Category Uncategorized

29 June 2024

The image in the feature tile is of dialysis patients in a Purple House centre in Newman.

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

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

Balgo patients to receive dialysis on Country

Balgo WA is one of Australia’s most isolated communities. Locals needing life-saving dialysis treatment must leave their Country for towns more than 10 hours away to receive care. Purple House has plans to open a local service including a four-chair nurse-assisted hemodialysis unit operating six days a week by 2024. CEO of Purple House, Sarah Brown AM says keeping people on Country is essential, “It’s about ensuring that senior community members are home on Country for important cultural business to teach the younger generations and keep culture strong.”

Balgo man Eric Moora currently lives in Perth, where his partner receives treatment for type 2 diabetes. Without access to care on Country, Eric has flown three hours from Perth to Kununurra and then driven eight hours to get to Balgo to take part in cultural practices, “We have to go right back to the bush, back to my Country, you know, to eat,” he said. Eric also has diabetes but doesn’t need dialysis; he sees bush tucker as a way to stay healthy and avoid highly processed food contributing to his condition.

“My people eat wrong thing, you know, sugar. We need to stop the Coke, making people sick from the Coke, diabetes, all that,” Eric said.With Elders receiving life-saving treatment away from Country, Eric fears younger generations will go without the cultural knowledge that was passed onto him from Elders, “Today has changed now because we got no old people.I want my people to come back home,” he said. The dialysis unit will be one of six in remote communities, in a

To read the full ABC article Diabetes patients in remote Balgo will soon be able to receive dialysis on country here.

Eric Moora. Photo: Elsa Silbertstein. Image source: ABC News.

2023 NAIDOC Elder Awards finalists

The National NAIDOC Awards are an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who go above and beyond to contribute and fight for the preservation of their culture and community. In line with the 2023 NAIDOC Week theme ‘For Our Elders,’ the Elder Award celebrates an Elder whose dedication to people, culture and future generations has been lifelong and has left an indelible impact in their communities.

Proud Ngambri (Kamberri) Wallabalooa (Ngunnawal) and Wiradyuri Elder, Aunty Dr Matilda House-Williams is a Female Elder Award nominee for her deep roots in advocacy and activism. Aunty Matilda has been involved in Indigenous Affairs since 1963, and has played key roles in establishing Winnunga, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, the Aboriginal Legal Service, and alongise her brothers, founding the Ngambri Land Council.

The awards ceremony will kick off on Saturday 1  July and will be broadcast on NITV from 7.30pm AEST. To read the NITV article, including more about the finalists click here.

Aunty Dr Matilda House-Williams. Photo: Blacklock Media. Source: NITV.

Changing conversations about lung cancer

Researchers at the University of Sydney say it is time to remove the stigma around lung cancer and to disrupt assumptions about it being solely attributable to someone’s decision to smoke. A range of other factors are at play, with lung cancer disproportionately affecting people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, those in regional and rural areas, and those with lower socioeconomic backgrounds. While public health campaigns have successfully raised awareness about the dangers of smoking, they have been accompanied by growing stigma around lung cancer. For example, a study by the Global Lung Cancer Coalition found that 28% of Australians admit they have less sympathy for lung cancer sufferers than those with other forms of cancer.

Patients undergoing lung cancer treatment have spoken out about the stigma they face alongside managing their illness and treatment. One patient said, “It’s the first time I’ve really been aware of the sort of shame attached to an illness.” Patient support groups, professional associations and peak bodies are all in agreement that we need to rethink and modernise our understanding and approach to lung cancer, smoking and stigma.

To read the full Croakey Health Media article Identifying some opportunities to change conversations about lung cancer click here. 

Image: CDC Unsplash. Source: Croakey Health Media.

New research on bush tucker nutrition

Rich in essential nutrients such as fibre, vitamins, and minerals, yams are gaining attention in the food industry. In a research project with the University of Queensland, PhD candidate Fawale Samson Olumide is studying Australian yams, which were a vital food for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in rainforests along the east coast. The project aims to bridge the gap between Indigenous knowledge and Western science and report on the nutritional and health benefits of the bush tucker staple.

The Yidinji community in Far North Queensland is collaborating on the project, alongside community Elder Professor Henrietta Marrie from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation. Professor Marrie said, “There is so much work we need to do to record Indigenous knowledge about the food and its use, to pass on to our younger generations.”

To read the full article click here.

Source: Food Processing.

Unpaid work during NAIDOC WEEK

With NAIDOC Week just around the corner, there is a surge in expectations for extra labour from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in workplaces. This includes the planning and organising of cultural events and experiences, which is rarely reflected in their job description. The Make us Count report found these expectations are not limited to events like NAIDOC Week. Reflecting on the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in workplaces within the Victoria public sector, female participants reported uncompensated labour is a burden.

One participant said, “The value of [Aboriginal cultural knowledge] is only when I organise NAIDOC or Reconciliation Week celebrations. The worst part is that it is up to me to drive recognition of these important events and for the rest of the year, culture and I are forgotten.”

The Healing Foundation describes ‘cultural load’ as an accumulative trauma and stress experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are navigating systemic adversity in their lives while they are also trying to succeed in their careers. The report found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women feel overworked and undervalued in the workplace, and face discrimination and a systemic barrier to career progression. One participant said, “Unless you’re always performing at 150% or more, people don’t see you.”

Findings from the report demonstrate an urgent need for workplaces to take action to address racism and misogyny. This includes unpaid labour, short-term contracts, and workplace harassment and violence.

“I just want to be able to be in a job where I can actually do the job and then still have the capacity to give back to the community,” said a participant.

To read the full The Conversation article During NAIDOC Week, many Indigenous women are assigned unpaid work. New research shows how prevalent this is in the workplace click here. Read the Make Us Count report here.

Source: Analysis & Policy Observatory.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

22 June 2023

The image in the feature tile is from the Lowitja Institute International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference.

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

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

International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference: the power of truth

The Lowitja Institute’s Third International Indigenous and Wellbeing Conference centred around the theme of ‘truth.’ Academics, advocates, and health leaders were among inspiring speakers who reflected on the different meanings of truth, including the power of Indigenous truth, the international perspective on truth, the health power of truth, rights and equity, and taking hold of sovereignty.

Professor Lester-Irabinna Rigney touched on “the need to change practice.” Professor Rigney said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people do not get their needs met in colonial systems because the true history of the system is not addressed.

Talking on culturally appropriate care Professor Rigney expanded, “Current practice does not uphold our human rights to access healthcare free from racism or value our sovereignty to have control over out healthcare.”

To learn more about the International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference click here.

International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference. Professor Lester-Irabinna Rigney. Source: Twitter.

More support needed for children with parents in prison

Children who have a parent in prison are at a greater risk of experiencing trauma and disadvantage. A study commissioned by Shine for Kids has revealed an urgent need to improve care and support services for these children. The study, carried out by Monash University in conjunction with the Australian National University and Griffith University, sought to improve understanding of the characteristics, needs and experiences of children with a parent in prison, by surveying 94 caregivers about the specific experiences of the oldest child of an incarcerated parent.

The study found that, despite being over-represented in the prison population, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families are not being offered enough targeted support. More broadly, the survey found that children with parents in prison had higher rates of disability, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. The study also reports a “concerning number” of carers surveyed indicated the children in their care have also had contact with police or the youth justice system.

Shine for Kids has made six recommendations to help improve outcomes for children with parents in prison:

  • Specialised, free and accessible support for children and families should be proactively offered at key points including arrest, sentencing and around time of visits in person and via video.
  • Wraparound support such as case management, counselling crisis care and outreach for families with complex needs to reduce the burden of navigating multiple service systems.
  • Targeted support to address the specific needs of Indigenous families including in terms of education and housing.
  • Services and resources to support ongoing family connection during imprisonment. The evidence shows that if supported well, an ongoing relationship can benefit both the child and person in prison.
  • Specific training and support for schools and teachers so they can properly help a child when required.
  • More research, particularly when it comes to hearing from the children themselves about their experiences and how they adapt in the post release period.

To read the full Croakey Health Media article Systems must do better at caring for children in greatest need click here. To read the full study Mapping the needs and experiences of children affected by parental imprisonment: A national survey go here.

Source: Shine for Kids.

Government urged to take immediate action on housing fund

The Coalition of Peaks is among a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations urging the government to take immediate action to resolve delays on the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill, after it failed to pass parliament this week. Coalition of Peaks Deputy Lead Convenor and Chair of the SA Aboriginal Community Controlled Organsation Network, Scott Wilson said, “housing is a key social determinant of health: our people need housing now. It’s time to stop procrastinating.”

“There’s no guarantee that come October the legislation will pass, and even if it does, by the time you even start building houses we’re looking at 2025,” Mr Wilson said.

With disproportionate rates of homelessness and 34% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults renting through social housing, NATSHIA CEO Ivan Simon said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people “continue to be severely disadvantaged by the lack of appropriate responses from governments over many years to the housing circumstances that impact on their daily lives.”

To read the National Indigenous Times article Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations urge immediate action on housing fund click here.

Source: National Indigenous Times

Possum skin cloak to help Elders with safe passage to the Dreamtime

Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative and Wulumbarra (a small grassroots First Nations community group) organised workshops for Indigenous young people from the Goulburn Valley to design and stitch together a possum skin cloak, which was then donated to the Rumbalara Elders Facility. The skin will be offered to residents and families as something they can use for a safe passage into the Dreamtime.

Rumbalara housing and homelessness support worker Jaime Mackay said the family will have the option to have the cloak over the person in their last days, “so they have that little bit of cultural connection and feel comfortable.”

The program was designed to create a safe space for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people impacted by the 2022 Goulburn Valley floods. Ten young people participated in the five-week program, a unique opportunity to connect with culture. Proud Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Waurrung man and co-founder of Wulumbarra, Michael Bourke said the workshops allowed young people to engage with skills and knowledge they often did not get to.

“Keeping this culture alive is building identity for these young kids to grow strong and understand that they are young kings and queens,” Mr Bourke said.

To read the full ABC article Indigenous young people make possum skin cloak to help elders with safe passage to the Dreamtime click here.

The possum skin cloak made for the Rumbalara Elders Facility. Photo: Georgina Carroll, ABC Shepparton.

Guild Symbion Scholarship

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Symbion have announced a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacy student scholarship. Program participants will receive education and career support from mentors, alongside a financial entitlement and pharmacy conference support.

Further details can be accessed here.

Source: Canva.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

20 June 2023

The image in the feature tile is of the Upper House as the legislation on the Indigenous Voice referendum question passed federal parliament, a development that moves the nation closer to a referendum date being determined. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch. 

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

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

Australians to vote on the Voice within six months

Australians will officially vote on the Voice to Parliament within the next six months, after the bill to trigger the referendum passed the Senate 52 votes to 19, yesterday. Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said the development brought Australia “one step closer” to acknowledging Indigenous Australians in the Constitution and making a “great country even greater.”

“For too long, Indigenous Australians have been consistently worse off than non-Indigenous Australians…It’s a broken system. And the Voice is our best chance of fixing it, because when we listen to people on the ground and consult with locals, they make better decisions and achieve better outcomes,” Minister Burney said.

In an interview with ABC’s Dan Bouchier on One Plus One – The Elders, NACCHO CEO, Pat Turner talked about the upcoming referendum and encouraged Australians to support the Yes Vote later this year.

To read the SBS News article ‘It’s on’: Senate vote triggers Voice referendum within the next six months click here. You can also watch Pat Turner on ABC’s One Plus One – The Elders here.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney poses for a photo with 40 members of Jawun at Parliament House in Canberra. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas.

Improving eye health

AH&MRC and the National Expert Group in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health (NEGATSIEH) co-hosted the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference at the end of last month. With a successful turnout, the conference aimed to build on the collective work of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector to improve eye health access outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

The conference theme ‘Our Vision in Our Hands: Finding our Voice’ sought to highlight emerging and future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders in the sector, as well as resonating the strength and values of the longstanding movement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination in health, and the broader national movement for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament.

NACCHO Acting Director, Programs, Anne-Marie Banfield was the Conference Co-Chair and introduced the newly appointed First Nations Eye Health Alliance (FNEHA) board and facilitated a panel discussion about the aims of the alliance. A key focus of FNEHA is strengthening the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce by providing professional support and networking. Collaboration was another key component of the conference, with over 240 delegates from all states and territories, including representatives from ACCHOs, eye care clinicians, policy makers, researchers, non-government organisations, hospitals, professional peak bodies and government departments from across the country.

Learn more about the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference here.

2023 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference. Source: AH&MRC.

Culturally safe breast cancer screening

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists have a chance to improve cultural safety during breast cancer screenings. BreastScreen Victoria is seeking to commission an Indigenous artist to create an original artwork for a breast cancer screening shawl. The aim of the shawl is to help women feel culturally safe, comfortable, and familiar during the breast cancer screening process. The selected artist will also have their work featured on postcards, posters, as well as shared on social media to raise awareness for breast cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

The brief for the artwork is to reflect women’s business and is intended to represent a story of health and wellbeing, that includes breast screening for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women aged over 40.

To apply, visit the BreastScreen Victoria website here. Submissions close this week – Thursday 22 June 2023.

Victorian program helping people avoid homelessness forced to close

According to Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV), more than 3,000 Victorian Aboriginal households living in public housing find themselves without culturally safe support to help manage their tenancies in times of crisis. An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander homelessness service providing culturally safe and free social housing support has closed its doors after a successful pilot supporting more than 100 Indigenous people last year. Funded by Homes Victoria, the 12-month pilot program was delivered by the Victorian Public Tenants Association, whose chief executive, Katelyn Butters is urging the government to “reconsider” the pre-budget submission which was unsuccessful.

“We believe this is a substantial missed opportunity to help our First Nations communities’ access and sustain affordable long-term homes,” Ms Butters said.

Over the past 12 months Ms Butters’ team helped provide a safe gateway for First Nations people who had previously felt discriminated against in the housing process. AHV chief executive Darren Smith said AHV is also disappointed the program had been defunded. He said, “There is an urgent need for Aboriginal Victorians to have access to culturally safe tenancy support services to help maintain their public housing tenancies.”

To read the full National Indigenous Times article click here.

Victorian Parliament House. Source: National Indigenous Times.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

Macular Week – 19–25 June 2023

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience three times more vision loss than non-Indigenous people, creating a concerning gap for vision. Macular Week is a chance to show the impact of macular disease, raise awareness, and highlight why funding research to find a cure is so vital.

35% if Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults have never had an eye exam. The My Macula quiz, available on the Macular Disease Foundation Australia website here, is an accessible tool to determine if you have any risk factors for macula disease.

Learn more about Macular Week here.

16 June 2023

portrait of Pat Turner; text 'Pat Turner, NACCHO CEO and Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks tells how activists before her shaped who she is today'

The image in the feature tile is of Pat Turner from an article ‘Sick of the good intentions’: Pat Turner demands faster action on Indigenous disadvantage published in The Sydney Morning Herald on 11 February 2023. Photo: Rhett Wyman.

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

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

Pat Turner share how fighters shaped her life

In one of her most notable interviews, NACCHO CEO and Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, Pat Turner sat down with Dan Bouchier, reflecting on growing up on Mparntwe Country (Alice Springs), the impact of the activists who came before her, and her lifetime determination and commitment to achieve justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

Speaking on how her mentors like Uncle Joe McGinness and Dr Evelyn Scott influenced her life and career in Aboriginal and Torres Strait advocacy, she said “They are the giants whose shoulders we stand on.” Ms Turner, who is now 70 years old, explained she is driven by a determination to achieve justice for her people.

Ms Turner  said “every step we’ve taken has been an incremental step that we’ve had to compromise for, to accept the incrementalism in the improvements for us as Aboriginal people. I know most Australians are fed up with the inequity. They want to see people living a decent quality of life and I applaud them for that, and I ask them to continue to support us in doing that.” To this end she said, “… I really would encourage the Australian people to support the Yes Vote… And the Voice is only one part of the Uluru Statement because truth and treaty are next.”

You can view the interview in full in full below.

Interactive app put foot health in Aboriginal hands

An exciting new smartphone app is part of Ingke Arntarnte-areme Looking After Feet, a suite of resources launched today, developed to help address foot health problems faced by Aboriginal people in Central Australian communities. The app, developed by Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (Congress) in partnership with SA Health and Medical Research Institute (SAMHRI) is an interactive platform that provides important information for people at risk of diabetes related foot health problems using images, videos and other mediums, translated into several local Aboriginal languages.

“It is important to have this information in our languages.” said Congress Lead Female Cultural Advisor, Sabella Turner. “Being able to understand the health information will mean that people can recognise when things are not right with their feet, and get help from the doctor or podiatrist.”

Community consultation was central to the development of the new resources. Community members asked for resources that described what diabetes is and how it can lead to foot concerns, and emphasised the importance of privileging Aboriginal languages, lived experiences, strength-based narrative, and centring of culture in healing. “These resources have been strengthened by the Aboriginal community.” Ms Turner continued. “Over 35 community members contributed photos, music, art, and story. Even more gave feedback which was then used to make the information easier to understand.”

The app is complemented by a suite of print, animated and visual resources ­– and even a foot health song. You can find more information about the app on Congress’ webpage Looking After Feet here.

graphic design images of the Looking After Feet app

Image source: CAAC Looking After Feet webpage.

Scholarship helps bring health to Thursday Island

As Kibbim Titasey moved from Thursday Island to rural Atherton to Cairns, he saw the different lives he might have lived fall away. If the 18 year-old had stayed on Thursday Island, he would have likely been a crayfish diver working under his uncle – which he thinks he would have liked. In Atherton, most of his peers at the state school picked up a trade, which he says wouldn’t have satiated his appetite for education and learning.

Now, having attended high school at St Augustine’s College in Cairns on an Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) scholarship and seeing his brother study medicine after also completing an AIEF scholarship, his dream is to become a doctor. He is pre-med, studying a Bachelor of Health Science at the University of Queensland, and eventually wants to return home to the Torres Strait and work in emergency medicine up there.

Without a full scholarship, he wouldn’t have been able to attend St Augustine’s College, he says. “Part of the reason I moved from home was education and the way things are run up there. I want to try to put a dint in that. A lot of my extended family on my father’s side, the Torres Strait Islander side, suffer from chronic diseases. And part of that is a lack of education.

The above is from an article Indigenous scholarship helps bring health to medical student’s Thursday Island home published in The Australian yesterday, Thursday 15 June 2023.

Uni Qld medical student - Torres Strait Islander Kibbim Titasey

Torres Strait Islander Kibbim Titasey, 18, is studying medicine at the University of Queensland. Photo: Glenn Hunt. Image source: The Australian.

Mental health support for flood-affected mob

Extra mental health funding support will be provided to First Nations communities affected by major flooding, caused by a number of recent cyclones and monsoonal events in WA, the NT and Queensland. The Australian Government will provide $4.8m to NACCHO to boost mental health services for First Nations communities impacted by these floods.

Several regions across WA and the NT experienced extensive flooding due to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie. Northern and Central Queensland also experienced significant flooding events in March 2023 due to heavy monsoonal rain. Funding will be distributed to 13 Aboriginal ACCHOs in communities affected by these floods, to allow them to deliver culturally appropriate trauma counselling, healing and mental health support. NACCHO will retain some funds to respond to any emerging mental health needs in flood-affected communities, and to work with other service providers to ensure holistic, comprehensive health care is available to local communities.

This mental health support aligns with Recommendation 15.3 of the 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements to support localised planning and delivery of mental health services, before, during and after a disaster. This assistance builds on supports already rolled out to flood-impacted regions, including a $1m Community Mental Health Package to deliver targeted mental health and wellbeing services to those impacted in the North West Queensland flood through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements between the Australian Government and Queensland Government.

To view Minister Butler, Senator Watt, Minister McBride and Senator McCarthy’s joint media release Mental health support for flood-affected First Nations communities in full click here.

aerial view of flooding in the remote community of Pigeon Hole, NT, March 2023

An aerial view of flooding in the remote community of Pigeon Hole, NT, March 2023. Photo: ABC. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

Empowering communities with My Health Record

The Australian Digital Health Agency is hosting a webinar for consumers to learn more about the benefits of My Health Record and the my health app in supporting the preservation of bush medicine information, care on Country and community wellbeing.

There will also be an opportunity for questions and answers at the end of the session.

WHEN: Wednesday 5 July 2023

TIME: 1.00 – 1.30pm AEST

To register for the Empowering communities with My Health Record webinar click here.AIDA My Health Record banner - logos of AIDA & My Health Record

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

Men’s Health Week  12–18 June

Each day during Men’s Health Week NACCHO has been sharing information, resources and stories relevant to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector. Today we’re showcasing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural men’s group run by Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd, Warrnambool, Victoria. Gunditjamara Men’s Group focuses on increasing connection to Culture and Country in a culturally safe environment. The Men’s Group is grounded in a deep understanding of cultural values and practices and helps to highlight the incredible resilience and empowerment of Gunditjmara and the local community. Levi Geebung, a Social and Emotional Wellbeing Caseworker and Bidjara-Gunditjamara man who runs the group stated that ‘once I started to find culture, I started to find who I was.’

For information about Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd and their Men’s Group click here. The National Indigenous Radio’s Weekly News-in-Review takes an in-depth look at the issues affecting First Nations communities around Australia. Among the topics included in this week’s episode, presented by Stephen Clarke, and available here, is the Gunditjmara Men’s Group talking about reducing Indigenous incarceration.

3 images: front of ACCHO Gunnditjarra, 7 ATSI men standing outside brick building & 4 ATSI men eating cafe meal

Gunditjarra Men’s Group. Image source: Cox Inall Ridgeway.

13 June 2023

feature tile image pharmacist hands holding 2 boxes medication; text 'Consumer, health and doctor organisations unite to urge MPs and Senators to support 60-day dispensing'

The image in the feature tile is from an  article Why 60-day dispensing concerns are overblown published in the RACGP newsGP on 10 May 2023.

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

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

Politicians urged to support 60-day dispensing

Consumer, health and doctor organisations have united to urge members of parliament (MPs) and Senators to put consumers first and support 60-day dispensing to save money and time for Australians. Eight key organisations representing health consumers, including from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and multicultural communities, as well as health professionals have put their name to an open letter to federal parliamentarians.

The reforms will double the amount of medicines pharmacists can dispense to patients to up to 60 days’ worth for more than 320 medicines for stable conditions on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, when deemed safe and appropriate by a patient’s GP. The open letter urges MPs and Senators to put health consumers first and support the reforms, and highlights how the initiative will benefit Australians, particularly those who are more vulnerable.

The open letter listed a number of benefits of 60-day dispensing, including

  • Benefit approximately 6 million people with chronic and ongoing conditions – including a significant number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Australians who have a higher prevalence of chronic conditions.
  • Improve system equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who suffer more from chronic disease. There is strong evidence showing the value of medicine cost reduction for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

NACCHO Acting CEO Dr Dawn Casey said: “We welcome this measure that will help ease the cost pressures for purchasing medicines for so many of our people. It can halve the annual cost of people’s medicines, which is a truly significant impact. In reducing the number of times people must attend a pharmacy for each of the chronic medicines, it will also greatly improve convenience for patients and further add to the value of the measure, especially when considering accessibility of some pharmacies and current cost of transport.”

The view the joint media release MPs and Senators urged to support 60-day dispensing to save Australians money and time in full click here and to view the open letter to all Federal Parliamentarians about the 60 Day Dispensing, click here.

pharmacist opening medicines draw

Image source: RACGP newsGP.

Community leadership vital for health initiatives

Professor Andrew Maiorana from Curtin University’s School of Allied Health, and Fiona Stanley Hospital’s Exercise Physiology Department says self-determination is an important, but often neglected consideration when developing health and lifestyle programs for Aboriginal people. Historically, such programs have often been developed by central bureaucracies, without the input and guidance of the community the program is designed to benefit. As the nation prepares for a referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, it is imperative to recognise the importance of an Aboriginal ‘voice’ in developing health initiatives designed for Aboriginal communities.     

Health inequalities for Aboriginal people are well recognised and underpin the 10-year life expectancy gap experienced by Aboriginal people, compared with the non-Aboriginal population. However, much of the chronic disease burden experienced by Aboriginal people is preventable.  Improving access to health services that are culturally appropriate and are guided by Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing are critical to helping address the gap. 

Sport and physical activity are important to reducing the risk of chronic disease, maintaining good mental health and strengthening social engagement.  Many Aboriginal communities are well supported by organisations that provide sporting initiatives for children and youth, however, culturally appropriate physical activity programs for adults are much less available. This likely contributes to reduced levels of physical activity in Aboriginal adults. Talking Together, Walking Together is a research project designed to address this inequity. Recently funded by the Medical Research Future Fund, the project will run in three diverse Aboriginal communities – the Watjuk Noongar community of the Perth region, the Yamatji community of the Geraldton/Mid West region and the Martu community in the Eastern Pilbara.

To view the Professor Maiorana’s guest column Keeping First Nations moving published in the Medical Forum on 11 June 2023 click here.

portrait shot of Professor Andrew Maiorana & Curtin School of Allied Health logo

Professor Andrew Maiorana from the Curtin School of Allied Health (CSAH). Image source: Medical Forum. Logo image source: CSAH Twitter page.

Aboriginal researchers “must be involved”

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Principal Committee Indigenous Caucus chair, Professor Yvonne Cadet-James, says it is important to determine not just whether enough Indigenous health research is being funded, but who is conducting the research as well. “[Funding] needs to happen if we need new knowledge and discoveries,” Professor Cadet-Jones said. “When I started out in research in the early 2000s, there were very few indigenous researchers leading grants, or as chief investigators.

“That’s changed over time, with the NHMRC, MRFF [Medical Research Future Fund], and the ARC [Australian Research Council] having funding allocated for Indigenous research. And of course, the Lowitja Institute, which is the national Indigenous research institute.”

But Professor Cadet-Jones said that the way the research is done is the most important element in its success. “As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people we understand the historical, cultural and political perspectives, and that understanding helps us frame our research,” she said. “[We have] insight into the difficulties in conducting that research due to the impact of colonisation. The real, on-the-ground needs, and what people are experiencing in terms of the social determinants of health, including poverty. Most importantly, [we have] insight into the strength and resilience that people have in their cultural values and beliefs, in their traditional knowledge, and the resilience they’ve built over all those years.”

To view the InSight article Aboriginal researchers “must be involved” in Aboriginal health research in full click here.

Professor Yvonne Cadet-James speaking at a Lowitja Institute June 2019

NHMRC Principal Committee Indigenous Caucus Chair Professor Yvonne Cadet-James. Photo: James Henry Photography, courtesy The Lowitja Institute. Image source: NITV.

Policy without voice: a history of failure

Catherine Liddle, the CEO of SNAICC the National Voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, recently joined:

  • Sharon Bessell, Professor of Public Policy and Director of both the Children’s Policy Centre and the Poverty and Inequality Research Centre at ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, and
  • Arnagretta Hunter, the Human Futures Fellow at ANU College of Health and Medicine, a cardiologist, physician, and a Senior Clinical Lecturer at ANU Medical School

for a powerful conversation about the lasting trauma of policy failures as part of a Policy Forum podcast: Policy without voice: a history of failure and harm.

Ms Liddle told the incredible story about her family meeting Thomas Mayor and discussing the Uluru Statement from the Heart that he rolled out on the floor of her lounge room. “We could hear the beating of that heartbeat,” she said. Ms Liddle also shared her insight on how poverty in indigenous communities is often misunderstood as neglect, the damage of covert racism, and why Alice Springs often becomes a political football. “Everything relates to policy, and we know that the wins are only as good as the government that gets them across the line.”

You can listen to the Policy Forum podcast episode Policy without voice: a history of failure and harm in full by clicking here.

banner of Policy Forum Pod Policy without voice: a history of failure and harm, Australian National Uni Crawford School of Public Policy Policy Froum Acast

Proper workforce planning needed

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is calling for more effective planning to ensure the future medical workforce meets community need, as well as better support for international medical graduates adjusting to the Australian health system. In a submission on the interim report of the Independent Review of Overseas Health Practitioner Regulatory Settings, the AMA has expressed its general support for efforts to streamline migration and registration processes for overseas health professionals seeking to work in Australia.

AMA President Steve Robson said streamlining the migration process would help address serious workforce shortages, but more effective planning was needed instead of piecemeal solutions like simply increasing the intake of overseas health professionals.

To view the AMA’s media release Proper workforce planning needed to address shortages in full click here.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

Key Date – Men’s Health Week 12–18 June 2023

Men’s Health Week is celebrated every year around the world around the world in the middle of June, and in 2023 the dates are June 12-18. It is an important opportunity to highlight the importance of men’s health, and to promote and support the health and wellbeing of men and boys in our communities. Through a series of promotions, events and publicity around the country, Men’s Health Week is designed to provoke thought and discussion about what needs to be done to improve male health.

Men’s Health Week is coordinated by Western Sydney University. The team’s close connections with community and government organisations across Australia enable us them develop the kinds of networks and partnerships that bring together people who care about better health for men and boys.

The theme of Men’s Health Week 2023 is Healthy Habits – focusing on encouraging men and boys to build healthy habits by identifying small changes they can make that benefit their health and wellbeing.

More information on Men’s Health Week 2023 can be found on Western Sydney University Centre for Male Health webpage 2023 International Men’s Health Week here.

tile collage of 13 images of men; text 'healthy habits Men's Health Week 2023 | June 12–18

Image source: Western Sydney University website.

8 June 2023

The image in the feature tile is from a Linda Burney MP Tweet on 7 June 2023.

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

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

Joint Council on CTG works to get justice targets on track

Yesterday the tenth meeting of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap (CTG) was held on Larrakia Country. Members discussed opportunities to build CTG into the Federation Funding Agreements Framework and government budget processes: a revised Joint Communications Strategy to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to better understand and have greater ownership over the National Agreement: and the Justice Policy Partnership (JPP) Strategic Framework.

It comes as Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney announced $81m federal funding to target justice reinvestment programs across Australia, including Darwin, Katherine, Groote Eylandt, and Lajamanu, designed to keep Indigenous people out of prison. “It’s not a cookie cutter model … it will be absolutely up to the local community to determine what they think is needed” said Minister Burney.

The latest Bureau of Statistics data show one in every 100 Territorians was in prison, whereas three in every 100 Indigenous Territorians were in prison.. Deputy Lead Convener of the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations, Catherine Liddle, said the announcement was welcomed amid justice targets heading “alarmingly off-track.” She expanded, “…For these announcements to work it’s going to take a lot of work.”

You can find out more about the tenth meeting of the Joint Council on CTG here and read the Herald Sun article Linda Burney announces $81m for justice reinvestment in Darwin, Australia in full here

Source: Linda Burney MP Tweet on 7 June 2023

Pandemic lessons shape Cherbourg health improvements

During the pandemic the Darling Downs Health delivered 455 surge vaccinations to Cherbourg residents in under 10 days through super clinics and door-to-door vaccinations. Additionally, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers focused on providing COVID-19 testing and social support for residents, informed by a community-driven holistic model of care.

The Cherbourg Health Council was formed last year following a successful collaboration between the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council, Darling Downs Health, and Cherbourg Regional Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Services (CRAICCHS). Not slowing down any time soon, “The Health Council is all about empowering local mob to take the lead in identifying both the problems that we need to tackle and the solutions that we can apply to ensure all Cherbourg people enjoy long and healthy lives,” said Mayor Sandow.

At the core of the Cherbourg Health Council, is the understanding that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have the solutions to the health problems they are impacted by.

Darling Downs Health Director Indigenous Health, Rica Lacey said that a combination of clinical support and local knowledge is key to the collaborative work of the Health Council, “The power of clinical knowledge combined with comprehensive local knowledge in the health worker workforce cannot be underestimated,” she said

Read the full First Nations Telegraph article Lessons from the pandemic shaping future health improvements in Cherbourg here.

Cherbourg Health Council’s second forum at TAFE Queensland Nurunderi Campus. Source: First Nations Telegraph.

CTG audit report finds QLD not on track

Queensland is not expected to meet a 2031 deadline to Close the Gap (CTG) on First Nations life expectancy. The Queensland Audit Office’s report based on data from Queensland Health also found Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients were two times more likely to avoid or delay specialist appointments, due to the cost of travel, than other residents in the state.

The Queensland Audit Office said, “First Nations people are still over-represented in measures that indicate a lack of appropriate care and providing health care to people in remote communities is an ongoing challenge.” The Audit Office recommended six strategies to improve the delivery of culturally appropriate care, including recruiting of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander liaison officers and making travel schemes more accessible.

The report said while each of the 16 regional hospitals and health services have developed strategies to improve the level of care, the targets are “too broad and ambitious” and lack detail on delivery. Renowned nurse and midwife Dr Gracelyn Smallwood said the findings didn’t come as a surprise, “We’ve still got First Nations peoples, not just in Queensland, but around Australia, that are dying from purely preventable diseases … it’s totally unacceptable.”

A Queensland Health spokesperson said it has accepted all of the Audit Office’s recommendations and will work with key stakeholders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to implement them.

Read the full ABC News article Audit office report finds ‘broad and ambitious’ goals to improve First Nations health not being met here.

Dr Gracelyn Smallwood said it’s disappointing the Closing the Gap strategy won’t meet the 2031 target. Photo: Michael Lloyd. Image source: ABC News.

AIDA supports Voice to Parliament

The Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) has pledged its support of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. AIDA CEO, Donna Burns says “Voting ‘Yes’ for The Voice to Parliament aligns with AIDA’s vision in ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have self-determination and equitable health outcomes.”

“A Voice to Parliament will help achieve this by providing decision makers with direct advice from those directly impacted by policies and laws.

The data overwhelmingly demonstrates an unacceptable health gap persists due to the health inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Ms Burns said., AIDA said the Voice to Parliament is a once in a lifetime opportunity to influence policy and create better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

AIDA said it will continue to support and advocate for all its members, regardless of opinion, and will continue to support everyone to exercise their right to self-determination.

You can read full article here.

Image source: AIDA Twitter post 1 June 2023.

No time for complacency as COVID and flu cases soar

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is urging people to get COVID-19 boosters and flu shots as infection rates take off and complacency sets in. More than 16.5m Australians have not received a COVID-19 booster shot in over six months and – it is a very high figure that is sparking the AMA’s warning for the winter season. AMA President Steve Robson said Australia was facing a worrying fifth wave of COVID-19, with cases soaring to an average of 5,517 per day as of May 30 — more than double the average daily rate in March. Hospitalisations are up and weekly COVID-19 related deaths are in triple figures.

“The age of lockdowns and restrictions is over, so it’s understandable why many people are falling into a false sense of security, but the latest data shows the virus is infecting thousands of Australians every day,” Professor Robson said. “Now is not the time for complacency, and the AMA urges people to get up to date on their boosters, which is an extremely effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones. The effects of the latest COVID-19 wave are being worsened by a rising number of influenza cases. The Department of Health and Aged Care recorded 17,277 flu cases between 15–28 May, which was more than double the previous fortnight’s total.

Professor Robson said COVID-19 boosters and flu shots were separate vaccines that could be safely administered at the same time. “We are seeing a significant spike in the number of flu and COVID cases, making this a potentially dangerous winter, particularly for elderly and immunocompromised people,” he said. Professor Robson also urged parents to ensure their kids were protected. “As we know, children under five years of age aren’t badly affected by COVID-19, but influenza can be extremely serious for them, so it is crucial they get their flu shots as soon as possible,” he said.

You can read the AMA’s media release No time for vaccine complacency as COVID cases soar in full here.

Image source: NSW Health Facebook.

$50m to drive innovative models of primary care

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, says the Albanese Government is strengthening Medicare with a new $50m research initiative to drive innovation in primary care. Primary care is the first place a patient turns when they have a health concern, whether that be their local general practice, a nurse practitioner or allied health professional.

The $50m research initiative will supercharge innovation that will benefit all Australians but will be particularly directed to groups who have poorer access to healthcare. Priority groups include older Australians, lower income households and families, people with complex chronic disease, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTIQA+ Australians, First Nations people, as well as people in regional, rural, and remote areas.

To view Minister Butler’s media release $50m to drive innovative models of primary care in full click here.

Image source: Mulungu Aboriginal Corporation Primary Health Care Service (Mareeba, QLD) website.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

5 June 2023

The image in the feature tile is NSW Premier Chris Minns at AH&MRC Training. Source: AH&MRC.

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

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

$1.48m upgrade for Indigenous Health Training Facility

To bolster Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare and support the training of future First Nations health workers, the NSW Government has committed $1.48m to upgrade the training headquarters of the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) located in Little Bay.

The AH&MRC is the peak body for ACCHOs in NSW, and its training headquarters play a crucial role in equipping the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare professionals while enhancing the skills of the existing workforce. The facility currently houses lecture rooms, clinical demonstration areas, and training laboratories designed to simulate real-life medical emergencies.

With completion slated for later this year, the planned upgrades will bring the building in line with modern standards and align it with the latest National Construction Code. This renovation will provide an enhanced learning environment for students and ensure that the facility remains a hub for excellence in Indigenous health training.

Chris Minns, the Premier of NSW, expressed his support for the project, stating, “There is really important work happening at this site, and we’re proud to ensure that it continues for years to come.” The government’s investment underscores its commitment to fostering Indigenous health and underscores the recognition of the vital role played by the AH&MRC in promoting culturally appropriate healthcare and training.

For the complete media release from the NSW Government, please click here.

Source: AH&MRC

Why culturally appropriate maternity care matters

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and babies are vastly over-represented in areas of still birth, preterm, perinatal deaths, and infant mortality. Mothers are often faced with no choice but to travel alone to birthing centres scattered across Australia, far away from their Country. Aiming to provide culturally appropriate maternity care, the Birthing on Country Centre of Excellence at Waminda, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation in Nowra NSW, is set to be operational in 2025-26.

Dr Yvette Roe, a proud Njikena Jawuru woman and researcher said returning birthing centres to Aboriginal communities will give babies the best start in life. Dr Roe said, “We want to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are at the forefront of what we do. Aboriginal women want healthy babies.”

To ensure deliveries are both culturally and clinically safe, Dr Roe is calling for contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and practices to be combined with western medicine in Birthing on Country Services.

Leading a study titled Indigenous Birthing in an Urban Setting, Dr Roe and a team of researchers determined that mothers in urban settings faced similar challenges to those in remote communities. The study included a Birthing in Our Community service which followed a cultural safety framework and included an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce. The team saw significant decreases in pre-term birth, epidural pain relief in labour, caesarean sections, third stage labour interventions, neonatal nursery admissions, and unborn notifications.

For the complete National Indigenous Times article click here.

Dr Yvette Roe

Dr Yvette Roe. Source: National Indigenous Times

Voice to Parliament debate taking a toll on mental health

Concerns are being raised by mental health practitioners and organisations focused on social and emotional wellbeing about the detrimental effects of the increasingly negative public debate surrounding the Voice to Parliament, particularly on young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Professor Helen Milroy, a Palyku woman and fellow of the Rural Australian NZ College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), has highlighted the potential for even a slight increase in vitriol to disproportionately impact the emotional well-being of young individuals. She expressed her concerns, stating, “When there is a barrage of misinformation and people are making exaggerated claims or misrepresenting what the Voice is truly about, it becomes extremely challenging for young people to counter those narratives.”

The spread of hateful rhetoric can quickly erode the self-esteem and sense of empowerment of young Indigenous people. Karlie Stewart, a Yuin woman and social worker, emphasized the significant disconnect between the political discussions surrounding the Voice and the understanding of young Aboriginal individuals in the community. Stewart explained, “…There’s a big element of confusion. All this conversation is happening above and around, but they actually don’t even know what it is that’s going on,” Steward said.

“It’s up to us as older people, who have the knowledge and the capacity and the connections to engage in these conversations, to go back to our young fullas and say, ‘Here’s what it is, here’s what it means, here’s what it might mean for you.”

The impact of the ongoing public debate on the Voice to Parliament has raised serious concerns about the mental well-being of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It calls for urgent action to counter the spread of misinformation and provide accurate information to empower and support young individuals in understanding the significance of the Voice and its potential implications for their future.

For the complete WAToday article click here.

Helen Milroy

Fellow of the Rural Australian New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Professor Helen Milroy. Source: WAToday

Cultural healing sites promote wellbeing and reconciliation in healthcare

During Reconciliation Week, the Berri Barmera Council unveiled a cultural healing site, named Healing Place, near Barmera Hospital. This community space aims to provide a culturally safe place for individuals awaiting medical appointments, undergoing treatment, and visitors who find themselves in anxious circumstances at the hospital.

The opening of Healing Place has sparked a nationwide call for the establishment of additional cultural healing sites across different states and territories. Tyson Lindsay, Cultural Safety Officer, expressed the need for an increase in such spaces, not only in South Australia but throughout the entire nation. The inclusion of cultural healing sites in healthcare facilities has the potential to enhance holistic wellbeing and promote cultural connection and understanding.

In Mount Gambier, healing circles have been constructed at the Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation. These circles represent various stages of the healing process. The first circle encourages individuals to openly discuss their problems with respected elders. The second circle emphasizes utilizing the wisdom and knowledge of elders and the community to seek solutions. Finally, the “song and dance” circle enables people to pay homage to the knowledge and stories that have contributed to their healing. South East Elder, Uncle Doug Nicholls said, “It was important people go through the entire healing process”

“We’ve got to make sure once we’ve done the talking that we’re talking to the right people who know the business about what the medicines are, where to go to get the right treatment, and right stories for the value of the health treatment,” Uncle Doug said.

For the complete ABC article, please click here.

Source: ABC South East SA: Sam Bradbrook

Health and alcohol facilities key to decreasing incarceration rates

Amidst the ACT Government’s independent review into the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Canberra’s criminal justice system, calls for dedicated mental health and drug and alcohol facilities have emerged. The Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service CEO, Julie Tongs, expressed scepticism about the review, emphasizing the need for action rather than further discussions.

The Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization says that the information sought in the review has already been provided to the Territory Government. Tongs stressed the urgency of implementing a preventive model to address the glaring gap in incarceration rates, stating, “It’s very, very frustrating when we see shattered lives every day, lives that could have been prevented in the first place.”

Disturbing statistics reveal that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals now account for 26% of the Canberra prison population, representing the highest incarceration gap in the country. ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury acknowledged that addressing underlying social issues is crucial to reducing the disproportionate rates of Indigenous incarceration.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and their advocates stress the importance of moving beyond repetitive discussions and implementing concrete measures to provide support and prevent the cycle of incarceration. By investing in targeted healthcare facilities and addressing systemic issues, governments can take significant steps toward reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system.

The government said an interim report would be delivered by March 2024, with a final report to be completed late that same year.

For the complete ABC article, please click here.

Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service CEO Julie Tongs. Source: ABC News: Greg Nelson.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

25 May 2023

–hand of ATSI child resting on rock; text 'Access to Country is KEY to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's mental health'

The image in the feature tile is from an opinion piece by Aileen Moreton-Robinson “Our story is in the land”: Why the Indigenous sense of belonging unsettles white Australia published on the ABC Religion & Ethics webpage on 9 November 2020.

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

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

Better access to Country key to mental health

Better access to traditional lands was a major focus at NSW’s Health’s annual Aboriginal mental health and wellbeing forum. More than 160 mental health professionals journeyed to the Far West NSW city of Broken Hill to share resources, knowledge and celebrate each other’s achievements. Local Aboriginal mental health clinical leader Desley McKellar said having people on the ground and going on Country was critical to the summit’s success. “We can get so lost in presentations we can forget the cultural side of this work,” she said. “Usually, it’s a two-day sit together in a room, but this time we spent a day doing a cultural walk at Mutawintj.”

The theme of the forum this year was “tune in to country”. The focus was on the importance of access to traditional lands to the mental health of Indigenous people. Ms McKellar said many cultural practices were innately good for mental health. “When life becomes overwhelming I try to go back home, because I know those times on country is what’s needed to try and get back on track,” she said. “I always go to the river, I put my feet in the water, I visit Elders at the cemetery.”

Ms McKellar also pointed out that when the land was struggling so were the people living on it. “It’s like the Baaka (Darling river) when it ran dry,” she said. “It’s like your spirit becomes sick because it was such a huge part of our lives growing up.” Ms McKellar said there was a slow growing recognition in the mental health field of the role of country and culture. “I think there’s room for improvement, but we’re stepping in the right direction,” she said. Broken Hill is the most remote location the forum has been hosted in its 21 years of existence. Ms McKellar said it was useful to be able to demonstrate the impact of access to Country at this year’s forum.

To view the ABC News article Better access to country key to improving Indigenous mental health, forum told in full click here.

Barkindji dancers performed for mental health professionals at Mutawintji National Park

The Barkindji dancers performed for mental health professionals at Mutawintji National Park. Photo: Mutawintji Heritage Tours. Image source: ABC News.

Program brings Inverell a step closer to CTG

Inverell is another step closer to closing the gap with the launch of Bandaar Walaaybaa Community Hub Aboriginal Corporation’s newest program. Endorsed by NACCHO, the Trusted Indigenous Facilitators Program (TIFP) aims to decrease barriers and increase opportunities through the aged care and disability sectors. “There is a gap in delivering our own workforce team, there is a shortage of workforce team, there is a shortage of our Elders in our community who are not receiving their services and full packages, and this is where we come in,” said Carley Weatherall, Founder and CEO of the Bandaar Walaaybaa Community Hub Aboriginal Corporation. “It allows us to deliver services for aged care and disability sector, where there is a gap or limitation.”

In the next decade, the population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People aged 50 and over is expected to double, while many have no access to suitable aged care services to meet their needs. There are many barriers preventing their access to these services, such as difficulty navigating the system, lack of service providers, lack of appropriate culture care and the experience of racism, to name a few. Through the TIFP Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people will have assistance to navigate and access the services they need.

Training and support will be delivered on the ground through the local team’s newly appointed Aged Car Coordinator and Aged Care Community Connector in Inverell, but extending its reach to Tingha, Ashford and Bingara. With five already registered, the company is looking to encourage more people to access these beneficial services. “The program is to reduce the barriers where our mob is not getting services,” Ms Weatherall said. “It is implementing other holistic programs, not just around the one person and not just mental health, we will be covering other avenues too, during the contract.” This state-wide initiative will add to the local teams already growing profile.

To view The New England Times article New program in Inverell works towards Closing the Gap in full click here.

Careley Wetherall - founder & CEO Bandaar Walaaybaa Community Hub Aboriginal Corporation, standing in front of sign 'Bungun Disability Services'

Carley Weatherall, Founder and CEO of the Bandaar Walaaybaa Community Hub Aboriginal Corporation. Image source: The New England Times.

Health Minister visits Coonamble ACCHO

Members of the Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) had the opportunity for their voices to be heard last Wednesday 17 May 2023 following a surprise visit from the new NSW Minister for Health and Regional Health, Ryan Park. The visit had been orchestrated by Barwon member, Roy Butler who has been playing a key role in immersing the new Labor cabinet in what matters out in Western NSW. “I welcome any visit to the electorate by a minister,” said Mr Butler. “Seeing things first hand can only help better inform any decision made by the government far away in Macquarie Street.”

The visit consisted of talking with staff about what issues they see within Coonamble and why they do what they do. In reflecting on his visit to Coonamble, Minister Park found the work and dedication of the rural healthcare staff to be the highlight. “It was great to visit the amazing staff at CAHS,” said Minister Park. “What stood out to me most today was how passionate the staff were. The quality of the service dispensed is an indication of the trust and relationships established between clinical staff and the local community.”

CAHS Executive Assistant to the CEO, Beau Ewers (far right in the photo below), says it was a great opportunity to show the minister some of the work they have been doing, “It was great, we had the chance to show off some of the positive things we do but also some of the challenges we face, like doctor shortages. We put forward that we’re pushing to get a new building as well.” Beau made the point that politicians make the trip out for media exposure, however, he felt as though Minister Park genuinely wanted to engage with the team at CAHS. “He seemed genuinely interested in our struggles, they were there for 45 minutes, and engaged with the staff members and were really looking for ways they could help us.”

The above was extracted from the story Minister for Health visits Coonamble written by Liam Mulhall and published in the Coonamble Times yesterday, 24 May 2023.

4 Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service staff with NSW Minsiter for Health, Ryan Park (left) & NSW State Member for Barwon, Roy Butler (middle) on Wednesday 17 May at the CAHS clinic

Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) staff got a surprise visit from NSW Minister for Health, Ryan Park (left) and NSW State Member for Barwon, Roy Butler (middle) on Wednesday 17 May 2023. Image source: Coonamble Times.

Partnerships aim to improve health hearing

Over the past six months Hearing Australia has worked with the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service (OAMS), the Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) and the Katherine West Health Board (KWHB) to reshape hearing service delivery. A pivotal milestone was achieved this month with the signing of four-year Shared Hearing Services Partnership Agreements with OAMS and CAHS. Under these partnerships, Hearing Australia will work with the local health services to improve the impact of hearing services within their communities while building the capability of local health staff.

Jamie Newman, CEO of OAMS, says the focus of the Shared Hearing Services Partnership is on working together to deliver the care First Nations people want and need. “We’re in a period of change and need to lead that change if we’re going to see better health outcomes for our mob,” Jamie says. “Our people need consistent healthcare, and through this partnership and our ongoing relationship with Hearing Australia, we have a great opportunity to work closely together to improve access to hearing health that will benefit our people today and future generations.”

Chloe Thompson, OAMS’ Aboriginal Health Practitioner Lead, is strongly supportive of the new approach: “We both have the same goal in mind and that’s to improve ear and hearing health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. At present, there are 19 socio-economic Close the Gap targets for our people. Ear and hearing health is absolutely at the core of those.” Chloe knows first-hand the importance of the service. An audiologist confirmed her 6-year old son had moderate hearing loss. “My son now has normal hearing, and because of the support he received early, developmentally he at least has a chance of catching up to his peers. Regardless of whether you think your child is having hearing trouble or not, it’s important to get their hearing checked regularly.”

To view The National Tribune article Hearing Australia announces game-changing new partnerships designed to help close First Nations hearing gap in full click here.

young ATSI boy having a hearing test

Image source: Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia website.

Health concerns for mob amid Voice debate

Health Minister, Mark Butler, says he fears the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum could follow path of 2017 marriage equality plebiscite which saw LGBTQ+ people become targets for vilification. The government and mental health groups are concerned First Nations Australians could experience similar levels of abuse during the referendum as LGBTQ+ Australians during the marriage equality postal vote, with a mental health organisation saying the campaign “will only divide people”.

The federal government has committed an extra $10m to support the mental health of First Nations Australians during the referendum period, and mental health organisations say they are bracing for increased reports of racism and psychological distress. “These things do have an impact on levels of mental distress on parts of the community that are subject to an Australian vote” Butler said. “First Nations people will be the subject of a vigorous national debate. And unfortunately, at the edges, that debate sometimes becomes deeply hurtful, deeply personal.”

The eSafety commission told a Senate hearing in May it had already seen an uptick in racial vilification of Indigenous people related to the referendum – and expected that to increase. The mental health sector said organisations were already receiving calls and reports from Indigenous clients raising concerns about the referendum, including some who were anxious about rhetoric from opponents of the voice, and the potential ramifications of the referendum failing.

To view The Guardian article Concerns for mental health of Indigenous Australians amid reported uptick in abuse as voice debate progresses in full click here. You can also view a related article Some reflections for the health sector on the media and racism published yesterday, 24 May 2023, by Croakey Health Media here.

Aboriginal and Australian flags flying, blue sky in background

The eSafety commission said it had seen an uptick in racial vilification of Indigenous people related to the referendum – and expected it to increase. Photo: Lukas Coch, AAP. Image source: The Guardian.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website Current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

Key Date – National Palliative Care Week – 21–27 May 2023

During National Palliative Care Week 2023 (21–27 May) NACCHO is sharing a range of information and resources specifically developed for for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and professional workers.

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 resources 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.

For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples talking about ‘death or dying’ can be an uncomfortable experience. Culturally, discussing this topic can be perceived as tempting it and viewing images of a person who has died or using their name in conversation can impact that person’s journey. In recognition of this, warnings are commonly added to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples from unnecessary stress. It is not uncommon to refer to ‘death and dying’ as ‘sorry business, sad business, finishing up, final days, final footsteps/final footprints, journey, pathway or going back home or to the dreaming.’ Similarly, the term ’palliative care’ is not easily translated in the many and diverse languages spoken in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

For more information and resources (including the video below) you can access the Palliative Care Australia’s webpage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Palliative Care Resources here.

22 May 2023

feature tile image of ATSI mum & newborn; text 'World-first online digital tool helps facilitate faster and more effective perinatal mental health screening'

The image in the feature tile is from an article Why did nobody tell me how hard it would be? The plight of perinatal mental health published in the InPsych 2022 Vol 44 Summer 2022 available on the Australian Psychological Society website here.

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

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

World first online mental health screening

Founder and executive director of Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE), Australia’s peak body for reducing the impacts of perinatal anxiety and depression, and perinatal mental health specialist, Dr Nicole Highet said the COVID-19 pandemic increased the incidence and severity of perinatal depression and anxiety, and had a dramatic effect on the mental health of new and expectant parents. “Becoming a parent is challenging enough, but now new and expectant parents are experiencing the additional long-lasting mental health effects of living through a global pandemic” Dr Highet said.

COPE has developed a world-first online screening program to support the mental health of new and expectant mums. The iCOPE digital screening tool can be used to identify mums at risk and facilitate faster and more effective mental health screening in the perinatal period.  It enables perinatal mental health screening to be undertaken across all clinical settings, from in-person to remote screening via the patient’s mobile phone. “iCOPE is changing the way perinatal mental health screening is conducted across the country to ensure all mums-to-be have the opportunity to undertake regular mental health screening, in line with the National Perinatal Mental Health Guideline,” Dr Highet said.

“It’s now more important than ever to be using this world-leading technology to implement regular, faster and more efficient perinatal mental health screening to identify those at risk and those experiencing symptoms.” The sooner symptoms are detected, the faster the treatment can begin, which is why it’s so important to spot the signs early. The iCOPE screening tool also includes two perinatal mental health screening tools that have been developed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: the Kimberly Mum’s Mood Scale and the Mt Isa Postnatal Depression Scale.

To view the Kyabram Free Press article World first online mental health screening service rolled out in Benalla in full click here.

COPE Centre of Perinatal Excellence logo; iCOPE Digital Screening Platform; image of woman using app on iPhone

Image source: COPE website, iCOPE Digital Screening webpage.

New MBS education webpage

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) President Dr Nicole Higgins describes the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) as overly complex and difficult to interpret. Dr Higgins says RACGP members frequently report it is difficult to keep up with regular changes to item numbers and claiming rules. In late 2021, the RACGP surveyed members to collect feedback on the value of existing Department of Health and Aged Care resources and what topics GPs would like to see covered in future resources. Responses revealed that there is a lack of awareness around existing resources, and these are underutilised by health providers.

The RACGP have now developed a new publicly accessible webpage, available here, which contains links to Medicare and compliance education resources. Resources are grouped together in one central location so general practitioners (GPs) do not have to search across multiple websites to find what they are looking for. Links are grouped under key themes, which are in alphabetical order. We have also included short descriptions of each resource to help GPs find what they need. This new webpage compiles links to resources such as MBS explanatory notes, fact sheets, education guides, eLearning programs, infographics and case studies. It includes links from various sources, including the Department of Health and Aged Care, Professional Services Review, Services Australia and the RACGP.

Dr Higgins said that while there has been extensive discussion about the need for more education on the MBS and the RACGP is working to identify gaps by reviewing existing materials, there is a range of useful resources already available that GPs may not know about. Dr Higgins said the RACGP is encouraging GPs to bookmark this webpage and RACGP staff will continue to add to it as new resources become available.

RACGP logo & ribbon of MBS Medicare compliance - Summary of useful links on website

Helping improve LGBTIQ+ workplace inclusion

The Victorian government is supporting hundreds of service organisations across the state become more inclusive for queer communities. Last week Premier Daniel Andrews and Equality Minister Harriet Shing announced the state government is investing $1.85m for Rainbow Health Australia to deliver inclusion training to service organisations to make sure they are safe and trusted by the LGBTIQ+ community.

Rainbow Health Australia is a trusted organisation located in the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University, supporting LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing through research, training and resources. This investment will support up to 400 organisations to undertake Rainbow Health Australia’s training program How2 – helping them improve LGBTIQ+ inclusion in their workplaces in a sustainable way, including by developing and implementing an inclusion plan.

Rainbow Health Australia will also partner with an Aboriginal-led organisation to come up with the best approach for supporting Aboriginal-led organisations as they undertake this work. It will also create networks of organisations that have completed the program, providing a place to share experiences and advice.

To view the Premier of Victoria the Hon. Daniel Andrews’ media release Building LGBTIQ+ inclusion across Victoria article in full click here.

rainbow flag

Image source: La Trobe University website.

Integrated practice models key to tackling elder abuse

Elder abuse is a serious problem in Australia and across the globe, with one in six Australians over 65 years of age experiencing abuse. Elder abuse occurs when a person causes harm or distress to an older person. Elder abuse can be psychological, financial, physical, sexual, or neglect. Adult children and family members (including intimate partners) most commonly perpetrate elder abuse.

Established by Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) and its partners Eastern Health and Oonah Health & Community Services Aboriginal Corporation, the ELSA and ROSE programs were created in 2019 as part of the National Plan to respond to the abuse of older Australians, funded by the Commonwealth Government. ELSA and ROSE provide integrated practice models that combine lawyers and other community service professionals including elder abuse advocates (often social workers) and financial counsellors to provide a wrap-around service for those experiencing elder abuse.

Michael Smith, ECLC CEO says that the Centre is proud of its ongoing work to prevent, intervene early and respond to elder abuse. “The ROSE and ELSA programs demonstrate that collaborative approaches improve access for older people needing assistance and the wrap around service model works to provide the best level of support for victim survivors in the community,” said Smith.

To view the Star Mail article Integrated practice models key to tackling elder abuse in full click here. The below video is one a number of resources included in the Queensland Government’s Together we can stop elder abuse campaign available here.

How Wreck Bay was left asking “who will die next?”

A two-year investigation has revealed devastating sickness and death in an Indigenous community located next to a defence base that used toxic firefighting foam. When Peggy Carter, a resident of the Aboriginal villiage, Wreck Bay, died in 2019 at the age of 39, following a short struggle with a savage cancer, the three children she cared for lost their world.

Residents of Wreck Bay, on the edge of Jervis Bay’s southern peninsula, 200 kms south of Sydney, know more about grief than most. They say sickness and death cast an ever-present pall over their community. An assault of heart attacks, kidney disease, cancer after cancer. Aunty Jean, 90, said she was one of the few locals who had survived to see old age. “There’s no old men and no old women in Wreck Bay,” she said. “There used to be.” Locals have despaired in their search for answers. What was going wrong in Wreck Bay? Was it hereditary? Bad luck? Something more sinister?

The penny dropped when the Department of Defence disclosed that toxic chemicals in its firefighting foam – known as “forever chemicals” or PFAS – had been seeping into the community’s waterways, food supply and sacred sites for at least three decades. Paradise Poisoned, a two-year investigation by this masthead in conjunction with Stan, iKandy Films and Shark Island Foundation, has delved into the immense loss of life in the community of 400 people and the devastation wrought on their ancient cultural practices by the toxic chemicals. A politician, a doctor and a water board employee all sounded the alarm about a potential cancer cluster in the village, which has recorded some of the worst rates of premature death in Australia.

To view The Sydney Morning Herald article Paradise Poisoned: How the idyllic town of Wreck Bay was left asking ‘Who’s going to die next?’ in full click here.

Wreck Bay (NSW) resident Aunty Jean Carter sitting of rocks at beach

Resident Aunty Jean Carter is amongst those speaking out about fears of a cancer cluster in the Aboriginal community of Wreck Bay. Photo: Rhett Wyman. Image source: The Sydney Morning Herald.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website Current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

Key Date – National Palliative Care Week – 21–27 May 2023 

National Palliative Care Week (NPCW) runs from Sunday 21 to Saturday 27 May 2023 and aims to put ‘Matters of Life and Death’ front and centre in Australia’s consciousness. Camilla Rowland, CEO at Palliative Care Australia (PCA) says, “We understand that death and dying is a difficult subject to talk about and engage with, but this year we have some powerful voices joining the campaign to inspire and start important conversations. The ‘people at the heart of quality palliative care’ – our workforce and volunteers, have opened their hearts to share the life lessons they learn everyday as they provide care and support to people and families living with a life limiting illness.”

“NPCW and the stories we’ll share will open the door on the full scope and impact of palliative care and the quality of life it delivers. I hope it provides a moment of reflection for all Australians to think about and plan for the last chapter of life,” Ms Rowland says.  

Film screenings and a host of other events will make for a busy NPCW around the country. A full list of events as well as a range tools to help grow awareness of palliative care can be found on the PCA’s National Palliative Care Week 2023 – ‘Matters of Life and Death’ webpage here.

18 May 2023

NACCHO Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health News: ATSICHS Brisbane celebrates 50 years of service - feature tile

The image in the feature tile is the first Aboriginal Islander Community Health Service (AICHS), a converted fruit and vegetable shop front in Red Hill, Brisbane in 1973.

The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is a platform we use to showcase important work 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.

 ATSICHS Brisbane celebrates 50 years of service 

On May 14, 1973, the Aboriginal Islander Community Health Service (AICHS) was established in a converted fruit and vegetable shop at Red Hill. A dedicated group of volunteer community members and general practitioners, including Aunty Pamela Mam, Uncle Steve Mam, Uncle Denis Walker, Aunty Susan Chilly, Aunty Frances Cockatoo, Uncle Don Davidson, and Uncle Les Collins, worked tirelessly to get AICHS up and running.

In 1976, AICHS relocated from Red Hill to South Brisbane to accommodate its growth. However, the Grey Street location soon became insufficient. In 1985, AICHS moved to 10 Hubert Street, Woolloongabba, an area with a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

In 2008, the organization changed its name to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS) Brisbane to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. By 2009, operations expanded to Woolloongabba, Woodridge, Northgate, and Acacia Ridge.

Throughout its 50-year history, ATSICHS Brisbane has grown and evolved to meet the changing needs of the community. Today, they offer medical clinics, dental services, a Birthing in Our Community hub, youth services, social and emotional wellbeing services, an aged care facility, and various family and child support services, including the Family Participation Program, Jajumbora Children and Family Centre, Ngumpi Uruue, Deadly Kindy programs, and Family Wellbeing Services.

To read more, click here.

How will The Voice impact First Nations’ health?

Selwyn Button says the Voice will amplify Aboriginal people’s health concerns and lead to improved outcomes. Image source: ABC Radio National

According to Selwyn Button, the Chair of the Lowitja Institute, when Aboriginal Health organisations are actively engaged and consulted regarding their own health, it leads to improved outcomes. He said, The Voice should help amplify these results.

In an interview this morning Selwyn stated, “The whole notion of NACCHO and the community-controlled health organisations right across the country are about responding to the needs of the community.”

The whole concept of community control evolved from within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. The government was failing to provide adequate services and neglect basic health needs. This prompted action and leadership to form services that were meeting the health needs of the community in culturally safe spaces.

For example, the Aboriginal Islander Community Health Service (AICHS) in Meeanjin country celebrated 50 years of service on 14 May 1973. At that time a group of volunteer community members and general practitioners saw the need for better services and better access to services and formed the AICHS. They opened the doors to patients in a converted fruit and vegetable shop in Brisbane’s, Red Hill.

Selwyn noted that “in many cases, they were shunned by government, poorly funded and not provided with resources at the time but they kept going because they could see the need and community was responding.”

In instances where Aboriginal communities and health organistions have been engaged and in control of their own health, notable improvements have been witnessed, and The Voice has a crucial role to play in strengthen these positive outcomes.

To hear the interview, click here.

AMSANT supports Uluru Statement from the Heart

The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory announced their support for The Voice yesterday in a media release yesterday. In it they state:

The Board of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT) has reconfirmed its strong support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its recommendations regarding the establishment of a constitutionally enshrined ‘Voice to Parliament’ alongside a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making and truth-telling. At its meeting in Katherine on 12th May, the AMSANT Board considered current circumstances impacting on the recognition and achievement of the Statement’s objectives.

“Our Board Directors are strongly of the view that the Uluru Statement From the Heart provides the nation a precious opportunity to begin to resolve our unfinished business and to achieve fundamental change for our people”, said AMSANT Acting Chair, Rob McPhee. “The vision and goodwill that has been offered to the nation through the Statement requires and deserves our trust. The AMSANT Board emphasised its strong endorsement of the First Nations-led process that culminated in the National Constitutional Convention at Uluru in May 2017, bringing together First Nations delegates from across Australia to meet and to form a consensus position on the form that constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should take.

To read the full media release from AMSANT, click here.

AMSANT Acting Chair, Rob McPhee.AMSANT Acting Chair, Rob McPhee.

AMSANT Acting Chair, Rob McPhee.

Don’t use sugar substitutes for weight loss, WHO advises 

A recent study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that the use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) does not provide long-term benefits in reducing body fat for adults or children. While there may be a slight short-term reduction in body weight, it is not sustained over time.

“Replacing free sugars with non-sugar sweeteners does not help people control their weight long-term,” said Francesco Branca, director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety. “We did see a mild reduction of body weight in the short term, but it’s not going to be sustained.”

The guidance applies to all people except those with pre-existing diabetes, Branca said. Why? Simply because none of the studies in the review included people with diabetes, and an assessment could not be made, he said.

The review also highlighted potential undesirable effects associated with long-term use of sugar substitutes, including a slightly increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

However, it is important to clarify that this recommendation does not assess the safety of consumption. Branca emphasized that the guideline focuses on the inability of scientific evidence to demonstrate positive health effects in terms of obesity reduction, weight control, or the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

Reducing the use of non-sugar sweeteners is an important prevention strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples health, particularly in the prevention of diabetes. Diabetes is one of the fastest growing chronic disease conditions, globally, with the greatest burden falling on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

To see the report, click here

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Sleep Matters

A 2021 report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare states there is a high prevalence of sleep problems among Australian adults and explores their correlation with chronic health conditions. The report sheds light on the impact of both excessive and insufficient sleep on the heightened risk of various ailments such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

In considering the broader context of health in Australia, it is essential to recognise the specific challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations and that these disparities extend to sleep health, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experiencing a higher prevalence of sleep problems compared to the general population.

Studies indicate that sleep disorders, including insomnia and sleep apnea, disproportionately affect Indigenous communities. For instance, research shows that the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults is approximately three times higher than in the non-Indigenous population.

The relationship between sleep problems and chronic health conditions is particularly consequential for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. According to available data, Indigenous Australians are more likely to experience conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Sleep disturbances contribute to these health disparities, as they can exacerbate existing chronic conditions and hinder overall well-being.

Whilst a lot more funding and resources are required to understand and support sleep problems, an initiative called, Dreamy, developed by Common Ground a First Nations, not-for-profit organisation. Dreamy aims to support better sleep with their collection of sleep stories created by First Nations storytellers. ​

These contemporary stories bring an 80,000-year-old oral tradition into the digital space, helping people of all walks of life to quiet their minds, drift into dream, and disconnect from their devices by connecting to Country.

To experience Dreamy, click here.

To read more of the implications of sleep health in First Nation Australians, click here.

Image source: https://www.dreamysleep.com.au/

One Mindful Minute

ICTVPlay, in collaboration with Adrian Thomas Music, present a mindful minute designed to bring a feeling of pride, happiness, and relaxation into your busy day.

In attempt to address the sense of chaos in these times of constant change and uncertainty, ICTV has provided a short, one minute meditation that helps to establish a strong connection with yourself and your mental well-being. ICTV recognizes the importance of bringing attention to the restless nature of our minds and bodies through the practice of meditation. By embracing this practice, we can attain a greater sense of inner calm, mindfulness, and feeling grounded.

To try it out for one minute! One Mindful Minute.

Image source: Photo by Chris Thompson on Unsplash

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website Current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.