19 June 2024

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

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

Reimagining Indigenous Healthcare

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

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

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

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

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

Biripi man Dr Paul Saunders standing outside School of Medicine building

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

Prevention key to tackling chronic disease epidemic

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

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

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

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

New Coober Pedy renal dialysis clinic opens

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

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

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

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

The Purple House Coober Pedy Dialysis Unit

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

First Aboriginal ophthalmologist making a big impact

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

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

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

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

Dr Kris Rallah-Baker and IRIS Theatre Nurse Melanie Eneigo

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

VALS welcomes long-awaited Youth Justice Bill

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

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

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

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

Head of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Nerita Waight

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

Data needed to tackle missing women and kids

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

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

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

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

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

18 June 2024

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

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

$200 Million Boost for Aged Care Services

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

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

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

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

Grant information, including eligibility requirements are on GrantConnect.

Image source: iStock.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Raising awareness of blood borne viruses

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

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

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

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

To learn more about the campaign, go here.

WA Department of Health Look After Your Blood campaign tile.

Aspiring doctor wants more “familiar faces” in health

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To read the full article, go here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

To read the full story, go here.

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

Path to healthcare advocacy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

17 June 2024

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

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

New guaranteed funding boosts ACCHOs nationwide

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

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

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

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

Linda Burney and Malarndirri McCarthy

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

Telstra outage causes ACCHOs to temporarily shut

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

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

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

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

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

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

Telehealth program to provide support after infant loss

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

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

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

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

Waminda midwife Mel Briggs

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

‘If the land is sick, so are we’

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indigenous knowledge and global health strategies

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bra fittings helping save rural women’s lives

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

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

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

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

Support the Girls worker sorting bras

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

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.

14 June 2024

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

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

NT leprosy case linked to inadequate housing

A case of leprosy has been detected in the NT, prompting outcry over remote living conditions for Indigenous Australians. A much-misunderstood bacterial infection, leprosy can cause skin lesions and permanent nerve damage if left untreated. It is nearly eradicated in the developed world, but cases remain common in large developing countries including India, Bangladesh and Brazil.  Leprosy was introduced to Australia during colonisation in the mid-1800s, but today cases are extremely rare and almost solely recorded among migrants and Indigenous people living in remote areas. Although its exact causes are unknown, the disease is associated with severe overcrowding.

Steve Rossingh, CEO of ACCHO Miwatj Health, said Australia “should be pretty ashamed” the disease was continuing to impact Indigenous communities. “It’s not because people are unclean themselves, or dirty. It’s because of the conditions they’re forced to live in – and there’s no alternative,” the Kamilaroi man said. There are 50 people on the waitlist for every vacant public home in Darwin, according to the NT government’s website, and in remote areas of the NT, families of 10 to 20 people can occupy a three-bedroom house.

The NT and federal governments are pouring $4b into efforts to reduce overcrowding in remote communities over the next 10 years. But Mr Rossingh said in the short-term, simple solutions such as mobile and community laundries were needed right now, to help reduce cases of leprosy and other infections including scabies.

To view the ABC News article NT leprosy case sparks outrage over disparity in Indigenous health outcomes in full click here. 

CEO Miwatj Health, Steve Rossingh

Steve Rossingh says living conditions in remote communities urgently need to be improved. Photo: Pete Garnish, ABC News.

Stronger data needed on excess deaths

A public hearing for the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs’ Inquiry into Excess Mortality was held yesterday (Thursday 13 June 2024) at Parliament House in Canberra. The inquiry was set up in March 2024 to look overall at excess deaths during the pandemic years of 2020, 2021 and 2023. According to the Department of Health and Aged Care’s submission, COVID-19 data are becoming “increasingly unreliable” due to changes in the way states and territories report the data.

Improving data collection and reducing excess mortality align with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and its four Priority Reform Areas, the NACCHO wrote in its submission to the inquiry. This is particularly important as currently the provisional mortality data used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to show excess deaths does not include Indigenous status, according to NACCHO.

While improvements have been made in the “underlying data quality” in recent years, NACCHO wrote that “further data improvement is required to ensure that mortality data adequately captures people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds”. NACCHO said it is also important to address the social, structural, cultural and other determinants that influence health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and that ACCHOs “are uniquely placed to address the social determinants of health”. “A well-resourced Aboriginal community-controlled health sector addresses many potential drivers of excess mortality,” it said.

To view the Croakey Health Media article Senate inquiry highlights need for stronger data on excess deaths in full click here.

ATSI man looking at preterm baby in humidicrib

Image source: Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance website.

Indigenous diplomat: world took notice of Voice vote

He had been appointed to the role of Australia’s Ambassador for First Nations People a few months earlier, and the Indigenous Voice referendum result the previous night had him questioning not only his future in the job but also his place in society. “I’m not sure I could have been true to myself if I didn’t,” he says in a suburban Paris hotel. “Of course it was personal. Yes or no, it was always going to be a defining moment.” “It really made me question this role, and how and what impacts can I make, and how committed the government was to its goals.” In the months that followed Mohamed has been at the coalface when foreign governments ask: what happened?

“I think most countries understand how difficult it is to get a referendum through, so there was some sympathy … they get it, it’s not an easy process,” he says. “However, it’s what Australia does next and how we did it that counts. The world is watching … the spotlight’s on Australia. For all the right reasons and wrong reasons. If we stumble, they’ll see that now. If we move forward, they will see that too.”

Mohamed, a Gooreng Gooreng man originally from Bundaberg, Queensland, has been an Indigenous leader for more than three decades in the Aboriginal community controlled government and corporate sectors, on issues spanning health, social justice, human rights and reconciliation. Most recently he was the deputy secretary of Aboriginal justice in the Victorian government, while he has also held the positions of chief executive of Reconciliation Australia and chaired NACCHO. He was clear when offered the role that he was not prepared to be an apologist for the federal government’s lack of progress on Indigenous issues.

The above has been extracted from an article ‘The spotlight’s on Australia’: Indigenous diplomat says world took note of Voice vote published earlier today (14 June 2024) in WAday.

Australia’s Ambassador for First Nations People, Justin Mohamed

ustin Mohamed says because his role is both a first in Australia and globally, there’s no real blueprint on how it should work. Photo: Kiran Ridley. Image source: WAtoday.

Veggie gardens boost nutrition in remote NT

For 11-year-old Pauline Meal, eating fresh fruit and veggies is somewhat of a luxury. The Yipirinya School year 6 student said her family only “sometimes” bought fresh produce, because it was too expensive. “It’s a big family, that’s why,” she said. Pauline is among a number of students who have been learning about nutrition and how to grow fruit and vegetables as part of a program to increase access to affordable and fresh produce in Aboriginal communities.

The EON Foundation builds edible gardens in remote Aboriginal schools and communities and uses them to teach health and nutrition with the aim of reducing preventable and chronic diseases. The foundation  was established in 2005 in response to the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research’s investigation into Aboriginal Child Health in WA. It has been running the program in the NT’s Top End for a few years, but it’s the first time the program has been delivered in the southern Territory, at Yipirinya School and Ampilatwatja community, about 300kms NE of Alice Springs.

Cardiovascular disease is the biggest single cause of death among Indigenous Australians, accounting for 30% of all deaths, while NT operations manager Donna Donzow said central Australia has the highest rates of diabetes in the world. “Ampilatwatja, that’s a community of 500 people, with over 50 per cent of those with diabetes,” she said. “Yipirinya School services 17 town camps around Alice Springs, and even though they live in Alice Springs, they still suffer the same food insecurities, diabetes, heart disease, middle ear infections — all that through poor nutrition.” Ms Donzow said produce was often low quality in remote community stores, because it could take up to two weeks to be delivered.

To view the ABC News article EON Foundation fruit, veggie gardens boost nutrition and budgets in remote NT communities in full click here. 

Yipirinya School students Pauline Meal and Nigella Scrutton

Yipirinya School students Pauline Meal and Nigella Scrutton have been learning about how to grow their own fresh produce. Photo: Victoria Ellis, ABC Alice Springs.

Reflecting on mental health and wellbeing webinars

Coming up this month Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia has two free webinars, both hosted on Zoom, perfect for: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members; mental health professionals and service providers; non-Indigenous allies and individuals passionate about social justice.

Reflecting on mental health and wellbeing during the Voice Referendum – 1:00-1:45pm, Friday 21 June 2024

Bronwyn Wilkes and Katie Thurber from the ANU National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, will lead a discussion, reflecting on the mental health and wellbeing impacts of the Voice to Parliament referendum on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

You can secure your spot at this free webinar here.

Unpacking the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander landscape – 1:00-2:00pm, Friday 28 June 2024

Understanding cultural contexts for wellbeing, examining policy and government action for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Professor Helen Milroy AM, Rachel Fishlock, CEO of Gayaa Dhuwi, and Michael Cook, Director of Policy at the National Suicide Prevention Office, will conduct a  critical conversation on the social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

You can secure your spot at this free webinar 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.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is commemorated each year on 15 June to highlight one of the worst manifestations of ageism and inequality in our society, elder abuse. Elder abuse is any act which causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust such as a family member or friend. The abuse may be physical, social, financial, psychological or sexual and can include mistreatment and neglect. In many parts of the world elder abuse occurs with little recognition or response. It is a global social issue which affects the health, wellbeing, independence and human rights of millions of older people around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of all in the community.

In Australia the safety of older Aboriginal people and a better understanding of Elder abuse prevention is a clear priority as the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 55 years and over is increasing and is projected to more than double from 59,400 in 2011 to up to 130,800 in 2026. Identifying and measuring Elder abuse in Indigenous settings is challenging. The Australian Institute of Family Studies (2016) reported that mainstream conceptualisation of elder mistreatment requires reconsideration in Indigenous contexts; substantially more work and the collection of quality and consistent data is required to better understand Elder mistreatment amongst Indigenous peoples. There are no precise statistics on the prevalence of Elder abuse in the Aboriginal population in Australia and the strategies which would be effective in preventing this abuse have not been identified.

You can read more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elder abuse in the South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute report What keeps you safe: approaches to promote the safety of older Aboriginal people here. You can also access a range of resources associated with the The Queensland Government’s Together we can stop elder abuse campaign, including the video below here.

13 June 2024

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

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

Free menstrual products for outback communities

Free pads and tampons will be given to remote Indigenous communities in the NT to help with cost-of-living pressures. The Albanese government on Tuesday announced it will provide $12.5 million over four years to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) to work with communities to distribute the period products. About 12,500 women and girls are expected to benefit from the measure each year.

Period products in some remote communities can be almost double the price of those in cities, with a packet of pads ranging between $15–$25. This means women and girls are often forced to miss out on school, work and community events when they have their period.

Assistant Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said people in remote places were doing it tough with high prices.

“Improving access to pads and tampons is important so that women and girls can fully participate in community life – in study, employment and social activities,” she said.

Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney said every woman and girl should be able to access menstrual products no matter where they live.

“No one should have to choose between paying for menstrual products instead of food, fuel or rent, and no one should have to miss out on daily activities because they have their period,” she said.

“Providing free menstrual products will help First Nations people who are finding it hard to access these essential products.”

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

Image: Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS.

NSW to invest $21.3 million in Australian-first Aboriginal birthing centre

The NSW Government will fund Australia’s first Aboriginal owned midwifery-led free standing birth centre, allowing South Coast women to give birth in a culturally safe environment away from hospital settings.

In next week’s budget, the government will make a $21.3 million investment in Waminda’s Gudjaga Gunyahlamai Birth Centre and Community Hub.

Once built, the centre – planned for South Nowra – will deliver holistic maternity care for Aboriginal women and their families, including antenatal, birthing and postnatal support from midwives.

In 2022, $22.5 million was secured in the federal budget to help with construction costs for the project. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the state was proud to work with the centre to deliver its Birthing on Country initiative.

The state’s funding announcement comes less than a fortnight after the release of the landmark NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry released its final report, which explicitly recommended expanding access to Birthing on Country programs. The inquiry heard that there were significant disparities faced by First Nations people in maternity care, including higher rates of premature birth, birth trauma, maternal deaths, and perinatal deaths.

NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Harris said the $21.3 million investment reflected the NSW Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap.

“Birthing on Country gives opportunity for the best start in life for Aboriginal babies and their families, a natural transition to motherhood and parenting for women and an integrated, holistic and culturally appropriate model of care.”

To read the full Illawarra Mercury article, go here.

Senior Aboriginal midwife at Waminda, Melanie Briggs, said the centre has been lobbying for government funding for years to deliver a Birthing on Country program. Image source: Illawarra Mercury.

NT children receive an effective vaccine to reduce hearing loss

A world-first study led by Menzies School of Health Research has uncovered that NT First Nations children aged 12-36 months have access to an effective vaccine that could prevent hearing loss. Published last week in PLOS Medicine, this 5-year study looked to uncover which type of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), +P or +S, could best reduce debilitating hearing loss caused by chronic otitis media (middle ear infection).

The +P vaccine (known as PCV13) is the vaccine currently provided to children in the NT, and the study found the group who received +P had better hearing than those who in the +S vaccine (known as PHiD-CV10) group. The difference in hearing loss between the 2 vaccine groups was found to be 20% (but due to the small sample size, the real difference likely to be between 1-37%).

Due to vaccine formulations and the bacterial make-up of otitis media, it was expected that the +S vaccine would provide better protection against hearing loss. These findings are crucial to helping guide research, policy and practice, particularly as new vaccine formulations become available.

This research moves one step closer to tackling the impacts of otitis media, where Australian First Nations children have the highest reported rates of otitis media in the world.

To learn more, go here.

There are risks when it comes to engaging online. Here’s how mob can protect themselves

Mob face considerable challenges when it comes to engaging in the online world. These obstacles are not only unique but pervasive, affecting various aspects of daily life, access to information, and opportunities for advancement. But it’s important to acknowledge that despite these challenges, engaging online has its upside too. It keeps us connected.

The online world also provides the opportunity to share our cultures with people and communities that otherwise wouldn’t be able to learn from us. However, it’s becoming increasingly important to recognise and address certain risks associated with online engagement. As parents, understanding what support and actions we can take to keep our kids safe online is paramount. While we may not be able to monitor all the content our family consume or engage with, online safety laws are one of the ways that we can take action in cases of online abuse or misconduct. The laws provide protection for those experiencing severe online abuse.

Severe online abuse can significantly impact one’s physical or mental health, with potential for temporary or permanent impact. If you are experiencing adult cyber abuse or helping a child experiencing cyberbullying, the first step is to contact the online platform or service provider directly and request removal of the offending content. If the service provider doesn’t act or respond to your request, you can make a report directly to the eSafety commissioner. If you are dealing with the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, or encounter illegal or violent content, you can also contact eSafety directly.

A report from 2018 found 88% of Indigenous Australians had seen racism towards other Indigenous people on social media. First Nations crisis line 13YARN says there was surge in demand following the referendum. In November last year – a month after the referendum – 25 per cent of calls to 13Yarn reported racism, almost double the amount from the start of 2023.

Call It Out is a First Nations Racism Register where you can report racism that you’ve seen online.

If you need additional support, you can call 13 YARN (13 92 76), a confidential, culturally safe crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, available all day, every day.

To read the full NITV article, go here.

Leila Gurruwiwi says she can share her culture online with people and communities that otherwise wouldn’t be able to learn from her. Credit: kim jane.

Gardening is good for our health. How can we make it more accessible?

Existing research evidence has shown that gardening can improve mental health, reduce social isolation, and help address food insecurity. For example, 150 minutes of gardening per week has been shown to increase life satisfaction and mental wellbeing and to improve cardiometabolic risk markers, especially among older adults.

The benefits of gardening make it a practical public health intervention and nature-based solution that ought to be accessible in all Australian capital cities and beyond. Unfortunately, gardening is not accessible to all Australians. There are housing and economic inequalities that make it difficult for many people to garden.

More Australian policies and programs need to address how people in all housing situations and income brackets can be supported to garden if they are interested. This will require structural changes that offer all Australians the opportunities and resources to develop skills in gardening, no matter their current life circumstances or background.

Community gardens has also been recommended by the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) as a key for improving nutritional health. One example of this in practice is the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service community garden, which distributes produce to elderly and/or chronic disease-affected community members. Funding for more initiatives like these would be greatly beneficial.

To read the full Croakey Health Media article, go here.

Photo by Brenden Moore, First Nations Community Greening Officer, Botanic Gardens of Sydney.

A peak body to represent South Australian Aboriginal children and families is moving ahead

The new South Australia peak body for Aboriginal children and families will be called Wakwakurna Kanyini, which means ‘holding on to our children’. The formation of Wakwakurna Kanyini was announced in March last year and was backed by a $3.2 million investment from the state government. Its creation followed a report from the SNAICC – the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people – which was engaged to identify a preferred model for the independent organisation in SA.

Wakwakurna Kanyini will be responsible for amplifying the voices of children and young people, partnering with the government to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system, and building the capacity of the community-controlled sector to provide services to Aboriginal children.

Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard said she was looking forward to “walking together with Wakwakurna Kanyini to help ensure Aboriginal children and young people have the best opportunities to safely live their lives with family, loved, nurtured, supported to reach their potential and connected to culture, country and community”.

The announcement comes a week after a scathing report from the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young people was released, which found “systemic racism” was driving Aboriginal child removals in SA. Commissioner April Lawrie called for state government action following the release of the Holding on to Our Future report.

To read the full article, go here.

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch.

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.

12 June 2024

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

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

NACCHO to co-design lung cancer screening program

Australia’s first new cancer screening program in 20 years, the National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) is on track to start in July 2025. The program will be available to people aged 50 to 70 years who have a history of cigarette smoking and do not have symptoms of lung cancer. It will support free, low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans every 2 years, with new Medicare items.

The Australian Parliament passed the National Lung Cancer Screening Amendment Bill 2024 on 16 May 2024 to allow the program to be established. The Australian Government has invested more than $60m in organisations assisting with designing and developing the program, including a partnership with NACCHO to co-design the program with and for First Nations people, ensuring it is culturally safe.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in Australia, and disproportionately affects First Nations people and people living in rural and remote areas. In 2023, an estimated 14,800 Australians were diagnosed with lung cancer and 8,700 Australians died from lung cancer. By finding lung cancer in its early stages, when it is more treatable, the program is expected to save around 500 lives each year.

You can read more about the National Lung Cancer Screening Program here and view the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care media release Progress towards the National Lung Cancer Screening Program in full click here.

tile vector of lungs & text 'National Lung Cancer Screening Program'

Image source: Cancer Council NSW – X Post 4 May 2023.

Culturally informed model helps mob with heart disease

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are more likely to have a heart attack, and be on average 20 years younger than the non-Indigenous patient in the hospital bed next to them when they do.  Staff at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane could see first-hand that our health system wasn’t delivering the care First Nations patients needed, so they sought to develop a culturally informed model of care for First Nations patients with heart disease. The results of a trial of the model indicate this culturally informed model of care eliminated the gap between First Nations patients and non-Indigenous patients when we looked at heart health outcomes after they left hospital.

The model was developed for First Nations patients with acute coronary syndrome and the project co-designed with First Nations stakeholders. Training was tailored and delivered to build cultural capability across the cardiology department and to increase staff knowledge of relevant services available to First Nations patients outside the hospital. Staff formed formal partnerships with local ACCHOs. They improved the hospital environment with First Nations artwork and uniforms (displaying First Nations flags and artwork). They brought together a “Better Cardiac Care” team including an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hospital liaison officer, a cardiac nurse and a pharmacist. This team visited First Nations patients at their bedside, providing additional support, advocacy, education and care co-ordination.

Patients could confidently ask questions and yarn about their diagnosis and treatment in their own words without feelings of shame or embarrassment. The team was focused on the patient’s needs. For example, they could co-ordinate accommodation for a patient’s relative who was travelling to the hospital from far away. They could tell a patient’s doctor if the patient needed more time to talk or make a decision, or a better explanation. Before the patient left hospital, the team could co-ordinate with the patient’s local chemist to supply their medications and book a follow-up appointment with their GP.

To view the The Conversation article How a culturally informed model of care helped First Nations patients with heart disease in full click here.

Aboriginal woman in hospital bed with woman from the Aboriginal Interpreter Service & health professional

Photo: Menzies School of Health Research. Image source: CKN article Single test could rule out heart attack in Indigenous Australians.

Stigma less but schizophrenia services haven’t improved

Raewyn Pepper screamed for days when she checked into a Tamworth mental health hospital in 1996, thinking she had been operated on. By that stage, the then 38-year-old had been suffering from hallucinations and hearing voices in her head for several months. “I was apparently screaming for a couple of days before I had any intervention.” She was diagnosed with schizophrenia, brought on by extreme pressures from her transport business and family life.

Ms Pepper said during the 1990s she was able to receive in-home care, with mental health nurses visiting her regularly. Now she can get medication to help manage lingering symptoms and local services to help with basic living assistance. But when more severe symptoms emerge she heads to the emergency department. “Before you could ring the local mental health hospital, or your mental health nurse and they would come and support you,” Ms Pepper said. Her concern with the current system is that people experiencing schizophrenia may not go to hospital on their own because they are unaware of what is happening to them. “By the time they get noticed they are very unwell,” she said.

Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia chief executive Tony Stevenson said mental health had been neglected by state and federal governments for decades. “Governments promised when they closed psychiatric institutions in the 1980s that there would be support available for people to live well and to live safely in the community,” he said. “That’s with housing, employment, just the daily living skills.” Recently, the NSW Legislative Council found the fragmentation of mental health services in NSW had led to extraordinary difficulties for mentally ill people and their carers.

To view the ABC News article Stigma around schizophrenia has improved but services have not, Raewyn Pepper says in full click here.

Dr Amanda Cohn

Dr Amanda Cohn says people with complex mental health issues do not know where to go for support. Image source: ABC News.

Smokers and vapers urged to ‘Give Up For Good’

Advertising agency BMF has created the integrated ‘Give Up For Good’ campaigns for the Australian Government. The national public health campaigns work to help Australians give up vaping and smoking, particularly targeting at-risk groups and young Australians. Falling under the behaviour change platform, the campaigns are structured around three streams: Youth Vaping, Tobacco, and Adult Vaping. All campaigns are aimed at increasing awareness and reinforcing the harms of vaping and smoking, and highlighting the tools and resources available to help people quit.

Tom Hoskins, group creative director, at BMF, said: “Recent research revealed that people who vape are more likely to take up cigarette smoking, compared to those who have never vaped. And, with access to these products becoming increasingly difficult due to regulatory change, there is an increasing need to support people to quit. So, addressing the wider issue effectively meant creating nuanced and audience-specific work that talks to the insidious nature of both vaping and smoking.

The anti-smoking campaign for the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care – targeted to all adult Australian smokers – highlights why smoking is one of the most harmful behaviours we can adopt, acknowledging that whilst quitting is hard, the alternative is harder. The adult anti-vaping campaign reinforces the support and tools available to vapers, to help them quit the habit.  The youth anti-vaping campaign aims to re-frame the social norm of vaping, asking young Australians to have a moment of self-reflection and ‘join the thousands quitting vapes’. Also under the ‘Give Up For Good’ platform Carbon Creative have developed anti-smoking messaging to communicate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

To view the Mediaweek article BMF encourages smokers and vapers to ‘Give Up For Good’ in government campaigns in full click here.

Dr Helen Milroy keynote speaker at AIFS conference

The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) biennial conference commences in Melbourne today, with internationally renowned researchers and experts in the family wellbeing space gathering at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Importantly for the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, AIFS’ Dr Kristel Alla will be presenting a preliminary report on the benefits of nature play, highlighting that children spend a large proportion of their time indoors, and why this is problematic.

Keynote speakers include:

  • expert in gender equity, family care time, employment-care balance and social policy, Professor Lyn Craig
  • Australia’s first Indigenous doctor and child psychiatrist, and expert in Aboriginal mental health provision, Dr Helen Milroy
  • clinical psychologist, researcher and leading men’s mental health expert, Dr Zac Seidler, and
  • speech pathologist, autism researcher, community advocate for children and science communicator, Professor Andrew Whitehouse.

More than 700 delegates from the child and family wellbeing sector are expected to attend the conference, held over four days with speakers including researchers, policy makers, service providers, practitioners and thought leaders from around Australia and overseas. Dr Emily Stevens will present a new report on improving the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children – a collaboration between AIFS and the Australian Human Rights Commission, with funding from The Ian Potter Foundation.

You can find more information about the conference here and view The Sector article AIFS biennial conference kicks off at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in full click here. 

portrait photo of Prof Helen Milroy & AIFS 2024 conference logo

Professor Helen Milroy. Image source: Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia website. AIFS 24 Conference logo from AIFS website.

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

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

International Men’s Health Week – 10–16 June 2024

International Men’s Health Week celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and takes place from Monday 10 June to Sunday 16 June 2024. This year’s theme is Men’s Health Checks.

International Men’s Health Week is a great opportunity for organisations, workplaces, and communities to focus on some of the different ways to keep men and boys healthier, including taking advantage of the Australian Men’s Health Forum’s (AMHF) free Know Your Man Facts toolkits. These toolkits cover a range of men’s health topics, such as Men’s Mental Health, Men’s Heart Health, Exercise + Men’s Health, and Mateship + Men’s Health. The latest toolkit on Men’s Health Checks, explains how health checks can save lives, and which ones men should have at different life stages.

You can access the Know Your Man Facts toolkits and find more information about Men’s Health Week 2024 on the AMHF website here.

2024 International Men's Health Week 10-16 June; older ATSI man having a vaccine

Image source: Healthy male webpage Support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Male Health project.

11 June 2024

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

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

Every Yarn Counts campaign launched to tackle hepatitis C in Indigenous communities

A new campaign ‘Every Yarn Counts,’ was launched Tuesday to normalise discussions about hepatitis C in the community; eliminating barriers, stigma and misconceptions associated with the disease to encourage people to get tested and treated.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are disproportionately represented in hepatitis C cases, largely driven by social factors including poverty, lack of access to culturally safe health services, incarceration, and intergenerational trauma.

While hepatitis C rates are steadily declining across Australia, the trend is not reflected in Aboriginal population, where the need for accelerated treatment remains critical.

Bundjalung man and program manager of Burnet Institute’s Aboriginal Health Plan, Troy Combo, said Aboriginal people are being left behind because they aren’t receiving the necessary treatment.

“Hepatitis C is curable. There is no shame in being treated, and treatment is now easier and more accessible,” he said.

The campaign is being implemented by a network of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services across the country, to reach people in their communities. It was co-designed for the community, by the community.

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) deputy CEO, Dr Dawn Casey, said the campaign will empower Aboriginal people to take charge of their health.

“Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations are best placed to deliver hepatitis C education, harm minimisation and health promotion to ensure culturally safe and responsive care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples nationally,” she said.

“The co-design of Every yarn Counts ensures the campaign is tackling the issue head on without the shame or stigma often associated with hepatitis C.”

To learn more about Every Yarn Counts, go here.

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

Image: Kristoffer Paulsen.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Leadership Grant applications closing soon

Applications for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Leadership Grant close tomorrow, Wednesday June 12. A significant initiative supported by Pfizer Australia, this grant aims to support two early to mid-career Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacists or pharmacy students to develop invaluable leadership skills through an international and cross-cultural experience. By empowering future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacist leaders, we aim to amplify their voices, advocate for community needs, and enhance the cultural safety and effectiveness of healthcare delivery.

The grant offers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacists and pharmacy students the opportunity to embark on an international journey to exchange experiences, gain knowledge, and foster leadership capabilities. Through interactions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacist representatives in other countries, grant holders will build networks, share best practices, and identify effective strategies. Grant recipients will return to Australia and share their insights with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector.

Building the skills of future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacist leaders is a critical part of ensuring improved visibility of the profession for prospective Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and allowing leaders to champion the priorities and medicines needs of Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander people across the health sector, including improving the cultural safety, appropriateness, and effectiveness of care.

The grant, funded by Pfizer Australia, includes up to $15,000 for travel and accommodation per successful applicant.

For more information, go here. 

Have your say on guidelines for the new National Lung Cancer Screening Program

We are looking for people who want to share their ideas about how the guidelines for the new National Lung Cancer Screening Program should be made to best meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This part of the project is led by the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research at the ANU.

We’re looking to speak with:

  • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • People who are eligible for the lung cancer screening program or will be in the next five years:
    • Aged 45-70 years
    • Have a history of smoking or have experience with lung cancer personally or as a caregiver

We also want to hear from healthcare professionals who work with Indigenous peoples and communities, especially those involved in helping people quit smoking and vaping.

Please share with your clients who may be interested or register your interest via the EOI link, here.

Image source: Shutterstock.

Nourishing Australia mid-term review

Nourishing Australia: A decadal plan for the science of nutrition was published by the National Committee for Nutrition (NCN) in July 2019. In 2024, the NCN will undertake a mid-term review (MTR) of the plan, to be launched in November 2024. This review of Nourishing Australia will:

  • review the main goals and priorities of the decadal plan and provide a succinct update on the state of Australian nutrition science and significant changes since the completion of the decadal plan.
  • review the recommendations of the decadal plan, reporting on the extent to which they have been accomplished, and whether recommendations remain appropriate or require revision.
  • review current plans for implementing the original or updated recommendations of the decadal plan, and provide revised implementation plans with priorities and contingencies, focusing on the period 2025-2029 and addressing the longer term where appropriate.

The NCN is seeking input from sector organisations to identify research, initiatives, and activities that have emerged since the plan’s publication, particularly in relation to its four key pillars. This is an opportunity to add First Nations perspective to the body of work.

To complete the survey, go here.

For more information, go here.

Nourishing Australia: A decadal plan for the science of nutrition.

QLD launches new Health Workforce Strategy

The Miles Government today launched the Health Workforce Strategy for QLD to 2032 and a significant funding boost to help grow, sustain and develop the state’s healthcare workforce.

QLD’s healthcare system is experiencing ongoing pressure. A growing and ageing population, coupled with an increase in service usage due to less people using private health care and a contraction of some private services into public hospitals, is creating significant demand. This, combined with rising costs, is impacting the public hospital system.

In recognition of the state’s growing healthcare needs, the 2024-25 State Budget allocates more than $1 billion (budget to budget) extra for frontline workforce growth.

$30.8 million will be used to grow the First Nations talent pipeline. This includes initiatives recognise and support existing First Nations healthcare workers, along with adapting work practices to deliver more equitable services.

To read the full statement, go here.

Image source: Queensland Health.

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.

Infant Mental Health Awareness Week – 10-16 June 2024

Infant Mental Health Awareness Week runs every June to highlight the importance of babies’ emotional wellbeing and development. This year’s theme is ‘Speak up for babies’.

Infant mental health is an often overlooked and misunderstood subject. Infant Mental Health Awareness Week provides an annual opportunity to discuss the importance of babies’ mental health and wellbeing as well as some issues that affect it.

Research shows that the experiences and relationships we have in the earliest years of our lives, including before birth, impact on the development of our brains. Stress and adversity experienced during pregnancy can have a negative impact on babies’ physical and mental health as they grow, but this doesn’t have to be the case. The services in place to support mothers, birthing people, partners and families in pregnancy can make a huge difference. Once born, babies that are scared and overwhelmed by disrupted relationships with their parent or main carer are more likely to develop mental health conditions in childhood. Early intervention and support can help mitigate the impact on these vulnerable babies and families.

For more information on Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2024, go here.

Image source: Eventbrite Queensland Infant Mental Health Symposium 2024 webpage.

7 June 2024

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

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

Long-term harm to health, wellbeing and life chances

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

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

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

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

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

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

R U OK? Conversation Convoy visits Karratha

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WA student awarded Indigenous Medical Scholarship

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

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

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

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

WA uni medical student Kahlie Lockyer

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

Health funding projected to decline in real terms

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

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

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

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

fluorescent white light in shape of descending arrow

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

Project promotes mental health of young LGBTQA+ mob

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

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

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

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

Image source: Joy Media website.

First Nations doctors need support

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6 June 2024

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

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

Strong Born Community Grant Round 3 opening next week

The Strong Born Community Grant is back. In 2023, through Rounds 1 and 2, many ACCHOs brought creativity and innovation to the Strong Born campaign, enhancing staff and community understanding about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). To continue this momentum and expand the reach of this important campaign, NACCHO is rolling out another $1 million in grants to ACCHOs for:

  • Developing and running local Strong Born campaigns to raise FASD awareness and understanding.
  • Training frontline staff on FASD.
  • Enhancing support for families.

All ACCHOs are eligible for this round, regardless of whether they currently deliver FASD programs or have received funding previously.

More information will be provided next week when applications open.

To learn more about the Strong Born campaign, go here.

Strong Born Community Grant Round 3 applications open next week.

Indigenous Psychology Education Project launches Australia-first project for psychology supervisors to increase cultural safety

The Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project launched on Wednesday an Australian-first suite of free resources for psychology supervisors aimed to increase cultural safety when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Listening More: Embedding Cultural Safety in Supervision initiative was led by Research Fellow Belle Selkirk, a Noongar woman and clinical psychologist, with colleague Dr Joanna Alexi. The Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project, based at the University of Western Australia is under the leadership of trailblazing Bardi woman and psychologist, Professor Pat Dudgeon AM, through the Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing research project.

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

“The knowledges and principles of culturally safe supervision detailed in this guide have been articulated by Indigenous psychologists from an Indigenous standpoint.”

The Listening More initiative has produced a set of resources including a guide, manual of resources, and a reflective journal, and the inaugural edition is timely, given the impending proposed changes in the Psychology Board of Australia’s competencies for general registration.

“These free resources will help address a critical gap in psychology and with 46,000 registered psychologists in Australia, the demand for capacity-building necessitated by changes in registration requirements will be significant,” Ms Selkirk said.

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

Research Fellow Belle Selkirk. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

AMA Calls to Scrap ‘anti-competitive’ pharmacy rules

Governments should scrap anti-competitive pharmacy ownership and location rules to improve access to medications and reduce costs for consumers, according to the Australian Medical Association (AMA).

In its submission to the National Competition Policy Analysis, the AMA says the out-of-date “archaic” rules restrict patients’ access to cheaper medicines and pharmaceutical services.

“We are in a cost-of-living crisis and everyone needs cheaper medicines and more competition,” AMA President Professor Steve Robson said.

“We know the restrictions on pharmacy ownership and location are anti-competitive and undermine patients’ access to medicines and services,” Professor Robson said.

“These rules limiting the number of pharmacies in one location are decades out of step with the recommendations and what patients’ need.”

In a glaring example of how current ownership rules drive inequity of access, the Queensland Government would not even consider a modest proposal for the removal of restrictions on the ability of an Aboriginal Health Service to own and operate a pharmacy located at that Aboriginal Health Service.

“We want increased competition to drive down medicine costs for patients and allow pharmacies to apply greater discounts to PBS medicines,” Professor Robson said.

“We hope this time that governments listen because it is in the best interest of all Australians, everywhere.

“We don’t want patient skipping medications because of the cost of living — that just shouldn’t be happening.”

To read more, go here.

Image source: AMA.

Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Services secures Major Capital Works Grant for Mardi Property Refurbishment

Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Services have been awarded a Major Capital Works Grant totalling more than $4.6 million. This significant funding will enable the much-needed refurbishment of the Mardi property, marking a monumental step forward in enhancing services and facilities for the Aboriginal community on Darkinjung country.

This grant will allow the Aboriginal Medical Services team to co-locate at the newly refurbished Mardi property. Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Services wrote this will enable the ACCHO to fully realise and maximise its transdisciplinary model of care. By bringing all its teams together under one roof, providing more cohesive, comprehensive, and culturally responsive healthcare to Community.

“The refurbishment of the Mardi property is not just about improving “a” building; it’s about investing in the health and well-being of our community. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub for delivering integrated services that address the physical, social, emotional, cultural, and spiritual well-being of our people. The upgraded facility will ensure that we can continue to support our community’s health and well-being now and into the future.

“We are ecstatic about what this grant represents for our community. It is a testament to the strength, resilience, and excellence of our people. This funding will help us continue to thrive and showcase black excellence, providing a centre of excellence for the Aboriginal community on Darkinjung country.”

Read the full media release here.

More than 1800 Aboriginal children under nine accessed homelessness services in VIC last financial year

More than 1800 Aboriginal children in Victoria under the age of nine accessed specialist homeless services in the last financial year, a truth-telling hearing has heard. On Wednesday, the Yoorrook Justice Commission heard from a panel of housing Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), looking at public housing issues and solutions for First Nations people in Victoria.

Chief executive of Aboriginal Housing Victoria, Darren Smith, told the truth-telling hearing Aboriginal children in Victoria were accessing homelessness services at the highest rate in the country.

“[It’s] growing at roughly 10 per cent year-on-year,” Mr Smith said.

“It tells you that there’s a very significant problem.

“If it was in the mainstream that would be one million people accessing homelessness services in Victoria every year — it would be an absolute crisis.”

The Yoorrook inquiries are currently examining the historical injustices surrounding land, sky, and waters in Victoria; creating an official public record on the impact of colonisation on Aboriginal people in the state and will recommend actions to address historical and ongoing injustices.

Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative provides culturally appropriate services and support for Aboriginal people in a large catchment area on the south coast of Victoria. Chief executive Simon Flagg said when departments wrote new policies, they didn’t understand the ACCOs lens and how they operated.

“We know our community, we’re the ones that have fingers on the pulse of understanding their needs and requirements and yet, most of the time, we’re not at the table at the conversation,” Mr Flagg said, recommending more flexible options for access to grants in the sector.

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

At Wednesday’s Yoorrook Justice Commission hearing Darren Smith suggested Indigenous peoples are exposed to racist prejudices in the private housing market. Image source: Yoorrook Justice Commission.

Meet QLD First Nations LGBTQIA+ advocate Rocky Byrne

Rocky Byrne is the Executive Officer of 2Spirits, a Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (QC) program helping LGBTQI+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy people across the state. Rocky’s journey to her work first came from discovering her authentic self.

“My journey to identity was maybe a little bit longer than most. I had a relationship with a man and I had four amazing children out of that relationship. I was in my late twenties when I really started to allow myself to explore who I actually was,” she says.

“That came about when I lost my dad, and just needed to really have a good look at myself and who I was. Losing a parent really gave me the ability to sort of look at that, honestly.”

Once she embraced who she was, she found love and built a large family.

“I have been with my wife for 15 years and together we have seven adult children and one grandchild,” she says proudly.

When I ask her about where her advocacy work began, she states clearly that it started before she secured any job title.

“I have a really strong belief that for a lot of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, you’re raised in social justice. So advocating is very much a part of who you are as even as a child growing up,” she says.

Through her found family she saw the different ways that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy people were being discriminated against, on top of racism. Beginning work for LGBTIQA+ youth organisation Open Doors gave her even more of an understanding.

“That really gave me great insight into the amazing young people that we have as part of our community and the difficulties they were facing. The young people in particular also showed me how to celebrate all the beauty of our two worlds. Despite having some issues and barriers and challenges, they showed me how to celebrate uniqueness.”

Rocky has a strong message for LGBTIQA+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy young people.

“Take your time. It’s okay to take your time, you do not have to use a label, you do not have to fit a label, you just have to be you. And to take your time to sort that out. Because it’s a lifelong journey and how you may see yourself today may not be how you see yourself in 10 years time.”

Read the full article here.

Rocky Byrne (left). Image source: QNews.

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

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

5 June 2024

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

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

A new era for aged care and First Nations health

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Apunipima wins award for kidney care program

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

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

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

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

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

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

Educating boys on healthy relationships vital

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

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

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

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

Indigenous lawyer Taylah Gray

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

Kunibidji people strike empowering LDM agreement

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cost-of-living hits remote communities the hardest

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

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

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

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

Dorothy Djanghara from Kalumburu, NT

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

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Pride Month – June 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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