• Codesign important for healthcare and research
• ACT apathetic around Indigenous issues
• Calls for major overhaul of VIC justice systems
• SNAICC Conference attracts 1,500+ delegates
• Kulay Kalingka cancer study for mob
• COVID-19 vax competition offering HUGE prizes
• Sector Jobs
• Key Date – Indigenous Literacy Day – 6 September 2023

The image in the feature tile is of researcher Dr Jill Vaughan with a speaker of Burarra, northcentral Arnhem Land. Image source: The University of Melbourne.

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.

Codesign important for healthcare and research

The importance of codesigning First Nations healthcare and health research has been highlighted through insights by four researchers from the Menzies School of Health Research (MSHR). Published this week, 4 September 2023, in Insight+, by the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), First Nations researchers Stuart Yiwarr McGrath and Mark Mayo and non-Indigenous researchers Professor Anna Ralph and Dr Vicki Kerrigan share their experiences in how listening and responding to First Nations collaborators changed healthcare and training for the better.

This forms part of a series of discussions published by Insight+ which addresses how constitutional change and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice could impact health. A key example shared was the development of Menzies COVID-19 vaccination videos. Through consultation and conversation with community, this allowed tailored, reputable and trusted resources to be created by community members, allowing healthcare choices to be genuinely informed.

As the nation faces an upcoming referendum on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, this article focuses on the value of building trusted relationships and shared decision making. Menzies is committed to walking together – Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians – to support better health and better futures.

You can read about each of the researchers’ codesign learnings here the Menzies School of Health Research media release Codesign and communication supports a healthier future in full click here.

The below video is one of the Menzies COVID-19 vaccination videos. It is an example of a health promotion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people codesigned with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. PLEASE NOTE: the vaccine information in this video is NOT up-to-date. You can find the latest recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group (ATAGI) regarding COVID-19 vaccination here.

ACT apathetic around Indigenous issues

Speaking at a recent symposium on the status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents of Canberra, Jon Stanhope looked at the ACT government’s response, as well as our collective response as a community, to the needs of our indigenous fellow citizens. Mr Stanhope said “The data from the Productivity Commission provides insight into the status of Aboriginal peoples in Canberra; it also reveals much, whether we like it or not, about the non-Aboriginal residents of Canberra and of the community.”

While Canberra on a per capita basis, is the nation’s wealthiest city with the largest relative cohort of upper/middle-class citizens it also has a low real and pro rata Aboriginal population compared to all other states and territories.

Mr Stanhope said the obvious question repeatedly raised with him by Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health & Community Services CEO Julie Tongs is why the appalling life outcomes experienced by many Aboriginal residents of Canberra are greeted by the ACT government and non-Aboriginal Canberrans with either deafening silence or complete indifference.

To read the CBR City News article Why the apathy around harsh indigenous issues? in full click here.

Calls for major overhaul of VIC justice systems

Victoria’s Indigenous truth-telling inquiry is calling on the state government to create an independent watchdog to tackle police complaints, a First Nations-controlled child protection system and to stop detaining children under the age of 16. During a year-long inquiry, the Yoorrook Justice Commission found evidence of ongoing systemic racism and gross human rights abuses committed against First Peoples in the state of Victoria.

In its most significant proposal yet, the commission has put forward 46 recommendations amounting to a sweeping overhaul of Victoria’s child protection and criminal justice systems. It is the first time in Australian history a government will be forced to respond to a major reform agenda put forward by its own truth-telling commission.

The recommendations range from long-term transformative change — like establishing a dedicated child protection system for First Peoples children, controlled by First People — to urgent asks including raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14. “This is the first truth-telling commission in Australia, in Victoria, for Victorian First Peoples,” Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman and Yoorrook Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter said. “We are not going to tinker around the edges here.”

SNAICC Conference attracts 1,500+ delegates

Yesterday the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC), the national peak boy in Australia representing the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, commenced its biennial conference with more than 1,500 delegates in Garamilla (Darwin). The conference will highlight the work of SNAICC and its members when it comes to Closing the Gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, policy makers, researchers, government officials, non-government organisations and industry representatives will share knowledge and experience about supporting children and families to thrive while also highlighting the importance of supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led solutions to issues.

“The evidence is clear that when we are partners in the decision-making, running the services and developing the policy, it works,” said SNAICC Chair Muriel Bamblett AO. “SNAICC’23 will platform more than 110 sessions that will demonstrate how the work that Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) are doing in early years services and care and child protection are delivering results.” Speakers include international keynote Judge Frances Eivers, former Aotearoa New Zealand Children’s Commissioner, now member of Board of Commissioners; Pat Turner AM, Lead Convenor Coalition of Peaks and CEO NACCHO; and, Dean Parkin, Yes23 Campaign Director.

You can find more information about the conference here and read The Sector article SNAICC Conference kicks off today – more than 1,500 delegates expected in full click here.

Kulay Kalingka cancer study for mob

A ground breaking national study, Kulay Kalingka, is asking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about cancer beliefs and attitudes, experiences, engagement with cancer screening programs, cancer treatment, cancer diagnosis, and caring responsibilities. The Study will monitor and inform improvements in cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples against Cancer Australia’s National Cancer Control Indicators and provide data about our experiences of cancer where no data currently exists.

The Kulay Kalingka Study arose from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community needs to better understand cancer attitudes, beliefs and experiences and from calls for the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, families and communities in cancer research. The Study, funded by Cancer Australia, is designed, led and controlled by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person 18 years or older with or without a cancer diagnosis can complete the survey. You can find the link to the survey for People who HAVE had a cancer diagnosis here and People who have NOT had a cancer diagnosis here.

COVID-19 vax competition offering HUGE prizes

6 ACCHOs and 15 creative people can win return flights, accommodation, and tickets for up to 3 ACCHO staff members to attend the NACCHO’s Members’ Conference in Perth this October.

Enter the COVID-19 Vaccination promotion competition by submitting a deadly video advertisement/promotion that represents the theme: Getting a COVID-19 vaccination is looking after yourself, for your chance to win! Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

• Relevance to the theme: Getting a COIVD-19 vaccination is looking after yourself
• Composition
• Creativity
• Originality
• Appropriateness for the target age group: Category 1 – kids 5–12 years (in the ACCHO community), Category 2 – teens and adults 13–49 years (in the ACCHO community), Category 3 – older adults 50+ (in the ACCHO community).

There are 3 amazing prizes up for grabs:

Category 1

• First Prize includes return flights, accommodation, and tickets to NACCHO’s 2023 Conference in Perth for 3 staff members
• Second Prize includes return flights, accommodation, and tickets to NACCHO’s 2023 Conference in Perth for 2 staff members

Category 2

• First Prize includes return flights, accommodation, and tickets to NACCHO’s 2023 Conference in Perth for 3 staff members
• Second Prize includes return flights, accommodation, and tickets to NACCHO’s 2023 Conference in Perth for 2 staff members

Category 3

• First Prize includes return flights, accommodation, and tickets to NACCHO’s 2023 Conference in Perth for 3 staff members
• Second Prize includes return flights, accommodation, and tickets to NACCHO’s 2023 Conference in Perth for 2 staff members

This is an opportunity for you to really show who and what your community is like, and the best ways to communicate with them.

We encourage teams to be creative with the theme. Is the best way to get your mob interested, through humour? Being strong and serious? Telling a story? Addressing negative stereotypes?

Be open to the possibilities of what ‘self-care’ looks like. Self-care could be 30-year-olds discussing the importance of getting the vaccination; or 70-year-olds spinning around the basketball courts because they’re fit and healthy and vaccinated; or tie your promotion to building community strength and vitality.

The more original and community-oriented, the better.

You can access a competition Entry Form here.

The Terms and Conditions for the competition are available here.

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.

Indigenous Literacy Day – 6 September 2023

You can watch the launch of the film which celebrates Stories, Cultures and Languages here.