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Contact Colin Cowell
NACCHO Communications and Media
nacchonews@naccho.org.au
Tel 0401331251

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.

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.

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.

7 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.

Long-term harm to health, wellbeing and life chances

SA’s Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People says First Nations children’s rights are being “trampled on” by what she describes as an “institutionally racist” child protection system. In the Holding on to Our Future report tabled in SA parliament this week, Commissioner April Lawrie found that in a single calendar year, one-in-two SA Aboriginal children are reported at least once to child protection authorities, and one-in-10 are placed in out-of-home care.

The 176-page report has made 48 findings and 32 recommendations to reduce the number of First Nations children in the child protection system. “The state is unnecessarily removing disproportionate and growing numbers of Aboriginal children from their families and communities, causing long-term harm to their health, wellbeing and life chances,” Ms Lawrie said.

The report found there was not enough funding for early intervention services for vulnerable Aboriginal children, the Department for Child Protection’s (DCP) cultural responsiveness was “severely lacking”, and there was a lack of consultation with Aboriginal families and communities on decision-making. It recommended that child protection laws be amended to insert the Child Placement Principle and that DCP work in partnership with the Aboriginal community to improve outcomes for First Nations children. Ms Lawrie said “unnecessary removals” of children from families were often used as the first option rather than a last resort and were “preventable. Our families could have been afforded referrals into early help services to address the underlying causes of the issues in the first place that have them, before child protection.”

To view the ABC News article Aboriginal children ‘unnecessarily’ removed from families, communities in SA, report finds in full click here.

SA's Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People April Lawrie

SA’s Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People April Lawrie. Photo: Che Chorley. Image source: ABC News.

R U OK? Conversation Convoy visits Karratha

Content warning: This article contains reference to suicide. Please refer to the services at the bottom of this article for support.

The R U OK? organisation has well and truly permeated the Australian consciousness. Each advertisement, yellow wristband, or slogan iced on office cupcakes is a reminder of the organisations core message – to talk to one another earnestly about how we are feeling. However, what many Australians might not know is that the organisation which breeds such positivity is rooted in a tragic, though common, story. Gavin Larkin founded R U OK? in 2009 in response to losing his father to suicide as a teenager.

The national campaign aimed to shift negative stigma that surrounded mental health issues, and carve a space in Australian society for open dialogues on the matter. R U OK? remains vigilant on spreading their message to every Australian and achieves this through their Conversation Convoy Program. The Conversation Convoy involves a travelling series of buses loaded with R U OK employees as well as mental health professionals, who stop off in regional towns and set up a day of activities and foster community discussion.

The program stopped off In Karratha this week on Tuesday 4 June and was warmly welcomed by a chorus of Pilbara residents. Residents were deeply moved by the space R U OK? provided for them to gather, share a cup of tea, and support each other’s wellbeing. It’s events such as these that leader of the R U OK? Stronger Together campaign for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Steven Satour believes can erode the shame some men have about discussing mental health, “The conversation convoy’s and the R U OK men’s sheds really do a lot to shift the toxic male stereotype that says being a man means never talking about your feelings.”

To view the Busselton Dunsborough Times article R U OK? Conversation Convoy fills Karratha Community Cup in full click here.

3 images: R U OK? Conversation Convoy visit to Karratha - R U OK? banners, umbrellas, Jenga game with mental health Qs.

Photos: R U OK?. Image source: Busselton Dunsborough Times.

13 Yarn (13 92 76)
Brother-to-brother (1800 435 799)
Lifeline (13 11 14 + online chat)
Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800 + webchat)

Other support lines:
MensLine Australia (1300 78 99 78)
Suicide callback service (1300 659 467)
Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636)
Qlife – anonymous LGBTIQ support (1800 184 527 + webchat)

WA student awarded Indigenous Medical Scholarship

Kahlie Lockyer, an accomplished artist and medical student at the University of WA, has been awarded an AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship. The scholarship will be presented at the AMA-AIDA Taskforce on Indigenous Health meeting today on Ngunnawal land in Canberra, where health leaders will discuss strategies to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly will address the taskforce, attended by representatives from the AMA, Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association and NACCHO.

Ms Lockyer said her heart is in developmental paediatrics with a focus on early intervention of health issues in young Indigenous children. “I believe our children are our future, and if we can start with managing preventable diseases in young Indigenous children, then that can lead to them having a better education and better outcomes for their future,” Ms Lockyer said. “There is growing evidence showing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are being missed by the health system in diagnosis, whether it’s a learning disability, neurodivergence, or other conditions, which consequently leads to lower education, health literacy, employment rates and higher incarceration rates.

“This is all intertwined and I believe the childhood years is where the biggest impact can be made.” The 35-year-old — belonging to the Ngarluma and Karriyarra people from the Pilbara region and the Yawuru and NyulNyul people from the Kimberley region — grew up in Port Hedland, WA. It was here the seed was planted for a promising future in medicine. “My interest in health started in my childhood as my mother was a nurse. She would go out and teach first aid and health courses in different communities, and I would always be the kid that would tag along and help her,” Ms Lockyer said.

To view the AMA media release WA student with passion for developmental paediatrics awarded AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship in full click here.

WA uni medical student Kahlie Lockyer

University of WA medical student Kahlie Lockyer. Image source: AMA website.

Health funding projected to decline in real terms

According to an analysis by Charles Maskell-Knight PSM, who was a senior public servant in the Commonwealth Department of Health for over 25 years before retiring in 2021, “We could take the Government’s commitment to closing the gap more seriously if it was prepared to commit funding over the medium term, allowing grant-funded organisations stability and certainty.” Mr Maskell-Knight suggests that spending on health functions and programs should grow by a combination of price growth and population growth, together with an allowance for utilisation growth due to ageing.

However, this year’s Budget showed that only three health and aged care programs (MBS, public hospitals, and aged care) were growing faster than price and population growth. PBS and private health insurance rebate spending were barely growing in nominal terms, due to the success of price reduction mechanisms under the PBS, and the presumed stable number of private health insurance policyholders.

Other programs such as First Nations health, health services (population health, medical research, mental health, blood and blood products, other allied health services, and health infrastructure), and administration (including funding for primary healthcare and coordination, investment in health workforce measures, and support for rural health initiatives, as well as the Government’s general administrative costs associated with healthcare) were declining between 2024–25 and 2026–27.

To view the Croakey Health Media article Documenting funding concerns for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and other important programs in full click here.

fluorescent white light in shape of descending arrow

Photo: Samuel Regan-Asante, Unsplash. Image source: Croakey Health Media.

Project promotes mental health of young LGBTQA+ mob

Walkern Katatdjin (Rainbow Knowledge) is a national research project, run by Telethon Kids Institute, Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre (Murdoch University), Edith Cowan University and the University of WA and is funded by the NHMRC. The project aims to understand and promote the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ young people, and to work with services to develop appropriate interventions.

In a recent podcast Shakara Liddelow-Hunt and Tahlia Blow discuss the report and the themes of health, pride, joy, and culture. Peter (Ngaya Ngarigu), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Educator at Thorne Harbour Health was a guest co-host of this episode.

You can listen to the podcast episode Rainbow Mob Health – Reconciliation Week in full click here.

tile with text 'Walkern Katatdjin - Rainbow Knowledge' & logo JOY 94.9 Radio WELL WELL WELL

Image source: Joy Media website.

First Nations doctors need support

AMA Queensland is calling for funding in the state budget to roll out Townsville’s successful Indigenous Intern Pathway across all the state Hospital and Health Services. AMA Queensland President Dr Nick Yim says the  successful program should be introduced across all Queensland Hospital and Health Services (HHSs).

The AMA Queensland Budget Submission 2024-25 calls for Queensland Health to fund and implement programs such as the Townsville HHS Indigenous Intern Pathway as a priority, “It is disgraceful that First Nations people continue to experience unacceptable differences in health outcomes compared to the general population,” AMA Queensland President Dr Nick Yim said. “First Nations doctors are an essential component in eliminating this gap – yet we know about 30% of Indigenous doctors leave the profession altogether. Our First Nations communities must receive the culturally appropriate, best practice health care they deserve.”

AMA Queensland is also calling for investment and support for programs advocated for by First Nations health organisations including the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) and the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC). These include Mob Link, Birthing in Our Community, Surgery Pathways, Deadly Choices, and the Indigenous Hospital Network Wisdom Group. “We are also calling on the government to reverse its decision to prohibit Aboriginal health services from owning local community pharmacies,” Dr Yim said.

To view the AMA Queensland article First Nations doctors need support in full click here.

Dr Rebecca Alverez, Ngunnawal woman & junior doctor at Townsville Uni Hospital

Dr Rebecca Alverez (R) was the first doctor to take part in the Indigenous Intern Pathway, a mentorship program designed to provide culturally appropriate support for Indigenous doctors. Image source: Qld Government website.

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.

5 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.

A new era for aged care and First Nations health

NACCHO’s Elder Care Support program is hosting the National Yarning Circle event on the Gold Coast from 5‒6 June 2024. The event will gather community leaders, healthcare professionals, and key stakeholders to enhance support for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, while also focusing on building a robust First Nations health workforce.

The event will feature a powerful keynote address by Andrea Kelly, the Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner, who will speak on the importance of culturally safe aged care services. Her insights will highlight the critical role of culturally competent care in improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, highlighting the significance of creating tailored, community-led pathways and support for the elderly.

The Commissioner stated, “The Elder Care Support program is a groundbreaking initiative that not only enhances the care for our Elders but also builds a strong First Nations health workforce. By focusing on culturally safe practices, we are paving the way for better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

Participants will engage in interactive workshops designed to provide practical knowledge and skills. These sessions will cover the My Aged Care Portal, the new Aged Care Act, and strategies for improving access to services. These workshops are essential for equipping attendees with the tools they need to navigate and implement aged care services effectively within their communities.

Donnella Mills, NACCHO Chairperson welcomes the event, stating, “The National Yarning Circle is an important platform for sharing knowledge and strategies to improve care of our elderly. By investing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers to participate in this space, we are empowering our communities and ensuring our Elders receive the best possible care.

The event will feature panel discussions with Janine Mohamed, Deputy CEO First Nations, National Disability Insurance Agency; representatives from NDIA, ACQSC, OPAN, and the Healing Foundation, exploring collaborative elder care approaches. Former NRL star Preston Campbell will lead a session on staying well and safe.

The Elder Care Support – Yarning Circle is a critical step in addressing the unique needs of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. By fostering a collaborative and inspiring event, the initiative aims to create and foster positive networks across the country, build sustainable improvements in the aged care sector and support the ongoing development of the First Nations health workforce.

You can view the NACCHO media release A new era for aged care and First Nations health: NACCHO hosts inaugural Elder Care Support Yarning Circle at the Gold Coast, 5­‒6 June 2024 in full here.

Gabrielle Willie & Bushtucker Bunji (wearing a blond curly wig) with Elder Care Support National Yarning Circle banner in the background

Bushtucker Bunji and Gabrielle Willie at the Elder Care Support National Yarning Circle. Image source: NACCHO.

Apunipima wins award for kidney care program

The Cape York Kidney Care (CYKC) program has won the Health and Wellbeing category of the Queensland Reconciliation Awards. To address the high rates of kidney disease and kidney failure needing dialysis in First Nations communities, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) partnered with Apunipima Cape York Health Council in 2019 to reach six communities: Weipa, Napranum, Mapoon, Aurukun, Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama.

TCHHS nephrologist Dr Tahira Scott said the innovative model of care was the first of its kind in Australia, with its success apparent. She said the heart of the model was the involvement of First Nations health workers or practitioners, “We recognise that partnerships with ACCHOs like Apunipima can achieve real success in patient-centric health outcomes. We’re providing a gold standard nephrology service in the bush, meaning those who see the CYKC team are receiving the same level of care you would receive in a city through using a different integrative model of care, which is culturally safe.”

Outreach clinics were held at Apunipima’s facilities in the six communities, which are run by First Nations staff. Apunipima CEO Debra Malthouse said this partnership showed the strengths of each organisation in directly addressing these chronic health conditions in Cape York, “We are focused on providing comprehensive primary health care to the communities we serve. Our staff on the ground are able to provide the link between the community and the visiting outreach clinicians, making patients feel comfortable and supported through their healthcare journey.”

To view the Cape York Weekly article TCHHS and Apunipima win Queensland Reconciliation Award in full click here.

winners (7) of Qld Reconciliation Award - Health & Wellbeing Category

A partnership to address the high rates of kidney disease in Cape York First Nations communities has won a Queensland Reconciliation Award. Image source: Cape York Weekly.

Educating boys on healthy relationships vital

Lawyer Taylah Gray has worked on domestic violence cases and believes that women will not be safe from abusive men until the underlying causes of their aggressive behaviour are addressed. The Wiradjuri woman describes the practice of sending perpetrators to jail without addressing their behavioural issues as a “speed bump approach” to tackling the national crisis. “There comes a time where we can no longer run from this. We can no longer flee houses and be put into emergency accommodation,” she said. Ms Gray, who practises law in the NSW Hunter region, says more funding for men’s behaviour change programs is essential.

According to Australian government health data from 2021 to 2022 , First Nations people were 31 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family violence than non-Indigenous Australians. The data shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are over-represented as both victim-survivors and perpetrators of family and domestic violence.

“Every time it [DV] involves an Aboriginal man, they’re more likely to go to prison,” Ms Gray said. “Aboriginal men are the most incarcerated people in Australia … every time there’s a DV case that arises … the avenue for men is jail. For Aboriginal women, every time DV comes up, they are the most vulnerable in this whole situation.”

To view the ABC News article Funding behaviour change programs, educating boys on healthy relationships vital, women’s safety advocates say in full click here.

Indigenous lawyer Taylah Gray

Indigenous lawyer Taylah Gray says men need to be part of the conversation around domestic violence. Photo: Jesmine Cheong, ABC News.

Kunibidji people strike empowering LDM agreement

Self-determination of the NT’s Kunibidji people has been formalised after a Local Decision Making (LDM) Agreement was signed in the West Arnhem Land community of Maningrida. The LDM Agreement – the 15th of its kind across the NT – provides pathways for the Maningrida community and surrounding clan groups to advance cultural, social, economic and education development in the region.

The LDM was developed through an extensive consultation process led by the Dhukurrdji Development Corporation, who, in representing the Kunibidji people of Maningrida and neighbouring clan groups, identified 10 strategic priorities as part of the agreement, including, at the community’s request, agency over plans to support people with disabilities, after Maningrida was selected as one of two national trial sites by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

After NIDA agreed to be a party to the LDM, the community-led trial, in partnership with the NT Government, will investigate a shift from the current underutilisation of individualised packages to exploring options to create efficiencies and improve accessibility of services. 

To view the National Indigenous News article Territory’s Kunibidji people strike empowering Local Decision Making Agreement in full click here.

signing of Local Decision Making Agreement for NT Kunibidji people, Maningrida

A Local Decision Making Agreement formalising self-determination for the Northern Territory’s Kunibidji people was recently signed in Maningrida. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

Cost-of-living hits remote communities the hardest

While limited, government data suggests the growth in living costs in remote communities is outpacing the rest of the country, impacting some of the most disadvantaged people in the country. “We are very remote and costs have definitely spiked,” explains Madeline Gallagher-Dann, CEO of the Kalumburu community on the northern tip of WA. “Our barge service costs around $25,000 a fortnight to get the food sent from Darwin, so it’s not a surprise, but it’s definitely a burden for local families.” Kalumburu is an extreme example of the ballooning costs in outback Australia. A comparison with metropolitan costs shows locals are paying twice as much for fuel and some basic food items. For example, a tin of baked beans costs $5.80, compared with the current online price of $2.80 at Coles and Woolworths. Beef mince sells for $20 a kilo, double the going rate at a regular supermarket.

Gaambera and Walbi elder Dorothy Djanghara says families regularly run out of money to buy food. “Everything costs more here,” she says. “Even things like sugar, milk, tea – when you run out, you run out, just can’t afford more that week.” The high costs are unsurprising given Kalumburu’s remote location. Road access is cut off for about half the year due to wet season road damage.

At many remote stores, unhealthy and packaged food costs more than fresh food, as managers – in this case the company Outback Stores – deliberately subsidise the cost of fruit and vegetables.  The majority of the 400 residents are on small, fixed incomes. The stress of covering costs adds to tensions in a community already struggling to stabilise after decades of dislocation and dependency on the Catholic mission, which was established in 1908 and still manages the fuel supply to the isolated township.

To view the ABC News article Federal government acts to rein in chronically high cost of living in remote Indigenous communities in full click here.

Dorothy Djanghara from Kalumburu, NT

Dorothy Djanghara says locals understand freight costs are mainly to blame for the high food costs. Photo: Erin Parke, ABC 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.

Pride Month – June 2024

Pride Month is an annual, dedicated month that focuses on and celebrates LGBTQ++ people and their history. Pride Month has its roots in the Stonewall Uprising, which occurred in New York City in June 1969. The uprising was a turning point in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, sparked by a series of protests against police harassment and discrimination. The following year, the first Pride marches were organised to commemorate the anniversary of the uprising. The first related march in Australia was held on 24 June 1978 in the form of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation is an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation committed to empowering the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander LGBTQ+SB community through innovation, inclusion, understanding and advocacy. In an Instagram post a couple of days ago BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation said, “This Pride Month, we honour the vibrant and deadly spirit of our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander LGBTQ+SB community. From our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans Mob, Queer, Sistergirl, and Brotherboy family, your stories are the heartbeat of our community.”

“Your journeys, rooted since time immemorial and blossoming in the face of adversity, remind us of the strength and beauty within us all. Let’s celebrate your courage, amplify your voices, and create a world where every identity is embraced with love and respect.”

You can find out more about Pride Month here and the BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation here.

flag in rainbow colours & Aboriginal art by Wiradjuri & Birpai man, Wayde Clark

Artwork by Wiradjuri and Birpai man, Wayde Clark. Image source BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation Instagram post 1 June 2024.

3 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.

Organ donation would be higher if more education

Leslie Schultz spent years watching birds flit past his window. But without their song in his ears, the scent of eucalypts in his nostrils nor the glorious outback sun on his back, the sight only made him homesick for the bush. For the Ngadju Elder, spending hour after hour, day after day, shut inside was one of the worst things about kidney failure. Sometimes it felt his entire life revolved around sitting in a chair, waiting for toxins to be flushed from his blood.

That was until the kindness of a stranger and their family gave him back his freedom. According to a recent inquiry, Australia’s organ donation and transplantation rates are among the lowest in the developed world, and only 36% of eligible adults are on the organ donation register. In 2022, 34 people died while on the waiting list for an organ.

Indigenous West Australians are among those most impacted by the shortfall. The community experiences chronic kidney disease at almost seven times the rate of the wider population — the biggest disparity of all Australian jurisdictions — yet, for a range of complex reasons, are far less likely to ever have the life-saving procedure.

To view the ABC News article Organ donation content rates would be better if there were more education about it, advocate says in full click here.

older ATSI man Leslie Schultz in hospital for kidney transplant

Leslie Schultz had his transplant about three years ago. Photo supplied by: Les Schultz. Image source: ABC News.

NT remote communities way behind on menstrual health

The NT is “behind the rest of Australia” regarding period health, claims a leading menstrual health advocate, who is calling on the Lawler government to make tampons and pads more accessible for remote communities. The claim comes after the Albanese government pledged $12.5m in period products toward remote Indigenous communities as part of the 2024–25 Budget announced in May. Rochelle Courtenay, who founded Share the Dignity – a not-for-profit charity dedicated to making period products accessible to vulnerable women says “The top half of Australia is where we spend most of our (organisation’s) money supporting women.”

This year, Share the Dignity launched a nationwide survey – the Big Bloody Survey – to understand the issues that Australian women face. The survey, which remains live, has garnered more than 150,000 responses so far, however less than 2,000 of the respondents were Territory-based. “There are barriers – not everyone has a laptop or even knows there is an online survey and because of that we don’t hear their voice.” Ms Courtenay said the survey’s preliminary findings were “really sad”. “So far, we know more than 25% of Australian women can’t afford period products and we know that in remote Indigenous communities this is much higher,” she said.

NT Health Minister Selena Uibo said her government had facilitated and signed 15 Local Decision Agreements where the community voices their priorities and are involved in solutions that work for their communities, which often include health priorities. “As part of this, close to half the Territory’s remote primary health centres are run by ACCHOs with local leadership for decision making.” Ms Courtenay, however, said the Territory had engaged with her organisation the least of any jurisdiction and maintained she would reapproach the NT government in the coming months.

The above is an extract from the article Northern Territory’s remote communities ‘way behind’ on menstrual health, says Share the Dignity founder published in the NT News yesterday, 2 June 2024.

NT Health Minister Selena Uibo

NT Health Minister Selena Uibo says the government has empowered local communities to make decisions around health issues. Image source: NT News.

Health campus native landscape use improving wellbeing

Health campuses across Australia can improve wellbeing for both patients and staff by incorporating the natural environment using biophilic design. Biophilic design is an architectural approach to the built environment that enhances human function through nurturing connectivity with nature. It seeks to improve cultural security and health outcomes for Indigenous peoples who are over-represented in Australian hospitals.

A volunteer project at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) is using native landscapes to adapt to climate while enhancing wellbeing, Indigenous cultural security and local biodiversity. Hospital-based care at RDH may be world-class from a Western perspective, but imposes cultural challenges for Indigenous patients who constitute almost 31% of the NT’s population but 56% of inpatients and 83% of renal dialysis patients. National Indigenous rates of “discharge against medical advice” are five times higher than than non-Indigenous rates, reflecting culturally unsafe hospital environments.

The causes for this disparity are complex, but encompass patients reporting loneliness, isolation and lack of cultural safety. 70% of Territorians who live remotely are Indigenous and reside in one of 600 communities or remote outstations. Access to specialist care by these patients comes at a price: separation from country, supportive family networks and place-based spiritual, cultural and healing practices that include the use of bush medicines. Many Indigenous patients prefer to sit outside where they can also avoid constraint by walls and the built environment. This creates a double jeopardy of reducing access to health care that the Western paradigm restricts to hospital interiors, and socialises the perverse view of Indigenous “non-compliance” with ward-based care.

To view the InSight+ article Top End hospital leads the green revolution in health care in full click here.

vegetation planted at the Royal Darwin Hospital

Vegetation planted at the Royal Darwin Hospital. Photo: Mark de Souza. Image source: InSight+.

Football team missing three future leaders this season

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name of an Indigenous person who has died, used with the permission of their family. This article also contains references to suicide.

Kids and teenagers flock to an AFL field of a coastal Aboriginal community, 1,000 kms east of Darwin to watch the men of the Djarrak football club. Run by Elders of the Rirratjiŋu clan, Djarrak is one of four Aussie Rules clubs on the Gove Peninsula, where kids grow up on the sidelines of the footy field. But three of the club’s brightest leaders will be missing this season. The three Yolŋu men died in a series of sudden tragedies last year. The health crisis in north-east Arnhem Land is also playing out in First Nations communities across the NT and Australia. According to the AIHW, of the 10 Indigenous regions in Australia with the highest rates of avoidable deaths in 2018, six were in the NT.

Steve Rossingh, CEO of Miwatj Health, an ACCHO in NE Arnhem Land says that without the strong cultural leadership of Elders Yolŋu health would be far worse. But Mr Rossingh says barriers in the region including severe overcrowding, limited job opportunities, feelings of disempowerment and the impacts of colonialism and racism make it difficult to have a healthy lifestyle. “If you wanted to nail it onto one thing, it’s that people are living in poverty – which is really hard to believe in a first-world country like Australia, that we’ve got big cohorts in pockets of the country where people are living in poverty,” he says.

And when Yolŋu die young, Mr Rossingh says, the impacts ripple throughout the community, “They are the future leaders, and the less future potential leaders you have, the greater the difficulty in maintaining culture and maintaining order within communities.”

To view the ABC News article Arnhem Land football team without three future leaders this season following series of sudden tragedies in full click here.

Miwatj Health workers at a health promotion stand at the scratch match

Miwatj Health workers at a health promotion stand at the scratch match. Photo: Lillian Rangiah, ABC News.

If you need someone to talk to, call:

Call for First Nations Board member EOIs

The Australian Physiotherapy Council (the Council) is the accreditation authority for physiotherapy education and overseas practitioners who wish to practice physiotherapy in Australia. The Council’s purpose of ‘Ensuring tomorrow’s physiotherapy workforce through providing world class accreditation and assessment services’ is underpinned by a passionate and committed team of people.

As part of their ongoing commitment to diversity and representation, the Council are currently recruiting several Board member roles, including another First Nations Board member to join their Chair Elect Michael Reynolds.

For more details about the role and the application process, please refer to the Call for Expression of Interest, here. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Council’s Company Secretary Emily Wiltshire here.

Australian Physiotherapy Council logo & vector image ATSI hand holding weight tile from CAAC physiotherapy webpage

Image sources: Australian Physiotherapy Council website; Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Physiotherapy webpage.

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.

Mabo Day – 3 June 2024

 

Mabo Day is marked annually on 3 June. It commemorates Mer Island man Eddie Koiki Mabo and his successful efforts to overturn the legal fiction of terra nullius, or ‘land belonging to no-one’. Short for Mabo and others v Queensland (No 2) (1992), the Mabo case, led by Eddie Koiki Mabo, an activist for the 1967 Referendum, fought the legal concept that Australia and the Torres Strait Islands were not owned by Indigenous peoples because they did not ‘use’ the land in ways Europeans believed constituted some kind of legal possession.

Despite the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples occupied the land, spoke their own languages and had their own laws and customs before the British arrived in 1788, ‘Terra nullis’ was an attempt to give ‘legitimacy’ for the British and Australian governments to allow the dispossession of all Indigenous peoples of their land. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people also had – and continue to have – a strong connection to ‘Country’ – the Australian land.

The Mabo case was heard over ten years, starting in the Queensland Supreme Court and progressed through to the High Court of Australia. Following the Mabo decision, Australia’s Federal Parliament passed the Native Title Act 1993 which established a legal framework for native title claims throughout Australia by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Sadly, Eddie Mabo died 5 months before the historic decision came on 3 June 1992 that ‘native title’ did exist.

You can find more information about Mabo Day and Native Title on the Reconciliation Australia website here.

artwork of Eddie Mabo by Gordon Bennett

Eddie Mabo by Gordon Bennett 1996. Image source: Queensland Art Gallery website.

World Eating Disorders Action Day – 2 June 2024

World Eating Disorders Action Day is a grassroots movement designed for and by people affected by an eating disorder, their families, and the medical and health professionals who support them. Uniting activists across the globe, the aim is to expand global awareness of eating disorders as genetically linked, treatable illnesses that can affect anyone. The below list contains nine truths about eating disorders:

  • Many people with eating disorders may look healthy, yet they may be extremely ill.
  • Families are not to blame, and can be the patients and providers best allies in treatment.
  • An eating disorder diagnosis is a health crisis that disrupts personal and family functioning.
  • Eating disorders are not choices, but serious biologically influenced illnesses.
  • Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races, ethnicities, body shapes, weights, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.
  • Eating disorders carry an increased risk for both suicide and medical complications.
  • Genes and environment play important roles in the development of eating disorders.
  • Genes do not predict who will develop eating disorders.
  • Full recovery from an eating disorder is possible. Early detection and intervention are important.

You can find more information about eating disorders, including resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, on the Butterfly Foundation website here.

23 May 2024

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

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

Aged Care Capital Assistance grants to support aged care providers in rural and remote communities

The Australian Government is investing $135 million to improve access to quality aged care services in First Nations, rural and remote communities. This investment directly supports aged care providers located outside of major cities, to build and modernise services so older Australians can access the aged care they need. This investment builds upon the $115 million to build four culturally safe, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care services in SA, the NT and QLD.

Round 1 of the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP) will deliver 76 infrastructure projects to upgrade aged care homes, build new staff accommodation, improve services for older people at risk of homelessness and enhance cultural care for older First Nations people.

More than $60 million will be awarded across 30 locations to support aged care providers to upgrade and expand their aged care homes, increase the number of beds and improve home care service delivery to better meet the needs of First Nations communities in remote and very remote locations.

$3 million will enable 11 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program providers to deliver more culturally appropriate care in First Nations communities.

$49 million will support 27 providers to address shortages in staff accommodation to attract and retain more workers so they can better meet 24/7 RN requirements, increase care minutes and reduce reliance on agency staff.

$22 million in funding will support 8 specialised services to improve access to aged care for older people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

“The Albanese Government is committed to improving aged care and health services for First Nations Elders and supporting them to remain close to their families and communities,” Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said.

“This significant investment demonstrates that commitment and will see important infrastructure upgrades at facilities across the country.

“Elders play such an important role in our communities and it’s essential they are provided the very best care and support.”

Read more here.

Image source: iStock.

Red ribbon drops to celebrate return of Wujal Wujal health services

A red ribbon symbolised rebirth when stakeholders celebrated the official return of health services to Wujal Wujal on 14 May. A temporary modular clinic was installed in the community after its previous clinic was decimated by post-Tropical Cyclone Jasper flooding in December 2023, with last week’s formal opening ceremony signalling the return of doctor clinics, specialist and outpatient services, as well as allied health and midwifery outreach clinics.

The temporary clinic will remain in place while the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) works with the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council and other stakeholders over the coming months to develop options for a future permanent clinic to replace the old, flood-damaged facility.

Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman said the State Government was “dedicated to providing the same high-quality levels of health care service to Wujal Wujal and the surrounding communities as prior to the flooding event”.

“I want to thank the community for its patience and the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council for working closely with [TCHHS] to get services back up and running as quickly as possible,” she said.

“We will continue to support the Wujal Wujal and surrounding communities and ensure they are provided with the resources and services they need as they continue to rebuild after the flooding.’’

Read the full Cape York Weekly article here.

Senior health worker Anna Cleary, TCHHS chair Renee Williams, Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Alister Gibson, Elder Kathleen Walker and Member for Cook Cynthia Lui cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the community’s temporary clinic. Image source: Cape York Weekly.

Skye Stewart created a valuable resource for Aboriginal families. Now, she’s Midwife of the Year

Jiba Pepeny: Star Baby is the first stillbirth guide in the country and it was designed by and for Aboriginal families. Its creation came from the mind of Wergaia/Wemba Wemba midwife Skye Stewart, after witnessing the gap in stillbirth rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and the impact it left on communities.

Ms Stewart has now been awarded Midwife of the Year at the 18th HESTA Australian Nursing and Midwifery Awards. The awards acknowledge the outstanding contribution of the country’s nurses, midwives, nurse educators, researchers, and personal care workers’ dedication to improving health outcomes.

The guide is a resource that Aboriginal families can turn to for additional cultural support during an emotional and often traumatising time. It includes advice on how to approach tough decisions, preparing for birth and provides spaces to write out thoughts and communicate wishes to extended family.

Ms Stewart, who is based in Woomelang in rural Victoria, said she sees creating the guide as part of her role as an Aboriginal midwife in community.

“My cultural role and responsibility as an Aboriginal midwife is to do what I can to ensure that Aboriginal mothers and their babies stay safe, alive, well, and together,” Ms Stewart said.

“To be recognised with this award means I’ve paid attention to where it matters, and I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. The award is a privilege, and I feel incredibly honoured and humbled.

“My work is rewarding because it supports families experiencing vulnerability at an acutely distressing time.”

Read the full NITV article here.

kye Stewart was recognised as Midwife of the Year 2024 at the HESTA Australian Nursing & Midwifery Awards. Source: NITV.

Call for applications: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Accreditation Committee

Applications are invited from registered Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health practitioners, educators and accreditation experts for appointment to the Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander Health Practice Committee.

The role of the Committee is to exercise accreditation functions under the National Law assigned by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia (the Board). These functions are to:

  • develop accreditation standards for approval by the Board
  • assess, accredit, and monitor educator providers and their programs of study
  • make recommendations and give advice to the Board.

Applicants must have current or recent experience in:

  • Education – preferably with experience working in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector and in delivering training in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (Practice), and
  • Accreditation – preferably within the health sector.

Applications close on Sunday 30 June 2024 at 11:55pm, AEST.

For more information, go here.

Indigenous Cairns teenager promotes mental health through poetry.

Indigenous Cairns teenager Marianna Saba-Edge has been advocating for young people facing social and emotional wellbeing challenges through her poetry. At 16, she wrote a poem promoting radical self-acceptance and love among young women, highlighting the benefits of counselling. Ms Saba-Edge created the poem to cope with her own challenges and to support others struggling with self-love and acceptance. She attended school-based counselling through the Indigenous Mental Health program.

“I wrote what I always wanted to hear growing up,” she said.

“But there are so many girls like me who believe they are not capable of self-love.

“But they are, and this poem expresses what I wish I’d believed when I truly thought I wasn’t capable of love.”

The program, funded by the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN), is delivered by Ngak Min Health.

During her final session, she shared with her counsellor a poem she had written for a school project.

“I had been feeling really angry and guilty, and started writing about those feelings, which helped me understand them, but didn’t make me feel good,” she said.

“I thought, why write a story that brings me down, when I can create something that lifts people up?

“That’s when I started writing the poem – and I finished it in one English class. It just felt right.”

Writing down her feelings was a technique she learned while working with her Ngak Min Health counsellor.

“Working with Ngak Min was different compared to other councillors I have spoken with,” she said.

“To start with we mostly talked about Stranger Things, but I was soon able to open up about more personal things in my life that normally I wouldn’t tell anyone.

“I have always been a self-aware person, but I tend to deal with my problems on my own.”

Thankfully, Ms Saba-Edge now feels much happier in life.

“Writing the poem was really the start to having true self-love and is something I wish I’d had when I was younger,” she said.

“That’s why I tried hard to write it to stick in the reader’s head, and so they can feel empowered.”

Ms Saba-Edge remains as an example of why it’s so important for Indigenous women to have the freedom and courage to express themselves on their journey to healing.

Read the National Indigenous Times article here.

To all girls, everywhere by Marianna Saba-Edge.

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.

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea – 23 May 2024

Cancer is a group of diseases in which abnormal cells proliferate and spread. These cells can form a malignant tumour that can invade and damage the surrounding area and spread (metastasise) to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. If the spread of these tumours is not controlled, it can cause death. The effectiveness of treatment and survival rates can vary between different cancers and patients.

While the causes of many cancers are not fully understood, there are some known risk factors, some of which may be modifiable and some which are not. These risk factors include biomedical factors (for example genetic susceptibility and hormonal factors), behavioural factors (for example smoking, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity) and environmental factors (for example sunlight and radiation. Early diagnosis and access to culturally safe treatment are key to survival.

One in two Australians are diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a higher incidence of fatal, screen-detectable and preventable cancers and are more likely to be diagnosed at more advanced stages, often with comorbidities that are more complex. with non-Indigenous Australians diagnosed with the same cancer, Indigenous Australians are disadvantaged because they are usually diagnosed later with more advanced disease, are less likely to have treatment, and often have to wait longer for surgery than non-Indigenous patients. This highlights the inequities within the health system experienced by Indigenous Australians.

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea Cancer Council Australia’s most popular fundraising event and the largest most successful event of its kind in Australia. Funds raised go towards Cancer Council Australia’s world class research and support programs.

You can find more information about Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea on Cancer Council Australia’s website here.

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea 2024.

21 May 2024

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

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

CTG won’t happen without appropriate SEWB funding

Following the delivery of the 2024–25 Budget this week, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia welcomed funding for trauma-informed and culturally safe mentoring and assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people engaged in the justice system, as well as funding to continue delivery of targeted and culturally appropriate mental health supports. However, Gayaa Dhuwi is again calling for the Federal Government to appropriately fund Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB), mental health, and suicide prevention, as there was no mention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander SEWB and mental health programs that exist beyond the health system.

“The Budget papers are disappointing, but not surprising”, said Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia CEO Ms Rachel Fishlock. “We need to be looking beyond the health system and supporting the SEWB and mental health of our people before they are in justice or acute crisis situations. “The work of Gayaa Dhuwi aims to ensure our people enjoy high levels of SEWB, particularly through the implementation of the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration. We’ll never close the gap without appropriately funded SEWB and mental health programs.”

“Our people have experienced a failed referendum, COVID, cost of living pressures, and natural disasters, all while dealing with the intergenerational impacts of colonisation”, said Professor Helen Millroy, Chair of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia. “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, workforce, and community are working tirelessly to be present, lead, and excel within Australia’s mental health system and beyond it, but we can’t do it without appropriate funding”.

To view the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) media release We’ll never close the gap without appropriate funding for social and emotional wellbeing click here.

tile with Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia logo; image of Rachel Fishlock & text 'Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia CEO - Ms Rachel Fishlock'

Image source: Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia website.

ACCN to revolutionise cancer care

The landscape of cancer care in Australia is set to transform with the launch today of a new network, the Australian Comprehensive Cancer Network (ACCN), which will link cancer services across Australia, aiming to improve cancer outcomes and experiences for all Australians affected by cancer. While Australia boasts some of the world’s highest cancer survival rates, not all people experience equal outcomes. There are significant disparities in cancer outcomes for some populations, particularly affecting those in rural and remote regions, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The ACCN is a pioneering initiative that aims to address these disparities, emphasising coordinated and equitable access to comprehensive cancer services irrespective of where a person lives, and marking a significant milestone in the advancement of cancer care in Australia. Comprehensive Cancer Centres (CCCs) will serve as anchors in the ACCN, connecting various cancer control services nationwide. Through building partnerships and harnessing virtual connectivity, CCCs will collaborate with other cancer care centres, academic institutions, ACCHOs, regional hospitals and allied health services, among others.

The ACCN is a major action of the 10-year Australian Cancer Plan, launched in 2023 to improve cancer outcomes for all Australians, particularly for those groups whose health outcomes are poorest. Achieving equity in cancer outcomes is a fundamental measure of success for the Australian Cancer Plan and will align Australia with global calls to improve cancer outcomes for all people.

You can register interest in joining the ACCN and to learn more about this groundbreaking initiative here.

You can view the Australian Government Cancer Australia media release Australian Comprehensive Cancer Network (ACCN) launches to revolutionise cancer care across the country in full click here.

Cancer Australia tile with text 'Australian Comprehensive Cancer Network Innovations Showcase 21 May 0224'

Image source: Cancer Australia.

Power of Indigenous co-design and intervention

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is hosting a brand new Speaking of Science webinar series. During these of free virtual webinars participants will have the opportunity to engage with our nation’s outstanding researchers, high profile individuals, and scientific experts within their chosen fields, on different topics across the spectrum of health and medical research, as well as connect with peers across the wider sector. There will be a Q&A session at the end of each webinar and questions are encouraged.

During National Reconciliation Week, NHMRS will host distinguished researcher and Indigenous leader, Professor Maree Toombs, for their Speaking of Science May webinar. With over 20 years’ experience in teaching and developing curriculum with an Indigenous perspective both in education and health, Professor Toombs, now the Professor of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in the UNSW School of Population Health, is a leader in research focused on mental health and suicide intervention.

In this webinar, Professor Toombs will discuss how unlocking the power of Indigenous co-design and intervention can lead to transformative outcomes through authentic collaboration.

The free webinar will be held from 11.00 am – 12.00 pm (AEST) on Thursday 30 May 2024. You can register here.

You can find more information about the webinar on the NHMRC ‘s Tracker newsletter webpage here.

Professor Maree Toombs & NHMRC speaking of SCIENCE logo

Professor Maree Toombs. Image source: NHMRC Building A Health Australia website.

Self-collection can help stamp out cervical cancer

Australia is on track to being the first country to eliminate cervical cancer, which we aim to do by 2035. To accelerate progress towards this goal, a government-funded national cervical screening campaign will kick off in September, promoting the cervical screening options now available to patients across the country. This campaign will be the first of its magnitude in over 20 years and will likely result in an increase in patient demand, particularly for human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection.

The campaign will be primarily focused on priority patient groups, specifically Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix as well as culturally and linguistically diverse patients, to lift screening rates and improve outcomes for these communities. Now is the time to contact your laboratory to ensure you have the correct swabs and instructions to offer self-collection as an option to all your eligible patients, and to make sure you know the facts about self-collection so that you can support all your patients in their decision making.

There is now a large body of evidence confirming that, provided high-precision polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is used for laboratory processing, self-collected samples are just as sensitive for the detention of CIN2+, adenocarcinoma in situe, and oncogenic HPV as clinician-collected cervical samples. HPV is the cause of almost all cervical cancers. All self-collected samples in the National Cervical Screening Program are processed using PCR technology, which is a regulatory requirement.

To view The Medical Republic article Self-collection can help stamp out cervical cancer in full click here.

real pink & white flower laid out to represent uterus & ovaries

Image source: The Medical Republic.

First Nations cancer clinic opens in Healesville

Eastern Health opened a new First Nations cancer clinic at Healesville Hospital earlier this month (9 May), aiming at delivering free, culturally safe oncology services to the region’s large Aboriginal population. Sadly, research shows that cancer disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria, with the five-year survival rate among Aboriginal Victorians 12% lower than non-Aboriginal Victorians.

Providing medical oncology services, the clinic is staffed with oncologists specially trained in treating the most common types of cancer for First Nations Australians such as lung, prostate, breast, and bowel cancers. Eastern Health cancer services director adjunct clinical professor Phillip Parente said the Aboriginal community chose Healesville to have a new First Nations cancer clinic for themselves.

“I knew from the Bureau of Statistics that the largest Aboriginal population within Victoria resides in Healesville, Eastern Health’s catchment area. I spoke to our Aboriginal health care team and made up a time to meet with patients and families who’ve been affected by cancer in Healesville,” he said. “It was pretty clear to me that the Aboriginal community did not want to go to other Eastern Health hospitals in Box Hill or Maroondah, they wanted to be at Healesville because it’s a culturally safe space for them at Healesville and that’s not replicated at other sites as much. Once I got what they wanted and that was really non-negotiable, if a culturally safe cancer clinic for Aboriginals was going to be set up, the location had to be Healesville.”

To view the Star Mail article One more step forward to making community more inclusive in full click here.

smoking ceremony conducted by Craig Murphy-Wandin, Healesville Hospital

The smoking ceremony conducted by Craig Murphy-Wandin. Photo: Eastern Health. Image source: Star Mail.

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.

National Palliative Care Week 19–25 May 2024

National Palliative Care Week is running from 19 to 25 May 2024. Palliative care focuses on physical, emotional, spiritual and social aspects of care. Palliative care is family-centred. Family, loved ones and carers can also receive practical and emotional support. Early access to palliative care helps people to maintain quality of life by managing pain and symptoms. It’s never too soon to start the conversation about matters of life and death.

When Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, or are approaching the end of their life, they should be able to access quality palliative and supportive care that is consistent with their wishes, when and where they need it, no matter where they live. Importantly, this care must be culturally safe and responsive, incorporating the social, emotional, and cultural well-being of the person, as well as their family and the community.

To that end, Palliative Care Australia (PCA) has developed a range of resources, available here, to assist the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, their communities, and health professionals working within communities to ensure approaches and practises are culturally safe and respectful.

You can find advice, tools and support on the Palliative Care Australia website here.

tile with text 'National Palliative Care Week 19-25 Mat - Matters of life and death'

Image source: Palliative Care NSW website.

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development – 21 May 2024

Held every year on 21 May, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) leads the celebration of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development highlighting not only the richness of the world’s cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development.

The United Nations General Assembly first declared this World Day in 2002, following UNESCO’s adoption of the 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, recognising the need to “enhance the potential of culture as a means of achieving prosperity, sustainable development and global peaceful coexistence.”

With 89% of all current conflicts in the world occurring in countries with low intercultural dialogue, to forge effective cooperation and sustain peace, strengthening intercultural dialogue must be a priority.

You can find more information about World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on the United Nations website here.

tile un logo; text World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue & Development'; vector image of 10 different nationalities

Image source: MCIS Language Solutions website.

20 May 2024

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

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

NACCHO Pharmacist Scholarship recipients announced

NACCHO has announced the successful recipients of the 2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacist Scholarship:

  1. Dean Webber
  2. James Sowter
  3. Matthew Cloake
  4. Isaac Burgoyne
  5. Shi-Anne Wallace

This scholarship program, proudly supported by a grant from Sanofi Australia, provides subsidy and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacy students, with the goal of strengthening the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacist workforce. The program, which began in 2022 for two students, has now been expanded to include five recipients annually and will continue until 2025, demonstrating Sanofi’s commitment to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

2024 scholarship recipient, Isaac Burgoyne commented, “I am incredibly honoured to have been granted this scholarship from NACCHO for 2024. Pharmacy has always been a passion of mine and the opportunities that this scholarship will open for my future are endless. I am very excited to see what my future will hold with the support from NACCHO and generosity of Sanofi Australia. I will put my rural upbringing to good use and form greater connections between my community and the pharmacy practice.”

Out of over 35,000 pharmacists in Australia only around 100 identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, representing less than 0.3% of the pharmacist workforce. Currently Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in the health sector account for only 1.8% of the total health workforce, despite accounting for 3.2% of the Australian population. This disparity impacts patients, policy and pharmacists themselves and this scholarship is a step in the right direction to increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people graduating from pharmacy studies and entering the workforce.

NACCHO Acting CEO, Dr Dawn Casey, said “Congratulations to all the remarkable recipients of this year’s pharmacy scholarships. The quality of applicants was outstanding once again. We wish you all the best in your pharmacy studies and look forward to supporting you in your professional journey”. Liz Selby, Sanofi Australia, and NZ Country Lead congratulated this year’s recipients, the judging panel, and the NACCHO team for their ongoing leadership in this vital scholarship program. “Building the skills of future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacists is essential for ensuring culturally safe care within the pharmacy profession. We’re immensely proud to continue our support of NACCHO, this program, and ultimately more equitable health outcomes. Congratulations to Dean, James, Shi-Anne, Matthew, and Isaac.”

To view the NACCHO media release NACCHO 2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacist Scholarship recipients announced in full click here.

tile, NACCHO logo & text 'MEDIA RELEASE - NACCHO 2024 ATSI Pharmacist Scholarship recipients announced'

New measures to combat suicide welcome

Leading Indigenous suicide prevention expert Professor Pat Dudgeon, Director of the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention at the University of WA, has welcomed important measures in the Federal Budget to address suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, but said further commitment was needed to ensure the sustainability of key programs.

Professor Dudgeon welcomed the focus on systemic issues impacting Indigenous people, including a $10m boost to NACCHO to extend its online social and wellbeing resources and supports, which were initially funded in the context of the referendum on the Voice to Parliament and the rise in racism experienced by Indigenous people at that time. “This funding acknowledges the lived experience of our people and the impact on our wellbeing of continuing discrimination and disadvantage,” she said. “I am pleased to see this funding extended under Indigenous leadership,” she said..”

The Budget did not address continuing funding for the $53 million Culture Care Connect program, the largest ever Indigenous-led mental health and suicide prevention initiative, which is delivered by NACCHO and its member organisations at 31 regional sites. Its current funding ends in June 2025. “I look forward to further announcements about the long-term future of Culture Care Connect, which is an essential component of a culturally safe suicide prevention response for our people and strongly aligned to the recommendations of the forthcoming National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy,” Professor Dudgeon said.

The Budget also includes investment in mainstream mental health supports, including online services for people with less severe conditions, walk-in centres for adults with more complex issues, lived experience workforce development and service redesign for children and young people. Professor Dudgeon said it was vital to ensure these initiatives were also accessible and culturally safe. “We welcome the investment in services that are specific to our communities, but all mental health provision in Australia should be welcoming and supportive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” she said.

To view The University of WA article New measures to combat Indigenous suicide welcomed in full click here.

Professor Dudgeon, Director of the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention at the University of Western Australia

Professor Dudgeon, Director of the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention at the University of Western Australia. Image source: University of WA website.

FNQ areas: lowest life expectancy in world

People in remote Far North Queensland communities are dying on average 30 years younger than those in Brisbane. New figures from the Public Health Information Development Unit at Torrens University show that the Far North has some of the lowest life expectancy rates in the country. While the average lifespan in Cairns is 76 years, it is just 50 in the Shire of Burke in Far North West Queensland on The Gulf of Carpentaria, adjoining the NT border. Burke’s life expectancy is lower than the country with the lowest life expectancy in the world – the central African nation of Chad – where it is 53.

Only two other areas in Australia – East Pilbara and Ngaanyatjarra (both at 49) in remote WA have a lower life expectancy. Between 2017 and 2021 the median age of death was 53 in Kowanyama, and 54 in Aurukun and Mornington Island. The leading cause of death in Kowanyama is coronary health diseases followed by lung disease and suicide. In Aurukun, Carpentaria and Yarrabah, diabetes is the number one cause.

It is a Closing the Gap target to close the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians by 2031. Nationally, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males born in 2020–2022 are expected to live to 71.9 years and females to 75.6 years, and non-Indigenous males and females to 80.6 years and 83.8 years respectively. The life expectancy across those four Far North areas (including Burke) in the Far North puts them below that of a number of lower income or trouble-plagued countries including Papua New Guinea (66), Afghanistan (64), the Democratic Republic of Congo (60), Somalia (57) and South Sudan (56).

Debra Malthouse, CEO of Apunipima Cape York Health, which operates in several areas including Koyanyama and Aurukun said: “Across Cape York, we are almost seeing a mass-comorbidity epidemic, where patients don’t just have diabetes or heart disease for example, they are dealing with multiple chronic health conditions which can be complex and require different types of ongoing care. Overcrowded housing, poor access to good quality and affordable fresh produce, education and poor employment opportunities are just some of the social determinants of health that affect many Cape York communities.” Ms Malthouse said that funding and training for more generalists GPs, Aboriginal Health Practitioners and Aboriginal Health Workers was needed.

The above has been extracted from the article Death towns: These Far North areas have a lower life expectancy than any country in the world published in the Geelong Advertiser article earlier today.

concrete cross with lichen, Cape Banks Cemetery

Cape Banks Cemetery. Photo: Erin Byrne. Image source: Geelong Advertiser.

BHP and Ear Science to improve ear health

BHP and Ear Science Institute Australia have partnered to improve long term health outcomes for Indigenous children living in remote communities. The Healthy Ears on Country program aims to improve long-term health outcomes within Aboriginal communities across the East Pilbara region. Over three years, BHP will contribute $825k to help expand the scope of services available and support the purchase of specialist equipment, additional staff and training for local healthcare providers.

BHP head of corporate affairs Meath Hammond commented on the partnership. “Access to quality health care is an ongoing challenge experienced by regional and remote communities,” he said. “We are proud to partner with Ear Science to support the amazing work they do in the Pilbara, with a long-term vision to improve the ear health and quality of life for Indigenous Peoples.”

Delivered through the Ear Science Healthy Hearing Outback program, in partnership with Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS), Healthy Ears on Country will provide innovative solutions to hearing care challenges in the region. The program aims to support the Martu and Nyiyaparli Peoples living in Newman, Jigalong, Punmu, Parnngurr and Kunawarritji, and it’s expected to directly impact more than 500 children.

To view The Australian Mining Review article BHP and Ear Science to improve ear health of Indigenous children in full click here.

Aboriginal child Halen Downs with Audiologist Selina Moyle

Selina Moyle (Audiologist) and Halen Downs. Photo: Serene Bedlam Photography. Image source: The Australian Mining Review.

Cyber security WARNING

On Friday last week (17 May 2024) there was a ransomware attack on MediSecure.

Electronic information about prescriptions in Australia is sent through a secure electronic prescription exchange service. Since November 2023 this service has only been provided by the FRED IT eRx exchange, which was NOT affected by the attack. Before November 2023 some information, such as a small number of electronic prescriptions, went through an alternative MediSecure exchange service.

NACCHO wants to reassure members and patients that current prescriptions are safe. If you or your patients would like to know more the Australian Government National Office of Cyber Security has developed a web page with information and advice for individuals and health care providers. The web page can be found here.

NACCHO would like to take this opportunity to remind members to be vigilant. Please go to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) website, here, for cyber security advice and incident reporting.

black computer screen with green text, silhouette of back of human head

Image: Four Corners: Cyber War. Image source: ABC News.

Maternal and Child Health survey closes 13 June 2024

NACCHO is conducting a sector-wide Maternal and Child Health (MCH) survey as part of a suite of upcoming consultation to inform the development of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Maternal and Child Health Plan (the Plan) 2025–2035. This Plan will set out an approach to Close the Gap for mums and bubs, and guide governments’ investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MCH services over the short, medium, and long-term.

The Plan will be informed by extensive consultation with members, including through the survey, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MCH Expert Advisory Group, responses to a forthcoming discussion paper and a series of face-to-face opportunities for discussion.

Noting the excellent services delivered by members and common experiences faced, we are inviting you to engage in this comprehensive survey to inform NACCHO and Government on the MCH needs of ACCHOs Australia-wide. The survey will only be open until COB Thursday 13 June 2024. We kindly ask that you complete the survey by this date or contact us directly if you wish to engage in a discussion instead.

With your help, we hope to highlight and scale up your successes and sustainably address gaps and barriers to improve MCH services. Please contact the NACCHO MCH team if you require assistance or have any questions about the survey or the consultation process.

The link to the survey was sent last week, in an email to affiliate and member CEOs, EAs and Practice Managers. If you would like the link sent again or you didn’t receive it, please contact the NACCHO MCH team by email here and/or phone (02) 6246 9352.

IUHI Birthing in Our Community worker holding a baby

Image source: Institute for Urban Indigenous Health Child and Family Services webpage.

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.

World Autoimmune Arthritis Day – 20 May 2024

World Autoimmune Arthritis Day on May 20 was conceived by the International Autoimmune Arthritis Movement (I.A.A.M.) to raise awareness about autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases that manifest with arthritis. Autoimmune diseases and autoinflammatory conditions refer to those that cause damage to the body’s organs, tissues or cells because of a hyperactive immune response. Autoimmune disorders occur when the body’s immune system creates dangerous reactions to several factors, making it attack itself. It is estimated that 23.5 million people worldwide are affected by some form of autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune arthritis is an umbrella term covering several different types of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, and gout. There are over 100 different types of autoimmune arthritis. Autoimmune arthritis can cause damage to joints, cartilage, and bone.

Arthritis conditions, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and gout, are common among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, affecting about 85,600 people or more than 10 per cent of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. You can find information about culturally appropriate arthritis education resources for Aboriginal people on the Australian Physiotherapy Association website here.

You can find more information about World Autoimmune Arthritis Day on the National Today website here.

tile with blue & purple awareness ribbon & text World Autoimmune Arthritis Day'

Image source: IDEAS website.

17 May 2024

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

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

Health ministers face questions on the budget

The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHAC) hosted a post-Budget webinar on Wednesday this week (15 May 2024) attended by five health portfolio ministers, including Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health. There was little focus on First Nations peoples’ health during the briefing, however, Senator McCarthy did speak of budget measures aimed to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly in the areas of overcrowding and homelessness in communities, and there was mention of $12.5m to address period poverty in First Nations communities by delivering free period products and measures to assist nurse practitioners, which will support Birthing on Country.

Tuesday’s budget also contained $10m to maintain investments to the NACCHO) for targeted and culturally appropriate mental health support services. NACCHO and other Aboriginal community controlled organisations, however, are deeply disappointed by the Budget, with some organisations describing it as lacking vision, and “utterly shameful”. According to analysis by health policy analyst Charles Maskell-Knight, nominal growth in spending on First Nations health programs is now negative – spending in 2027–28 is forecast to be less than 2024–25: “We could take the Government’s commitment to closing the gap more seriously if it was prepared to commit funding over the medium term, allowing grant-funded organisations stability and certainty.”

In one of the few opportunities where she was offered a question, Senator McCarthy was asked if those culturally appropriate mental health services would be delivered by ACCHOs. She said the obvious answer was yes, or they would not be culturally appropriate. Other First Nations-related health measures include $11.1m over five years to expand coverage of the Closing the Gap PBS Co-payment Program to all PBS medicines and $94.9m over two years to support management of communicable disease control in First Nations communities.

To view the Croakey Health Media article Health portfolio ministers face (some) questions on the budget in full click here.

tile with black background and 12 question marks in red fluro lights

Photo: Simone Secci, Unsplash. Image source: Croakey Health Media.

ACCHO and school team up to boost attendance

Bridging cultural divides and mapping student support networks will help one school boost its engagement and attendance rates. Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation and Yirrkala School have teamed up to deliver a new program that will equip students with the social and emotional tools to hit the books. Yirrkala School’s attendance in 2023 sat at 50%.

NT Education Minister Mark Monaghan said the homegrown program was designed to strengthen support for students with disability or diverse needs. The program includes mapping a student’s family, education, health, and other support services – and drawing links between them – and supplying de-escalation training to school staff such as using breath work, fidget toys, and providing a “mulka” space for kids to find a safe place to shelter in.

It also builds resources to bridge gaps between Western and Yolngu concepts – such as using Yolngu terminology around “rough waters” and “calm waters” to describe different state of emotional regulation. Mr Monaghan said the school has already seen a drop in the time and resources needed to help students regulate their emotions and a boost in classroom participation. He said the program has supported 40 students, six school staff, and four parents and caregivers since Term 1, 2024. “As a government, we must continue to partner with Aboriginal organisations to get more children to school, to engage them in their learning,” Mr Monaghan said.

To above is an extract from an article Yirrkala School and Miwatj Health team up to boost engagement, attendance published in the Gold Coast Bulletin earlier today.

4 Yirrkala Aborginal students pushing another student on a rope swing

Yirrkala students playing in the school playground. Photo: Floss Adams. Image source: Gold Coast Bulletin.

13YARN inundated with racism-related calls

The Indigenous support line 13YARN, which was set up for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping, has been inundated by First Nations people calling in this year citing racism as their reason for feeling distressed. So far in 2024, 26% of calls to the national Indigenous helpline have been from First Nations people experiencing racism or abuse. That has risen from 16%  in 2022 to 19%t last year.

13YARN national program manager, Marjorie Anderson said one of the most significant drivers for people seeking help has been racism in the aftermath of the Referendum. “It is sad this is the experience of our people, but we are pleased 13YARN can offer safe, confidential and culturally appropriate support,” she said. “Amid news reporting of the Productivity Commission’s Closing the Gap report we saw around 43% t of calls related to racism, and again, the release of Closing the Gap data saw 47% of calls connected to racism. “These two days represent the single highest figures to date.”

The crisis helpline 13YARN recently reached a significant milestone of 50,000 calls since launching in early 2022. Calls to the support line increased by nearly 50% in the first two years of operation: from around 17,000 calls in 2022 to 25,000 calls in 2023. Ms Anderson said the service’s rapid growth had been responsive to the urgent need for culturally safe and confidential crisis support. “Over the last two years, the demand for help is far beyond what we ever expected and continues to grow,” she said.

To view the National Indigenous Times article Indigenous helpline 13YARN inundated with racism-related calls post referendum in full click here.

13Yarn National Program Manager Aunty Majorie Anderson

13YARN National Program Manager Marjorie Anderson. Photo: NITV News.

What is LGBTQI+ allyship?

To view the The Conversation article What is allyship? A brief history, present and future in full click here.

4 Tiwi Island sistergirls in outfits for Mardi Gras

Tiwi Island sistergirls showing the colourful outfits they prepared for their participation in Sydney’s Mardi Gras. Photo: Twitter. Image source: Creative Spirits website.

Childhood immunisation resources for mob

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) has a range of childhood immunisation resources, listed below, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The resources aim to remind parents and carers of the benefits of vaccination and encourage them to vaccinate on time.

  • One more way you keep your little ones safe – poster – encourages vaccination to protect children from serious diseases
  • Adaptable poster – for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health services and clinics can be adapted to promote local clinic vaccination information
  • Childhood Immunisation helps protect us all – poster – reminds families that vaccinating on time can protect us all from serious diseases
  • One more way you keep them safe – animation – explains all you need to know about childhood vaccinations
  • Vaccines are safe – animation – explains that vaccines have been carefully tested, to protect us from diseases
  • Immunisation protects us like a shield – animation – explains how vaccination provides protection against diseases that can make little ones very sick
  • Nurse Tisha explains why childhood immunisations are so important – video
  • Nurse Kristy addresses common questions from parents – video
  • Health worker Florianna talks about why children need to be immunised – video
  • Health Worker Irene talks about how getting immunised can protect your children – video
  • One more way you keep your little ones safe – height chart – for display in health services and clinics to promote local vaccinations

You can find the resources listed above on the DoHAC Childhood Immunisation resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people webpage 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.

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia – 17 May 2024

The world is seeing hard-won progress in protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual people – but there is still a long road ahead. To spotlight the advances and challenges, the theme of today’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) this year is: “No one left behind: Equality, freedom and justice for all.”

Social and legal norms have shifted away from criminalising LGBTQIA+ people and towards safeguarding their rights. Since 2019, 11 countries have legalised marriage equality. Since 2017, 13 countries have removed laws criminalising LGBTQIA+ sexuality. Further, policies protecting the rights of sexual and gender minorities are gaining ground at every level. In recent months, United Nations (UN) bodies have called for transgender-friendly HIV care, protection of the rights of intersex people and the end to discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people in health services.

Yet despite the progress, discrimination and stigma remain, leading to serious health disparities and other inequities. In some places, LGBTQIA+ people could face the death penalty because of their identity, leaving them highly vulnerable to rights violations and with limited access to health services. And many political leaders are using polarising policies and harmful rhetoric. LGBTQIA+ people more likely to be forced to confront poverty, violence and other forms of marginalisation. “LGBTQIA+ people deserve full enjoyment of their equal rights just like all others,” Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (the UN sexual and reproductive health and rights agency), Dr Natalia Kanem said. “To truly leave no one behind means safeguarding the rights of LGBTQIA+ people in all settings and including them fully in humanitarian preparedness, response, relief and recovery efforts.”

You can find more information about IDAHOBIT on the United Nations Population Fund website here.

You can also access the article Sistergirls & Brotherboys: transgender and queer Aboriginal people on the Creative Spirits website here.

tile with red, orange, yellow, grey, blue & purple stripes & text 'International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia - 17 May 2024

Image source: Canadian Union of Public Employees.