- Voice to Parliament resource portal
- 13YARN supporting mob through Voice racism
- New Urgent Care Clinics for the NT
- Blood test could predict Alzheimer’s disease 20 years before symptoms appear
- Safe drinking water for Irrkerlantye
- Sector Jobs
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.
Voice to Parliament resource portal
The referendum to constitutionally enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament is critically important for health and wellbeing. Croakey Health Media has compiled a valuable list of articles and resources surrounding the Voice to Parliament.
Croakey Health Media reports: “The voices of the health sector have not been loudly heard in mainstream media coverage of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
“It’s probably a fairly safe bet that most Australians (and perhaps also most journalists) would not realise the breadth of the sector’s support for the Voice, with Croakey’s portal recording more than 35 health and medical organisations have issued statements of support.”
To provide a platform for collective health discussions, Croakey is hosting two online #CroakeyLIVE webinars – from 5-6pm AEST on Monday 25 September, and 5-6p, AEDT on Monday 9 October.
See the full Voice to Parliament portal here.
Croakey Health Media Voice to Parliament portal.
13YARN supporting mob through Voice racism
An influx of racism on social media amid the Voice debate is having an impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s mental health. 13 YARN program manager, Majorie Anderson spoke to ABC News about the impact the referendum is having on community wellbeing.
“I’m sad really, the level of debate has been personal attacks instead of just sticking to the facts and it’s having an impact on the community.”
“People are feeling overwhelmed so they’re ringing 13 Yarn to talk about that.”
She said racism on social media is causing the overwhelm and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are “not feeling heard at the moment.”
“They talk about feeling overwhelmed, they talk about racism on social media, and they talk about just needing to vent somewhere that’s culturally safe and somewhere without judgement and that’s why they ring 13 Yarn.”
“Often at the end of the call they say, ‘I just feel better that I’ve been heard,” she said.
NACCHO and the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet have launched ‘Voice Referendum: Social and Emotional Wellbeing Resources and Information’ – a webpage that provides a collection of information and resources to help you to inform and care for yourself and your community in the lead up to and after the Voice Referendum.
It features a selection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific resources developed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to support our mob, our communities and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce keep safe and well.
If you are feeling stressed, not sleeping well, or have increased anxiety and depression you can seek immediate help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from:
– 13 Yarn (13 92 76)
– Brother-to-brother (1800 435 799)
– Lifeline (13 11 14)
– Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800)
Watch the ABC News video here.
Image source: 13YARN.
New Urgent Care Clinics for the NT
The Central Australian Aboriginal Congress is set to deliver Urgent Care Clinics at its Northside Clinic. Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are designed to allow community to find the care they need when they are unable to wait to get into their GP, but do not need to visit the emergency department.
At a press conference in Alice Springs Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler announced two new Urgent Care Clinics for the NT.
“Think about your kid falling off the skateboard and busting their arm, they don’t need to go to a fully equipped hospital. They can be adequately cared for out in the community in a clinic like the one we’re announcing here at Northside,” Minister Butler said.
Read more here.
Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Marion Scrymgour MP – Member for Lingiari, Ebony Abbott McCormack – Chair, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, Dawn Ross – Acting CEO Central Australian Aboriginal Congress outside Medicare Urgent Care Clinic Northside. Image source: AMSANT.
Blood test could predict Alzheimer’s disease 20 years before symptoms appear
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are three to five times more likely to develop dementia compared to the general population. Researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) have developed an innovative blood test which could predict the onset of Alzheimer’s disease up to two decades before symptoms manifest. The technology uses nanotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse proteins taken from a small blood sample, searching for signs of early neurodegeneration that could indicate Alzheimer’s.
Co-author Professor Patrick Kluth said it could be particularly useful for people living in remote or regional areas, offering a more accessible method compared to traditional, more invasive tests.
“The quick and simple test could be done by GPs and other clinicians, eliminating the need for a hospital visit,” she said.
Researchers are optimistic that the screening technique could be made available within the next five years.
Read the full article here.
Image source: Unsplash.
Safe drinking water for Irrkerlantye
Ten new hydro panels have been installed in the central Australian community of Irrkerlantye to provide safe drinking water. Installers of the hydro panels Children’s Ground and Source Global said the remote community have campaigned for decades for improved amenities including power, sewage services, and drinking water.
Irrkerlantye Elder, Felicity Hayes said life was tough in her community, and despite the new panels, connection to town water supply was needed so they can meet all their water needs and are calling of the federal and territory governments for support.
“We live just 3km from the centre of Alice Springs. You can turn a tap on and drink the water at houses down the road from us, less than a kilometer away,” she said.
“The installation of Source hydro panels changes everything regarding safe drinking water for our families. The fact we can access our own high-quality drinking water right here makes a huge difference.”
Read the full article here.
Image source: Independent NT.
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.
