- Health professionals call for mob to get flu vax
- Alice Springs kids let down by system
- Health Care Homes program study results
- Katherine’s culturally-led approach to mental health
- World Health Summit Regional Meeting 22-24 April
- Grants to expand delivery of CHSP to mob
- Sector Jobs
- Key Dates
- Events and training
The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is a platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.
We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.
Health professionals call for mob to get flu vax
With the onset of flu season, the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) is calling on all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The influenza vaccine is available and free at clinics now and with the flu particularly serious for First Nations people, the IUIH are urging all people to visit a health professional as soon as possible.
Community Liaison Officer Uncle Billy Gorham said he regularly addressed misconceptions about the vaccine from community members. “I hear all sorts of things about the flu. Some people think they’re young and healthy, or they take vitamin C, so they’ll be ok; that the flu isn’t bad,” he said. “I always say they should yarn with their GP or someone at their local clinic, it’s important they know what’s true and how they can look after themselves and our Mob.”
Mr Gorham said he has already taken his flu shot, because he didn’t want to get sick so he could protect his family. “We all live with people we care about, we don’t want to bring home the flu and make everyone sick. Even if you think you’re OK, think about those Mob you care about,” he said. IUIH Public Health Physician, Dr Jacqueline Murdoch, said First Nations people are at a higher risk of serious illness from the flu, which includes elevating the risk of heart attacks, stroke and pneumonia.
To view National Indigenous Times article Health professionals urge Indigenous people to get the flu vaccine in full click here.
Alice Springs kids failed by system
In Alice Springs Aboriginal Elders are crying out to be heard – and say, unless, the voices of the community are listened to, the cycle of over-policing and crime is doomed to be repeated. Arrernte man William Tilmouth, the founding chair of Children’s Ground, an Aboriginal organisation that focuses on prevention, early intervention and empowerment rather than crisis and deficit says Aboriginal people are the most policed people in the world and also subjected to the greatest injustice, racism and oppression. “We have a history of over-incarceration of our people and over-representation in the criminal justice system,” he said. “The damage that this does and how this response perpetuates trauma in our families and in our culture.”
Youth in Alice Springs have been under a night time curfew for weeks since violence broke out after a funeral. The curfew lifted yesterday (Tuesday 15 April 2024), coinciding with school going back. Children’s Ground wants to see comprehensive government investment into learning, health, culture and wellbeing and says policies that promote punitive measures will see history repeat. “This is a created condition from generations of neglect,” Mr Tilmouth said.
“Anyone walking into any community or town camp or homeland will be struck by the abject lack of community facilities, infrastructure, resources and opportunities and the devastating overcrowding. Our children and young people have been failed by the system and that must be addressed now,” Mr Tilmouth continued. The Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council, an Anangu-led organisation that delivers heath, social and cultural services in Central Australia, says young people deserve the best possible chances in life.
To view the National Indigenous Times article Children failed by the system, say First Nations groups in full click here.
Health Care Homes program study results
The results of a study to assess the impact of the Health Care Homes (HCH) primary health care initiative on quality of care and patient outcomes was published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) earlier this week.
Practice registration for the HCH trial included 227 practices (165 of which ultimately enrolled patients), including 32 Aboriginal Medical Services and ACCHOs, in 10 primary health networks following expressions of interest in late 2016 (Adelaide, Country SA, South Eastern Melbourne, Brisbane North, Hunter New England and Central Coast, Nepean Blue Mountains, Western Sydney, NT, Perth North, and Tasmania) — and the enrolment of patients of any age who attended participating HCH practices commenced on 1 October 2017.
The study concluded that the HCH initiative was associated with greater access to care and improved processes of care for people with chronic diseases, but not changes in diabetes‐related outcomes, most measures of hospital services use, or risk of death. Its impact was limited by lower than expected enrolment of both patients and practices, variations between practices in implementation, and the short trial period. Patient‐centred primary care is one of three reform streams outlined in Australia’s Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan 2022–2032. Evaluations of future patient‐centred primary care initiatives should be larger scale randomised controlled studies of longer duration, with more efficient linkage of primary care records and administrative datasets.
To view the MJA research paper The Australian Health Care Homes trial: quality of care and patient outcomes. A propensity score‐matched cohort study in full click here.
Katherine’s culturally-led approach to mental health
A culturally-led response to mental health needs in Katherine is set to influence positive change and ensure adults are supported to access the mental health services needed. John Berto, CEO of the Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation (JAAC) said combining clinical responses with cultural protocols would “foster innovate responses for all community members seeking mental health support. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with other local health and service delivery organisations and together (we will be) shaping the way our community responds to the needs of our diverse community.” JAAC will be the lead organisation of the Katherine-based “Satellite Site” for the Australian Government’s Head to Health program.
Lisa Mumbin, Chairperson of JAAC said the Association was “uniquely placed” to deliver this work by leveraging off existing successful culturally-led programs that are managed by the Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup. Programs include family support, domestic violence prevention, youth engagement for social enterprise, and other cultural activities including bush medicine.
“We understand that connection to country is medicine and that this is supportive of all in our community, no matter where we are from,” Ms Mumbin said. “Jawoyn is about sharing country and culture and we have healing protocols and places that when combined with western ways of supporting mental health, together we can make a difference to people’s lives.”
The story has been extracted from a Katherine Times article Head to Health to kick off published on 15 April 2024.
World Health Summit Regional Meeting 22-24 April
The World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2024 in Melbourne, Australia from 22-24 April will bring together stakeholders from all relevant sectors of global health – under the theme Shape the future of health across Asia and the Pacific.
For the first time the World Health Summit Regional Meeting is being held in Australia, and the three-day meeting is hosted by Monash University, Melbourne. With more than 40 sessions and over 150 speakers from around the world, the goal will be to address strategies to improve global health and health inequities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Topics include:
- The health of Indigenous Peoples
- Achieving health equity for women and girls
- Accelerating towards sustainable and resilient health care services
- Clinician-led health system reform
- Putting lived and living experience at the centre of mental health care
- Priorities for education, training and a future-proof health workforce
- The impact of AI when ancient ways of knowing and new technology collide
- Protecting and improving health in an increasingly divided world
- Global preparedness for the next pandemic
- Leadership opportunities in SDGs and health
- Misinformation itis: the impact of tech on health (open public session)
To view the Monash University media release World Health Summit Regional Meeting in Australia opens on 22 April in Melbourne in full click here.
Grants to expand delivery of CHSP to mob
Forecast opportunities for Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) growth funding grants have been published on the Australian Government GrantConnect webpage.
The CHSP First Nations Growth Funding 2024-25 Grant Opportunity seeks to expand delivery of culturally safe CHSP services for First Nations older people.
You can find more information about the CHSP First Nations Growth Funding 2024-25 Grant Opportunity on the Australian Government GrantsConnect website here.
If you have any questions on the CHSP program and/or the CHSP growth funding opportunity please reach out to the Australian Government Health Grants team by email here.
Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.
Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.
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Free, specialised governance workshops for ACCHOs will be delivered in multiple locations across the country during 2024 and 2025.
Registrations are open now for Perth: 16-17 April 2024.
The program is delivered by legal experts and covers:
- Delegation of powers
- Finance for Boards
- Governance documents
- Managing conflicts of interest
- Managing risk
- Principles of good governance
- Structure and role of boards and sub-committees
To register, go here.
For more information, please contact NACCHO using this email link.