding and without being paid.”

To view the ABC News article Aboriginal peacemakers meet to discuss conflict resolution in remote NT communities in full click here.

Aboriginal peacemaker Danny Garrawurra from Galiwin'ku green shirt standing against tree

Peacemaker Danny Garrawurra from remote community of Galiwin’ku. Photo: Samantha Dick. Image source: ABC News.

ACCHO hosts family violence forum

Domestic and family violence is disturbingly common in the Orana region, with 2,860 incidents recorded by NSW Police between 2021 and 2022. The real number though is much higher as many victims will never report their experiences, and this is something that needs to change. To help foster this, the Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Services (WACHS) hosted a domestic violence forum called ‘Let’s Make Change’ last week on Thursday, 25 May 2023.

One of the guest speakers at the event was notorious bank robber turned Indigenous leader and lifestyle coach Jeff Morgan, who after experiencing homelessness and spending more than 18 years in maximum security prison turned his life around by embracing important lessons from his crimes and accepting accountability and changing his mindset. Experiencing abuse as a young man and growing up in Redfern, Sydney, Mr Morgan has seen the impact of domestic violence both personally and within communities.

He now travels the country delivering well-being and mindset programs, believing that if things are going to change with domestic violence there is a genuine need for role modelling and facilitating honest conversations. Mr Morgan said he wanted the Wellington domestic violence forum to be a place where residents could sit with a “taboo” topic and have “courageous” conversations so they could learn new skills, ideas, tips, or tools to change their outlook on domestic violence.

“You plant the seeds, and you nurture it and all of a sudden you’re creating more leaders and you’re building on resilience throughout the community,” he said. Mr Morgan said forums like this were important not only for the adults but to educate the next generation. “Everything is around your habits, and I know after 18 years in jail as a bank robber, my habits were about survival initially and that evolved into a life of crime,” he said. “Then that one courageous conversation helped me tap into a different version of myself and one I couldn’t see before. Mr Morgan urges people to go to events and forums like this one to listen and learn as much as you can.

The above has been taken from an article Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Services hosts domestic violence forum published in the Daily Liberal yesterday, 29 May 2023.

Lewis Bird, Leteisha Peckham, Ursula Honeysett, Jay Forrester, and Jeffrey Morgan standing in front of sign 'Domestic Violence Forum - End the Silence' Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service logo

Lewis Bird, Leteisha Peckham, Ursula Honeysett, Jay Forrester, and Jeffrey Morgan. Photo: Belinda Soole. Image source: Daily Liberal.

New culturally appropriate PCOS resource

A prominent women’s health organisation says there is an “unmet need” for culturally appropriate information around Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in remote Central Australian communities. PCOS is a condition caused by a hormone imbalance which results in painful or irregular periods, excessive facial or body hair, weight gain, challenges with fertility and in many cases insulin resistance.

Jean Hailes CEO Sarah White said while PCOS generally impacted one in 10 women, among Indigenous women that rate was as high as one in six. She said this was compounded by research showing Indigenous women were more likely to forego general health appointments or not engage with their GP around the issue. “There’s been a lot of research which says Aboriginal women feel like they face more barriers in terms of seeing a doctor or being heard by a health professional,” she said.

Working alongside Alukura Women’s Health Service on behalf of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, a team from Jean Hailes has been engaging with Arrernte communities around Alice Springs to produce culturally sensitive resources around PCOS. She said they found information around PCOS and periods in general were missing in ways communities could relate to or understand, or were culturally appropriate.

“For Aboriginal women it was very much understanding the language they used to describe symptoms, the resources are also badged very clearly as being women only because these are issues that are only acceptable to discuss in front of other women and not with men,” she said. Released in late 2022, the resources are now in their third print run in less than six months.

She said the organisation was receiving orders from “all over Australia” including Queensland and Victoria, with the resource opening up conversations nationally. “I think uptake from around Australia demonstrates there is very much an unmet need in terms of having resources that are culturally appropriate,” she said. “A lot of women think that periods should just be painful, we rarely talk about women’s health issues, one of things we can do with these resources now is bring these issues into the open.”

To above was extracted from an article New resource tackles ‘unmet need’ for culturally appropriate information on PCOS published in The Chronical on Saturday 27 May 2023.

cartoon drawing of ATSI woman with acne looking in the mirror

An illustration featured in the resources, which Ms White says is helping more women discuss PCOS and women’s health in general. Picture: Illustration by Coolamon Creative 2022. Image source: The Chronicle.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

Key Date – Reconciliation Week – 27 May–3 June 2023

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2023, Be a Voice for Generations, encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise, and urges all Australians to use their power, their words and their actions to create a better, more just Australia for all of us.

For the work of generations past, and the benefit of generations future, let’s choose to create a more just, equitable and reconciled country for all. Reconciliation Australia’s research shows large community support for the next steps in Australia’s reconciliation journey, including the Voice to Parliament, treaty making and truth-telling.

You can learn more about the history of NRW here and read more about what Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine has to say about the NRW 2023 theme here.

26 May 2023

Feature tile image of Katrina Fanning; text 'National Sorry Day is about having empathy - providing support to others should not be limited to people you have personally wronged'

The image in the feature tile is of recently named 2023 Canberra Citizen of the Year – Wiradjuri woman Katrina Fanning AO PSM. The image appeared in today’s ABC News article Today is National Sorry Day, but many Indigenous Australians say they’re still being asked: ‘Why should I apologise?‘.

The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.

We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly. The content included in these news stories are not necessarily NACCHO endorsed.

National Sorry Day 2023

Australia marks National Sorry Day on 26 May each year, remembering and acknowledging the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed as children from their families and communities, otherwise known as the Stolen Generations. Children were taken because of official laws and government policies at the time, which aimed to assimilate the Indigenous population into the non-Indigenous community. The children were renamed, forced to stop speaking their native language, and were told their parents no longer wanted them. The policies were in effect right up until the 1970s, and many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are still searching for lost parents and siblings today.

The first National Sorry Day was held 25 years ago, commemorating one year after the Bringing Them Home report was tabled in federal parliament. The report found the forced removal of Indigenous children had caused lifelong impacts on Stolen Generations survivors and their families. Ten years later, in February 2008, then-prime minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; saying sorry to the Stolen Generations.

Former rugby league star and proud Wiradjuri woman Katrina Fanning says National Sorry Day is about having empathy. “Where there’s parts of our history where there’s tragedy, where there’s struggle, I feel emotions for those people,” she said. Ms Fanning said providing support to others should not be limited to people you had personally wronged. “I haven’t caused a drought, I never fought in a war, but I have empathy for the situation that fellow Australians went through and the sacrifices they made to make this country a better place.”

Ms Fanning said she felt a sense of sadness for those who did not acknowledge the Stolen Generations or want to say sorry, as they weren’t able to understand the shared history of Australia. “They don’t understand that this whole community of people exemplify what it is to be Australian, with resilience and toughness and dignity and pride,” she said. “I feel like they’re missing out on the fabric of Australia, not the other way around.” Ms Fanning said her family had been subject to similar comments about not wanting to apologise, but they tended not to react. “They lived at a time where reacting would have them arrested, have them banned from town, have them banned from school,” she said. “I see a simmer in them. I see something that they’ve had to carry, and a burden that they’ve had to shoulder for a very long time.”

To view the ABC News article Today is National Sorry Day, but many Indigenous Australians say they’re still being asked: ‘Why should I apologise?‘ in full click here.

Trauma and poor mental health linked

The link between exposure to trauma and increased risk of poor mental health is well established. Where trauma is unacknowledged, it can result in the re-traumatisation of later generations. The colonisation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the oppressive practices that followed has resulted in a legacy of unaddressed intergenerational trauma. This prolonged and continuing exposure to trauma and risk factors places Indigenous Australians at a heightened risk of mental ill-health.

A paper Intergenerational trauma and mental health recently released by the Australian Government Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) aims to define the link between intergenerational trauma and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ mental health and to identify current best-practice policies and programs to address this issue.

You can view the AIHW paper Intergenerational trauma and mental health in full here.cover of AIHW Intergenerational trauma & mental health paper 2023

Butt Out Boondah tackles youth smoking

Butt Out Boondah, the Tackling Indigenous Smoking team of Grand Pacific Health, is urging young mob in Cooma, Yass, Queanbeyan and Goulburn to take a stand against tobacco use and vaping ahead of World No Tobacco Day, which is being held on Wednesday 31 May 2023. Butt Out Bondah focuses on educating Indigenous communities in the aforementioned areas about the dangers of Tobacco smoking and e-cigarettes to help in bridging the health gap.

The program addresses the pressing concern of vaping among young people in these communities, which is mistakenly seen as a safer alternative to smoking tobacco. Butt Out Boondah’s Strategic Coordinator for Aboriginal Health, Iona Marsh said World No Tobacco Day provides an opportunity to emphasise the detrimental effects of smoking and vaping.

“The concerning reality is that Indigenous young people in regions like Cooma, Goulburn, Yass and Queanbeyan are often unaware of the hazardous substances they are inhaling, and it is our duty to equip them and their parents with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions about their health,” she said. To raise awareness, the program actively engages with local primary and high schools, educating school-aged children about the dangers associates with smoking and vaping.

To view the National Indigenous Times article Butt Out Boondah tackles Indigenous youth smoking and vaping ahead of World No Tobacco Day in full click here.

Butt Out Boondah promotion stand in school grounds under a tree

Butt Out Boondah is encouraging First Nations peoples to take a stand against tobacco use and vaping ahead of World No Tobacco Day Photo: Butt Out Boondah. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

Darwin, Broome, Port Hedland will be uninhabitable

Three major economic centres, Darwin, Broome and Port Hedland, are set to become uninhabitable by the end of the century, with global temperatures on track to warm by 2.7C. The destinations are just three of many in the northwestern section of Australia facing “niche displacement” in the next 70 years. New research by The University of Exeter, published in the science journal Nature Sustainability this week, calculates the human cost of climate inaction based on current insufficient policies and government inaction. Two billion people will be living with unprecedented mean average temperatures (MAT) above 29C, the report states.

MAT >29C is the point at which wellbeing scientifically declines, labour productivity and cognitive ability shrinks, negative pregnancy outcomes are produced, and mortality rates soar. 20% of Australia — about 374,977 Australians — will be impacted in this way by a 2.7C temperature increase, the report calculates. They would join a third of the world’s population, including in South-East Asia, India, Africa and South America. In Darwin, a 3C warmer world would mean that, for 265 days of the year, temperatures would soar higher than 35C. At 40C, humidity increases and temperatures become lethal, according to the Australian Academy of Science.

The University of Exeter report also explains the effects of a “wet-bulb temperature” — where temperature and humidity are combined. In temperatures above 28C (WBT) the body struggles to cool itself by sweating, and fails to do so in temperatures above 35C (WBT), which can be fatal. By limiting global warming to just 1.5C — which is the aim of the Paris Agreement — 80% of those globally at risk of rising temperatures would remain in their climate niche. But a 1.5C increase will still unleash severe and irreversible effects on people, wildlife and ecosystems, scientists warn.

To view the 7 News article Three Australian regions that will become unlivable within a lifetime due to climate change in full click here.

GYHSAC videos amplify public health message

Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services Aboriginal Corporation (GYHSAC) has just released a deadly public health promotion music video produced for GYHSAC by Saltwater People. The video’s message, in Language, encourages kids to keep their bodies and minds strong. The tune and accompanying music video are not only catchy but have an important health literacy message for all young mob out there.

The video was a project involving the GYHSAC Public Health team and several outside groups, including:

  • Singer / Songwriter / Producer Normey Jay
  • Patrick Mau – One Blood Hidden Image Entertainment Group (the first Torres Strait independent record label operating out of the Torres Strait Islands)
  • Yarrabah State School
  • David Mundraby – Local Language Translation

GYHSAC have thanked these groups and the incredible Yarrabah kids for their willingness to work with the GYHSAC Public Health team to help create a positive public health message, and assist GYHSAC to amplify the positive message to community and the wider social media world.

You can view the 3-minute Bina-N Wanggi music video below as well as the 1 minute Bina-N Wanggi Behind the Scenes video, which gives you a look behind the scenes of the filming and production of the music video.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website Current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

Key Date – National Palliative Care Week – 21–27 May 2023

As part of National Palliative Care Week 2023 (21–27 May) NACCHO has been sharing a range of information and resources specifically developed for for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and professional workers. The term palliative care refers to person and family-centred care provided for someone with an active, progressive, advanced disease, who has little to no prospect of cure and who is expected to pass on, and for whom the primary goal is to optimise the quality of life. Palliative care identifies and treats symptoms which may be physical, emotional, spiritual or social. Due to a person’s individual needs, the services offered can be diverse. The term end-of-life care refers to the last few weeks of life in which a patient with a life-limiting illness is rapidly approaching passing. Of note, sometimes these terms can be used interchangeably or have different definitions.

When providing person-centred care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it is important to ask the person who they would like involved in discussions about their health care as they may have decision makers or spokespersons who should be involved in all discussions and decisions regarding that person’s care. The time surrounding the end of someone’s life is precious and needs to be respected and approached in a safe, responsive and culturally appropriate manner. It is important that a person has the option to decide where they will pass, if possible. This may include a choice to be on Country, at home or in a hospital at the time of passing.

A collaboration between Palliative Care Australia and the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet with funding from the Australian Government have developed the Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care portal. The portal is designed to assist the health workforce who provide care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families and communities. It seeks to support both clinicians and policy-makers in accessing resources, research and projects on palliative and end-of-life care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The above information has been extracted from the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet’s webpage Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care, available here. In the video below you can hear Aboriginal Community Support Worker, Chris Thorne talk about his personal experience with a family member and the value and importance of having an advance care plan in place.

25 May 2023

–hand of ATSI child resting on rock; text 'Access to Country is KEY to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's mental health'

The image in the feature tile is from an opinion piece by Aileen Moreton-Robinson “Our story is in the land”: Why the Indigenous sense of belonging unsettles white Australia published on the ABC Religion & Ethics webpage on 9 November 2020.

The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.

We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.

Better access to Country key to mental health

Better access to traditional lands was a major focus at NSW’s Health’s annual Aboriginal mental health and wellbeing forum. More than 160 mental health professionals journeyed to the Far West NSW city of Broken Hill to share resources, knowledge and celebrate each other’s achievements. Local Aboriginal mental health clinical leader Desley McKellar said having people on the ground and going on Country was critical to the summit’s success. “We can get so lost in presentations we can forget the cultural side of this work,” she said. “Usually, it’s a two-day sit together in a room, but this time we spent a day doing a cultural walk at Mutawintj.”

The theme of the forum this year was “tune in to country”. The focus was on the importance of access to traditional lands to the mental health of Indigenous people. Ms McKellar said many cultural practices were innately good for mental health. “When life becomes overwhelming I try to go back home, because I know those times on country is what’s needed to try and get back on track,” she said. “I always go to the river, I put my feet in the water, I visit Elders at the cemetery.”

Ms McKellar also pointed out that when the land was struggling so were the people living on it. “It’s like the Baaka (Darling river) when it ran dry,” she said. “It’s like your spirit becomes sick because it was such a huge part of our lives growing up.” Ms McKellar said there was a slow growing recognition in the mental health field of the role of country and culture. “I think there’s room for improvement, but we’re stepping in the right direction,” she said. Broken Hill is the most remote location the forum has been hosted in its 21 years of existence. Ms McKellar said it was useful to be able to demonstrate the impact of access to Country at this year’s forum.

To view the ABC News article Better access to country key to improving Indigenous mental health, forum told in full click here.

Barkindji dancers performed for mental health professionals at Mutawintji National Park

The Barkindji dancers performed for mental health professionals at Mutawintji National Park. Photo: Mutawintji Heritage Tours. Image source: ABC News.

Program brings Inverell a step closer to CTG

Inverell is another step closer to closing the gap with the launch of Bandaar Walaaybaa Community Hub Aboriginal Corporation’s newest program. Endorsed by NACCHO, the Trusted Indigenous Facilitators Program (TIFP) aims to decrease barriers and increase opportunities through the aged care and disability sectors. “There is a gap in delivering our own workforce team, there is a shortage of workforce team, there is a shortage of our Elders in our community who are not receiving their services and full packages, and this is where we come in,” said Carley Weatherall, Founder and CEO of the Bandaar Walaaybaa Community Hub Aboriginal Corporation. “It allows us to deliver services for aged care and disability sector, where there is a gap or limitation.”

In the next decade, the population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People aged 50 and over is expected to double, while many have no access to suitable aged care services to meet their needs. There are many barriers preventing their access to these services, such as difficulty navigating the system, lack of service providers, lack of appropriate culture care and the experience of racism, to name a few. Through the TIFP Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people will have assistance to navigate and access the services they need.

Training and support will be delivered on the ground through the local team’s newly appointed Aged Car Coordinator and Aged Care Community Connector in Inverell, but extending its reach to Tingha, Ashford and Bingara. With five already registered, the company is looking to encourage more people to access these beneficial services. “The program is to reduce the barriers where our mob is not getting services,” Ms Weatherall said. “It is implementing other holistic programs, not just around the one person and not just mental health, we will be covering other avenues too, during the contract.” This state-wide initiative will add to the local teams already growing profile.

To view The New England Times article New program in Inverell works towards Closing the Gap in full click here.

Careley Wetherall - founder & CEO Bandaar Walaaybaa Community Hub Aboriginal Corporation, standing in front of sign 'Bungun Disability Services'

Carley Weatherall, Founder and CEO of the Bandaar Walaaybaa Community Hub Aboriginal Corporation. Image source: The New England Times.

Health Minister visits Coonamble ACCHO

Members of the Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) had the opportunity for their voices to be heard last Wednesday 17 May 2023 following a surprise visit from the new NSW Minister for Health and Regional Health, Ryan Park. The visit had been orchestrated by Barwon member, Roy Butler who has been playing a key role in immersing the new Labor cabinet in what matters out in Western NSW. “I welcome any visit to the electorate by a minister,” said Mr Butler. “Seeing things first hand can only help better inform any decision made by the government far away in Macquarie Street.”

The visit consisted of talking with staff about what issues they see within Coonamble and why they do what they do. In reflecting on his visit to Coonamble, Minister Park found the work and dedication of the rural healthcare staff to be the highlight. “It was great to visit the amazing staff at CAHS,” said Minister Park. “What stood out to me most today was how passionate the staff were. The quality of the service dispensed is an indication of the trust and relationships established between clinical staff and the local community.”

CAHS Executive Assistant to the CEO, Beau Ewers (far right in the photo below), says it was a great opportunity to show the minister some of the work they have been doing, “It was great, we had the chance to show off some of the positive things we do but also some of the challenges we face, like doctor shortages. We put forward that we’re pushing to get a new building as well.” Beau made the point that politicians make the trip out for media exposure, however, he felt as though Minister Park genuinely wanted to engage with the team at CAHS. “He seemed genuinely interested in our struggles, they were there for 45 minutes, and engaged with the staff members and were really looking for ways they could help us.”

The above was extracted from the story Minister for Health visits Coonamble written by Liam Mulhall and published in the Coonamble Times yesterday, 24 May 2023.

4 Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service staff with NSW Minsiter for Health, Ryan Park (left) & NSW State Member for Barwon, Roy Butler (middle) on Wednesday 17 May at the CAHS clinic

Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) staff got a surprise visit from NSW Minister for Health, Ryan Park (left) and NSW State Member for Barwon, Roy Butler (middle) on Wednesday 17 May 2023. Image source: Coonamble Times.

Partnerships aim to improve health hearing

Over the past six months Hearing Australia has worked with the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service (OAMS), the Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) and the Katherine West Health Board (KWHB) to reshape hearing service delivery. A pivotal milestone was achieved this month with the signing of four-year Shared Hearing Services Partnership Agreements with OAMS and CAHS. Under these partnerships, Hearing Australia will work with the local health services to improve the impact of hearing services within their communities while building the capability of local health staff.

Jamie Newman, CEO of OAMS, says the focus of the Shared Hearing Services Partnership is on working together to deliver the care First Nations people want and need. “We’re in a period of change and need to lead that change if we’re going to see better health outcomes for our mob,” Jamie says. “Our people need consistent healthcare, and through this partnership and our ongoing relationship with Hearing Australia, we have a great opportunity to work closely together to improve access to hearing health that will benefit our people today and future generations.”

Chloe Thompson, OAMS’ Aboriginal Health Practitioner Lead, is strongly supportive of the new approach: “We both have the same goal in mind and that’s to improve ear and hearing health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. At present, there are 19 socio-economic Close the Gap targets for our people. Ear and hearing health is absolutely at the core of those.” Chloe knows first-hand the importance of the service. An audiologist confirmed her 6-year old son had moderate hearing loss. “My son now has normal hearing, and because of the support he received early, developmentally he at least has a chance of catching up to his peers. Regardless of whether you think your child is having hearing trouble or not, it’s important to get their hearing checked regularly.”

To view The National Tribune article Hearing Australia announces game-changing new partnerships designed to help close First Nations hearing gap in full click here.

young ATSI boy having a hearing test

Image source: Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia website.

Health concerns for mob amid Voice debate

Health Minister, Mark Butler, says he fears the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum could follow path of 2017 marriage equality plebiscite which saw LGBTQ+ people become targets for vilification. The government and mental health groups are concerned First Nations Australians could experience similar levels of abuse during the referendum as LGBTQ+ Australians during the marriage equality postal vote, with a mental health organisation saying the campaign “will only divide people”.

The federal government has committed an extra $10m to support the mental health of First Nations Australians during the referendum period, and mental health organisations say they are bracing for increased reports of racism and psychological distress. “These things do have an impact on levels of mental distress on parts of the community that are subject to an Australian vote” Butler said. “First Nations people will be the subject of a vigorous national debate. And unfortunately, at the edges, that debate sometimes becomes deeply hurtful, deeply personal.”

The eSafety commission told a Senate hearing in May it had already seen an uptick in racial vilification of Indigenous people related to the referendum – and expected that to increase. The mental health sector said organisations were already receiving calls and reports from Indigenous clients raising concerns about the referendum, including some who were anxious about rhetoric from opponents of the voice, and the potential ramifications of the referendum failing.

To view The Guardian article Concerns for mental health of Indigenous Australians amid reported uptick in abuse as voice debate progresses in full click here. You can also view a related article Some reflections for the health sector on the media and racism published yesterday, 24 May 2023, by Croakey Health Media here.

Aboriginal and Australian flags flying, blue sky in background

The eSafety commission said it had seen an uptick in racial vilification of Indigenous people related to the referendum – and expected it to increase. Photo: Lukas Coch, AAP. Image source: The Guardian.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website Current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

Key Date – National Palliative Care Week – 21–27 May 2023

During National Palliative Care Week 2023 (21–27 May) NACCHO is sharing a range of information and resources specifically developed for for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and professional workers.

When Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, or are approaching the end of their life, they should be able to access quality palliative and supportive care that is consistent with their wishes, when and where they need it, no matter where they live. Importantly, this care must be culturally safe and responsive, incorporating the social, emotional, and cultural well-being of the person, as well as their family and the community. To that end, Palliative Care Australia (PCA) has developed resources to assist the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, their communities, and health professionals working within communities to ensure approaches and practises are culturally safe and respectful.

For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples talking about ‘death or dying’ can be an uncomfortable experience. Culturally, discussing this topic can be perceived as tempting it and viewing images of a person who has died or using their name in conversation can impact that person’s journey. In recognition of this, warnings are commonly added to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples from unnecessary stress. It is not uncommon to refer to ‘death and dying’ as ‘sorry business, sad business, finishing up, final days, final footsteps/final footprints, journey, pathway or going back home or to the dreaming.’ Similarly, the term ’palliative care’ is not easily translated in the many and diverse languages spoken in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

For more information and resources (including the video below) you can access the Palliative Care Australia’s webpage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Palliative Care Resources here.

24 May 2023

feature tile, image of Senior Lawyer John Cattanach & Aboriginal Community Engagement Officer Belinda Foley in front of Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative building; text 'Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative's partnership with Victoria Legal Aid is delivering GREAT OUTCOMES'

The image in the feature tile is of Senior Lawyer John Cattanach and Aboriginal Community Engagement Officer Belinda Foley standing in front of the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative building. The photo appeared in a Victoria Legal Aid article Creating stronger connections to community in partnership with Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative published yesterday, 23 May 2023.

The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.

We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.

Partnership with ACCHO delivers great outcomes

Geelong Senior Lawyer John Cattanach has always wanted to be part of positive change for First Nations peoples. He says closer ties between Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) and the local Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative to support First Nations people with legal needs – a model being replicated across other regional offices – is helping him achieve that goal. He and Aboriginal Community Engagement Officer Belinda Foley are both based in our Geelong office  and regularly receive referrals through the co-operative in a partnership they established in March last year. The co-operative is a holistic service that provides health, family, community and cultural services to First Nations peoples in the Geelong, Bellarine and Colac region. The partnership with VLA links First Nations peoples to early support from Belinda and John to prevent escalating legal issues, as well a culturally sensitive service that responds to their individual needs.

John is a Marrithiyel man whose mob is located five hours southwest of Darwin, and Belinda is a Central Arrernte woman on her mother’s side (Alice Springs). Both grew up in community (Wadawurrung Country). Their background is crucial for the important work they undertake through the co-operative. In addition to providing practical assistance to First Nations peoples, John and Belinda derive great satisfaction from being connected to their community. “Growing up, I saw firsthand how our mob is treated by police, and I knew I wanted to be a part of the change and the healing,” said John. “From a legal standpoint, I am a lawyer who seeks to keep police accountable, and achieve the best outcomes for our mob. And from a First Nations perspective, I’m here to help Indigenous clients who present with a broken or wonky spirit, and help nurture that spirit so it becomes strong once again.”

Belinda is also proud of the difference the clinic has made in the community and to the Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative, “I’m delighted that this clinic has been able to provide a service to more than 100 clients in under 12 months,” she said. “It has given our First Nations community a safe environment, passed our knowledge to the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative to use in their service delivery and provided comfort to First Nations peoples in that they know a specialist legal service is available to support them.”

To view the Victoria Legal Aid article Creating stronger connections to community in partnership with Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative in full click here.

external view of Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative building

Image source: City of Greater Geelong website.

The system is the real “terror” in youth justice

In an opinion piece published today in the National Indigenous Times,  CEO of the National Justice Project, Adjunct Professor George Newhouse says “It’s the WA Government and not “terrorists” that are the cause of the troubles in Banksia Hill youth detention centre. How can the WA Premier Mark McGowan get away with describing a group of kids with disabilities as “terrorists”? Especially when we know that many of them grew up in the care and control his own State’s Child Protection system. Most of these so-call “terrorists” are in Banksia Hill on remand. Tragically, children are often held in Banksia Hill because they have nowhere to go if they were released. They could and should be supported in a group home or a purpose-built boarding house instead of prison.

So, who are these children? It’s a fact that around 89% of the kids in Banksia Hill have been found by the Telethon Foundation, one of Australia’s leading children’s’ health research organisations, to have a severe neurodevelopmental impairment, and over one third of the children were found to have been suffering from Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD). These are significant impairments. But to deflect attention away from his own government’s abject failure to protect children in State “care”, Premier McGowan launches an attack on them. He wants us to believe that the problems are caused by a few ‘rotten apples” and not his own government’s systemic failures. Failures that have been obvious for decades.

During a recent visit to the facility, Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds said: “These are children in need of care and treatment for complex disabilities and serious mental health problems.” Allegations that the children are “monsters” or “terrorists” have been slammed by the former President of the Children’s Court of WA, Denis Reynolds who said: “The Premier and the Minister are saying these are bad, bad children behaving badly, ignoring deliberately any reference to [their] unlawful treatment. It’s the treatment in that place that is causing the behaviour and that’s what we want to stop.”

To view the National Indigenous Times article The system is the real “terror” in youth justice in full click here.

ATSI male youth holding sign 'Close Down Banksia Hill Detention Centre', Aboriginal flag in the background

Photo: Giovanni Torre. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

Drinking fountains alone won’t fix water issues

Water plays a significant role in Aboriginal culture. Respect for and understanding of water has enabled Aboriginal people to thrive for millennia in very hot and remote places. The impacts of colonisation including introduced species of plants and animals, farming and overuse of rivers and ground water, compounded by global warming, has dramatically reduced water access and quality, and in some places threatened the water supply. Recent coverage of the quality of drinking water in Walgett, NSW, again highlights that clean, safe drinking water is not a right in Australia. Walgett residents say the water is unsafe to drink and they’re backed by scientists from the George Institute who report an urgent need to address drinking water quality.

The reasons for poor or limited water supply vary. They include river flows and environmental health issues, infrastructure, and insufficient skilled, credentialed staff available to conduct water quality checks. But understanding the causes is one thing. Taking active steps to address them is another. When clean, safe water doesn’t flow to communities, they are more likely to drink sugar-sweetened beverages. A 2020 study, available here, visited three remote schools with high proportions of Aboriginal students. Initial results, gathered in 2014, found 64% of children regularly drank sugary drinks. Some 5% thought drinking water was “unhealthy”. In some places in Australia that’s true at least some of the time.

The availability of safe drinking water impacts tooth decay, obesity and diseases like diabetes. Australia has drinking water quality guidelines but they are not mandatory.

When cold, filtered water fountains were installed in 2018 that 84% of children at those same schools drank water every day. The percentage who regularly drank sugary drinks shrank to 33% in the intervening four-year period. A follow-up study found towns of lower socioeconomic status were less likely to have access to community drinking water and more likely to have a high Aboriginal population. So, Aboriginal people are particularly disadvantaged by this issue. It also found that in many towns the cheapest drink is soft drink.

To view The Conversation article Drinking fountains in every town won’t fix all our water issues – but it’s a healthy start in full click here.

young ATSI girl drinking from water fountain

Image source: Government News.

Victoria’s budget delivers health funding boost

Yesterday three Victorian Ministers released a joint media release Doing what matters for patients and healthcare workers. They said the Andrews Labor Government is doing what matters: giving our healthcare system – and the dedicated workers who care for Victorians – a $4.9b boost in the Victorian Budget 2023/24. This Budget will deliver on every promise we made to Victorians at the election – with more healthcare workers, new services, the latest equipment and new and upgraded hospitals across the state. That’s on top of more than $54b we’ve invested in our healthcare system – as well as the workers we need to run it – since coming to government in 2014.

Of particular relevance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is:

  • $153m to establish 20 new comprehensive women’s health clinics, an Aboriginal-led clinic and a mobile health clinic, nine new women’s sexual and reproductive health hubs, scholarships to expand the women’s health workforce, an inquiry into women’s pain management and 10,800 extra laparoscopy surgeries
  • $2.5m to establish an LGBTIQ+ suicide aftercare service, continue Strong Brother Strong Sister for young Aboriginal Victorians in Geelong and deliver Youth Live4Life for young regional Victorians
  • $256m to support a health‑based response to public intoxication, continue the life-saving North Richmond Medically Supervised Injecting Room and expand our Naloxone and Pharmacotherapy programs
  • $35.1m to Aboriginal community health organisations to deliver 100,000 extra additional Aboriginal community healthcare appointments
  • $86m to increase the time newborns spend with maternal nurses, help mums struggling with breastfeeding, support new dads – and expand our Early Parenting Centre network with a new centre in Northcote and an Aboriginal-led centre in Frankston

To view the Victorian Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas, Minister for Ambulance Services and Mental Health Gabrielle Williams and Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Lizzie Blandthorn’s joint media release Doing what matters for patients and healthcare workers click here.

group of Strong Brother Strong Sister participants & staff holding Aboriginal flag

The Strong Brother Strong Sister program will receive funding under the 2023–24 Victorian budget to continue to operate. Image source: Strong Brother Strong Sister Foundation website.

Copper detected in Yarrabah health service’s tap water

Staff at an Aboriginal community health facility near Cairns have been offered bottled water and precautionary blood tests after tap water at the service was found to contain elevated levels of copper. Testing of the Yarrabah Health Facility’s mains water in March detected the presence of high levels of copper. It’s understood the issue is isolated to the clinic and has not affected the quality of the drinking water in the wider community. Tropical Public Health Services director Richard Gair said investigations into the facility’s plumbing system were ongoing. Meanwhile, bottled water was being provided to staff and visitors.

“The health service has engaged an expert hydraulic engineering firm to investigate the plumbing system within the facility and make recommendations,” Dr Gair said in a statement. He said senior officers from the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, including experts in environmental health and medical doctors, had met twice with staff at the Yarrabah Health Service in May to answer questions and share with them plans to address the water quality issues.

“Any staff who work within the health facility, including Gurriny Yealamucka and Queensland ambulance staff, have been offered a precautionary blood test for elevated copper levels,” Dr Gair said. “The testing is free and voluntary. The drinking water elsewhere in Yarrabah community complies with the Australian drinking water guidelines.”

To view the ABC News article Water at Yarrabah Aboriginal community health precinct found to have elevated copper levels in full click here.

aerial view of Yarrabah, N Qld

Users of the Yarrabah community Aboriginal health facility are on alert. Photo: Brendan Esposito, ABC News.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website Current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

Key Date – Palliative Care Week – 21–27 May 2023

During this year’s Palliative Care Week (21–27 May 2023) NACCHO is showcasing some of the amazing programs and resources available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Gwandalan Project is one such program that supports palliative care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. ‘Gwandalan’ is a word from the Darkinjung and Awaba language meaning rest, peace or resting place. For this project, the Gwandalan word represents the spiritual aspect of the palliative and end-of-life journey, with the hope that the spirit is at rest and peace as a result of good palliative care and a ‘good death’.

Education and training materials for the Gwandalan Project aim to support relationships between service providers, frontline staff and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities through cross-cultural education and the sharing of knowledge. This will be achieved through the provision of education and training to support increased capacity in those who care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples during their palliative and end-of-life journey. The Gwandalan Project does not address clinical palliative care content but rather, supports the provision of culturally safe and responsive palliative care by upskilling frontline staff to contextualise care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and deliver services in a way which supports a good ‘finishing up’.

Access to all Gwandalan education and training materials, listed below, is free of charge, thanks to funding by the Australian Government under the Public Health and Chronic Disease Care Grant, National Palliative Care Projects.

  • eLearning Modules – a series of engaging eLearning modules to support frontline staff to deliver culturally responsive palliative care
  • Workshops – face-to-face workshops across Australia to learn about delivering culturally safe palliative care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
  • Webinars – a series of interactive webinars on various aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander palliative care which expand on the learnings from the Gwandalan online modules

You can find more information on the Gwandalan website here.

tile Gwandalan logo & text 'Gwandalan Supporting Palliative Care for ATSI Communities'

Image source: Gwandalan website.

23 May 2023

feature tile image of Stan Grant with hand to his heart; text 'The media "is the poison in the bloodstream of our society" - Stan Grant's last stand on ABC's Q+A'

The image in the feature tile is from an article Stan Grant: Q+A presenter cites ‘poison’ of the media as he steps away from ABC show published earlier today in The Guardian.

The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.

We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.

Stan Grant steps down as Q+A moderator

Last night at the end of the ABC Q&A program presenter Stand Grant explained why he was stepping away from his role as moderator:

“Sometimes, we need to just take time out. Sometimes, our souls are hurting and so it is for me. I’ve had to learn that endurance is not always strength. Sometimes, strength is knowing when to say stop.

“And to those who have sent messages of support, thank you so much. But I’ll be OK. Please, send that support and care to those of my people, and all people who feel abandoned and alone, who are wondering whether they have a place in this country and who don’t have my privileges.

“To those who have abused me and my family, I would just say – if your aim was to hurt me, well, you’ve succeeded, and I’m sorry.

“I’m sorry that I must have given you so much cause to hate me so much, to target me and my family, to make threats against me. I’m sorry. And that’s what yindyamarra means. It means that I am not just responsible for what I do, but for what you do. It’s not just a word. It is sacred. It is what it means to be Wiradjuri. It is the core of my being. It is respect. It is respect that comes from the Earth we are born into. From God. Baiame. If I break that, I lose who I am.

“I am down right now, I am but I will get back up. And you can come at me again, and I will meet you with the love of my people. My people can teach the world to love. As Martin Luther King Jr said of his struggle, ‘We will wear you down with our capacity to all love’.

“Don’t mistake our love for weakness it is our strength. We have never stopped loving and fighting for justice and truth – the hard truths – to speak in our land.

Yindyamarra Winanganha means to live with respect in a world worth living in. And we in the media must ask if we are truly honouring a world worth living in.

“Too often, we are the poison in the bloodstream of our society. I fear the media does not have the love or the language to speak to the gentle spirits of our land. I‘m not walking away for a while because of racism – we get that far too often.

“I’m not walking away because of social media hatred. I need a break from the media. I feel like I’m part of the problem. And I need to ask myself how, or if, we can do it better.

“To my people — I have always wanted to represent you with pride. I know I might disappoint you sometimes but, in my own little way, I’ve just wanted to make us seen. And I‘m sorry that I can’t do that for a little while. To my family – I love you. And to my mum and dad, Balladhu Wiradjuri Gibir Dyirrimadalinya Badhu Wiradjuri Mandang Guwu. Good night.

You can view Stan Grant’s speech on video by clicking this link.

Stan Grant speaking on Q+A Monday 22 May 2023

Stan Grant’s impassioned Q+A speech last night. Image source: The Guardian.

Bowel Cancer – Just Get Screened

Bowel cancer is a preventable cancer and if caught early it can be successfully treated in more than 90% of cases. We know that more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people participating in bowel cancer screening means that more cancers will be prevented or detected early, and more lives will be saved.

Next month is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month so in preparation, we are getting in early to remind people between the ages of 50–74 to complete a bowel cancer screening test. It is quick, easy to do and can be done in the comfort of your own home.

 

Birthing healthy, strong babies on Country

Professor Yvette Roe leads a collaborative partnership that is transforming maternity care to promote the best start in life for First Nations children. The partnership is translating the successful Indigenous Birthing in an Urban Setting study (IBUS) into rural, remote and very remote settings.

First Nations mothers are 3–5 times more likely to die in childbirth than other mothers. Their babies are almost 2 times more likely to die in their first year, often because they were born too soon (preterm). Changing this is a priority for closing the gap in First Nations health outcomes. Closing the Gap Target 2 is ‘Children are born healthy and strong’.

Yvette led the IBUS to help close the gap in Brisbane. The exemplar Birthing in Our Community service reduced First Nations preterm births from 14.3% to 8.9%. There were other improvements:

  • more First Nations women were seen in early pregnancy
  • women needed less intervention during birthing
  • more mothers were breastfeeding
  • fewer babies were admitted to neonatal units.

‘We saw all these amazing clinical outcomes that we have not seen before in Australia,’ Yvette says. ‘The Birthing in Our Community service also saw a cost saving of $4810 for every mother-baby pair to the health system, compared to standard care.’

To view the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care article Birthing healthy and strong babies on Country in full click here.

tile: image of Professor Yvette Roe & text ' Medical Research Future Fund - Professor Yvette Roe, Co-Director, Molly Wardaguga, Research Centre, Charles Darwin University

Image source: Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Supporting the Uluru Statement from the Heart

The Board of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT) has reconfirmed its strong support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its recommendations regarding the establishment of a constitutionally enshrined ‘Voice to Parliament’ alongside a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making and truth-telling.

At its meeting in Katherine on 12 May, the AMSANT Board considered current circumstances impacting on the recognition and achievement of the Statement’s objectives. “Our Board Directors are strongly of the view that the Uluru Statement from the Heart provides the nation a precious opportunity to begin to resolve our unfinished business and to achieve fundamental change for our people”, said AMSANT Acting Chair, Rob McPhee. “The vision and goodwill that has been offered to the nation through the Statement requires and deserves our trust.”

The AMSANT Board emphasised its strong endorsement of the First Nations-led process that culminated in the National Constitutional Convention at Uluru in May 2017, bringing together First Nations delegates from across Australia to meet and to form a consensus position on the form that constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should take.

To view AMSANT’s media release Supporting the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full click here.

Uluru Statement from the Heart document

Photo: Richard Milnes, Alamy. Image source: The Guardian.

Mental health crises linked to deaths in police ops

Almost half the people involved in critical incidents with NSW police over the past five years were experiencing a mental health crisis, while the number of Indigenous people killed and seriously injured doubled last financial year, according to a new report.

The NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission’s (LECC’s) 5-yearly report into “critical incidents” included seven recommendations including an urgent call for better mental health training for officers. A critical incident is a police operation that results in a death or serious injury. The commission looked at incidents from mid–2017 to mid–2022, of which 12% involved First Nations people. Thirteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people died, while six were seriously injured. Between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022, six Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people died, while two were seriously injured. That represented at least double the numbers for each of the four years prior.

The report also warns of significant delays to internal investigations of critical incidents. The delays are caused by police practice to wait for the conclusion of criminal or coronial court proceedings before commencing critical incident investigations. “This process can take years,” the report said. “The chance to swiftly improve policies and practices is being missed.”

To view The Guardian article Mental health crises linked to almost half of all deaths or serious injuries in NSW police operations in full click here. You can also read a related ABC News story Man shot dead by police after reports of stabbing in Brisbane suburb of Grange here.

shoulders of NSW police showing NSW Police badge

The NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission five-yearly report into critical incident investigations shows 12% involved First Nations people. Photo: Dean Lewins, AAP. Image source: The Guardian.

Sector Jobs

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Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website Current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

Key Date – National Palliative Care Week 2023

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) says National Palliative Care Week, running from 21−27 May, is a good time to have important conversations about death and dying with loved ones.  The AMA welcomes this year’s National Palliative Care Week with the theme: ‘Matters of Life and Death’ and its special focus on the palliative care workforce and volunteers who support patients and families living with a life-limiting illness.

AMA President Professor Steve Robson said  “Death, dying, and bereavement are all unavoidable and integral parts of life, but we struggle with them. Even for health care professionals, reflecting on and discussing death with patients and their families can be profoundly confronting and difficult. We need to be able to have open and frank discussions and be educated about death and dying, so we can normalise and encourage discussion on these topics, both in the medical profession and in the wider community.

“There is a lot to understand about the role and purpose of palliative care, advance care plans, non-beneficial treatment, caring and bereavement. We could all be better prepared if we took the time to look into these issues and what it means for families. National Palliative Care Week is the perfect time to do this.”

The National Palliative Care Week website, available here, profiles a range of health professionals and volunteers highlighting their experience and life lessons in supporting patients and their families with life-limiting illnesses.

The AMA’s Position Statement on End-of-Life Care and Advance Care Planning 2014, available here, lays out what good quality end-of-life care should look like.

You can view the AMA’s media release Matters of life and death should be discussed and normalised in full here and a video on Advance Care Plans especially for mob below.

22 May 2023

feature tile image of ATSI mum & newborn; text 'World-first online digital tool helps facilitate faster and more effective perinatal mental health screening'

The image in the feature tile is from an article Why did nobody tell me how hard it would be? The plight of perinatal mental health published in the InPsych 2022 Vol 44 Summer 2022 available on the Australian Psychological Society website here.

The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.

We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.

World first online mental health screening

Founder and executive director of Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE), Australia’s peak body for reducing the impacts of perinatal anxiety and depression, and perinatal mental health specialist, Dr Nicole Highet said the COVID-19 pandemic increased the incidence and severity of perinatal depression and anxiety, and had a dramatic effect on the mental health of new and expectant parents. “Becoming a parent is challenging enough, but now new and expectant parents are experiencing the additional long-lasting mental health effects of living through a global pandemic” Dr Highet said.

COPE has developed a world-first online screening program to support the mental health of new and expectant mums. The iCOPE digital screening tool can be used to identify mums at risk and facilitate faster and more effective mental health screening in the perinatal period.  It enables perinatal mental health screening to be undertaken across all clinical settings, from in-person to remote screening via the patient’s mobile phone. “iCOPE is changing the way perinatal mental health screening is conducted across the country to ensure all mums-to-be have the opportunity to undertake regular mental health screening, in line with the National Perinatal Mental Health Guideline,” Dr Highet said.

“It’s now more important than ever to be using this world-leading technology to implement regular, faster and more efficient perinatal mental health screening to identify those at risk and those experiencing symptoms.” The sooner symptoms are detected, the faster the treatment can begin, which is why it’s so important to spot the signs early. The iCOPE screening tool also includes two perinatal mental health screening tools that have been developed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: the Kimberly Mum’s Mood Scale and the Mt Isa Postnatal Depression Scale.

To view the Kyabram Free Press article World first online mental health screening service rolled out in Benalla in full click here.

COPE Centre of Perinatal Excellence logo; iCOPE Digital Screening Platform; image of woman using app on iPhone

Image source: COPE website, iCOPE Digital Screening webpage.

New MBS education webpage

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) President Dr Nicole Higgins describes the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) as overly complex and difficult to interpret. Dr Higgins says RACGP members frequently report it is difficult to keep up with regular changes to item numbers and claiming rules. In late 2021, the RACGP surveyed members to collect feedback on the value of existing Department of Health and Aged Care resources and what topics GPs would like to see covered in future resources. Responses revealed that there is a lack of awareness around existing resources, and these are underutilised by health providers.

The RACGP have now developed a new publicly accessible webpage, available here, which contains links to Medicare and compliance education resources. Resources are grouped together in one central location so general practitioners (GPs) do not have to search across multiple websites to find what they are looking for. Links are grouped under key themes, which are in alphabetical order. We have also included short descriptions of each resource to help GPs find what they need. This new webpage compiles links to resources such as MBS explanatory notes, fact sheets, education guides, eLearning programs, infographics and case studies. It includes links from various sources, including the Department of Health and Aged Care, Professional Services Review, Services Australia and the RACGP.

Dr Higgins said that while there has been extensive discussion about the need for more education on the MBS and the RACGP is working to identify gaps by reviewing existing materials, there is a range of useful resources already available that GPs may not know about. Dr Higgins said the RACGP is encouraging GPs to bookmark this webpage and RACGP staff will continue to add to it as new resources become available.

RACGP logo & ribbon of MBS Medicare compliance - Summary of useful links on website

Helping improve LGBTIQ+ workplace inclusion

The Victorian government is supporting hundreds of service organisations across the state become more inclusive for queer communities. Last week Premier Daniel Andrews and Equality Minister Harriet Shing announced the state government is investing $1.85m for Rainbow Health Australia to deliver inclusion training to service organisations to make sure they are safe and trusted by the LGBTIQ+ community.

Rainbow Health Australia is a trusted organisation located in the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University, supporting LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing through research, training and resources. This investment will support up to 400 organisations to undertake Rainbow Health Australia’s training program How2 – helping them improve LGBTIQ+ inclusion in their workplaces in a sustainable way, including by developing and implementing an inclusion plan.

Rainbow Health Australia will also partner with an Aboriginal-led organisation to come up with the best approach for supporting Aboriginal-led organisations as they undertake this work. It will also create networks of organisations that have completed the program, providing a place to share experiences and advice.

To view the Premier of Victoria the Hon. Daniel Andrews’ media release Building LGBTIQ+ inclusion across Victoria article in full click here.

rainbow flag

Image source: La Trobe University website.

Integrated practice models key to tackling elder abuse

Elder abuse is a serious problem in Australia and across the globe, with one in six Australians over 65 years of age experiencing abuse. Elder abuse occurs when a person causes harm or distress to an older person. Elder abuse can be psychological, financial, physical, sexual, or neglect. Adult children and family members (including intimate partners) most commonly perpetrate elder abuse.

Established by Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) and its partners Eastern Health and Oonah Health & Community Services Aboriginal Corporation, the ELSA and ROSE programs were created in 2019 as part of the National Plan to respond to the abuse of older Australians, funded by the Commonwealth Government. ELSA and ROSE provide integrated practice models that combine lawyers and other community service professionals including elder abuse advocates (often social workers) and financial counsellors to provide a wrap-around service for those experiencing elder abuse.

Michael Smith, ECLC CEO says that the Centre is proud of its ongoing work to prevent, intervene early and respond to elder abuse. “The ROSE and ELSA programs demonstrate that collaborative approaches improve access for older people needing assistance and the wrap around service model works to provide the best level of support for victim survivors in the community,” said Smith.

To view the Star Mail article Integrated practice models key to tackling elder abuse in full click here. The below video is one a number of resources included in the Queensland Government’s Together we can stop elder abuse campaign available here.

How Wreck Bay was left asking “who will die next?”

A two-year investigation has revealed devastating sickness and death in an Indigenous community located next to a defence base that used toxic firefighting foam. When Peggy Carter, a resident of the Aboriginal villiage, Wreck Bay, died in 2019 at the age of 39, following a short struggle with a savage cancer, the three children she cared for lost their world.

Residents of Wreck Bay, on the edge of Jervis Bay’s southern peninsula, 200 kms south of Sydney, know more about grief than most. They say sickness and death cast an ever-present pall over their community. An assault of heart attacks, kidney disease, cancer after cancer. Aunty Jean, 90, said she was one of the few locals who had survived to see old age. “There’s no old men and no old women in Wreck Bay,” she said. “There used to be.” Locals have despaired in their search for answers. What was going wrong in Wreck Bay? Was it hereditary? Bad luck? Something more sinister?

The penny dropped when the Department of Defence disclosed that toxic chemicals in its firefighting foam – known as “forever chemicals” or PFAS – had been seeping into the community’s waterways, food supply and sacred sites for at least three decades. Paradise Poisoned, a two-year investigation by this masthead in conjunction with Stan, iKandy Films and Shark Island Foundation, has delved into the immense loss of life in the community of 400 people and the devastation wrought on their ancient cultural practices by the toxic chemicals. A politician, a doctor and a water board employee all sounded the alarm about a potential cancer cluster in the village, which has recorded some of the worst rates of premature death in Australia.

To view The Sydney Morning Herald article Paradise Poisoned: How the idyllic town of Wreck Bay was left asking ‘Who’s going to die next?’ in full click here.

Wreck Bay (NSW) resident Aunty Jean Carter sitting of rocks at beach

Resident Aunty Jean Carter is amongst those speaking out about fears of a cancer cluster in the Aboriginal community of Wreck Bay. Photo: Rhett Wyman. Image source: The Sydney Morning Herald.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website Current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

Key Date – National Palliative Care Week – 21–27 May 2023 

National Palliative Care Week (NPCW) runs from Sunday 21 to Saturday 27 May 2023 and aims to put ‘Matters of Life and Death’ front and centre in Australia’s consciousness. Camilla Rowland, CEO at Palliative Care Australia (PCA) says, “We understand that death and dying is a difficult subject to talk about and engage with, but this year we have some powerful voices joining the campaign to inspire and start important conversations. The ‘people at the heart of quality palliative care’ – our workforce and volunteers, have opened their hearts to share the life lessons they learn everyday as they provide care and support to people and families living with a life limiting illness.”

“NPCW and the stories we’ll share will open the door on the full scope and impact of palliative care and the quality of life it delivers. I hope it provides a moment of reflection for all Australians to think about and plan for the last chapter of life,” Ms Rowland says.  

Film screenings and a host of other events will make for a busy NPCW around the country. A full list of events as well as a range tools to help grow awareness of palliative care can be found on the PCA’s National Palliative Care Week 2023 – ‘Matters of Life and Death’ webpage here.

19 May 2023

empty beer cans on Todd River's dry bed, Alice Springs

The image in the feature tile is a photo taken by Tim Wimborne of empty beer cans lying on the Todd River’s dry bed in Alice Springs. The photo appeared in a Reuters article Australia limits alcohol sales in Alice Springs amid crime wave, published on 24 January 2023.

The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.

We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.

Prohibition doesn’t address underlying issues

Alcohol management in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities has been a deeply divisive issue, as seen recently in Alice Springs in the NT. Indigenous leaders called for and welcomed emergency restrictions on the sale of alcohol from January 24 2023. This approach resulted in an immediate decrease in alcohol-related harms, including family violence and emergency department presentations.

But Elders in Alice Springs have warned these restrictions “should not let governments off the hook” from addressing the underlying social determinants of alcohol-related harm. This reflects a long-standing community concern that prohibition alone does nothing to address issues such as intergenerational trauma, poverty, housing, education, unemployment, access to alternative activities, access to adequate health care and racism.

Critics of government-imposed alcohol management argue the allocation of resourcing is too strongly weighted toward supply reduction – and especially law enforcement – with inadequate funding of demand-reduction and harm-reduction strategies.

To view the Australian Herald article To reduce harm from alcohol, we need Indigenous-led responses in full click here.

Budget ‘excellent’ for remote healthcare

This month’s Budget included a raft of good news for general practice in regional and remote areas, the RACGP’s Rural Chair has said. Associate Professor Michael Clements has called the measures introduced by the Federal Government last week – which heeded many of the calls made by the RACGP – as “an excellent, rurally loaded Budget.” Among the moves that will most impact rural doctors is a tripling of the bulk billing incentive, a central request of the college’s pre-budget submission – and one which will particularly benefit rural general practices.

However, while the broad budgetary picture is a positive one for Assoc Prof Clements, he is realistic about how quickly it will solve the challenges of general practice in regional and remote areas. “I think this will have a positive impact on rural workforce as it does financially incentivise more rural and remote work,” he said.

Assoc Prof Clements said “This should be seen as a start of a multiple stage process to reinvigorate rural workforce. I think the Federal Government has shown significant new investment into rural health and now is the opportunity for state governments to come to the party as well.”

To view the RACGP newsGP article Budget ‘excellent’ for remote healthcare: RACGP Rural Chair in full click here.

white 4-wheel drive red dirt road Australian outback

Photo: Francesco Ricca Iacomino, iStock. Image source: The Medical Republic.

NSW’s first mobile CT imaging van unveiled

Communities in the NSW’s north west will soon have better access to the latest diagnostic imaging technology, with NSW’s first mobile CT imaging van officially unveiled by NSW Minister for Health and Regional Health, Ryan Park, during his visit to Walgett Multipurpose Service yesterday.

CT – or computed tomography – takes detailed images of the internal organs, bones, soft tissue and blood vessels. The new Remote Mobile CT Service will be used for non-emergency patients to help diagnose causes of pain from muscles or joints, detect diseases or prepare patients for further treatment or surgery. The ground-breaking service will begin welcoming patients in the coming weeks, and is expected to see around 1,500 per year as it rotates between Walgett, Bourke and Cobar.

Mr Park said, “Bringing these specialist services closer to people’s homes is tremendously important in this part of the state, where the cost and complexity of travel and leaving family or community can be a disincentive. Having the Remote Mobile CT Service at their doorstep will help many patients avoid hours on the road, some of them up to 10-hour round trips to Dubbo, to have scans. It will also be a huge benefit as we continue improving health outcomes among our Aboriginal communities.”

To view the NSW Government article Remote communities benefit from state’s first mobile CT service in full click here.

NSW's first mobile CT service (van)

Mobile CT Service van. Image source: NSW Government website.

New vision clinic opens at GRAMS

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in WA’s Mid West will be able to access eye screening and treatment at a new vision clinic opened yesterday at Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Services (GRAMS). The clinic has been established by The University of WA’s Eye Health Centre of WA with the support of The Fred Hollows Foundation, WA Centre for Rural Health and GRAMS.

UWA Head of Optometry Professor Garry Fitzpatrick said the state-of-the-art clinic would deliver culturally safe eye care services, “Affordable and accessible primary eye care services will be available for people of all ages who are experiencing eye health issues like blurred vision, dry eyes, low vision or who need glasses or lenses and who will be able to access services without a referral.”

GRAMS CEO Deborah Woods acknowledged the partnerships with The Fred Hollow Foundation and UWA. “GRAMS is extremely excited to be able to deliver next level eye health service to our clients all under one roof,” she said.

To view The University of WA article Cultural safety focus of new eye health clinic in Geraldton in full click here. You can also view more photos of the new vision clinic on the GRAMS website here.

Photo (L-R): Deborah Woods (CEO GRAMS), Wilfred Tang (Program Director UWA) and Eric Dalgety (Eye Health Practitioner GRAMS) pictured with the new state-of-the-art technology

Photo (L-R): Deborah Woods (CEO GRAMS), Wilfred Tang (Program Director UWA) and Eric Dalgety (Eye Health Practitioner GRAMS) pictured with the new state-of-the-art technology. Image source: GRAMS website.

New course to help close health gap

A new course to help close the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Care has been announced by the TAFE Queensland Bowen Campus and eligible students may be able to study for free. The Certificate lll in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Care is being offered for the first time at the Bowen Health Hub. It is predicted that the Indigenous health worker sector will grow strongly over the coming years and could increase by 17%.

Community and Health Faculty Manager for TAFE Queensland in Far North and North Queensland, Melanie Clarke, said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers are a vital link between individuals, communities, and health services. “The course will teach students how to undertake basic health assessments, as well as how to identify community health issues and needs, and assist with health screening, promotion and education services,” she said.

The year-long course begins this month and will encompass seven week-long training blocks at the Bowen Health Hub. “The facility is a simulated clinical training ward which replicates a real-life hospital environment, allowing students to gain vital hands-on skills using industry equipment and technology,” said Ms Clarke.

To view the Mackay and Whitsunday Life article New Course Launches For Bowen Health Hub in full click here.

male health worker taking woman's blood pressure in clinic room at Bowen Health Hub QLD

Bowen Health Hub. Image source: TAFE Queensland Student Handbook 2023.

Why the Voice is nurses’ business

For far too long, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people haven’t had a say on decisions, policies and laws that affect their lives, says Sye Hodgman, a Trawlwoolway Palawa-Pakana nurse and First Nations Strategy, Policy and Research Officer with the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU).

“There are constitutional powers that are given to government to make laws specifically in respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” explained Sye, in an address to the Coalition of National Nursing & Midwifery Organisations (CoNNMO) in Melbourne earlier this month. “Every time that happens, communities get hurt. But there is no power or protection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to even be involved, or recognised, in that process, apart from being a recipient.”

“The very fact that we require predominantly white Australia and non-Indigenous Australian people to give us permission to have a Voice and to be voting on this particular process is symptomatic of the endemic systemic racism within the Australian political system,” Sye told CoNNMO attendees, which included Australia’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Alison McMillan, and Australian Nursing and Midwifery (ANMF) Federal Secretary Annie Butler.

To view the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal article ‘Nothing about us without us’: Why the First Nations Voice to Parliament is nurses’ business in full click here.

Sye Hodgman, a Trawlwoolway Palawa-Pakana nurse and First Nations Strategy, Policy and Research Officer with the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU)

Sye Hodgman, a Trawlwoolway Palawa-Pakana nurse and First Nations Strategy, Policy and Research Officer with the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU). Image source: Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website Current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

18 May 2023

NACCHO Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health News: ATSICHS Brisbane celebrates 50 years of service - feature tile

The image in the feature tile is the first Aboriginal Islander Community Health Service (AICHS), a converted fruit and vegetable shop front in Red Hill, Brisbane in 1973.

The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is a platform we use to showcase important work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.

We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.

 ATSICHS Brisbane celebrates 50 years of service 

On May 14, 1973, the Aboriginal Islander Community Health Service (AICHS) was established in a converted fruit and vegetable shop at Red Hill. A dedicated group of volunteer community members and general practitioners, including Aunty Pamela Mam, Uncle Steve Mam, Uncle Denis Walker, Aunty Susan Chilly, Aunty Frances Cockatoo, Uncle Don Davidson, and Uncle Les Collins, worked tirelessly to get AICHS up and running.

In 1976, AICHS relocated from Red Hill to South Brisbane to accommodate its growth. However, the Grey Street location soon became insufficient. In 1985, AICHS moved to 10 Hubert Street, Woolloongabba, an area with a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

In 2008, the organization changed its name to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS) Brisbane to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. By 2009, operations expanded to Woolloongabba, Woodridge, Northgate, and Acacia Ridge.

Throughout its 50-year history, ATSICHS Brisbane has grown and evolved to meet the changing needs of the community. Today, they offer medical clinics, dental services, a Birthing in Our Community hub, youth services, social and emotional wellbeing services, an aged care facility, and various family and child support services, including the Family Participation Program, Jajumbora Children and Family Centre, Ngumpi Uruue, Deadly Kindy programs, and Family Wellbeing Services.

To read more, click here.

How will The Voice impact First Nations’ health?

Selwyn Button says the Voice will amplify Aboriginal people’s health concerns and lead to improved outcomes. Image source: ABC Radio National

According to Selwyn Button, the Chair of the Lowitja Institute, when Aboriginal Health organisations are actively engaged and consulted regarding their own health, it leads to improved outcomes. He said, The Voice should help amplify these results.

In an interview this morning Selwyn stated, “The whole notion of NACCHO and the community-controlled health organisations right across the country are about responding to the needs of the community.”

The whole concept of community control evolved from within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. The government was failing to provide adequate services and neglect basic health needs. This prompted action and leadership to form services that were meeting the health needs of the community in culturally safe spaces.

For example, the Aboriginal Islander Community Health Service (AICHS) in Meeanjin country celebrated 50 years of service on 14 May 1973. At that time a group of volunteer community members and general practitioners saw the need for better services and better access to services and formed the AICHS. They opened the doors to patients in a converted fruit and vegetable shop in Brisbane’s, Red Hill.

Selwyn noted that “in many cases, they were shunned by government, poorly funded and not provided with resources at the time but they kept going because they could see the need and community was responding.”

In instances where Aboriginal communities and health organistions have been engaged and in control of their own health, notable improvements have been witnessed, and The Voice has a crucial role to play in strengthen these positive outcomes.

To hear the interview, click here.

AMSANT supports Uluru Statement from the Heart

The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory announced their support for The Voice yesterday in a media release yesterday. In it they state:

The Board of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT) has reconfirmed its strong support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its recommendations regarding the establishment of a constitutionally enshrined ‘Voice to Parliament’ alongside a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making and truth-telling. At its meeting in Katherine on 12th May, the AMSANT Board considered current circumstances impacting on the recognition and achievement of the Statement’s objectives.

“Our Board Directors are strongly of the view that the Uluru Statement From the Heart provides the nation a precious opportunity to begin to resolve our unfinished business and to achieve fundamental change for our people”, said AMSANT Acting Chair, Rob McPhee. “The vision and goodwill that has been offered to the nation through the Statement requires and deserves our trust. The AMSANT Board emphasised its strong endorsement of the First Nations-led process that culminated in the National Constitutional Convention at Uluru in May 2017, bringing together First Nations delegates from across Australia to meet and to form a consensus position on the form that constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should take.

To read the full media release from AMSANT, click here.

AMSANT Acting Chair, Rob McPhee.AMSANT Acting Chair, Rob McPhee.

AMSANT Acting Chair, Rob McPhee.

Don’t use sugar substitutes for weight loss, WHO advises 

A recent study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that the use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) does not provide long-term benefits in reducing body fat for adults or children. While there may be a slight short-term reduction in body weight, it is not sustained over time.

“Replacing free sugars with non-sugar sweeteners does not help people control their weight long-term,” said Francesco Branca, director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety. “We did see a mild reduction of body weight in the short term, but it’s not going to be sustained.”

The guidance applies to all people except those with pre-existing diabetes, Branca said. Why? Simply because none of the studies in the review included people with diabetes, and an assessment could not be made, he said.

The review also highlighted potential undesirable effects associated with long-term use of sugar substitutes, including a slightly increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

However, it is important to clarify that this recommendation does not assess the safety of consumption. Branca emphasized that the guideline focuses on the inability of scientific evidence to demonstrate positive health effects in terms of obesity reduction, weight control, or the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

Reducing the use of non-sugar sweeteners is an important prevention strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples health, particularly in the prevention of diabetes. Diabetes is one of the fastest growing chronic disease conditions, globally, with the greatest burden falling on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

To see the report, click here

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Sleep Matters

A 2021 report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare states there is a high prevalence of sleep problems among Australian adults and explores their correlation with chronic health conditions. The report sheds light on the impact of both excessive and insufficient sleep on the heightened risk of various ailments such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

In considering the broader context of health in Australia, it is essential to recognise the specific challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations and that these disparities extend to sleep health, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experiencing a higher prevalence of sleep problems compared to the general population.

Studies indicate that sleep disorders, including insomnia and sleep apnea, disproportionately affect Indigenous communities. For instance, research shows that the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults is approximately three times higher than in the non-Indigenous population.

The relationship between sleep problems and chronic health conditions is particularly consequential for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. According to available data, Indigenous Australians are more likely to experience conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Sleep disturbances contribute to these health disparities, as they can exacerbate existing chronic conditions and hinder overall well-being.

Whilst a lot more funding and resources are required to understand and support sleep problems, an initiative called, Dreamy, developed by Common Ground a First Nations, not-for-profit organisation. Dreamy aims to support better sleep with their collection of sleep stories created by First Nations storytellers. ​

These contemporary stories bring an 80,000-year-old oral tradition into the digital space, helping people of all walks of life to quiet their minds, drift into dream, and disconnect from their devices by connecting to Country.

To experience Dreamy, click here.

To read more of the implications of sleep health in First Nation Australians, click here.

Image source: https://www.dreamysleep.com.au/

One Mindful Minute

ICTVPlay, in collaboration with Adrian Thomas Music, present a mindful minute designed to bring a feeling of pride, happiness, and relaxation into your busy day.

In attempt to address the sense of chaos in these times of constant change and uncertainty, ICTV has provided a short, one minute meditation that helps to establish a strong connection with yourself and your mental well-being. ICTV recognizes the importance of bringing attention to the restless nature of our minds and bodies through the practice of meditation. By embracing this practice, we can attain a greater sense of inner calm, mindfulness, and feeling grounded.

To try it out for one minute! One Mindful Minute.

Image source: Photo by Chris Thompson on Unsplash

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website Current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

 

17 May 2023

feature tile image of rainbow flag; text ' LGBTQI+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience significant and intersecting points of discrimination and marginalisation'

The image in the feature tile is from the Yarra City Council’s Celebrating IDAHOBIT webpage, published on 17 May 2021.

The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.

We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.

Raising awareness about LGBTQI+ discrimination

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator, Achim Steiner has released a statement to mark International Day against Hoomophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) – 17 May. In the statement Mr Steiner said “Deeply-embedded homophobic and transphobic attitudes and social norms leave many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people extremely vulnerable to discrimination.  Far too often, LGBTQI+ people are singled out for hate-motivated violence, or even murdered. Many are mistreated and even disowned by their own families. This has led to LGBTQI+ people, of all ages and around the world, being among those left furtherest behind as countries pursue the [17] Global Goals [agreed to by world leaders in 2015].”

To view the UNDP article International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) in full click here.

The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) says brotherboys, sistergirls and other LGBT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience a number of significant and intersecting points of discrimination and marginalisation in Australia. The AHRC Resilient Individuals: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Intersex Rights report considered the intersecting issues of racism, homophobia and transphobia faced by these communities, with participants involved in consultations for the report raising a range of issues including: Little investigation into the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, experiences of racism, discrimination and isolation and the gap between Aboriginal specific service provision and service provision that accommodates for broader LGBT populations

You can read the AHRC article Brotherboys, sistergirls and LGBT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in full here.

You can also read about the 2021 Edith Cowan University (ECU) research which found that 73% of Indigenous LGBTQIA+ participants had experienced discrimination. The study, Breaking the Silence, was led by Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Braden Hill, a Nyungar Wardandi man and head of Kurongkurl Katitjin, ECU’s Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research. “For many of the participants there was a great sense of pride in being Indigenous and LGBTIQ+, however, the experience of discrimination, particularly racism, was a major concern,” said Professor Hill.

You can view the National Indigenous Times article Over 70% of Indigenous LGBTQIA+ experience discrimination, new research finds in full here. and also watch Professor Hill, one of four panelists, who came together at the PRIDE@AGSM Network Event: Queer Aboriginal Voices Matter to discuss inclusion of LGBTIQ+ First Nations People through their work, research and authentic leadership, below.

Fears for increased incarceration as legal services cut

There are concerns innocent people will end up in jail as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services are cut across the country, leaving more people to represent themselves in court. Queensland and NSW legal services have withdrawn from 23 locations due to what they say are increasing workloads and a lack of funding.

Atherton Courthouse, where Ngadjon-jiman man Terry Murray helps First Nations people navigate the legal system, is among them. Mr Murray, who works as a court support officer, said he had felt more pressure since lawyers from Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service had withdrawn from the Far North Queensland court. “Clients always ask questions and legal advice and if you don’t have the answers to answer that, that also puts them in an impacted position,” Mr Murray said. “If we don’t have a legal service, they’re just going to sort of do the best they can [representing themselves].”

Aboriginal legal services in Australia receive state and federal funding, the vast majority of which being allocated through the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s department. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Legal Service (NATSILS) says demand has increased “up to 100% since 2018”, but Commonwealth funding had not kept pace. The peak body called for a $250m emergency package in the lead-up to the May budget, but the request was not granted, and state-based services have withdrawn in regional and metropolitan courts. 10 Queensland locations — including Brisbane and Cairns — will no longer have court-based support dedicated to First Nations clients.

To view the ABC News article Fears for increased First Nations incarceration grow as Indigenous legal services cut in full click here.

Aboriginal Legal Services CEO Karly Warner portrait against Aboriginal painting of crocodile

Aboriginal Legal Service chief executive Karly Warner says Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services around the country are on a “slippery slope”. Photo: Patrick Begley, ABC News.

Connecting to Country strengthens culture

20 projects throughout the Kimberley, Pilbara, Mid-West, Goldfields-Esperance and Metropolitan regions will share in $469,384 through the Connecting to Country program. Connecting to Country is a competitive grants program that supports Western Australian Aboriginal people and organisations to undertake on-country activities that foster the intergenerational transfer of knowledge, preservation of culture and strengthening of communities.

The program aims to:

  • facilitate sharing of cultural knowledge and skills between generations, such as the preservation of language, stories and dance;
  • recognise Aboriginal cultural leadership within the Aboriginal community and support leadership development in young people;
  • contribute to stronger community mental health and wellbeing; and
  • strengthen, protect and maintain traditional ways of maintaining cultural knowledge.

To view the Government of WA’s media statement Connecting to Country strengthens culture and communities in full click here.

group of ATSI people in bush

Image source: Government of WA Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries – Connecting to Country webpage.

Aboriginal health leader kicks goals

From a member of the first ever all-Aboriginal rugby league team to the first person employed in an Aboriginal identified position at Nepean Hospital, Clarke Scott has been a leader in both his football career and his career at Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District.

Working in community health for 16 years, Clarke helped break down barriers between clinicians and people in the community. “At Lawson Community Health Centre I helped to support people, and their families in their homes,” says Clarke. “On home visits, I would go along and help the community feel relaxed. Just having another Aboriginal person there really helps.” Clarke also ran Aboriginal Boys Cultural Mentoring Camps out of the Community Health Centre, ensuring young boys were connected to culture, and their responsibilities.

Up until 2022, Clarke was a valuable member of the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Board. Having served two consecutive five-year terms, Clarke’s passion championing for health equality for the Aboriginal community continues to drive his career. Currently as Aboriginal Health Programs Manager, Drug & Alcohol Services, Clarke says it’s his toughest gig yet. “The stories behind the issues are devastating, helping to address those issues is the challenge for me. But I know it’s part of the job where I can make a difference,” says Clarke. He says having dedicated leadership in the Aboriginal Health team has made a significant difference to embedding change.

To view the NSW Government article Aboriginal health leader kicks goals in full click here.

Clarke Scott, Aboriginal Health Programs Manager, Drug & Alcohol Services

Clarke Scott, Aboriginal Health Programs Manager, Drug & Alcohol Services. Image source: NSW Government webpage Aboriginal health leader kicks goals, 17 May 2023.

Federal budget support for Central Australia’s youth

Following the delivery of the 2023–2024 Federal Budget by the Treasurer last week, mixed reactions have been voiced across the nation regarding the adequacy of funding for the education sector. Ongoing issues with teacher workloads, skills shortages, and wage caps have been compounded by strong concerns surrounding a lack of action on improving equity and diversity across the education sector, which continues to position marginalised socio-economic groups in regional, remote, and Indigenous communities at a marked disadvantage.

In a joint statement released on 9 May, Federal Minister for Education, Mr Jason Clare announced that the Australian Government and NT Government are working together to deliver the next stage of the $250m landmark plan for a Better, Safer Future for Central Australia to improve community safety and provide more opportunities for young people. The Better, Safer Future for Central Australia plan includes funding for community and regional infrastructure; on-country learning to improve school engagement; enhancement of digital connectivity; justice reinvestment; strengthening community safety; a Youth Services Action Plan; up to five new Junior Ranger sites in Central Australia; effective governance to ensure successful service delivery; and improving First Nations health outcomes.

The Australian Government will invest $23.5m to support the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families in Alice Springs and surrounding communities. This includes $18.4m to the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (Congress) to expand their existing Children and Youth Assessment and Treatment Services (CYATS). The funding to expand CYATS aims to meet current demand and increase the availability of early detection and intervention services for neurodevelopmental conditions, including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Additionally, there will be $5m provided to Congress in 2022–23 to support the development of Health Hub in Alice Springs – combining the four current health services into one single centre.

To view the Education Matters article Federal budget supports young people in Central Australia in full click here.

yellow sign, silhouette adult holding child's hand & walking & text 'School Bus' by side of dirt road in outback

Image source: Education Matters.

Cash incentive offered to find health workers

A program to attract interstate health workers to Queensland has been announced by Queensland Health. The Workforce Attraction Incentive Transfer Scheme will provide interstate and international medical practitioners with a payment of up to $70,000 to move to Queensland with $20,000 payments for other healthcare workers. Applicants can take their pick from one of more than 2,400 communities to work in. To qualify for the payments they must work there for more than 12 months.

Minister for Health, Yvette D’Ath said it had become necessary to think outside the square to lure doctors to the State. “Innovative policies like this means every dollar we spend works hard delivering the right care at the right time, in the right place,” Ms D’Ath said. She described the scheme as a win-win — “more quality healthcare workers in our unique regional and remote communities, more efficient use of resources and great career memories to be made”.

Healthcare workers eligible for this incentive are medical doctors and specialists, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce members, dentists, oral health practitioners and scientific officers.

To view the QLD PS News article Cash incentive offered to find health workers in full click here.

young ATSI boy having a hearing test in mobile medical van; male allied health professional & ATSI female health worker

Image source: Winter 2019 edition of UQMedicine Magazine – University of Queensland website.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website Current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.