7 May 2024

The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is a 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.

VACCHO launches men’s possum skin cloak, embracing the power of Aboriginal culture in cancer care

VACCHO is proud to launch a special Men’s possum skin cloak in a groundbreaking initiative aimed at supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer patients on their healing journey. Developed in collaboration with the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCullum Cancer Centre, this initiative demonstrates the profound benefits of embedding Aboriginal knowledge, empowerment, and innovation into modern medical environments.  Possum skin cloaks hold deep cultural significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria, serving as a symbol of the rich and powerful connection Communities have to Country, Culture, families, and ancestors.  

Featuring artwork created by four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in various stages of their cancer journey, the art is testament to their resilience and wisdom. Each piece of artwork on the cloak showcases personal stories, knowledge, and Aboriginal culture. The eagle placed in the centre of the cloak symbolises the nurturing and supportive environment surrounding patients in all stages of their cancer journey.  To promote cultural connection and holistic healing, the Men’s cloak will sit alongside the Women’s cloak at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. The cloak will be available to all Aboriginal men to wear or place over their beds while receiving treatment at Peter MacCullum Cancer Centre and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.  

VACCHO Acting CEO Jim O’Shea says the launch of the men’s possum skin cloak demonstrates the transformative impact of championing Aboriginal culture in healthcare.  

“Possum skin cloaks have been integral to storytelling and have also protected and helped Aboriginal Communities heal for tens of thousands of years. The launch of the Men’s cloak is a celebration of the healing power of 65,000 years of Aboriginal culture and Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing.” 

“This initiative has been guided by some of the key strategic objectives outlined in the Victorian Aboriginal Cancer Journey Strategy 2023-2028, which prioritises enhancing self-determination, and fostering deeper cultural connections.” 

“Today’s launch marks the beginning of an exciting journey. Our vision is for a possum skin cloak to be available to assist with healing for all Aboriginal patients in all major health services across Victoria.” 

“We are immensely proud of the Men’s possum skin cloak, and the generosity shown by the artists in sharing their stories, wisdom, and culture in bringing this exciting initiative to life. Through strong partnerships, commitment and action, this initiative showcases the power of Aboriginal culture in enhancing health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.” 

For more information visit the VACCHO website here.

Image source: VACCHO.

Preventive Health Conference 2024: CAAC CEO Donna Ah Chee on why public health matters

Donna Ah Chee, CEO of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress says domestic violence assaults and hospitalisations in Central Australia following the lapse of Stronger Futures demonstrated what a missed opportunity the Voice referendum was. Ms Ah Chee delivered the keynote at the Preventive Health Conference 2024 in Darwin. She said it was the implementation of effective public health strategies in the NT that had secured the greatest victories for Central Australia’s Aboriginal people.

“We can rule out role of the social determinants of access to the health system: education, housing, income and economy, they have not improved,” she said.

“There is increasing poverty and inequality in remote areas.

“Housing overcrowding has gone backwards in town and improved slightly in remote communities.”

Ms Ah Chee concluded it was therefore investment in the public health system that had secured gains for Aboriginal people, such as a reduction in infant mortality for Aboriginal Territorians from 90.4 per 1000 births to 12.8, and fewer years of life lost prematurely. She said there were three epoch defining achievements: better primary health care after the national development of Aboriginal community controlled health organisations in the 1970s and 80s; the election of the Territory first Labor government in 2001 and the huge injection of health funding that followed; and the introduction of alcohol restrictions and non-sniffable Opal fuel.

“The Voice would have improved health for our communities, would have made Australia a fairer and more inclusive nation,” she said.

“Defeat makes the voice of self-determining Aboriginal bodies [such as Congress] more important, not less important.

“More than ever, we need to keep speaking out on behalf of our communities.”

To read the full article, go here.

Central Australian Aboriginal Congress CEO Donna Ah Chee speaking at the Preventive Health Conference 2024 in Darwin, May 2, 2024. Image source: The Chronicle.

Culturally safe midwives to birth First Nations babies at Shoalhaven Hospital

Each time Emma Ardler has given birth in hospital it has been with a midwife she has never met before. This is despite having a trusted midwife she spent months forging a connection with.

“I have gone through two pregnancies where I have had to retell my story again and again,” Ms Ardler said.

“I felt scared, isolated, left in the dark.”

The soon-to-be mother-of-three chooses privately employed midwives from local Aboriginal women’s health organisation Waminda to support her culturally as a First Nations woman. Up until this week, Ms Ardler’s privately employed midwives have been restricted and only able to provide pre and post-natal care due to being employed outside the hospital. Now, weeks away from giving birth to her third child, the Wreck Bay woman from Yuin Country on NSW’s South Coast will become one of the first in the country to have her culturally safe midwife birth her baby in Shoalhaven Hospital.

“It means bridging gaps, it means being supported, it means having my spiritual needs met,” Ms Ardler said.

Waminda’s endorsed midwives are expected to help deliver about 90 First Nations babies this year through the program at Shoalhaven Hospital. Waminda executive and Jerrinja Cullunghutti Wandandian woman Hayley Longbottom said it would allow First Nations women to reclaim their birthing rights.

“This is why we do what we do. Nothing is more important than our women birthing in a safe, self-determined space,” Ms Longbottom said.

“This is the resistance and this is the fight.”

Read the full ABC News article here.

Emma Ardler says Waminda’s Birthing on Country gives her a feeling of safety and pride. Inage source: Waminda.

AMA calls out sick system on chronic conditions

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is urging action on the prevention and management of chronic conditions in Australia. The AMA has called for a coordinated policy approach and cross jurisdiction funding for chronic disease, in its response to the Department of Health and Aged Care’s consultation on a new National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions.

“Chronic illnesses are the leading cause of illness, disability, and death in Australia; with almost half of all Australians living with at least one chronic disease, and one in five living with two or more chronic conditions,” AMA President Professor Steve Robson said.

“Long-term commitment and sustainable funding models are urgently needed, with a focus on real solutions that improve quality of life for those who are suffering,” Professor Robson said.Chronic conditions include arthritis, asthma, back pain, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, mental health conditions and osteoporosis. Along with treating disease and risk factors, the AMA highlighted the impact of underlying social determinants of health in contributing to chronic disease. The AMA highlights that rates of chronic conditions and overall poorer health outcomes are far higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples, those experiencing socio-economic disadvantage, people in rural and remote areas and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

“All Australians deserve access to their usual doctor to prevent chronic disease and treat early signs,” Professor Robson said.

“We know the fixes for a sick system with chronic problems ― we just need to make the investment.

“Our health is not a cost to be managed, but an investment to be made. The lack of investment in prevention of chronic disease has resulted in a healthcare system that responds to poor health outcomes rather than actively preventing them.”

Read the full AMA media release here.

Addressing rising STI cases in Indigenous young people

University of Queensland researchers have worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to make a series of videos to address stigma and misinformation about sexually transmitted diseases. Professor James Ward, a Pitjantjatjara and Nukunu man and Director of UQ’s Poche Centre for Indigenous Health said Indigenous young people experience significantly higher rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses (BBVs) compared to non-Indigenous young people.

“Over the past 10 years STI and BBV cases have risen substantially in Indigenous communities in Australia, but testing rates have decreased,’” Professor Ward said.

“Between 2020 and 2022 Indigenous people aged between 15 and 24 had the highest notification rates for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

“Our aim is to raise awareness so people can make informed choices about their sexual health.”

Professor Ward leads the UQ initiative Young Deadly Free (YDF), working to increase rates of STI and BBV testing and treatment for Indigenous young people.

“We partnered with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to create the YDF videos addressing themes of gender, sexuality, young men getting tested, pornography, stigma, shame and consent – and reinforcing that STIs can affect everyone,” he said.

To learn more, visit the University of Queensland website.

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Macula Month

May is Macula Month is an annual awareness campaign to help Australians understand their risk of macular diseases. When a person understands their risk, and knows what to do, they can take early action that could save their sight.

The macula is a part of the eye located in the retina. It’s a small part of the eye (it only has a total diameter of 5.5mm), but its importance in the grand scheme of things should not be underestimated. The macula plays a crucial role in seeing colours, things, and people in front of you clearly. With a healthy macula, you can read words clearly and recognise faces even at a distance. But like other parts of the body, the macula can degenerate over time or be damaged.

Macula disease is a common vision disorder among older adults (50 years old and older). As we age, many parts of our bodies naturally degenerate, and our eyes are not exempt. In fact, the degeneration of the retina’s macula is one of the top causes of eyesight loss in many older adults. However, while some degeneration is normal and macular disease is common, macular disease is not a normal ageing process. You are not guaranteed to get it, unlike how everyone needs reading glasses and how everyone gets cataracts. Genes can play a large part in the degeneration and damage of the macula. If a family member has lost his or her sight due to macular degeneration, a person is at higher risk of developing this condition, too. A person’s lifestyle is also a factor. People who smoke, are obese or diabetic, have a diet high in fat, and have hypertension are more likely to have macular degeneration. Women are also more likely to be affected than men.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience much higher rates of diabetic macular oedema than non-Aboriginal people. Diabetes-related vision loss is estimated to be about five times higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared with other Australians.

You can find more information about macula diseases, the causes and symptoms on the Macular Disease Foundation Australia website here.

Image source: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander older people webpage.

Miracle Month of May

Miracle Month of May is a time to highlight the work of Miracle Babies Foundation in supporting premature and sick newborns, their families and the hospitals who care for them. It is also a time to share the stories of Australia’s littlest miracles.

Birthweight is the first weight of the baby obtained after birth. Babies with birthweights outside the healthy range are at greater risk of illness, poor development, perinatal death, and poorer health in adulthood. Babies with a low birthweight are more likely to experience illness or die in infancy, have poorer development of their mental functioning abilities, and have an increased risk of chronic diseases in adulthood.

According to a 2022 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report, factors related to the mother that contribute to low birthweight for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies are maternal smoking, the mother being underweight pre-pregnancy, and the mother not having access to antenatal care in the first trimester. Additional factors associated with low birthweight are maternal health conditions such as pre-existing and gestational hypertension and pre-existing diabetes. The National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the National Agreement) includes a target to increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies with a healthy birthweight to 91% by 203.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies are more likely to have a healthy birthweight when they are born to mothers who have access to culturally safe antenatal care – early and regularly throughout their pregnancy – intrapartum care and postnatal care.

In 2020, 12% of liveborn babies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers were of low birthweight, 87% had a healthy birthweight and 1.4% were of high birthweight (compared with 6.2%, 93% and 1.2%, respectively, of babies of non-Indigenous mothers). Over time, the proportion of babies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers by birthweight group has remained largely unchanged.

You can read more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and babies on the AIHW website here, find more information about Miracle Month of May on the Mircale Babies Foundation website here.

Image source: Miracle Babies Foundation website.