Monthly Archives:

28 June 2024

The NACCHO Sector 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.

New Aboriginal-led service for mob affected by FV

Aboriginal communities have worked with the Victorian government to deliver a new, Aboriginal-led service to support people affected by family violence  (FV) in the Barwon / Wadawurrung Country area. Victoria’s Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Vicki Ward, this week officially opened the Aboriginal Access Point Barwon service, which is being operated by Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative.

Ms Ward said the state government is “investing in needed Aboriginal-led family violence supports that are culturally safe and tailored to meet the needs of Aboriginal people”. The service is fully staffed by an Aboriginal workforce who provide culturally safe support for local Aboriginal families affected by family violence, living on Wathaurong, Gulidjan and Gadabanud Country, in the Geelong, Bellarine and Colac regions.

Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative CEO Simon Flagg said the Co-operative “welcomes the investment into culturally safe support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our region. This service, alongside services that Wathaurong already provides with The Orange Door, will allow us to support our community who are experiencing or at risk of family violence.”

To view the National Indigenous Times article Aboriginal-led service to help people affected by family violence on Wadawurrung Country in full click here.

Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative CEO Simon Flagg. Image: Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative

Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative CEO Simon Flagg. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

VACCHO framework aims to improve cancer outcomes

The Victorian government has announced their support of a new initiative to improve cancer outcomes for Indigenous people in the state, as well as helping to close the gap in cancer research and care. Yesterday (Thursday 27 June 2024), Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced $3.87m towards Framework Respect – a culturally responsive and safe framework to boost participation in cancer clinical trials – led by VACCHO in partnership with local ACCHOs.

VACCHO CEO and cancer survivor, Jill Gallagher said VACCHO’s journey strategy “provides the roadmap for improving cancer outcomes” for Indigenous Victorians. “This commitment means Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will have greater access to the latest approaches to detect and treat cancers, with ACCOs providing that access,” the Gunditjmara woman said.

This framework will form part of the Cancer Clinical Trials Program 2024–2028 and is on top of the $7.8m plan by the government to “support the development and implementation” of VACCHO’s Aboriginal Cancer Journey Strategy 2023–2028. “Equity in healthcare must be a priority, and we can’t ignore the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander have worse outcomes when it comes to cancer – this funding will help address that gap,” Minister Thomas said. “These new guidelines will ensure that health services have a clear and consistent framework when engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in clinical cancer trials in a meaningful and respectful way.”

To view the National Indigenous Times article New funding a roadmap to improving cancer outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians in full click here.

van painted with Aboriginal art outside VACCHO office building

Image source: National Indigenous Times.

Murdered First Nations Women report due soon

A major investigation into violence against First Nations women and children will soon be released, almost two years after the Senate referred an inquiry to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee. The inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children has since published  87 submissions and held multiple hearings.

Jade Bradford, a Ballardong Noongar freelance journalist based in WA, has been following the inquiry closely, and undertaken a thematic analysis of some of the key issues raised by submissions. Ms Bradford  found that while many different organisations and individuals from different places and contexts have made submissions to the inquiry, three clear themes emerged from hre systematic view:

Truth telling is foundational, including truth telling about the connections between colonial violence and the violence experienced by First Nations women. In their submission QAIHC cited research suggesting that the decision made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women on whether or not to disclose violence was directly related to the cultural safety of services.

Self-determination was another key theme was the importance of self-determination in all responses, whether in prevention, or policy and service development and delivery. In their submission the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (CAAC) said “ACCOs, especially ACCHOs, should be recognised as preferred providers for government funded services to address family violence, in recognition of their greater service effectiveness, their higher levels of employment of Aboriginal women, and their formal structures for involving Aboriginal communities in general and women in particular in decision-making.”

Investment in social and cultural determinants of health especially poverty and housing, and a lack of cultural safety in policy and services was highlighted in many submissions, including the one from CAAC, “Increased investment in housing for both remote and urban areas as an important underpinning strategy to support women’s independence and address mental health and social and emotional wellbeing issues, including family violence.”

To view the Croakey Health Media article Truth telling and self-determination are critical for addressing violence against First Nations women and children in full click here. 

Michael, Rose and Orlyn at the graveside of their mother

Michael, Rose and Orlyn at the graveside of their mother, Constance Watcho. Photo: David Maguire, Four Corners. Image source: ABC News website.

Important Stronger Bubba Born surveys

The Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) has developed two very important surveys to evaluate and improve the Stronger Bubba Born program. Both surveys are anonymous and will take about 10–15 minutes to complete.

One survey is for Health Care Professionals and is titled Co-design of stillbirth prevention and care resources for diverse communities in Australia. It is a part of the evaluation of the Cultural Adaptation of the Safer Baby Bundle (inclusive of Stronger Bubba Born and Growing a Healthy Baby). This survey is aimed at clinicians who provide maternity care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and/or migrant or refugee women. You can access this survey here or by clicking on the QR code below:Stronger Born Bubba QR codeThe second survey is titled Developing resources for a safer pregnancy: a survey for Indigenous women. This is targeted at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who are 16 years of age and above and are either currently pregnant or were pregnant in the previous 3 years. Due to ethics requirements, the QR code can’t shared here but will be sent out to ACCHO practice managers to promote within house.

Please contact the NACCHO Maternal and Child Health team via email here if you have any questions.

culturally-sensitive resources for ATSI women to have a safer pregnancy

Culturally-sensitive resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Image source: Stillbirth CRE website.

Workforce Wellbeing Guide for Kimberley ACCHOs

The Workforce Wellbeing Guide: A self-reflection and self-care resource for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in the Kimberley was written in Rubibi (Broome). It was developed by the Wellbeing Informed Care – Kimberley (WIC-K) research project in collaboration with the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service (KAMS), and the University of WA (Rural Clinical School of WA and School of Indigenous Studies).

The WIC-K project team would like to thank the Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) workers, and Aboriginal Health Workers who contributed their time, knowledge, and lived experience to the development of this guide.

You can access the Workforce Wellbeing Guide on the Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing blog here.

cover of KAMS Workforce Wellbeing Guide for Kimberly ACCHOs

Image source: TIMHWB blog.

OAMS staff visit Nikinpa Aboriginal Child and Family Centre

Orange Aboriginal Medical Service (OAMS) staff Linda, Facilities & Assets Maintenance Manager and Ri, CQI Coordinator recently travelled to Toronto near Newcastle, NSW, to visit the Nikinpa Aboriginal Child and Family Centre. The centre brings together a range of education, health, and family support and early childhood services to improve local Aboriginal families’ overall health, education and wellbeing.

It was an exchange of ideas meet up where Emma, Centre Manger and Jennifer DCJ Program Director gave a centre tour and talked about their various free programs such as women’s art therapy, nutrition and healthy lifestyle activities. They also host events such as community breakfasts, and many other organisations, such as the AECG (Aboriginal Education Consultative Group), who use their space to hold regular meetings.

A highlight was a viewing of the artwork from members of the Nikinpa art group. One member of the artists group is Aunty Brenda Simon is a proud Wiradjuri woman from Gulargambone. All seven of Brenda’s children were taken from her by government authorities in the 1970s, and her story is now the subject of a powerful new documentary, The Last Daughter, on Netflix. Aunty Brenda attends the art group each week and says painting leaves has helped build connections in her community.

You can find more information about the Nikinpa Aboriginal Child and Family Centre on the Muloobinba Aboriginal Corporation website here and watch a trailer to The Last Daughter here.

collage 3 images, 4 women, woman with artwork, painted gumnut leaves

Images from the OAMS staff visit to the Nikinpa Aboriginal Child & Family Centre. Photos supplied by OAMS.

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.

27 June 2024

The NACCHO Sector 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.

FASD Strong Born Grants are Back!

Applications Open: 26 June 2024 
Applications Due: 19 July 2024, 23:00 AEST / 11pm Canberra time  

NACCHO invites applications for the third round of the FASD Strong Born Campaign grants. ACCHOs can apply for funding to raise awareness, enhance resources, and strengthen workforce capability around fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).  

Funding and Activities: ACCHOs can apply for grants of up to $60,000 (GST excl.), depending on annual client numbers. Example activities include:  

  • Creating locally relevant communications materials and resources by using existing ‘Strong Born’ campaign materials. This covers translation services, design, printing, and publishing costs.  
  • Hosting FASD community events and yarning circles.  
  • Conducting FASD information and awareness sessions for staff and community members.  

Refer to the funding guidelines for more information on eligible activities.  

Eligibility: 
All ACCHOs are strongly encouraged to apply, regardless of whether they currently deliver FASD-specific programs or received funding under Grant Rounds 1 or 2 in 2023.  

Timeline:  

  • Applications Open: 26 June 2024  
  • Applications Due: 19 July 2024, 23:00 AEST / 11pm Canberra time  
  • Applicants Notified: August 2024  
  • Implementation Period: September 2024 to May 2025  

How to Apply: 
To apply, please complete the short application form, below. Key documents to assist with the application process include:  

Questions: 
Please reach out to the NACCHO FASD Grants team at fasdprograms@naccho.org.au with any questions – we are here to help!  

  

Victorian Rural Health Awards: Recognising Excellence in Rural Health

The Victorian Rural Health Awards, hosted annually by RWAV since 2005, hour the outstanding contributions of rural health professionals across Victoria. These awards celebrate the exceptional work of medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, Aboriginal health workers, and practice managers in rural communities. 

In a significant win for our community, Ms. Shannon Balfour, from Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative in Mooroopna won this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Award.  

This award highlights significant contributions in providing care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and communities. 

Shannon Balfour, is a proud First Nations woman and manages the Woongi Unit at Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative in Shepparton-Mooroopna. She oversees a range of mental health and social and emotional well-being programs, including Alcohol and Other Drug support, counselling, post-discharge care, family violence support, and other healing initiatives. Shannon has enhanced group yarning sessions, clinical care, language lessons, and holistic well-being approaches.  

She has forged partnerships with mainstream services, secured a psychiatrist, linked Woongi to First Nations discharge plans, and collaborated with the University of Melbourne and local TAFE for student placements. Shannon’s efforts have significantly increased service use by the local First Nations community. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Management for the Bridge Youth Services in Shepparton and actively engages with the local community. 

Big Congratulations Shannon and Rumbalara!  

For the full story, click here. 

Shannon Balfour, Manager at Woongi Unit, Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative

Shannon Balfour, Manager at Woongi Unit, Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative

Transforming Australia’s Mental Health System Through the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration

Webinar Highlights Mental Health Impacts of Voice to Parliament Referendum
A recent webinar hosted by Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia on 21 June examined the impacts of the Voice to Parliament referendum on the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Participants discussed findings from focus groups that revealed the racism and stress experienced by these communities during the referendum, underscoring the importance of initiatives like the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration to promote social and emotional wellbeing.

Rachel Fishlock on the Declaration
Rachel Fishlock, CEO of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia, describes the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration as a call to action for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in the Australian mental health system. The Declaration aims to achieve the highest standards of social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Social and emotional wellbeing, a multidimensional concept defined by connections to body, mind, family, community, culture, Country, spirit, and ancestors, is integral to maintaining good mental health. It is shaped by experiences of colonisation, intergenerational trauma, racism, and structural discrimination.

Systemic Changes for Mental Health
The Declaration, built on principles from the 1989 National Aboriginal Health Strategy and the 1995 Ways Forward Report, calls for recognising First Nations concepts of wellbeing across Australia’s mental health system. It promotes a balance of clinical and culturally informed responses and stresses the importance of First Nations leadership and values in mental health services.

To translate the Declaration’s goals into action, a Framework and Implementation Plan have been developed. These outline strategies and priorities for the next decade, focusing on cultural strength, best practices, evidence, First Nations presence, and leadership.

Urgent Need for Action
Highlighting the urgency of this work, Fishlock points to alarming statistics: in 2022, the suicide rate for First Nations men was 2.6 times higher than for non-Indigenous men, and 2.5 times higher for First Nations women. Reducing suicide rates and ensuring high levels of social and emotional wellbeing are critical concerns.

Implementing the Declaration represents an important step for mental health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country. As the recent Productivity Commission’s Review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap noted, systemic changes are necessary. The full implementation of the Declaration could lead to substantial improvements in mental health and wellbeing.

For the full story, click here.

For more information on the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration, visit Gayaa Dhuwi.

Group of people in circle from diverse culture holding hands.Cooperation and teamwork.Community of friends or volunteers committed to social issues for peace and the environment.Top view

Photo credit: iStock / melitas

 

Celebrating the Next Generation at the National NAIDOC Awards

The National NAIDOC Youth Award nominations are shining a light on the incredible achievements of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals who are making a significant impact in their communities.

Dante Rodrigues: Tiwi Islander Fighter
Dante Rodrigues, a Tiwi Islander, is a professional fighter who represented his community and Australia at the World Kickboxing Championships in Portugal. Overcoming a difficult upbringing with domestic violence, substance abuse, and crime, Dante turned to sports to improve his mental and emotional well-being. Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, depression, and anxiety at 18, he co-founded the One Percent Program with his cousin Jahdai Vigona. This program helps men in the Northern Territory become their best selves.

Piper Stewart: Swimming Advocate
Piper Stewart, a proud Gulidjan woman, faced her fear of swimming at a young age and founded Bambigi at just twelve years old. Bambigi funds six months of swimming lessons for Aboriginal kids in the Griffith region, addressing financial and transport barriers. Piper’s efforts have increased Indigenous participation at local pools, improving water safety and confidence.

Ieyesha Roberts: Kidney Health Advocate
Ieyesha Roberts, a 24-year-old Dunghutti woman from Kempsey, was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure at twelve. Now a research assistant at the University of Sydney, Ieyesha advocates for Indigenous health, particularly kidney health. Her work on the CARI clinical guidelines ensures culturally safe treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Despite her own health challenges, Ieyesha’s dedication has significantly impacted the lives of others.

These young leaders exemplify resilience, innovation, and a commitment to their communities, proving that the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is bright.

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is: Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud.

NACCHO invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners to nominate themselves and/or others to be part of NACCHO’s, Keep the Fire Burning NAIDOC series where we will acknowledge and celebrate the critical contribution they make in ‘keeping the fires burning’ in our sector and our communities.

We just need:

  1. A photo of your beautiful face!
  2. A couple of sentences answering the question:
    What does this year’s theme mean for you? What ‘ignites the fire in you, to do your job?
  3. Send your nominations to: nacchonews@naccho.org.au

For the full story, click here.

NAIDOC WEEK Logo

 

New Resources to Enhance Cultural Safety in Psychology Supervision

The Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project (AIPEP) at The University of Western Australia has launched an innovative set of free resources aimed at increasing cultural safety in psychology supervision. The “Listening More: Embedding Cultural Safety in Supervision” initiative, led by Noongar woman and clinical psychologist Belle Selkirk and her colleague Dr. Joanna Alexi, offers tools to help psychology supervisors work more effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Under the guidance of Bardi woman and psychologist Professor Pat Dudgeon AM, the initiative is part of the Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing research project. The resources include a guide, a manual, and a reflective journal designed to address the critical need for culturally safe supervision practices in psychology.

“It is every psychologist’s responsibility to be able to work in culturally safe ways with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and this includes culturally safe psychological supervision,” said Ms. Selkirk.

These resources come at a crucial time, coinciding with proposed changes in the Psychology Board of Australia’s competencies for general registration, and aim to support the 46,000 registered psychologists in Australia.

The Listening More working group, which includes representatives from AIPEP and the Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association, has produced these resources with support from the Australian Psychological Society, Australian Psychology Accreditation Council, and Heads of Departments and Schools of Psychology Association.

For more information and to download the resources, visit the AIPEP website.

For more information about the Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing research project, visit their website, here.

For the full story, click here.

Hand of young supportive man consoling his friend with post traumatic syndrome

Image source: iStock /shironosov

 

First Nations Women Demand Action for Female Prisoners

A powerful roundtable at Parliament House in Canberra has brought to light the urgent issues faced by First Nations female prisoners, calling for immediate government action. The event, part of the Truth Telling Yarns: Women in Prison series, was organised by Sisters Inside, an independent community organization. Former inmates and community groups shared their harrowing stories during the discussion.

Debbie Kilroy, CEO of Sisters Inside, stressed the need for First Nations communities to support their own people. “Communities need to be re-imagined by themselves to build modes of safety and security without any castle (law enforcement) tentacles,” Kilroy said. She highlighted the historical and ongoing harm faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women since colonization.

Statistics reveal a grim reality: First Nations women and girls are the most imprisoned female group globally, accounting for two in five incarcerated women in Australia, with over 80 percent being mothers. Kilroy described this as a “crisis,” comparing it to the Stolen Generations, with many jailed mothers denied custody of their children.

Senator Lidia Thorpe, a Gunnai, Gunditjmara, and Djab Wurring woman, spoke at the roundtable, arguing that incarceration and police intervention are not the solutions. “Communities can self-determine their own destiny, their own solutions,” said Senator Thorpe, who co-chaired the discussion with Senator Fatima Payman and MP Bridget Archer.

The need for community-based intervention programs was underscored by a report from the Justice Reform Initiative. The “Jailing is Failing” report highlighted research showing that early intervention programs could reduce reoffending among at-risk populations by 50 percent, preventing their entanglement in the justice system.

Kilroy called for government action, urging leaders to commit to real change. “We just need a government that has got the guts to put their money where their mouth is and actually act,” she said.

For more details, read the full story on ABC News.

Photo credit - ABC News, Jono Searle, AAP PHOTOS

Photo credit – ABC News, Jono Searle, AAP PHOTOS

Tax Time Scammers Targeting Remote Communities in WA

Community announcement.

Financial counsellors and community leaders across Western Australia’s remote north are raising alarms about an increasing number of tax time scammers targeting residents in remote areas. The ABC has identified Facebook accounts impersonating Centrelink and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) interacting with people who appear to reside in the Kimberley region.

Elder Monica Stumpagee, from Beagle Bay, 130 kilometres north of Broome, expressed her concerns after being financially hit by the collapsed Youpla funeral fund in 2022. This experience has left her and others wary. “Who will we go to? We might get scammed again. We don’t know what to do, we’re just sitting on the edge,” she said.

Ms. Stumpagee has noticed an increase in scams within her community, including Facebook requests from accounts posing as deceased family members. “It’s really getting frequent… now we’re getting scammed on our phones, they’re pretending to be dead family members,” she explained.

Ms. Stumpagee is now participating in financial counselling sessions in Beagle Bay to educate her community. “I’m aware of all that now and I’m not going to fall for any tricks,” she said. “What can we do? We vulnerable people get scammed all the time, so we try to help each other.”

Broome Circle financial counsellor Veronica Johnson works with remote communities throughout the Dampier Peninsula to build the capacity of community members to protect themselves from scams. “[It’s] absolutely devastating for clients who are vulnerable, who are just now being taken for another ride in believing it’s Centrelink… when it clearly is not,” she said.

Last year, Australians lost $2.7 billion to scams, with older people suffering the greatest losses according to a report by the consumer watchdog. Elderly residents in remote communities are often a greater target for scammers, as noted by Ms. Johnson.

Athena Sarah, who works with Home Aged Community Care (HACC) in Beagle Bay, has also observed a rise in online scams targeting residents. She emphasised the need for banks and Centrelink agents to visit remote areas to assist the elderly. “It’s hard because you have some old people who don’t have transport to go into the bank or Centrelink,” she said.

Kevin Collard, Consumer Protection senior regional officer for the Kimberley, urged residents to report any scams to the WA government’s ScamNet website. “People may feel embarrassed or a degree of shame because they’ve been a victim of a scam,” he said. “It’s important to report so that more of the community can become aware of the types of scams that are out there.”

Stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to help protect our communities from scammers.

To read the full story on ABC, click here.

Multi-generational indigenous Australian family, three generations of Aboriginal Australian women

Photo credit: iStock / Thurtell

Celebrate Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: Nominate Now for the 2024 NAATSIHWP Awards!

Nominations close 5pm July 15, 2024.

Nominations are now open for the prestigious 2024 National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP) Excellence Awards!

These awards shine a spotlight on the outstanding achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners who have made remarkable contributions to their communities and workplaces.

This is a chance to honour individuals and organisations that are creating exemplary models of care, fully engaging and supporting the career paths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners.

The awards are open to those who meet the eligibility criteria in the following five categories:

  • NAATSIHWP Young Warrior: Celebrating rising stars who are making a significant impact early in their careers.
  • NAATSIHWP Individual Champion: Honouring individuals who have shown exceptional dedication and achievement.
  • NAATSIHWP Workforce Legend (or Respected Elder): Recognising the invaluable contributions of experienced professionals and elders.
  • NAATSIHWP Models of Care and Career Pathways Innovation: Acknowledging innovative approaches to care and career support.
  • NAATSIHWP Board Memorial Lifetime Achievement: This esteemed award, previously known as the Lifetime Achievement Award, is nominated and selected by the NAATSIHWP Board.

The winners will be celebrated at the 2024 NAATSIHWP Conference “Reaping the Rewards of Resilience” Gala Dinner, taking place at the Perth Convention Centre on the night of September 3, 2024.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to highlight the heroes in your community. Submit your nominations before COB on July 15, 2024.

Let’s come together to celebrate resilience, dedication, and excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health!

To see the full details, click here.

Photo credit: NACCHO

 

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.

26 June 2024

The NACCHO Sector 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.

Community-led family violence responses needed

In a recent article for the National Indigenous Times Dr Hannah McGlade says the federal government shocked and hurt Aboriginal women across Australia with its announcement on 28 May of an Expert Panel tasked with conducting a Rapid Review of violence against women, with a focus on the killings of women, with not one Aboriginal woman included as a member of the panel.

Considering Aboriginal women are at exceptionally high risk of violence and even murder and have been standing strong against violence for many decades, this was a serious oversight and concern. Now last week, with no consultation with Aboriginal women, WA Premier Roger Cook and Minister Sabine Winton announced new family violence laws to include coercive and controlling behaviour, as well as electronic monitoring of high-risk offenders.

Violence against Aboriginal women will never be addressed while Aboriginal women’s expertise and leadership is denied and undermined. It’s time all forms of violence are addressed, including racism and the imposition of yet more laws that carry unacceptable risk of harm to First Nations women and children.

To view the National Indigenous Times article Aboriginal community-led responses to family and domestic violence are needed, not more police powers in full click here.

Dr Hannah McGlade portrait shot, Aboriginal painting in the background

Dr Hannah McGlade, a Kurin Minang human rights expert, law academic and member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Photo: Rangi Hirini, NITV.

Project aims to improve custodial healthcare for mob

At the end of January this year, Lynore Geia, Palm Island Bwgcolman woman and Professor of Nursing and Midwifery at Edith Cowan University, contacted NACCHO to request the dissemination of a letter via the NACCHO Sector News newsletter. It has only now come to light that this unfortunately did not occur.

The letter, available here, was written to inform Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and families of a project initiated by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) titled An analysis of Coronial Tribunal findings of deaths in custodial settings of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People that involved a nurse or midwife. The project is driven by a commitment to enhancing cultural safety and addressing health equity and racism as public health issues through improved nursing and midwifery care for our community members. The aim is to carefully examine the role of nurses and midwives in custodial settings.

This significant project is being undertaken by a diverse and skilled team, comprising four respected Aboriginal registered nurse researchers, namely Professors Lynore Geia (Bwgcolman), Roianne West (Kalkadoon, Djunke), Juanita Sherwood (Wiradjuri), and Janine Mohamed (Narrunga Kaurna); and three non-Indigenous registered nurse researchers – Professors Karen Strickland, Lisa Whitehead, and Dr. Belinda Lovell, along with Psychologist Professor Andrew Day, who specialises in criminology and psychology.

The project team has been carefully reviewing coroners reports from 2012 to 2022 that are publicly accessible through databases such as the Australasian Legal Information Institute website, State and Territory Coroner’s websites, and The Deaths in Custody Project. As health professionals the team is concerned that past and recent coronial inquires have raised questions around nursing and midwifery care where a nurse/midwife has been involved in the health care of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person who has died in custody. The primary purpose of the project is to analyse the nursing or midwifery care as described in the coroner’s reports to identify any areas that require change to improve the cultural safety of nursing and midwifery care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custodial settings.

It is anticipated that this strategic work will significantly contribute to necessary reforms in nursing and midwifery care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custodial settings.

custodial nurse Hugo Chatwin-Smith

Registered nurse Hugo Chatwin-Smith, Victoria Police Custodial Health Service. Image source: Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal.

Health costs widen gap for rural, remote mob

From sleeping rough in parklands to skipping medical appointments, the additional burden of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure is widening the healthcare gap for Aboriginal households in rural and remote regions. The rising cost of living, including the need to travel long distances to medical appointments, as well as income limits and shortages of housing and medical services, also adds to the health burden on rural and remote communities.

In particular, Aboriginal families in remote regions face even higher out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure (or OOPHE) – which includes additional healthcare expenses not covered by universal taxpayer insurance (i.e. Medicare) – due to additional health needs and multiple barriers to getting appropriate care.

In a new article in Rural and Remote Health journal experts in Indigenous health worked closely with Aboriginal communities from SA’s Far West region to examine these impacts. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a rate of potentially preventable hospitalizations 4.9 times greater than other Australians. Poor communication is a well-established risk factor contributing to adverse medicine events. For a medicine to be used effectively, treatment decisions need to be conveyed to consumers and their support people in ways they understand.

To view the Rural and Remote article Experiences and impacts of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure on remote Aboriginal families in full click here. 

RFDS nurse treating young Aboriginal boy on plane

Image source: Royal Flying Doctor Service website.

PSA Faye McMillan grant winners announced

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has announced the recipients of the second annual PSA Faye McMillan Conference Grant as Timothy Hockam, Elizabeth Dening, and Kirralee Natty.

Inspired and supported by Prof McMillan, the annual grant offers an opportunity for First Nations pharmacists to attend the PSA National Conference (PSA24) next month, which will foster their professional development.

McMillan, a Wiradjuri yinaa (woman) originally from Trangie, NSW, was the first Indigenous Australian to hold a western degree in pharmacy. She congratulated all the recipients and said, “belonging is such a critical aspect of being part of a profession, and the relationship with PSA gives that feeling”.

To view the Pharmacy Daily article McMillian grant winners in full click here.

tile with text PSA Faye McMillan Conference Grant - 2024 Winners Announced, PSA logo & photo of Faye McMillan

Image source: PSA website.

Genocide in the Wildflower State documentary

Yokai (Western Australian Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation) support the needs of individuals and families in WA adversely affected by policies and practices of separating Aboriginal peoples from their families, communities, countries and cultures. Yokai’s Chairperson, Mr Jim Morrison, will be attending Parliament House in Canberra next week for the screening of their latest documentary Genocide in the Wildflower State.

The 60 minute documentary is about a violent, state-run system of eugenics, racial absorption, and social assimilation in Twentieth Century, WA. For the more than six decades between 1905 and 1970, thousands of mixed-race Aboriginal children in WA were forcibly removed from their families. Systematically organised by the State, overwhelmingly supported by WA society, generation after generation, for over 60 years — the State worked to destroy Aboriginal families, culture, and language, for the purpose of securing white, settler dominance.

In 1997 a National Inquiry called this for what it was — Genocide. ‘Stolen Generation’ Survivors give vivid and at times heartbreaking testimony of cruel isolation, abuse and humiliation in the system. Their accounts are supported by documentary evidence from state records, public archives and historical scholarship. “Genocide in the Wildflower State” is truth telling and a demand for justice. It holds to account successive parliaments in WA that have failed to make redress. It is about helping to heal the trauma in the Survivor community, and building understanding in broader society.

Yokai, through Senator Sue Lines’s invitation here, are inviting Community and government employees to attend the documentary launch.

You can view the trailer to the Genocide in the Wildflower State documentary here. 

first image of documentary text 'GENOCIDE in the Wildflower State' against backdrop outback trees & sky

Image source: Yakai.

$550k for Kempsey Her Futures Wellbeing project

The NSW Government is investing more than $2.6m to deliver seven women’s health, wellbeing and empowerment projects from 2024–2027 as part of the statewide Investing In Women Funding Program. Through this program, the NSW Government is working in partnership with community organisations to improve women’s economic opportunity and advancement, health and wellbeing and participation – the three priority areas of the NSW Women’s Strategy.

One of the projects to receive  2023-2024 funding is the Her Futures Foundation – The ‘Her Futures Wellbeing’ project is designed to reduce the major health concerns among Aboriginal women in Kempsey through a tailored health and wellbeing group program.

Commencing in 2024, the Her Futures Foundation’s health and wellbeing project will have a total funding of $550,000 to help tackle major health concerns among women in Kempsey. The foundation will deliver a 12-week group program of facilitated fitness and healthy lifestyle sessions to improve fitness, self-care, guided access to services and social participation for local women.

To view the NSW Government media release $2.6 million invested in women’s health, wellbeing and empowerment in full click here. 

mural of Aboriginal woman, snake & stars

Kelly Purvis Mural, Savages Lane, Kempsey. Image source: visitnsw.com.

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.

 

25 June 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.

New report calls for urgent action on diabetes prevention

Diabetes Australia’s 2024 State of the Nation report, launched at New South Wales Parliament, reveals a worsening diabetes crisis, with alarming increases in type 2 diabetes diagnoses among younger Australians.

Over the past decade, there has been a 44% rise in diagnoses among 21 to 39-year-olds and a 17% increase among those under 20. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth (15-24 years) now experience the world’s highest rates of youth-onset type 2 diabetes, with prevalence doubling in the last five years.

Diabetes Australia CEO Justine Cain expressed concern over the lack of a national diabetes prevention plan, noting that over 300 new cases are diagnosed daily. With an estimated 2 million Australians living with diabetes, Cain emphasised the urgent need for prevention efforts to protect future generations.

The report, coinciding with an upcoming Federal parliamentary inquiry, includes 25 recommendations for addressing the crisis. Key proposals include a 20% levy on sugar-sweetened beverages, promotion of type 2 diabetes remission, a national diabetes kidney screening program, increased funding for diabetes research, and new training programs for aged care staff.

To view Diabetes Australia’s media release in full, click here.
To view The State of the Nation 2024 Report, click here.

A cut boy and his mother making silly faces while in a restaurant

iStock.com / Brian Koellish

$16 million to support healthcare in rural and remote Australia

The Albanese Government is investing $16 million to support 11 innovative healthcare projects in rural and remote Australia that aim to provide a range of innovative models of care, including:

  • better care for chronic disease,
  • specialist geriatric services for older Australians,
  • culturally safe maternity care for First Nations families,
  • outreach to reduce liver disease among First Nations communities,
  • child health outreach to small rural communities,
  • mobile primary care clinics,
  • better collaboration between general practice and pharmacy,
  • better training and support for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.

Projects are supported in every Australian state and the Northern Territory. This funding will support healthcare professionals to work together across disciplines in new ways, to meet the needs of people in rural and remote communities.

You can read the Department of Health and Aged Care’s media release here.
Further information on the trial projects can be found on the Department of Health and Aged Care website here.

“These trials will help build a stronger rural healthcare system, and provide better care, closer to home, for people living in the bush.”
Assistant Minister McBride

clinic in black paint with red arrow on tin on pole at side of red dusk road

Photo: Ian Waldie, Getty Images. Image source: ABC News.

Disparities persist in childhood cancer rates

Despite national and global reports of rising incidences of cancer affecting children and young people, new analysis has found rates of childhood cancer have remained unchanged over the past 30 years in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

A new analysis reveals that childhood cancer rates in South Australia and the Northern Territory have remained stable over the past 30 years, contrasting with rising incidences reported nationally and globally. Dr. Suzanne Mashtoub from the University of Adelaide and Flinders University highlighted that this stability suggests different underlying causes for childhood and young adult cancers.

The study, involving researchers from various institutions including the Telethon Kids Institute and Menzies Research Institute, examined cancer incidence and survival among children aged 19 and under from 1990 to 2017. Findings showed a significant decrease in cancer incidence among non-Indigenous children and unchanged rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, with lymphocytic leukemia being the most common diagnosis.

While overall survival rates improved in South Australia, they remained steady in the Northern Territory. Despite significant improvements in survival for Indigenous children over the past 20 years, disparities persist compared to non-Indigenous children.

Dr. Justine Clark from the Telethon Kids Institute emphasised the need to address issues faced by Indigenous families in the NT, including timely diagnosis, financial and logistical barriers, and cultural safety within cancer services. She called for the healthcare system to tackle these challenges to improve cancer outcomes for Indigenous children.

To view The University of Adelaide’s media release in full, click here.
To view the report in full, click here.

Cancer can affect anyone. But the good news is, finding cancer early gives you the best chance of getting better.
Find out more at Yarn For Life.

Videos aim to help youth go vape-free

Vaping is a significant issue in the regions where Danny Allende works, with young Indigenous people statistically more likely to take it up. As the manager of Na Joomelah, a program addressing smoking and vaping among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Sydney and Wollongong, Allende notes that vaping impacts a wide demographic, including children as young as Year 2.

Na Joomelah, in collaboration with the Lung Foundation Australia and young First Nations people, has launched a series of animations to tackle vaping. These animations focus on the health impacts of vaping, as well as environmental and sporting concerns. The resources are being shared in schools, youth groups, social media, and community events.

Early results are promising, with a noticeable shift in young people’s attitudes towards vaping. Paige Preston from Lung Foundation Australia noted that three months into the pilot program, a third of participants had increased their knowledge about vaping’s harmful effects.

The success is partly attributed to the involvement of First Nations youth in the development process, ensuring the message resonates with the target audience. Na Joomelah also addresses the health of pregnant women and the broader community.

To view the full story in National Indigenous Times, click here.

Allied health key to critical health reform

Allied health professionals are an “untapped resource” essential for health reform, with a crucial focus on Aboriginal health, according to experts at a recent Western Sydney Local Health District event. Professor Beverley Harden MBE from NHS England emphasized rethinking allied health roles to address future health challenges.

Held on Dharug Country, the forum discussed leveraging allied health professionals to improve efficiency, retain workforce, and enhance patient outcomes amid an aging population and rising chronic diseases. Jacqueline Dominish of NSW Health stressed the need for system transformation to prevent future crises.

Innovations like the Rapid Assessment, Intervention, and Discharge-Emergency Department (RAID-ED) program were highlighted for improving patient satisfaction and reducing hospital admissions. Expanded roles for allied health professionals, including paramedics and Aboriginal Health Practitioners, were also discussed.

Belinda Cashman, Director of Aboriginal Health Strategy, emphasized incorporating a cultural lens into all initiatives to improve Aboriginal health outcomes and trust in the health system. She called for increasing Aboriginal representation in allied health careers and ensuring culturally appropriate care.

To view the full story on Croakey, click here.

Australian Aboriginal Ceremony, man hand with green eucalyptus branches and smoke, start a fire for a ritual rite at a community event in Adelaide, South Australia

Image source: iStock / Elena Pochesneva

Treaty inquiry slams ‘illusion of concern’ on housing

Victoria’s truth-telling inquiry has criticised the state’s lack of progress in addressing homelessness among First Nations people, who make up 3.8% of the population but account for 20% of the homeless.

State Housing Minister Harriet Shing apologised for the historical and ongoing disadvantages faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities during her testimony at the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

Despite pointing to existing forums and advocating for more federal funding, Commissioner Maggie Walter and others expressed frustration with the ineffectiveness of long-standing bureaucratic measures. Shing acknowledged systemic issues but denied that the government intentionally set up the program to fail, while admitting the system’s failure.

To read the full story at SBS, click here.

Homeless person's bedding stored under a bench

Homeless person’s bedding stored under a bench

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.

24 June 2024

The NACCHO Sector 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.

Aged Care leaders commit to cultural safety

Four major Australian aged care providers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ACCO Yokai this week signalling the groups’ commitment to enhancing culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal customers. Juniper, MercyCare, Bethanie, and Hall and Prior reached the MOU with Yokai, an Aboriginal rights and Stolen Generations advocacy group.

Yokai’s CEO Jim Morrison, “It’s encouraging to see aged care organisations committing to understanding that caring for older Aboriginal people, especially Stolen Generations Survivors, should focus not only on their clinical needs but also on their cultural needs, such as their connection to Country and lived experience.”

Yokai, a term derived from the Noongar language, serves as a powerful call to action, conveying the message of ‘enough is enough’. The initiative has been collaboratively developed by the Bringing Them Home Committee (WA) and the WA Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation, which serves as the representative body for Stolen Generation Survivors in WA. The work undertaken by Yokai is grounded in thorough consultation and extensive research, with the aim of achieving improved outcomes for the Aboriginal community and Stolen Generations Survivors.

To view the National Indigenous Times article Aged care leaders commit to Aboriginal cultural safety with Yokai agreement in full click here.

Russell Bricknell & Jim Morrison shake hands at culturally safe aged care MOU signing

Russell Bricknell and Jim Morrison shake hands at the MOU. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

Denticare is the goal but long road ahead

The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association’s (AHHA) Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research has released an issues paper titled ‘integrating oral health into primary healthcare for improved access to oral health care for rural and remote populations’, available here. The brief collated information on issues, particularly for rural and remote and Indigenous Australians, in accessing oral health care, namely maldistribution of oral health services and a constrained dental workforce supply in these areas. The brief found that integrating oral health promotion, screening and non-invasive preventive care provision into primary care could have far reaching effects.

“Primary care providers are often the first point of contact for health services in rural and remote communities and are well positioned to provide basic oral health care,” said AHHA chief executive Kylie Woolcock. “However, limited oral health knowledge and skills and boundaries to professional scopes of practice curb the possibility of leveraging existing primary healthcare resources for oral health care provision.”

According to Adjunct Associate Professor at the Menzies Centre for health policy and economics Lesley Russell while the goal should eventually be a Medicare-like support system for oral health care, “Denticare”, or incorporation of dentistry into Medicare, getting there would need to be an iterative process. In the interim, Professor Russell suggested that health checks could be broadened to include the mouth and particular populations could be supported through Medicare for oral health care, such as those with relevant chronic conditions like cancer, HIV/AIDS and diabetes – and Indigenous communities. “Ideally, you’d have a dentist or at least a dental technician within an ACCHO or a primary care practice,” she said.

To view the Medical Republic article ‘Denticare’ is the goal, but it’s a long road ahead here.

Aboriginal woman in dental chair

Image source: Central Australian Aboriginal Congress website.

National Anti-Racism Framework workshops

The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is developing a National Anti-Racism Framework as a central reference point for anti-racism action by government, non-profits, businesses, communities, and other sectors. Guided by a community-led and human rights-based approach, the Commission is currently progressing national First Nations and multicultural community-level consultations to seek community advice and input on designing the Framework. These consultations are all led, designed, and facilitated by First Nations Co., and offer various modes of participation.

Following the completion of in-person consultations, First Nations Co. is excited to announce 12 virtual workshops dedicated to informing the development of a National Anti-Racism Framework. If you work in the Education, Health, or Justice sectors, your voice is crucial!

Healthcare Services, ACCHOs, Health Organisations/Departments

  • Wednesday 26 June, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (AEST)
  • Thursday 27 June, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (AEST)
  • Wednesday 3 July, 10:00 am – 11:00 am (AEST)
  • Thursday 4 July, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (AEST)

To register complete this registration form and receive your meeting invite from the First Nations Co. team.

Can’t attend? Share your insights via our online survey. Your participation is invaluable in building a framework that truly represents our community’s needs.

If needed and preferred, the First Nations Co. team is open to engaging in one-on-one virtual consultations with individuals and peak bodies, and these sessions can be arranged with First Nations Co. directly on a case-by-case basis. Written submissions are also accepted if this method is preferred.

If you have questions or want to learn more about this project, you can access the First Nations Co. website here or contact First Nations Co. by email here.

You can view NACCHO’s National Anti-Racism Framework Submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission – February 2022 here. 

Australian Human Rights Commission national Anti-Racism Framework tile, AHRC logo & circle with different colour wedges

Image source: AHRC website.

Identifying upper GI cancers GP training

The Pancare Foundation, which provides support to people impacted by a diagnosis of Upper Gastrointestinal cancer, have launched their first GP education module: Trust your gut: identifying upper gastrointestinal cancers in general practice. This comprehensive module focuses on recognising signs and symptoms for earlier detection of oesophageal and stomach cancers.

Trust Your Gut is a video-based activity, for GPs and nurses, designed to increase awareness of symptoms warranting urgent referral for stomach and oesophageal cancers. By the end of the activity, participants will be able to:

  • identify patients at high risk of oesophagogastric cancer and those who present with symptoms.
  • facilitate appropriate and timely referral of patients at risk of, or with suspected, oesophagogastric cancer for further investigations and/or specialist intervention.

You can access the GP module here and the nurse module here.

You can view a flyer for the education modules here.

More support for birthing on Country

More First Nations families now have access to culturally safe maternal healthcare in NE Arnhem Land thanks to a growing workforce of Djäkamirr. Djäkamirr are First Nations skilled companions and caretakers of pregnancy and birth, who use both Yolŋu and western knowledge to support women in Birthing on Country.

First Nations women and their babies experience poorer health outcomes compared to non-Indigenous mothers and their babies. The rate of preterm birth in First Nations mothers is almost double that of non-Indigenous mothers (14.1% in First Nations mothers, compared with 7.9% in non-Indigenous mothers in 2021).

The federal government said in a statement yesterday (Sunday, 23 June 2024) that as part of its commitment to Closing the Gap, it is investing $6m in funding in the Djäkamirr Birthing on Country Project in Galiwin’ku. Molly Wardaguga Institute for First Nations Birth Rights director of research and innovation, Professor Sue Kildea, said the initiative “is an absolute game changer that is likely to have lifelong impact and change the way we deliver services across Australia – a landmark in cultural recognition and the blending of western and Yolŋu knowledges and culture.”

To view the National Indigenous Times article Funding boost for maternal healthcare in North East Arnhem Land in full click here.

Aboriginal mum & baby

Image source: National Indigenous Times.

Millions unknowingly at risk of heart failure

Heart failure is estimated to affect approximately half a million Australians, with over 67,000 Australians being diagnosed each year. Heart failure patients often suffer from multiple comorbidities (cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular), such as an irregular heart rate or rhythm, high blood pressure, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, iron deficiency, and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. A new survey commissioned by YouGov, on behalf of leading charity Hearts4heart, indicates more than four million Australians are not aware of the comorbidities that can increase the risk of heart failure.

Despite the name, heart failure doesn’t mean the heart has stopped or failed, it means that the heart is ‘failing’ to keep up with the body’s demands. A comorbidity, which is any co-existing health condition, is one contributing factor to heart failure if not properly managed so, it’s essential to speak to your GP to understand your risks and treat any underlying medical conditions you may have.

In May 2023, the Heart Health Check program, subsidised by Medicare, was extended for another two years, allowing people aged 45 and over and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 30 and over to assess their risk of heart disease during a 20-minute consultation with a medical practitioner.

To view the The Heart4Heart article Millions of Australians unknowingly at increased risk of heart failure article in full click here. 

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.

21 June 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.

Largest remote housing investment in NT signed

The largest remote housing investment in NT was signed yesterday (Thursday 21 June 2024) at the remote community of Milikapiti on the Tiwi Islands. The new 10-year remote housing partnership agreement is designed to halve overcrowding in Aboriginal communities, which has been a major long-running problem in northern Australia.

The federal government said in a statement that the Partnership Agreement represents a new way of working collaboratively with Aboriginal communities and housing organisations towards a better remote housing system across the Territory’s 73 remote communities. The $4b agreement commits federal and Territory governments working with the four NT Land Councils and Aboriginal Housing NT to collaborate on improving existing housing and building houses that are culturally appropriate and meet the climate challenges of the Territory.

Construction of up to 2,700 new homes across the Territory aim to halve overcrowding in the next 10 years, aligning with the National Closing the Gap targets with improvements in health, education and community safety, as well as opportunities for economic growth across the Territory. Federation Funding Agreements between the NT and the Commonwealth, informed by the Partnership Agreement, will also include better repairs and maintenance in remote community housing and improvements and infrastructure upgrades in homelands.

To view the National Indigenous Times article Largest remote housing investment in Northern Territory signed at Milikapiti on the Tiwi Islands in full click here.

Selena Uibo, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and Marion Scrymgour MP (centre three) with locals in Milikapiti

Selena Uibo, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and Marion Scrymgour MP (centre three) with locals in Milikapiti. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

Ensuring Ballarat kids are ready for school

The Albanese Government is helping First Nations children get the best start in life, expanding the successful Connected Beginnings program to Ballarat with $1.8m provided to the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC).

The program connects First Nations children aged 0–5 with a range of early childhood health, education, and family support services – helping children meet the learning and development milestones necessary to achieve a positive transition to school. The new site in Ballarat, being delivered in partnership with BADAC, will support about 350 First Nations children in the local area.

The Government partners with SNAICC National Voice for our Children and the NACCHO to deliver the Connected Beginnings program, a community-led project achiving results for about 16,500 First Nations children across Australia. The funding for the new Ballarat site is part of an $81.8m investment to expand the program to 50 sites across the Country. Once all 50 sites are established the program has the potential to support up to 20% of all First Nations children aged 0-5.

You can learn more about the Connected Beginnings program on the Australian Government Department of Education website here and by watching the SNAICC video by clicking this link.

To view the joint media release Ensuring First Nations children in Ballarat are school ready in full click here. 

Screenshot of video from SNAICC about the Connected Beginnings program

Screenshot of video from SNAICC about the Connected Beginnings program. Image source: SNAICC website.

Interventions show promise to prevent elder abuse

To mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) released an interactive database of 89 interventions that show promise to prevent and respond to the abuse of older people, also known as elder abuse. This database is the first product of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing’s Intervention Accelerator initiative on abuse of older people. The Intervention Accelerator is an international network of experts, led by WHO, working to develop a portfolio of effective approaches to address the abuse of older people.

Abuse of older people is widespread, with around 1 in 6 people aged 60 years and above in the community experiencing some form of abuse every year. Abuse of older people can have serious consequences for healthcare and wellbeing, including earlier death, physical injuries, depression, cognitive decline and poverty. However, until recently experts agreed there were no interventions scientifically proven to work to prevent and respond to abuse of older people, which may contribute to the under-prioritisation of the issue globally.

“WHO’s new database is a critical first step towards developing and scaling up cost-effective solutions to address abuse of older people, which has been highlighted as one of five priorities to tackle the issue during the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030,” said Dr Etienne Krug, Director of the Department of Social Determinants of Health, WHO. “It is high time to do more as a global community to address this neglected but seriously harmful problem. I encourage all stakeholders committed to ending the abuse of older people to use and build on this evidence-based tool.”

To view the Healthcare Channel article New database aims to accelerate global action against elder abuse in full click here.

NT Aboriginal Health Forum marks 100th meeting

The NT Aboriginal Health Forum (NTAHF) marked its 100th meeting on Wednesday (19 June 2024), covering a span of 26 years. The Forum is the main collaborative Aboriginal health planning partnership between government and ACCHOs in the NT.

Aboriginal man from Derby and Forum chairperson Rob McPhee said the NTAHF has shown over 26 years that collaboration between the government and the Aboriginal community can achieve significant results. “Over more than a quarter of a century, the NTAHF has demonstrated what can be achieved when government and the Aboriginal community sit down in a spirit of collaboration and respect to make decisions together,” he said.

Mr McPhee highlighted key successes of the Forum, including increased primary health care funds through better Medicare access for Aboriginal people, equitable distribution of resources via funding allocation formulas, agreement on core functions of primary health care, development of NT Aboriginal Health KPIs to monitor service delivery, and supporting the transition of government-run primary health care services to Aboriginal community control. “Through these actions, the Forum played a key role in improving the health outcomes of our people over the last two decades,” Mr McPhee said.

To view the National Indigenous Times article Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum celebrates 100th meeting milestone in full click here.

NT Aboriginal Health Forum NTAHF 100th meeting group

Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum NTAHF 100th meeting group. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

Why you may be asked to draw a clock

You may be asked to draw a clock upon admission to a hospital as part of a cognitive assessment. A cognitive assessment is conducted to help health professionals determine any changes in multiple mental abilities, including learning, thinking, reasoning, remembering, problem-solving, decision-making and attention span. This screening process can help to determine whether a person has started to experience delirium or dementia.

Approximately 10 – 18% of Australians aged 65 years or older have delirium at the time of admission to hospital and a further two to eight percent develop delirium during their hospital stay. People experiencing delirium may show signs of confusion, uncertainty, inattention, distress or psychosis. A person may experience delirium for a few days and be asked to take the clock-drawing test throughout their hospital stay to see if their score improves and rule out underlying conditions.

For First Nations people the Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment was specifically designed as an alternative cognitive assessment to assist health professionals.

To view the Aged Care Guide article Why you may be asked to ‘draw a clock’ at the hospital in full click here.

Warning as flu cases surge

Authorities have warned serious cases of the flu have jumped 33% across NSW, leaving an increasing number of people sick in emergency rooms. The number of influenza cases and presentations in hospitals rose within the span of a week, according to the latest NSW Health Respiratory Surveillance Report.

The increasing flu activity is not only concerning, it is expected to worsen in the coming weeks, NSW Health director of health protection Dr Jeremy McAnulty said. “Influenza is more serious than the common cold,” he said. “It can cause pneumonia, make chronic underlying medical conditions like diabetes, lung and heart disease much worse requiring hospital admission and causing death. Complications can occur in anyone but are most likely in those at higher risk of severe illness.”

The state’s health authority has urged everyone to get vaccinated – especially those at a greater risk of severe disease. People most at risk are eligible for free vaccinations and include those over the age of 65, children aged between six months and five, Indigenous people from six months of age, pregnant women and people with serious health conditions like diabetes, cancer, immune disorders and severe asthma. “Vaccination is the best protection against infection and severe disease,” McAnulty said. “By getting vaccinated you also help protect those around you.”

To view the 9 News article Warning as surging flu cases, hospital visits squeeze NSW health system in full click here.

hospital ward

Photo: Kate Geraghty. Image source: 9 News.

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.

20 June 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.

Kalgoorlie-Boulder Elders share wisdom and stories to encourage men at Bega Garnbirringu mental health event

Aboriginal elders in Kalgoorlie-Boulder offered wisdom and shared stories as they encouraged younger men to look after themselves and each other at a men’s mental health lunch. Bega Garnbirringu Health Service hosted the event, with Indigenous men given the chance to connect with one another over a meal. Local elders Aubrey Lynch, Allan Bonney and Ron Harrington-Smith shared moving stories from their childhood and inspired attendees to have important conversations with their mates.

Bega Garnbirringu social and emotional wellbeing councillor Bret Lambadgee helped organise the event to help men in the community learn skills to cope with the challenges of life.

“Unfortunately a lot of men are killing themselves whether they’re Indigenous or not, so it is about saving our men really,” he said.

“We need the men to know their value that they matter, that we acknowledge them, we see them.

“Just to know there’s support out there is really important those supports to help you get through the low times in life because we all know what life is like — it goes up and down.”

NDIS remote community connecter Rex Weldon said the advice of Elders was central to Aboriginal culture.

“The whole idea of having the event incorporate our elders, who are always inspirational to us, and that’s in our culture, to listen to what they have to say,” Mr Weldon said.

He said the event was also a chance for more people to learn about the services on offer at Bega.

“We’ve got a number of clients that are doing it hard out there and the system from our perspective seems to be failing them a bit so we need to get the word out there that we have resources here available — wraparound services within the one organisation.”

To read the full article, go here.

Goldfields Aboriginal elders Aubrey Lynch, Allan Bonney and Ron Harrington-Smith shared stories at the men’s mental health event organised by Rex Weldon and his team. Credit: Anneke de Boer.

If this article brought up anything for you or someone you love, please reach out to, call or visit the online resources listed below for support. The four organisations in blue offer immediate help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ray Martin backs new facility for Tamworth Aboriginal medical Service

A planned new Aboriginal medical service is still waiting on government funding, but its proponents hope work can get under way in the next 12 months. Since opening their doors 30 years ago, Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service (TAMS) has provided a range of services to Tamworth’s Indigenous community. Having outgrown their Peel Street facility, the planned $20.2 million medical centre has been on the agenda “for a long time,” TAMS CEO Damion Brown said.

“We have put in for two federal proposal and we have gotten through to the second round of both proposals,” Mr Browns said.

“We have been notified that we were not successful in one of those.”

But the TAMS board is not giving up hope, as they await the outcome of the second grant application. Highly regarded television journalist Ray Martin was in the region last week to film a documentary about the TAMS project.

“TAMS is pretty unique,” he told the Leader.

“They do about 200 patients a day and 6,000 plus a year. They are now too big for their building, which is filled with damp and leaks.”

Over the course of four days, Mr Martin visited the Tamworth-based facility, met with staff and looked over plans for the proposed South Tamworth medical cantre.

“TAMS is doing a great job, and I don’t understand what the problem is; why the government cannot say, ‘tick that box and support them.’”

If given the green light for funding, the facility will be built in a “centeralised” location in South Tamworth. Mr Brown said the new facility would be “fit-for-purpose” and “culturally aligned.” It would also provide a variety of services, including elderly care, homelessness services, mental health support, GP visitation, and more.

The TAMS CEO hopes to see shovels hit the ground in the next 12 months.

To read the full article, go here.

Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Services CEO Damion Brown in front of the Peel Street facility they have outgrown. Picture by Peter Hardin.

Supporting your journey after losing bub

The Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence’s Jiba Pepeny (Star Baby) Supporting your journey after losing bub is a resource made by Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people with the support of the Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence and Mater Research.

Aboriginal people have higher rates of stillbirth than non-Indigenous people. The Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence and its partners identified that there is little availability of culturally supportive, responsive and safe services and resources that are directly related to stillbirth and caring for families during Sorry Business.

This resource is a way to support you through the Sorry Business of losing your little bub. In hopes this guide gives you the information you need to feel strong in the decisions you are making for yourself and Bub.

To view the Jiba Pepeny (Star Baby) Supporting your journey after losing bub resource, go here, and for further resources, go here.

Jiba Pepeny (Star Baby) Supporting your journey after losing bub cover.

VACCHO says raising the age of criminal responsibility is a step forward, however ‘bolder steps are needed’

Victoria’s peak Indigenous-controlled health organisation has welcomed the state government’s decision to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12 – without exceptions – but warned it would need to be raised to 14 to avoid the well-known detrimental impacts of criminalising children.

Announced on Tuesday, the Victorian government’s decision to raise the age – a long-term priority for the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), along with other Indigenous organisations, human rights groups, and medical experts – means the state will be the first in the country to raise the age without carve outs.

Chief executive Jill Gallagher said the announcement was “long overdue,” but called on the government to be “bold and brave and truly lead the way” by increasing the age to 14.

“Contact with the criminal justice system continues to stigmatise young people and makes it more likely that they will have ongoing contact with the system,” the Gunditjmara woman said.

“This exacerbates intergenerational trauma and perpetuates cycles of disadvantage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in Victoria.”

VACCHO, who along with the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) have been two of the most high profile organisations in Victoria calling for the age to be raised, said whilst the decision was welcomed, they mirrored VALS’ concerns yesterday that the age of criminal responsibility should be immediately raised to 14 – in line with medical expert advice and international standards for child development.

“While VACCHO believes the move to raise the age to 12 is a step in the right direction, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the 12-13 age bracket will continue to be disadvantaged, and experience poorer outcomes than their non-Aboriginal peers,” a statement said.

The organisation argued there should be a “greater focus and investment in evidence-based trauma informed intervention programs,” arguing they better address the cause of offending, and offer support that reduces recidivism in the long-term.

The Victorian government has committed to raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 by 2027, with an independent review panel announced in October having already begun consultations on a new alternative service model.

To read the National Indigenous Times article, go here.

VACCHO CEO Jill Gallagher has urged the age to be raised to 14. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

Indigenous language program for patients takes flight

Indigenous language-speakers in rural NT can expect better communication with air ambulance staff after a leading service introduced cutting-edge digital communication tools. Aeromedical service CareFlight has developed animated video content in Indigenous languages to foster better communication between First Nations patients and English-speaking staff.

The videos explain patients’ rights and expectations as well as detailing how to provide feedback and complaints.

“We had a poster that was full of English language that, you know, was quite long,” CareFlight nursing director Amanda Quinn said.

“And we kind of looked at it going, how can we do this in a more meaningful way?”

The videos, created by Indigenous graphic designers Echo Whiskey with support from Viva Energy, will be presented on an iPad and available in nine languages that can be selected on a map.

“We talked about iPads for patients to be able to distract them if they’re in pain, particularly for the kids, and we kind of went, well, we could combine this” Ms Quinn said.

The service estimates about 90% of its patients in rural NT are Indigenous and it expects the program will significantly improve the delivery of healthcare in the region.

“We’re picking up some of the most vulnerable patients on the worst days of their life,” Ms Quinn said.

“We’re always wanting to make sure our messaging gets across and the patient feels more comfortable and supported.”

To read the full article, go here.

CareFlight NT is using an Indigenous language program to better inform its patients. (HANDOUT/CAREFLIGHT).

Improving access to comprehensive eye care

Shane Brookman, former owner of Capital Eye and founder of Angel Eyecare, a mobile optometry service which provides comprehensive eye exams that check for glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and corrective eyewear from the comfort of peoples’ home.

“There’s plenty of people sitting at their homes right now that can’t get to their local optometrist because of mobility issues and need to have a medical health professional come to them,” says Shane.

“No matter where they are, even if they’re in residential aged care, nursing homes, veteran centres, if we can just get one son or daughter to say, ‘my mum needs this, my dad needs this’, call me up and I can go there.”

In the last five years, Shane says mobile optometry technology has rapidly grown, with portable devices that can photograph the back of a person’s eye and show if they have diabetes, high blood pressure or cataracts, and devices to take photos of the front of the eye to look out for cancers.

Shane also established the eye clinic at Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services in 2017, after learning there is a 20-year health gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

“My grandmother was indigenous, and so from a very young age, she kind of drummed into me, ‘this is part of who you are, don’t forget this side of who you are’.

“So I felt very moved by that, and I approached Winnunga and said: ‘I’m an optometrist, I’ve got a special interest here because of my family connection, I’ve got a practice in Barton, how can I help?’”

Shane says his ultimate aim is to improve lives through the gift of sight, including for patients who may not be able to afford or easily access comprehensive eye care.

“It’s all about removing the barriers to quality care by providing an essential community service, and preventing blindness,” he says.

To read the full article Optometrist meets his mission with mobile eye tests, go here.

Mobile optometrist Shane Brookman conducts an eye test at a patient’s home. Image source: CBR City News.

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.

19 June 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.

Reimagining Indigenous Healthcare

Dr. Paul Saunders, a Biripi man, is a Western Sydney Aboriginal scholar. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) as well as a Master of Public Health (MPH). He is currently pursuing a PhD in Medical Education at Western Sydneyt University. Dr. Paul’s PhD is focused on transforming the alignment of the current medical system with the expectations of Indigenous communities. He aims to facilitate lasting change within the medical workforce rather than implement isolated changes.

During his clinical practice, Dr. Paul was confronted with the stark reality of the poor statistics surrounding Indigenous healthcare, patient experiences, and outcomes. It was a wake-up call that making a meaningful change couldn’t be left to the practice level alone. This realisation propelled him into the research space, where he works tirelessly to address these issues.

Dr. Paul advocates for culturally responsive education to prioritise cultural safety in medical students’ work ethic. In addition to pursuing his PhD, he completed the Professional Certificate of Indigenous Research to complement his research. This program aims to educate Indigenous students on navigating the Western research system while maintaining a focus on and incorporating Indigenous research practices and methods of inquiry.

Dr. Paul is deeply concerned that the medical education system in Australia does not fully recognise or value Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. He is determined to change this, not just for the present, but to create a positive change that will benefit Indigenous generations for years. His work is not just about the here and now but about shaping a brighter future for Indigenous healthcare.

To view the Health Times article Reimagining Indigenous Healthcare: Dr. Paul Saunders’ Educational Mission in full click here.

Biripi man Dr Paul Saunders standing outside School of Medicine building

Dr Paul Saunders. Image source: University of Melbourne Pursuit webpage.

Prevention key to tackling chronic disease epidemic

Patients need more affordable chronic disease care – that’s the message the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is sending the Federal Government in response to consultation on a new National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions. RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said: “Nearly half of all Australians have one or more chronic diseases – we need to invest more in prevention and management in primary care, so people don’t end up in hospital.

The RACGP is calling for higher patient Medicare rebates for longer consultations to better support Australians with chronic disease. This care is complex, and GPs need more time to spend with patients. “The rebate is the amount the government pays to subsidise healthcare for Australians. And in the current cost-of-living crisis it’s more important than ever that the government subsidies cover the cost of providing care, so it’s affordable for everyone. But after decades of underfunding of general practice care, including the 10-year Medicare freeze, today’s rebates don’t come close to the real-life cost of providing care across Australia.

“The greatest burden of chronic illness is experienced by disadvantaged groups, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those living in rural and remote communities. Government policies and decisions must work to close the gap for these groups. “Health policy and funding must support a patient-centred approach and multidisciplinary team care – this gets the best health outcomes. Multidisciplinary team care is when GPs are supported to work together with other specialists, allied health and other primary care professionals to get the best outcomes for the patient.”

To view the RACGP media release Prevention key to tackle Australia’s chronic disease epidemic in full click here. The below video explains how a Dubbo Regional Aboriginal Medical Service program supports clients with chronic disease.

New Coober Pedy renal dialysis clinic opens

First Nations Australians with severe kidney disease will have better access to lifesaving treatment with the opening of a new Coober Pedy renal dialysis clinic. The Coober Pedy clinic is the first to open under the Albanese Labor Government’s $73.2m Better Renal Services for First Nations Peoples initiative.

First Nations adults are twice as likely as non-Indigenous Australians to have chronic kidney disease and almost 4 times as likely to die from chronic kidney disease. Dialysis is essential, lifesaving treatment for patients with end stage kidney disease, which can otherwise only be treated by kidney transplant. Providing dialysis treatment closer to a patient’s home increases the likelihood of regular treatment, continued support and care, while remaining on Country and connected to community and family.

The Coober Pedy clinic will see approximately eight patients per week with potential to increase to 16 at times of high demand. Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation, also known as Purple House, will deliver the new services in Coober Pedy. The Government’s $73.2m in funding includes up to 30 dialysis units, including workforce accommodation in SA, WA and the NT, providing life-saving health care to First Nations people with end-stage kidney disease.

To view Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy’s media release New renal dialysis unit opens in Coober Pedy in full click here. 

The Purple House Coober Pedy Dialysis Unit

The Purple House Coober Pedy Dialysis Unit. Image source: Bibbulmun Fund website.

First Aboriginal ophthalmologist making a big impact

Australia’s first Aboriginal Ophthalmologist, Associate Professor Dr Kris Rallah-Baker, recently joined the successful Indigenous and Remote Eye Service (IRIS) with his first cataract surgery list delivered in Darwin in a collaboration between The Deadly Vision Centre, Darwin Private Hospital and Vanguard Health. The IRIS program – a $3m Closing the Gap initiative of the federal government – delivered more than 400 cataract procedures from July 2023 to May 2024 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the NT.

The program began in 2011 and has grown in capacity and coverage to now support 400 cataract procedures annually across the NT. Dr Rallah-Baker said: “With the generous assistance and support of the IRIS Program, we were able to deliver the first fully Indigenous-led ophthalmology surgical service to a group of Indigenous patients. This service demonstrated a wonderful example of self-determined health care achieved through a collaborative partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations.”

Vanguard Health CEO Tim Gallagher said “with the feedback we have from ACCHOs and health services saying this is a great on-demand model that is flexible and integrates seamlessly into our community ”… “we need to ask, is it something that we could expand to include other specialties and health care areas of need by just using the same model and framework?”.

To view the National Indigenous Times article Australia’s first Aboriginal ophthalmologist, Dr Kris Rallah-Baker, making a big impact with IRIS program in full click here.

Dr Kris Rallah-Baker and IRIS Theatre Nurse Melanie Eneigo

Dr Kris Rallah-Baker and IRIS Theatre Nurse Melanie Eneigo. Image: Vanguard. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

VALS welcomes long-awaited Youth Justice Bill

Victoria’s peak Indigenous legal service has welcomed the new youth justice bill announced by the State Government yesterday (18 June 2024), arguing it “fulfills Labor’s promise to better protect our children and young people”. However, the organisation also criticised funding for electronic monitoring and other new reforms which would see young people still interact with police.

On Tuesday, the Allan government fulfilled a promise to raise the age of criminal responsiblity to 12, along with a legislated scheme for warnings, cautions and early diversion; and codifying the long-held presumption of doli incapax. In response, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) commended the government for “finally showing leadership” after a number of “senseless delays” to progress “critical reforms on youth justice rather than pandering to the dangerous agenda of conservative newspapers”.

The organisation said there were several reforms in the new bill that “we should be proud of”, including raising the age of criminal responsibility to 12, and provisions around sentencing, cautions and diversions. “These inclusions will have a positive impact on diverting young people away from the criminal legal system – a system that, as widely acknowledged through Victoria’s truth-telling process, continues to harm and traumatise our people,” VALS said in a statement.

To view the National Indigenous Times article Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service welcomes state government’s “long-awaited” Youth Justice Bill in full click here.

Head of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Nerita Waight

Head of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Nerita Waight. Image source: The Sydney Morning Herald.

Data needed to tackle missing women and kids

An organisation providing culturally safe legal support and prevention for First Nations survivors of family violence says real-time tracking using accurate data would help direct resources to better tackle the issue of missing and murdered First Nations women and children. ACCO Djirra in Victoria told a parliamentary inquiry too many First Nations women who are victims of domestic violence are mis-identified by police as the perpetrators.

Antoinette Gentile is the acting CEO of the group. She says there is a need for more accurate data collection to support Indigenous self-determination, “At least 24% of the women we supported in 2023 had been mis-identified as perpetrators of violence by police. Mis-identification leads to criminalisation – and is a major contributor to the removal of our children. Jira has supported women who have reported violence to police, only to be issued with a warrant for their arrest – often over poverty-related offending such as unpaid fines.”

You can listen to the above excerpt from the SBS News Morning News Bulletin 19 June 2024 on the SBS News website here. The Four Corners episode  How Many More? (below) featured a special investigation into Australia’s murdered and missing Indigenous women.

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 June 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.

$200 Million Boost for Aged Care Services

The Albanese Government is investing $200 million in infrastructure grants to support residential aged care services in regional, rural and remote locations. The choice to enter residential aged care shouldn’t mean a choice to leave your community.

The government’s $200m funding package, in addition to $135 million recently awarded under Round 1, will improve access to quality aged care in small rural towns and remote communities, including for older First Nations people.

This $200 million will allow successful applicants to build new facilities as well as upgrade existing infrastructure. Funding under the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program supports the basic rights of all older people in Australia to have access to safe and high-quality aged care services regardless of where they live.

For this round eligibility has been expanded to include all regional areas (MM 2-7) with grants also available to help providers build and improve services for First Nations communities in any location, including major cities.

Grant information, including eligibility requirements are on GrantConnect.

Image source: iStock.

Carbal Medical Services, Jannah De-Bressac enhances immunisation support for First Nations Communities

Carbal Medical Services is proud to announce that Jannah De-Bressac, Aboriginal Health Practitioner (AHP) at Carbal Warwick, has successfully completed the First Nations Immunisation Course. With a dedicated service spanning five years, including 3.5 years as an Aboriginal Health Worker (AHW) and 1.5 years as an AHP, Jannah brings a wealth of experience and cultural insight to her role. Jannah is the first AHP in Queensland to have obtained this competency.

The completion of the First Nations Immunisation Course will significantly benefit Jannah’s practice by enabling her to provide robust support to the nursing staff. Leveraging her established relationships with the local community, Jannah will discuss vaccination benefits, importance, side effects, and concerns with families. She will also provide necessary resources to alleviate any apprehensions regarding immunisations.

Jannah’s familiarity and long-term engagement with the community play a crucial role in building trust.

“Having a familiar face to discuss concerns is invaluable. Over the years, I have built strong relationships, and having the time to discuss immunisations, address concerns, and explain vaccination benefits in a safe and culturally sensitive environment is vital,” says Jannah.

She emphasizes the importance of clear communication, free from jargon, particularly when discussing catch-up schedules. Jannah strongly advocates for the inclusion of the First Nations Immunisation Course in all AHW and AHP training programs.

“It is a great asset to any Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) clinic and to the health workers. I am now confident in discussing the benefits of vaccination and the process of vaccine creation with the community.”

Expressing her enthusiasm, Jannah stated, “I am excited to have completed the First Nations Immunisation Course because I can now confidently assist in the clinic. I am well-equipped to talk to parents, carers, and patients about vaccinations, their benefits, and to address any concerns they may have. The course has provided me with the tools to alleviate those concerns effectively.”

Jannah highlights the course’s family-friendly e-Learning approach and the strong support system it offers.

“The course allowed time for family, which is very important to me. The support was excellent, with prompt replies to any questions I had. It was interesting, and I learned a lot of new skills and information while having fun. I highly recommend it!”

For more information on Carbal Medical Services and the initiatives undertaken to support First Nations health, please go here.

Carbal Medical Services, Jannah De-Bressac successfully completed the First Nations Immunisation Course. Image source: Carbal Medical Services.

Raising awareness of blood borne viruses

The WA Department of Health has launched an advertising campaign to raise awareness of blood-borne viruses (BBVs), and the importance of BBV prevention among Aboriginal people aged 16-39 years. Blood-borne viruses – such as hepatitis B (Healthy WA), hepatitis C (Healthy WA) and HIV (Healthy WA) – are transmitted by blood, and hepatitis B and HIV can also be transmitted through sexual activity (sexual transmission of hepatitis C is also possible if blood is present). The campaign was developed in consultation with Aboriginal health workers and leaders from regional and metropolitan areas and community-based organisations including a peer organisation for people who inject drugs. Interviews with Aboriginal people in WA that have a lived experience of hepatitis C and HIV also shaped the campaign development.

People with blood-borne viruses often look and feel healthy, so encouraging people at risk to get tested is a key factor in addressing blood-borne viruses. Hepatitis C notifications are disproportionally high in the Aboriginal population. In WA, hepatitis C notifications in Aboriginal people are 13-times higher than reported among non-Aboriginal people. Injecting drug use also contributes to a proportion of newly diagnosed HIV infections in WA.

Testing is crucial as a range of treatments are now making it possible for people with blood-borne viruses to continue to live long and healthy lives. Treatments are now available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. A cure is now possible for 95% of people with chronic hepatitis C. Highly effective treatments are also available for people living with HIV.

Encourage your community to get tested for blood-borne viruses.

To learn more about the campaign, go here.

WA Department of Health Look After Your Blood campaign tile.

Aspiring doctor wants more “familiar faces” in health

From bandaging up mannequins at the local TAFE, to studying medicine at the University of Western Australia, Kahlie Lockyer has always wanted to make a difference. The Ngarluma, Kariyarra, Yawuru and Nyulnyul woman from Port Hedland grew up travelling to remote communities with her mother, a nurse who taught first aid and health courses to First Nations people. Her mum was her first inspiration.

“She really wanted to make a difference,” Ms Lockyer told AAP.

“Trying to help educate our people as well … I guess it was her way of doing her part to close the gap in Indigenous health.”

But it was when the accomplished 35-year-old artist had her second son, who was born with congenital complications, that she was propelled into the world of medicine.

“I knew what it felt like being an Indigenous mother and not having an understanding of what was going on with my boy, and coming up against a lot of racism,” she said.

“Some of the paediatricians we encountered were so amazing … I thought, we need more paediatricians that can provide the health care that our people need.”

Ms Lockyer is in her third year of medical school and after receiving the AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship to help with her studies said she feels empowered and excited for the future.

Getting through university has had its challenges but Ms Lockyer has loved her studies and she knows how important it is to have more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in the health sector.

“If an Indigenous person can get the care from someone who has the same understanding of how things are different for us and be a familiar face, it could give them more trust in the healthcare system,” she said.

To read the full article, go here.

Artist Kahlie Lockyer (centre) is the latest recipient of the AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship. (Image: HANDOUT/AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION).

Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation (KBHAC) bus visit to Winnunga

Julie Tongs, CEO of Winnunga Nimmityjha was pleased and honoured to welcome the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation (KBHAC) to Winnunga Nimmityjah last month. KBHAC is a Stolen Generations Survivor led organisation which was established by the survivors of Kinchela Boys Home.

The Home was run by the NSW Government for over 50 years to assimilate Aboriginal boys who, in their words, were kidnapped from their families. KBHAC was represented during the visit by three Kinchela “boys, notably Uncles Roger Jarrett, Richard Campbell and Willy Nixon, each of whom had spent their childhoods, in the 1950’s and 60’s at the Kinchela Boys Home after being forcefully removed, or in their words “kidnapped”, from their families. The “boys” were accompanied on the visit to Winnunga Nimmityjah by Aunty Lesley.

Before addressing staff a heartbreaking film, produced by KBHAC and which focussed on life at the Kinchela boys home, highlighted the inhuman and heartless treatment and abuse endured by the boys detained at the “home”.

KBHAC has developed a wide range of programs and services aimed at addressing the reconstruction of identity, restoration of family structures and improving social inclusion in the community. They also provide a range of services focussed on supporting Stolen Generations survivors and their descendants.

To read the full story, go here.

Shannan Dodson, Uncle Roger Jarrett, Julie Tongs, Uncle Willy Nixon, Aunty Lesley and Uncle Richard Campbell. Image source: Winnunga Nimmityjha.

Path to healthcare advocacy

In Yarrabah, Charanti Andrews found her calling at home. Her close-knit family, especially her grandfather, played a pivotal role. After he suffered a stroke in 2019, Ms Andrews cared for him during his rehabilitation. Once he recovered, she focused on her two younger nephews, both diagnosed with ADHD, and one also with autism, dedicating time to helping them manage their challenges. These experiences clarified her purpose: to make a meaningful impact in healthcare and transform lives with compassion.

Ms Andrews was fortunate to have supportive parents who valued hard work and resilience. Her mum, the CEO of the local health service, and her dad, the Mayor of Yarrabah, inspired her through their leadership. With their encouragement, Ms Andrews applied for and was accepted into the Cape York Leaders Program, securing a scholarship to attend one of Queensland’s top boarding high schools.

Joining the University of Queensland’s Health Science Camp, her passion for health sciences was clear, but the opportunity to explore disciplines like occupational therapy, nursing, dentistry, psychology, midwifery, and pathology provided the clarity she needed.

“I liked being surrounded by other Indigenous kids who have a passion for health, and I really enjoyed visiting the Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Centre,” Ms Andrews said.

“I love interacting with people with sensory disabilities. It just makes me happy.”

She has now completed Year 12 and has started turning her dream into a reality after enrolling in a Bachelor of Public Health at The Queensland University of Technology.

To read the full National Indigenous Times article, go here.

Charanti Andrews’ shift from family caregiving to healthcare advocacy shows her commitment to compassionate change. (Image: Cape York Partnership).

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 June 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.

New guaranteed funding boosts ACCHOs nationwide

First Nations health services will have certainty to plan for the medium-term future, as the federal government announced four-year rolling funding agreements from 1 July, along with a $300m funding boost. ACCHOs play an integral role in First Nations health and self-determination, delivering holistic, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate health care to the community which controls it. Last year, 120 ACCHOs delivered health care to more than 410,000 people in First Nations communities across the country. NACCHO Acting CEO Dawn Casey said the new rolling arrangements and increased funding would provide “crucial financial stability” for the sector. “This recognition further reflects the Sector’s longstanding provision of healthcare across diverse settings, from very remote to urban areas,” Dr Casey said.

Indigenous Minister Linda Burney said the government knows “communities have the solutions to so many challenges that face us. This new funding agreement will give ACCHOs the certainty they need to plan for the future, and work towards long term solutions.” Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy said ACCHOs “are a place that’s culturally safe for First Nations people to go to. They are also fluent in languages; for example, in Miwatj with the Yolngu language in central Australia, there are certainly languages there that need to be spoken and interpreted. So, it is a place that First Nations people feel they can go to talk about really important health issues.”

She highlighted the role ACCHOs play in education, noting it is a key component of chronic disease prevention. In reference to the NT – where more than 30% of residents identify as First Nations – Senator McCarthy said places such as Ampilatwatja which will see its funding increase by 5%, while there will also be increases for Anyinginyi in Tennant Creek, Katherine West, the Laynhapuy Homelands in northeast Arnhem Land and the Marthakal Homelands Aboriginal Corporation.

To view the National Indigenous Times article New funding and four-year guarantee boosts Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations nationwide in full click here.

Linda Burney and Malarndirri McCarthy

L-R: Linda Burney and Malarndirri McCarthy say ACCHOs are vital for First Nations health outcomes. Photo: AAP. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

Telstra outage causes ACCHOs to temporarily shut

Two SA Aboriginal health services say they have had to temporarily close their clinics due to a nationwide data outage impacting some Telstra customers, which has also left three councils unable to perform critical services for almost two weeks. Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation in Ceduna, on the west coast of SA, is one of the organisations impacted. Its CEO, Simon Prideaux, said the corporation had been without access to patient medical records, allergy information, specialist letters or appointment bookings since 1 June, prompting it to temporarily close its clinic this week.

“It’s extremely limiting the medical care that we’re able to provide safely … [and] it’s very concerning considering most of our cohort are Aboriginal people with chronic illnesses,” Mr Prideaux said. “We’ve had a loss of specialists coming over with their flights, their salaries and their accommodation that we’ve already pre-paid. We’ve had to cancel diabetes educators because we’re unable to access their bookings and phone numbers for clients, so the list is quite extensive.”

The Nunyara Aboriginal Health Service in Whyalla has also had to cancel its services, including visiting specialists. “It’s very frustrating not only for the backlog of work that people are going to have to do, but for all of the patients who are really quite vulnerable, walking around not being able to access healthcare,” Nunyara CEO Cindy Zbierski said. “It’s a lot safer to not provide a service and so we’ve been providing transport to other services and the hospital.”

To view the ABC News article Telstra outage forces Aboriginal health clinics to temporarily shut and causes ‘frustrating’ disruptions at regional councils in full click here.

sign at front of Nunyara Aboriginal Health Service Inc indicating location of parking

The Nunyara Aboriginal Health Service at Whyalla is one of the medical clinics that has been forced to shut. Photo: Nunyara Aboriginal Health Service. Image source: ABC News.

Telehealth program to provide support after infant loss

Cassidy Barlow’s friends didn’t understand when she told them her daughter was born sleeping. Health workers and relatives couldn’t always find the right words to comfort the 18-year-old after Delylah was stillborn at 24 weeks in 2020. With the Queensland health system in lockdown at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Barlow was often alone without any visitors. Then when she tried to access mental health support, she was turned away due to long waiting lists. “Having a healthy baby is isolating on its own but having a baby where you don’t get to bring them home is even more isolating,” Barlow said.

Barlow is one of many women whose stories informed the launch of a new national perinatal psychology service. The telehealth program is run by social enterprise Rural Health Connect. It is funded by the federal government for four years to support rural, Indigenous, migrant and young women and families after infant loss. Rural Health Connect founder Megan Gomez said the service aims to overcome common barriers to accessing care, like distance, social stigma, long waiting times and high costs.

“Telehealth has really changed everything for people living in the bush,” Gomez said. “Before, you had to drive to the practitioner you wanted to see and you didn’t have any choice in who you could see. Now, suddenly, you can access an expert in a particular field even if they live in another state.” The platform’s psychologists have been given specialist training in perinatal support, including culturally sensitive care. Patients need to be referred by their GP and bulk billing or low gap fees are available for those in financial need.

To view the SBS News article When Cassidy’s baby was stillborn, she couldn’t access support. Now, that’s changing in full click here.

Waminda midwife Mel Briggs

Waminda midwife Mel Briggs says stillbirth can be reduced in Aboriginal communities through early and frequent access to trusted, professional and community-based maternity care that is immersed in tradition and culture. Photo: Janie Barrett. Image source: The Sydney Morning Herald.

‘If the land is sick, so are we’

First Nations peoples have been present on the Australian continent for more than 65,000 years. During this time, they have managed to develop and maintain continuous, unbroken connections with the land, water and sky. Understanding the deep interrelatedness between humans and their (human and nonhuman) kin and ancestors instilled a sense of responsibility, through custodianship of their environment. The aim of this was to survive, and to promote a sense of ecological and cosmological balance. Indigenous Australian spiritualities understand this balance, which is essential to living in harmony with all things in creation.

More than two-thirds of young Australians are experiencing eco-anxiety, while almost half of Australians believe our country is in “decline”. First Nations spiritualities may have some answers. First Nations spirituality promotes a strong sense of interrelatedness and interconnectedness between all things, particularly people and the planet. Aboriginal Elders have said we are a reflection of the Country: if the land is sick, so are we. If the land is healthy (or punyu), so are we.

Wik First Nations scholar Tyson Yunkaporta says our collective wellbeing can only be sustained through a life of communication with a sentient landscape and all things on it. In a time when we as a global human population are navigating the complex challenges of modernity, an immersion into First Nations’ spirituality may help us better live in harmony with all things – and importantly, ourselves and each other. We can explore the depths of these teachings and learn to appreciate them (rather than appropriating them) by reconnecting with the land in meaningful ways, under the guidance of First Nations Elders and Traditional Custodians.

To view The Conversation article ‘If the land is sick, so are we’: Australian First Nations spirituality explained in full click here. 

Nourlangie Rock, the site of Aboriginal rock art in the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park

Nourlangie Rock, the site of Aboriginal rock art in the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park. Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP. Image source: The Conversation.

Indigenous knowledge and global health strategies

The first regional World Health Summit took place in Melbourne earlier this year (22–24 April 2024), bringing together participants from around the world to explore the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, climate change and planetary health. Under the bold theme, “Shape the future of health across Asia and the Pacific”, this ground-breaking conference, the first of its kind in the region, united over 1,100 participants from Australia, the Pacific region and worldwide from diverse spheres of global health. During the Summit emphasis was placed on the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, climate change and planetary health.

The health of Indigenous peoples, and their long-held world views were repeatedly highlighted for inclusion and respect in global health strategies. The challenges and opportunities presented by the intertwined issues of Indigenous knowledge, climate change and planetary health are vast and demand a hopeful and deeply considered approach to discourse and action. The way forward must be collaborative, integrating scientific research with Indigenous wisdom to develop health strategies that are effective, sustainable and culturally respectful.

The summit’s focus on planetary health, emphasised by the presence of global health leaders and Indigenous scholars, sends a strong message: the health of humanity is inextricably linked to the health of our planet. This realisation should drive all stakeholders, including governments, health care providers and academia, to pursue a more integrated approach to health that respects and learns from Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing. The Summit set the stage for continued dialogue and action that bridges Indigenous knowledge and scientific research to tackle the pressing health challenges of our time. As we move forward, it is essential that these discussions translate into actionable strategies that prioritise the health of both the planet and its people, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

To view the InSight+ article Indigenous knowledge meets global health strategies at regional World Health Summit in full click here. 

gathering of World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2024 at Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre foyer

The World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2024 was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Photo: World Health Summit Melbourne. Image source: InSight+.

Bra fittings helping save rural women’s lives

Not far from yacht clubs, shimmering beaches and five star resorts, a homeless woman had sought shelter from the summer heat and humidity. Crisis counsellor Jane Holmes found her beneath the Sundale Bridge on Queensland’s Gold Coast, in agony. Lily quietly lifted her shirt to reveal severe chafing, having never been able to afford a bra. “It was absolutely horrific, it really shook me to the core,” Ms Holmes said. “I couldn’t believe in a first world country that is so wealthy we had a person in a situation where she couldn’t afford a bra.”

Lily was the catalyst for Ms Holmes to launch the charity Support the Girls, which offers free bra fittings, underwear and menstrual products to women in rural and Indigenous communities. A van dubbed Brabarella hits the road with volunteers and donated items on board, reaching more than 2,000 women in regional Queensland and NSW each year. The organisation has partnered with BreastScreen NSW and Aboriginal health organisations to encourage more than 400 Indigenous women to have mammograms since last May.

The program boosted screening rates from 9% to 74%in some areas, providing scans and fittings in culturally safe environments that fostered conversation and compassion. It’s crucial to reach Indigenous women, who are often highly reluctant to get checked, BreastScreen NSW health promotion officer Heather Hillam says. “For Aboriginal women, the idea of being vulnerable and standing naked from the waist up and having someone touch and move their breast … a word you hear a lot is ‘shame’,” she said. “But the prospect of having a bra fitting and a lovely, supportive women-only environment has been enough to get a lot of women over that fear.”

To view the Australian Associated Press article How bra fittings are helping save rural women’s lives in full click here.

Support the Girls worker sorting bras

Support the Girls offers free bra fittings to rural and Indigenous women. Photo: Support the Girls/AAP. Image source: The Advocate.

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