20 May 2024

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

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

NACCHO Pharmacist Scholarship recipients announced

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New measures to combat suicide welcome

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FNQ areas: lowest life expectancy in world

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

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

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

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

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

concrete cross with lichen, Cape Banks Cemetery

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

BHP and Ear Science to improve ear health

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

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

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

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

Aboriginal child Halen Downs with Audiologist Selina Moyle

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

Cyber security WARNING

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

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

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

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

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

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

Maternal and Child Health survey closes 13 June 2024

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

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

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

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

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

IUHI Birthing in Our Community worker holding a baby

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

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

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

World Autoimmune Arthritis Day – 20 May 2024

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

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

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

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

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

Image source: IDEAS website.

17 May 2024

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

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

Health ministers face questions on the budget

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

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

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

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

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

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

ACCHO and school team up to boost attendance

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

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

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

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

4 Yirrkala Aborginal students pushing another student on a rope swing

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

13YARN inundated with racism-related calls

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

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

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

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

13Yarn National Program Manager Aunty Majorie Anderson

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

What is LGBTQI+ allyship?

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

4 Tiwi Island sistergirls in outfits for Mardi Gras

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

Childhood immunisation resources for mob

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image source: Canadian Union of Public Employees.

16 May 2024

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

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

Federal budget 2024: What’s in it for mob?

In outlining its plans for the year ahead, the budget documents give the clearest indicator yet of the government’s First Nations policy priorities after the resounding defeat of the Indigenous Voice referendum last year. $20 million dollars that was previously set aside to create local and regional Indigenous Voice bodies has officially been slashed. Saying the decision is in line with the outcome of October’s referendum, the budget papers confirm the funding will be redirected elsewhere in the Indigenous Affairs portfolio. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has also told SBS and NITV that funding for a proposed Makarrata Commission, which would have overseen truth-telling and treaty-making processes, has been reallocated to Closing the Gap measures.

While jobs and housing were the main budget priorities, there were still several health measures funded in the Indigenous affairs space. In an effort to make period products more accessible, $12.5 million dollars has been given to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) to distribute free products in remote communities, where they can often be unaffordable or unavailable. Meanwhile, the Indigenous Youth Connection to Culture program, a mental health program which runs in 12 communities, has been extended with a $12.8 million dollars funding boost over the next four years. The program aims to reduce suicide rates and improve mental health outcomes.

The two main cash splashes for mob in the budget – a new program to create jobs in remote areas and a multi-billion-dollar NT housing investment – were already announced by the government earlier this year. $774 million dollars has been allocated over the next five years for the new Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program, aimed at creating 3,000 jobs over the next three years. After this, a further $255.5 million dollars will be spent on maintaining the program on an annual basis.

Read the full NITV article here.

To read NACCHO’s media release on the 2024 budget, go here.

Image source: NITV.

VACCHO statewide GP Gathering

VACCHO recently hosted the third Statewide GP Gathering on picturesque Gunditjmara Country, bringing together GPs who work at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) across Victoria. This special event provided a platform for cultural immersion, clinical education, peer networking, and professional growth.

The weekend kicked off with a moving Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country led by Uncle Paul Wright, setting the tone for special weekend of culture and connection. Another standout moment came on Saturday when Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC) Board Director Ebony Hickey and EMAC Chair Uncle Allan Miller, provided attendees with invaluable insight into Eastern Maar’s Native Title journey, while Gunditjmara master weaver Aunty Bronwyn Razem’s led an incredible weaving session for families.

Keynote presentations courtesy of RWAV CEO Lauren Cordwell, and Executive Director of VACCHO’s Balit Durn Durn Centre proud Djab Wurrung and Gunditjmara woman Sheree Lowe added great depth to the discussions, underscoring the vital role GPs play in helping Communities heal.

Brett Clarke (Kirrae Whurrung), a renowned Gunditjmara Nation song man, lore man, and educator brought the gathering to a close, delivering a captivating artefact talk and cultural tour of the ancient landscape of Tower Hill. Attendees appreciated the unique opportunity to connect with earth’s oldest continuous living Culture amidst the company of Tower Hill’s famous emus and koalas.

Executive Director of Population Health Abe Ropitini described the third Annual GP Gathering as a special weekend of learning, connection, family, and culture.

“This is a one-of-a-kind event as it gives GPs some thoroughly-deserved time to get to know their colleagues, and most importantly connect and celebrate Aboriginal culture and kinship – fundamental elements to the health and wellbeing of Communities.”

“The GPs that work at Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations are a crucial part of caring for Communities, and helping people heal.  The knowledge and wisdom that GPs share plays a significant role in caring for Aboriginal Communities.”

“On behalf of VACCHO, I’d like to pay tribute to the GPs for their incredible strength, dedication and invaluable work supporting thriving, healthy Communities. I’d like to sincerely thank RWAV for their valuable partnership and assistance in supporting this fantastic event. I look forward to seeing everyone at the GP Gathering in 2025.”

 To read more, go here.

Image source: VACCHO.

Coalition of Peaks welcomes budget measures, calls for “genuine partnerships” to Close the Gap

Catherine Liddle, Coalition of Peaks acting lead convenor, said it was not surprising the budget had a focus on the cost of living.

“Our mob are feeling the cost-of-living crisis acutely, and this budget’s investments in housing, education and health will be good for our People, but more will be needed to bridge the widening gap,” she said on Tuesday evening. ​

“We cannot close the gap unless governments change the way they work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We need genuine partnerships, not tick-a-box consultation.

“​Following tonight’s budget, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are looking forward to realising these genuine partnerships.​We need funding for Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, because they know how best to deliver services to their communities and get results.”

In addition to representing more than seventy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled peak organisations, the Coalition of Peaks also represents certain independent statutory authorities responsible for Closing the Gap policies, programs and services.

Most of the federal government’s First Nations budget measures were announced in February; a $770million remote jobs program, and March’s announcement of a $4billion remote housing program for the Northern Territory, were the major components of the Indigenous Affairs portfolio.

The 2024 budget commits $151 million to Closing the Gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

A focus on First Nations outcomes this year included $110 million over four years to bridge the education divide, with funding to extend existing programs, develop specific policies, attract and retain First Nations teachers and support Indigenous organisations.

A voluntary prison-to-employment $76million transition program would help First Nations prisoners find jobs after release and curb reoffending rates, while a four-year, $13 million youth program aims to help reduce Indigenous suicide rates.

Indigenous health services received a $95 million allocation for treating, preventing and testing for diseases prevalent in First Nations communities.

Read the National Indigenous Times article here.

Image: Mick Tsikas (AAP).

New grants available in priority areas through Cancer Council WA

WA cancer researchers are being encouraged to apply for the next round of Cancer Research Project Grants, after $2.52 million was awarded to Cancer Council WA over three years through the Cook government’s Future Health Research and Innovation Fund (FHRI).

Cancer Council WA CEO, Ashley Reid, said the funding will both boost the existing Cancer Research Project Grant scheme and provide funding for research project grants in key priority areas.

“We can now offer funding to help address cancer research conducted in key priority areas, including for the first time, targeting Aboriginal health, with a focus on research designed and led by Aboriginal researchers,” Mr Reid said.

“Together with the other priority areas – rural and remote health, clinical health, and public health – these streams create an important opportunity to direct resources towards identified areas of cancer research need and expand the breadth of the projects and researchers we fund.”

The grants, worth $140,000, fund 12-month projects that provide the financial support for the implementation and development of key research ideas, establishing the potential for further funding opportunities and translation of ideas.

Mr Reid said the grants are open to all WA cancer researchers, with the priority grants inviting applications from health professionals in the fields of public health, Aboriginal health, nursing, allied health, clinical research, and general practice.

“In addition to our donor funding, this partnership means we can now fund more local cancer researchers to lead exciting and innovative research that has the potential to dramatically improve the way we prevent, detect, and treat cancer,” he said.

Applications for the Cancer Research Project Grants are open from May 15, 2024 until June 26, 2024.

For more information go here.

Image source: Cancer Council WA.

Study explores intergenerational trauma and youth well-being

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has allocated over $3.6 million to the third phase of a study focusing on intergenerational trauma in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. This initiative, rooted in Aboriginal culture and knowledge, delves into the social and emotional well-being of Indigenous youth. Over the span of five years, the University of Adelaide, in collaboration with the South Australian Institute of Health and Medical Research (SAHMRI) and partners from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, will manage the grant.

Chief investigator and Wotjobaluk woman, Karen Glover said this funding will facilitate the creation of a novel assessment tool for measuring social and emotional well-being.

“It will provide evidence to inform co-design and implementation of responses to intergenerational and complex trauma spanning health, education and social care sectors, including strategies to promote resilience, healing and recovery for young people and their mothers and other primary caregivers,” Ms Glover said.

“This project aims to strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people’s social and emotional wellbeing and translate knowledge into action across primary health care, mental health, housing, education and social care sectors to benefit them and their families.”

To read the full National Indigenous Times article go here.

Karen Glover has worked for over 30 years in the government and non-government Aboriginal health and community services sectors. (Image: University of Adelaide).

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.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day – 16 May 2024

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in 2018, 24% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population had disability (an estimated 139,700 people), including an estimated 5,100 people with severe or profound disability (8.8% of the Indigenous population). Indigenous Australians were 1.9 times as likely to have disability as non-Indigenous Australians. The four most common self-reported disability types for Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over were physical disabilities (63% of those reporting disability), sight/hearing/speech disabilities (47%), psychological disabilities (23%) and intellectual disabilities (18%).

Today, 16 May 2024, is the 13th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion.

Digital accessibility refers to the ability of people with disabilities/impairments to independently consume and/or interact with digital (e.g., web, mobile) applications and content. Worldwide there are more than One Billion people with disabilities/impairments. From both a civil rights and a business perspective, people with disabilities are underserved by today’s digital products. The most common disabilities/impairments are visual, hearing, motor and cognitive. In terms of digital technology, people who:

  • are blind need alternative text descriptions for meaningful images and use the keyboard and not a mouse to interact with interactive elements.
  • are deaf or hard of hearing will need captioning for video presentations and visual indicators in place of audio cues
  • have motor impairments may need alternative keyboards, eye control or some other adaptive hardware to help them type and navigate on their devices
  • have different learning disabilities/impairments may need an uncluttered screen, consistent navigation and the use of plain language

The GAAD Foundation was launched in 2021 to mark GAAD’s 10th anniversary. Its mission is to disrupt the culture of technology and digital product development to include accessibility as a core requirement, with accessibility built into the product development lifecycle for technology and digital products.

You can find more information about GAAD and the GAAD Foundation on the GAAD website here.

You can also find more information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability on the AIHW website here.

Image source: Digivante website.

 

15 May 2024

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

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

Main challenge is closing the funding gap

The Commonwealth Budget contains some very welcome measures in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. But structural reform is what is really required and a longer-term commitment to close the funding gap is necessary if we want the health gap to improve.

In Cairns this morning, Donnella Mills, the Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) said, ‘The prelude to this Budget has been dominated by the mainstream and economic concerns. We understand that the Government is concerned with cost-of-living pressures, affordable housing, and domestic violence. We support all efforts in this regard. But we also acknowledge that it contains some important measures that will assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people and bring valuable relief to our sector.’

NACCHO welcomes the $12.8m in suicide prevention, $10m for mental health support, $11.1m to expand coverage of the Closing the Gap Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, $94.9m to combat communicable diseases in our communities, and $12.5m to facilitate community-led distribution of menstrual products in regional and remote First Nations communities. These are all important announcements.

Donnella Mills said, ‘These provide a critical first step after the failed Referendum last year. The Government needs to get a positive dialogue happening in the wake of all the misinformation and hostility that we lived through. The best way of doing that is to invest in our communities and fund the responsibly costed package of proposals that NACCHO puts forward each year.’

‘Why should Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people expect to live lives 8-9 years less than other Australians?’ asked the acting CEO of NACCHO, Dr Dawn Casey.

In Canberra this morning, she said, ‘Despite all the myths you heard in the Referendum about wasted expenditure, the cold hard fact of the matter is that there is a health funding gap of $4.4b each year for our people. That equates to about $5,000 per Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person. The Commonwealth’s share of that gap is $2.6b. So, we have a simple challenge to work through with the Government: let’s agree on a plan to close the funding gap, if we are ever to close the health gap.’

NACCHO is also looking forward to bunkering down behind the seminal National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The Productivity Commission’s report showed that most government agencies are fumbling in their efforts to implement it and seem not to understand the necessary structural reform that the Prime Minister and eight premiers and chief ministers signed up to in 2020. We see the Agreement as an important mechanism to help close the gap.

Donnella Mills said, ‘As we have been denied a Voice, it is up to NACCHO and our counterparts to advocate for our sectors. The main message we have for governments, at the moment, is to work with us in closing the funding gap and let’s continue to work together to get the National Agreement firing.’

You can find NACCHO’s media release Some good news but the main challenge is closing the funding gap in full on the NACCHO website here.

NACCHO branding tile with NACCHO logo & text 'MEDIA RELEASE - Some good news but the main challenge is closing the funding gap'

Yulu-Burri-Ba: 40 years of community-run health services

North Stradbroke Island’s Indigenous community convened last Friday (10 May 2024) to commemorate four decades of community-run health services. From its inception in 1984 the provision of healthcare has evolved significantly. A broad spectrum of services caters to the needs of the island and the southern bayside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. They include dental care, family wellbeing initiatives, Birthing in Our Community programs, Deadly Choices advocacy, women’s and men’s groups and youth engagement schemes, as well as foster and kinship care support.

Aunty Maureen Myers, a pioneer in advocating for culturally safe community-controlled health services on the island, and the current Director of the Yulu-Burri-Ba board, expressed pride in the shared vision, commitment, and tireless efforts of all contributors, acknowledging the profound positive impact on the community. “It was built to give better health outcomes for our people who couldn’t afford to go to the doctor,” Ms Myers said. “Now we have easy access to healthcare services like we never had before. When you feel comfortable with going to a doctor you get the healthcare you need. Because it is community-controlled it meets the needs of the community.”

Yulu-Burri-Ba CEO, David Collins, said the milestone is an opportunity to reflect on and acknowledge the leadership of Elders and what can be achieved through working together, “Our founding Elders saw that there was a need for these services, and they have been proven correct with the growth of health and welfare services we’re now providing to more than 5,000 community members in our region. From the humble beginnings of the first clinic at Dunwich Hall in 1984, operated as an outreach service by Brisbane AICHS, to the transition to self-management and incorporation of Yulu-Burri-Ba between 1993 and 1994, the journey towards community-led healthcare has been transformative. When it first started, it was with volunteers and support from Brisbane AICHS (now ATSICHS),” Mr Collins said. “And then along the way, from our community – from our fellow Aboriginal Medical Services, the Australian and Queensland Governments, and the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health.”

To view the National Indigenous Times article Yulu-Burri-Ba marks 40 years of advancing Aboriginal health services in full click here.

large group of current & former Yulu-Burri-Ba staff members in hall

Image: supplied by Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health. Image source: National Indigenous Times.

CTG by investing in jobs and housing

In a media release yesterday the Hon Linda Burney MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians outlined the 2024–25 Budget measures aimed at accelerating progress to close the gap:

Jobs and Housing

  • $777.4 m Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program to be implemented in partnership with First Nations people, to build skills and experience, and deliver services that communities want
  • improving housing in remote NT communities with a 10-year $4b joint investment between the Australian and NT Governments to support delivery of up to 270 houses each year, and deliver repairs and maintenance to existing housing; $120m over three years to continue delivery of housing improvements and essential infrastructure upgrades to NT Homelands.

Health and Wellbeing

  • $12.8m towards suicide prevention, including the Indigenous Youth Connection Culture program (Suicide Prevention) for 12 communities
  • $10m to NACCHO to deliver targeted and culturally appropriate mental health supports
  • $11.1m over five years to expand coverage of the CTG Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Co-payment Program to all PBS medicines, broadening access to affordable PBS medicines for First Nations people living with, or at risk of, chronic disease
  • $94.9m over two years to support management of communicable disease control in First Nations communities
  • $12.5m over four years to NACCHO to facilitate community-led distribution of menstrual products in regional and remote First Nations communities where menstrual products are expensive and hard for First Nations women and girls to access.

Quality School Education

  • $74.8m over four years to develop a new National First Nations Education Policy, extend a number of First Nations education programs, and provide partnership funding to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation and SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
  • $32.8m to the Clontarf Foundation to continue to school engagement programs during 2025 for First Nations boys and young men.
  • $2.4m over three years to implement the First Nations Teacher Strategy to increase the number of First Nations teachers in schools
  • $18m for a capital works fund to build new and improve existing boarding facilities in Central Australia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from remote NT communities.

Crime Prevention, Community Safety and Reducing Incarceration Rates

  • $76.2m over five years to establish a new First Nations Prison to Employment Program
  • $10.7m to the Justice Policy Partnership, which will focus on reducing the rates of adult and youth incarceration
  • $15.4m for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services and an additional $8.6m to Family Violence Prevention Legal Services in 2024-25 to provide an urgent funding injection for legal assistance services
  • $4.6m in one year to ensure service continuity for the Custody Notification Service

Strengthening Families and Reducing Proportion of Children in Out-of-Home Care

  • $5.9m over two years to establish of the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People.
  • $11.7m over two years to extend the First Nations Family Dispute Resolution Pilot.

You can read Minister Burney’s media release Closing the gap by investing in jobs and housing in full here.

Aboriginal woman Veronica Lulu sitting on walker outside home she cannot get into

Veronica Lulu outside the home she cannot get into. Photo: Aaron Fernandes. Image source: SBS NITV article A third of remote Aboriginal houses at ‘unacceptable’ standard, published on 13 May 2022.

Budget initiatives welcome, but more needed

The measures in the federal budget targeting First Nations communities have been applauded, but advocates say there is more work to be done. Arrernte/Luritja woman Catherine Liddle, the acting lead convenor of the Coalition of Peaks alliance of more than 80 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled peak organisations and members and CEO of the national group for First Nations children and families, SNAICC said those measures in the federal budget have been called for and welcomed – but there is more work to do.

“We have to say that those signals that we’re going to invest in children are really good signals. We know that for the first time ever, we’re seeing 29.1 million over four years going into both SNAICC and  NATSIAC [[National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council]] as those peaks (national groups) that lead in the children’s space. That money is dedicated to ensuring that we are partnering with governments; and that we are doing things differently. But it’s still not enough that it still needs to go the whole hog (all the way); and that means that all of our peaks need to be set up in that way. It also means that we need to be really thinking about how we stop children and families coming into contact with any tertiary interventions. Budgets are critical to being able to do that.”

She says the implementation of the federal budget initiatives will be critical to achieving the Closing the Gap targets.

“Look, it goes some of the way, but I think what we see in all budgets at this point in times is there are winners and there are losers. There are things that are good; and there are things that are not so good for us to genuinely close the gap, and this is what the productivity commission found, we need to change the way we do this. There’s a clear roadmap that says, if you’re going to invest: make sure you’re partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Make sure you are lining up all the ducks (local, state and federal co-ordination), so that what you’re genuinely getting is system reform. And until we get those genuine system reform elements implemented, we’re always going to miss the mark a bit.”

To listen to or read the transcript of the SBS News News in Depth podcast click here.

SBS News News in Depth podcast tile with text 'Budge addresses areas 'crucial to Australia's multicultural future' but detail needed', image of SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle

SNIACC CEO Catherine Liddle & acting lead convenor of the Coalition of Peaks alliance. Image sources: SBS News website & SNAICC website.

NACCHO to facilitate period product distribution

The Women’s Agenda article The key wins for women’s health in the budget published yesterday examines how the budget will support women’s health, one the five priority areas nominated by the government under its new gender equity strategy. The article specifically mention the $12.5m that will be provided to NACCHO to facilitate community-led, culturally appropriate distribution of free period products in remote communities.

An ABC News article Fighting shame and challenges of menstruation in isolated Australian communities published on 20 February 2020 and available here, said that for many Indigenous girls living remotely in outback Australia the conversation about their monthly cycle is complex. Compounded by overcrowding, access to affordable sanitary products and functioning bathrooms can make dealing with menstruation challenging.

To view the Women’s Agenda article in full click here.

Aboriginal girls' hands holding pads

Young girls learning about how to manage their menstrual cycles with confidence. Photo: Central Australian Youth Link Up Service. Image source: ABC News.

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

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

International Day of Families – 15 May 2024

The International Day of Families is celebrated on 15 May every year, with this year’s theme being Families and Climate Change.

Climate change negatively impacts the health and well-being of families through increased pollution, while extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change, such as hurricanes, droughts and floods, often lead to forced displacement and loss of livelihoods for families and individuals. Such events impact agricultural productivity and access to water, intensifying hunger and vulnerability. They cause economic disruption in industries sensitive to climate impacts such as agriculture and fisheries. Without drastic action, adaptation to and mitigation of the impacts of climate change will become increasingly difficult and costly.

Empowering families through education, changing consumption habits, and advocacy is critical for meaningful and effective climate action. Families pass values across generations, so instilling sustainable habits and climate awareness in families from an early age is important. Integrating circular economy principles into early childhood education can help build a sustainable economic model based on minimizing waste and regenerating natural resources. Families as consumers and advocates can drive the transition to a circular economy.

The 2024 International Day of Families aims to raise awareness of how climate change impacts families and the role families can play in climate action. Through family and community initiatives, we can foster climate action with education, access to information, training and community participation.

The notion of family in Aboriginal culture is closely tied to themes of connectedness and kinship. In this setting, family structures are pivotal to identity formation, understanding one’s own spiritual and cultural belonging, and assists in establishing strong links with community. Ultimately, family and kinship are a cohesive forced that bind Aboriginal people together.

You can find more information about the role of family and kinship in Aboriginal culture on the Watarrka Foundation website here.

You can find more information on the International Day of Families on the United Nations website here.

tile with text 'International Day of Families 15 May [2024]' & IDF logo

Image source: United Nations website.

14 May 2024

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

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

Call for nominations for the First Nations Health Governance Group

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care is partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders through the new First Nations Health Governance Group to improve health outcomes and are seeking nominations from interested Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders to join the group.

The group will drive improvements under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (CTG). This includes the health-related targets of life expectancy (Target 1), healthy birthweight (Target 2) and reduction in suicide (Target 14). The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021-2031 (Health Plan) commits to establishing governance arrangements. The group will take on this governance role to oversee the Health Plan’s implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. It will also oversee the Australian Government’s implementation of the Priority Reforms under CTG.

Applications close Friday June 7, 2024.

For more information go here.

Image source: Department of Health and Aged Care.

Grant opportunities: Guiding Local Opportunities for Wellbeing (GLOWS)

The Guiding Local Opportunities for Wellbeing (GLOWS) Grant Program 2024–26 offers scholarships and research grants to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, community organisations and their partners for work relating to HIV and viral hepatitis over the next three years. Lowitja Institute aims to further increase health equity, address disparities that continue to drive disease transmission, and work towards elimination of HIV and viral hepatitis in all of our communities.

Five different grant types are offered over the course of the program. These include large and medium research grants focused on providing opportunities for research and community programs aimed at addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community needs. The program also includes incubator, seeding or demonstration grants, scholarships and education grants. Funding tiers range from $800,000 over two years, to seeding grants and scholarships of $30,000 and $25,000.

For more information, go here.

Which Way? World No Tobacco Day Webinar

Indigenous people, globally, continue to be impacted by commercial tobacco harms. This was embedded through colonisation, including rationing of tobacco in lieu of wages, and direct targeting by the Tobacco Industry. While overall smoking prevalence has declined, 40.2% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults smoke daily. Preventing tobacco uptake and providing cessation supports are essential in reducing smoking prevalence and tobacco related disease and death. The Which Way project is leading community-led smoking cessation research that is developed for and by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The Which Way? World No Tobacco Day Webinar on Monday May 27 is held in partnership with AH&MRC in conjunction with World No Tobacco Day 2024 to share current Indigenous-led evidence on smoking cessation care and answer any questions communities have on providing culturally safe and responsive cessation care.

To register, go here.

New report recommends pregnant women be allowed to give birth before beginning prison sentence

Pregnant women in Victoria could request a delay in their sentence to be allowed to give birth outside of prison, in a series of reforms outlined in a new report released on Tuesday. Reforming Sentence Deferrals in Victoria by the Sentencing Advisory Council makes 10 recommendations to change the way courts decide whether to defer (delay) sentencing an offender convicted of a custodial sentence.

The proposed reforms would allow parents, as well as carers of newborns or dependent children, the chance to request for time to reduce the impact of their custodial sentence on their children, including by making caring arrangements. There are an estimated 7,000 children in Victoria with parents currently incarcerated, and connection to culture has been highlighted as a means to minimise both trauma and recidivism.

The Sentencing Advisory Council proposes five new sentence deferrals, to be used in a wider range of circumstances.

These include both offenders and victims participating in a restorative justice process; if it would be in the best interest of an offenders unborn or dependent child; for an offender to receive medically necessary treatment, including surgery; any reason relating to an Indigenous person’s cultural background or responsibilities; and for young adult offenders, especially if a deferral would allow them to access rehabilitation programs.

The council’s director, Professor Marilyn McMahon, said “sentence deferral can give parents with newborn or dependent children the opportunity to develop important attachments” in appropriate cases.

“If prison is inevitable, sentence deferral can also enable parents to make caring arrangements for their children and settle them into their new environment first,” Dr McMahon said.

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

A new report recommends mothers be allowed to give birth before entering prison (Image:Mark Dadswell/Herald Sun).

New scholarship to deliver 100 endometriosis nurses to regional, rural and remote areas

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses are encouraged to apply for the Endometriosis Australia Nurses Scholarship which aims to deliver 100 trained Endometriosis Specialty Nurses to regional, rural, and remote communities. Launched by Endometriosis Australia, in partnership with the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), each scholarship is valued at $2,900.

During the 10-week unit of study, nurses will learn essential attributes to be advocates for all individuals experiencing chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis, a common disease where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside it in other parts of the body. The unit of study will provide students with the necessary theoretical knowledge to improve how they assess and manage endometriosis and pelvic pain in the clinical setting, including exploring endometriosis pathophysiology, pain physiology, and contemporary, evidence-based treatment and management within various clinical settings. A holistic, individual, person-centred approach is core to the unit.

Applications will be accepted from 1 September 2024. Successful applicants will be announced on 1 December 2024, and the first intake will begin in January 2025.

For more information, go here.

Image source: Endometriosis Australia.

2024 Elder’s Olympics

Kempsey hosted more than 400 elders for the annual NSW Elder’s Olympics for a day of connection, competition and celebration. As winners of the 2023 Olympics, Booroongen Djugun Limited organised this year’s event on Thursday, May 9, sponsored by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council. Groups from across the state travelled to Kempsey for the packed-full day, including a welcome to country by Uncle Bob Smith, an opening smoking ceremony and dance by South West Rocks Figtree Descendants Aboriginal Corporation, a banner parade and of course, the games.

Baabayn Elders were named champions for their banner, and overall winner of the Elder’s Olympic games and hosts for 2025 were team two of the South Inverell ‘Bear Eaters’.

“The Elders Olympics creates opportunity for us to recognise our Elders and the contribution they make to our communities across the state, towns and regions,” Chief Executive Officer Booroongen Djugun Limited, Kylie O’Bryan said.

“It promotes the importance of Elders being the leaders in maintaining our culture, language, connection and identity…it encourages unity for everyone.”

Ms O’Bryan says the day is also about promoting healthy living while creating learning pathways for the community.

Read the Manning River Times article here.

2024 NSW Elder’s Olympics hosted in Kempsey. Pictures by Ellie Chamberlain.

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.

13 May 2024

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

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

Indigenous women most affected by family violence

This article contains information on deaths in custody and the violence experienced by First Nations people in encounters with the Australian carceral system. It also contains references to and the names of people who are now deceased.

As the country reels from women being killed due to violence, government has responded by calling urgent meetings and roundtables to address this national crisis. This must properly include Indigenous women, who experience shocking levels of family and domestic violence, and sexual assault. It must be recognised women are not a homogenous, collective group. The issues experienced by non-Indigenous women are not always the same as those experienced by Indigenous women. As such, it is imperative the voices of Indigenous survivors, researchers and advocates in addressing violence are fully heard and respected in the current debate.

According to recent research led by Kyllie Cripps, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are 32 times more likely to be hospitalised for injury associated with violence than non-Indigenous women. They are eight times more likely to be a victim of homicide. This figure is higher in some areas, such as WA, which recorded Aboriginal mothers as 17.5 times more likely to be a victim of homicide. Recently, the Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Commission convened an emergency roundtable. However, there are still concerns the outcomes of the roundtable do not respond to the serious and ongoing structural and systemic barriers Indigenous women face.

There are also concerns a significant investment recently announced in WA will not support Indigenous women. They’re based largely on an expansion of existing services, police, child protection and corrections, and non-Indigenous service responses. These decisions were made contrary to the states own Aboriginal family violence policy and in the absence of research or evidence base. Indigenous women have long argued for systemic reforms that address the underlying drivers of violence, support victim-survivors, ensure justice and demand accountability for offenders. This means not every support service can be for all women. They need to be tailored to meet the specific needs of Indigenous women.

To view The Conversation article Indigenous women are most affected by domestic violence but have struggled to be heard. It’s time we listened in full click here.

protest placard or Aboriginal flag with words 'Enough Is Enough'

Image source: The Conversation.

Australian Mental Health Prize nominations open

As nominations open for the 2024 Australian Mental Health Prize, Professor Maree Toombs, a proud Euahlayi and Kooma woman, is urging the community to recognise the unsung heroes championing mental health support, especially within Indigenous communities. Professor Maree Toombs, last year’s winner of the Professional category, has been at the forefront of developing culturally appropriate strategies to address the disproportionate mental health challenges faced by First Nations people.

In a conversation with NITV Radio Professor Toombs explained how her work has been driven by listening to the needs of her communities. “Through yarning with mob, I learned that mental health, suicide, and chronic diseases were the crucial areas requiring research and action,” Professor Maree Toombs said. “This insight led to the creation of the ground-breaking I-ASIST program, the first Indigenous-led and designed suicide intervention training in Australia.” I-ASIST empowers communities with life-saving skills tailored to their unique experiences incorporating traditional lands and cultural connections. “Suicide intervention training gives people the tools to support their families, friends, or community members who may be struggling with thoughts of ending their own life,”

As nominations open for the 2024 Mental Health Prize, Professor Toombs encourages everyone, especially within First Nations communities, to put forward the names of those who have dedicated themselves to improving mental health outcomes. “Together, we can break down stigmas, raise awareness, and create a future where mental well-being is prioritized for all.”

To  listen to, or read the transcript of, the NITV Radio podcast episode Indigenous mental health champion Professor Maree Toombs calls for nominations in full click here.

Professor Maree Toombs on tile for NITV Radio podcast with title 'Indigenous mental health champion Professor Maree Toombs calls for nominations'

Professor Maree Toombs, a proud Euahlayi and Kooma woman, has revolutionised mental health and suicide prevention within Indigenous communities and exemplifies the transformative power of culturally attuned practices. Image source: SBS NITV Radio.

Record high imprisonment due to policy failure

This article contains information on deaths in custody and the names of deceased people, and describes ongoing colonial violence towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

First Nations people in Australia are the most imprisoned people in the world. This unenviable record is consolidating rather than receding. In 2023, First Nations people accounted for 33% of the prison population – an all-time high. This mass incarceration is highly disproportionate: Indigenous people make up only 3% of the country’s population, yet they are 17 times more likely than non-First Nations people to be imprisoned. We refer to this as “hyperincarceration”.

This situation is the culmination of centuries of racism, punitive policy and persistent failures to listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. But understanding the drivers of such high levels of incarceration is key to dismantling them. The “law and order” mantra that has swept Australia since the 1990s has steadily driven up imprisonment rates. This is sometimes referred to as First Nations people being set up to fail. In reality, it’s policy that’s failing. Challenges that ought to be dealt with through public health measures (the effects of trauma, mental illness and addiction) are instead criminalised. Coupled with systemic racism in criminal law processes, the state has created a perfect storm for increased First Nations imprisonment.

In 2017, the Australian Law Reform Commission forensically analysed racism at every stage of criminalisation. The data shows police are more likely to arrest and charge First Nations people, bail is more likely to be denied to First Nations people, all-white juries are more likely to convict First Nations people, and sentencing courts are more likely to imprison First Nations people.

To view The Conversation article First Nations imprisonment is already at a record high. Unless government policy changes, it will only get worse in full click here.

Protesters marked the 30th anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 2021

Protesters marked the 30th anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 2021. Photo: Richard Wainwright, AAP. Image source: The Conversation.

Bush camp on front line of efforts to reduce youth crime

New data shows youth crime rates are increasing for the first time in more than a decade, while recidivism rates have been steadily increasing year to year. The Yiriman diversionary program for kids in the Kimberley, run by the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre, aims is to get at-risk Indigenous kids away from the temptations of town, and immerse them in culture and good health and personal pride. But the Yiriman project is yet to secure funding to be sustainable and expand. The program is surviving on a modest WA government grant, and some money scrounged from Commonwealth mental health funding.

The camp targets those who have been arrested on minor charges, or those considered at risk of getting in trouble in the future. The reasons the kids are on the streets and involved in crime in northern towns are simultaneously complex and simple. But underpinning their behaviour is a context of what some community leaders fear is intensifying household dysfunction among a small portion of the population, fuelled by overcrowding, alcohol abuse and intergenerational trauma.

In one recent example, a Broome magistrate acquitted a 15-year-old girl of stealing charges after the court heard she was homeless and hungry when she stole a bottle of water. “It’s not the children who are the problem … these children are just responding to their environment,” Magistrate Deen Potter commented during the court hearing.

To view the ABC News article Emotions run high at bush camp on front line of efforts to reduce youth crime in northern Australia in full click here.

Aboriginal kids at the Yiriman camp using plastic bucket as makeshift basketball ring

A plastic bucket is repurposed as a makeshift basketball ring by kids at the Yiriman camp. Photo: Erin Parke, ABC News.

CDU to establish NT’s first locally-run medical school

The NT’s first locally-run medical school is set to open in the next few years, after receiving almost $25m in federal funding to get it off the ground. The $24.5m in funding will grant 40 Commonwealth-supported student places to the program, a collaboration between the NT’s only university, Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Menzies School of Health Research. The only medical training in the territory at the moment is a rural health-focused program run by SA’s Flinders University, in partnership with CDU.

Thevini Abeywardana is likely to be one of the first students to be enrolled in the new course. The current CDU biomedical science student has wanted to become a doctor since childhood, but until now hasn’t been able to study medicine without leaving the NT. She missed out on a spot in the Flinders-run NT program, and was offered a spot at a Tasmanian university but ultimately turned it down to stay close to family.

Dr Stephens said the school was confident of securing annual funding for 40 students a year, with a vision of growing to 120 students within the next five years — a figure she cited as necessary to fill the current gaps in the NT’s under-stress health system. “We are desperate for medical workforce [staff] across the board. It’s in the hospitals, it’s in the Aboriginal-controlled community sector, and it’s in general practice,” she said. “There is a medical workforce deficit across the country, and it is amplified and much worse in the NT.”

To view the ABC News article Charles Darwin University wins funding to establish the NT’s first locally-run medical school in full click here.

architect image of new building to house CDU medical school

The new building that will house Charles Darwin University’s medical school. Photo: Charles Darwin University. Image source: ABC News.

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

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

International Nurses Day – Sunday 12 May 2024

International Nurses Day (IND) in held each year in May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.

Despite being the backbone of health-care provision, nurses often face financial constraints and their role is frequently undervalued. This year’s IND theme Our Nurses. Out Future. The economic power of care. aims to reshape perceptions of nursing, demonstrating how strategic investment in nursing can bring considerable economic and societal benefits.

The day highlights the vital role of nurses play and showcases the efforts to create evidence-based knowledge on nursing and to influence national policies that will lead to the provision of high-quality, accessible, equitable, efficient and sensitive health services.

The Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM) is the peak advocacy body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives in Australia. CATSINaM’s purpose is to lead the nursing and midwifery workforce to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. You can find more information about CATSINaM on their website here.

You can also find more information abound International Nurses Day on the International Council of Nurses website here.

tile text 'International Nurses Day 12 May 2024' graphic images of gloves, mask, needle, stethoscope etc

Image source: Shutterstock.

Kidney Health Week – 11–17 May 2024

Kidney Health Week, also known as Kidney Action Week, aims to raise awareness about kidney disease in Australia.

Kidney disease has a big impact on Australians; 1.7 million Australians are affected by kidney disease and it is the 10th most common cause of death in Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over 50 people die from kidney related disease every day.

One in five First Nations Australians have signs of kidney disease. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience disproportionate levels of kidney disease, regardless of whether they live in urban, regional or rural areas. Compared with the general population, they are twice as likely to develop kidney disease and four times as likely to die from kidney disease. In remote and very remote areas of Australia, the incidence of kidney failure among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is especially high, with rates up to 20 times higher than those of comparable non-Indigenous peoples.

Kidney Health Australia (KHA) says raising awareness about kidney health is not enough. We need ACTION! KHA are calling all Australians to take kidney disease seriously by understanding their risk of getting this incurable disease. Waiting for symptoms to appear is too late – you can lose 90% of kidney function without experiencing any symptoms. Taking action is simple. It only takes 2 minutes. KHA are calling all Australians to do the 2 minute online kidney risk test here.

You can find more about kidney health on the Kidney Health Australia website here.

10 May 2024

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

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

Empowering Indigenous voices in perinatal care

Integrating traditional Indigenous knowledge in perinatal health is crucial for improving the wellbeing of Indigenous mothers and babies. As a part of Burnet Institute’s dedication to health equity, they have sponsored Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, who work in perinatal health in Australia to attend the 2024 Perinatal Society of Australia and NZ (PSANZ) Congress in Christchurch, NZ. The annual PSANZ Congress provides the opportunity for experts from across Australia and Aotearoa NZ to come together to share, learn and network.

Stacey Butcher, a proud Dhungutti/Gomeroi woman and midwifery lecturer at Charles Darwin University, said the scholarship allowed her to meet Indigenous peers from diverse backgrounds to share knowledge, skills, and expertise in a culturally supportive and safe environment. “Research shows First Nations women having First Nations midwives will have better outcomes,” she said.

Ms Butcher said it was important to address the social determinants of health and the systemic barriers that Indigenous women faced in accessing healthcare. “If we have safer spaces, we’re going to have healthier mums and healthier babies. Those are the kind of relationships that a midwife and a woman can develop,” she said.

To view the Burnet Institute (Australia) article Empowering Indigenous voices in perinatal care in full click here.

7 women - recipients of the Burnet Australian ATSI Scholarship

Recipients of the Burnet Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarship. Image source: Burnet Institute (Australia) website.

Free activities to support the quality use of medicines

The Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) Health Professional Education (HPE) stream funds health professional education grant activities under the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology. The HPE stream supports free educational activities for health professionals (including specialists; GPs; pharmacists; nurses; aged care and disability workers; AHWs and AHPs) to support the quality use of medicines.

These activities support evidence-based initiatives and education programs, so health professionals can:

  • be confident when diagnosing and managing chronic and complex conditions
  • access current tools and resources to aid patient management
  • improve the transition of care through appropriate referrals, and team care arrangements
  • provide consumer-focused care that allows for shared decision-making and self-management
  • improve health outcomes and support appropriate use of medicines

The grant opportunity aims to:

  • implement a coordinated, system-wide approach for the appropriate use of therapeutics, diagnostics and pathology
  • provide evidence-based academic detailing and professional development behaviour change initiatives that support quality use of medicines
  • reduce medicine-related hospital admissions and low-value care
  • promote coordination and collaboration across the health sector.

NACCHO’s quality use of medicines projects include Good Medicine Better Health – a series of professional development modules and consumer resources to improve the use of medicines and medical tests and the NACCHO Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Academy which transfers skills from the Australian AMS community to health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

When available, grant opportunities are published on GrantConnect here.

You can find more information about the HPE stream on the DoHAC website here.

tablets, blister packs & medicine bottles

Image source: AMA website.

New portal with HTLV-1 resources

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is an ancient human retrovirus which affects T lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. While current evidence suggests most people with HTLV-1 will remain well, in a small number of people HTLV-1 can cause serious illness.

NACCHO have funded a new portal which contains a curated and culturally appropriate collection of HTLV-1 resources, aimed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. HTLV-1 is an emerging health issue in Central Australia and the Kimberley region. Aboriginal communities in central and northern Australia have some of the highest rates of HTLV-1 in the world.

The portal is for health professionals and people with HTLV-1 and those in their community that support them. Ultimately, the aim of the portal is to support the reduction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with HTLV-1 by increasing the understanding and knowledge of this important health condition.

You can access the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet HTLV-1 portal here.

tile Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet banner & artwork from HTLV-1 portal page & text 'New online resource to combat high rates of HTLV-1 in Central Australia'

Advocacy for traditional and complementary medicines

Alana is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Southern Cross University (SCU), where she leads a program of research dedicated to Australian First Nations Traditional Medicines. Being an Aboriginal woman herself, a Truwulway woman from the NE coast of Lutruwita (Tasmania), she has spent over a decade devoted to doing public health research to close the health gap for First Nations peoples. Alana has significant influence in public health nationally and internationally. She is also renowned for her research and policy work on Indigenous Traditional Medicines both nationally and internationally.

In order to harness First Nations peoples’ knowledges, we first need to ensure that those knowledges are protected and respected. For this reason, Alana is part of the Civil Society Coalition delegation and the Indigenous Caucus at the upcoming World Intellectual Property Organization Diplomatic Conference, where the first International Legal Instrument for Intellectual Property associated with genetic resources and traditional knowledge will be finalised. The essential knowledge Alana gains here, will feed directly into the development of Australia’s first best-practice model for research and development with Australian native plants.

This Australian-first model will be co-developed with First Nations communities, Australia’s leading First Nations scientists, key First Nations national health bodies, government, regulatory agencies and multiple different types of research and development groups. This ensures that First Nations communities are positioned at the very core of the work Alana does, ensuring they benefit from their knowledge, and puts an end to biopiracy and misappropriation.  Alana’s work will revolutionise how research and development are conducted in Australia, which will see all Australian’s benefitting from the rich and deep knowledges of Australia’s First Nations peoples – the oldest continuing culture on earth. 

You can access more information about Dr Alana Gall and her work on the Southern Cross University National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine webpage here.

collage: Southern Cross University National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine logo, portrait shot of Dr Alana Gall & hands holding a root

Images: Southern Cross University website.

WA calls for federal funding for remote housing

WA Premier Roger Cook has told the Albanese government it must start funding remote Aboriginal communities beyond the NT. Five years after the then ­Coalition federal government told the states to pay for their own remote Aboriginal housing, the WA Labor government says Canberra must enter “a genuine partnership” to deal with the enormous demand for housing, safe water and functional sewerage systems in its more than 150 remote Aboriginal communities.

WA has a $350m remote communities account, established in 2022, that has begun to replace faulty wastewater treatment systems, upgrade power and repair existing housing in remote communities. The federal budget will include $4bn for remote NT housing but Anthony Albanese has no intention of matching the deal for WA or Queensland, the states where the most Indi­genous people live in remote ­communities.

It is well known that overcrowding and associated health problems are rife in many of WA’s remote Aboriginal communities. In some cases, there are enough dwellings but a significant portion of them are abandoned because they are falling down, the plumbing or electricity does not work or all three. Half of all houses in the central western desert communities on the edge of WA’s iron ore region have been officially condemned as not commercially viable to repair. In the Pilbara, elders who led the homelands movement in the 1980s say many of their people want to get away from alcohol in towns such as Port Hedland. Others want to raise their children away from alcohol but they are trapped on very lengthy waiting lists for a house in one of the ­region’s remote communities.

The above has been extracted from the article WA budget: Call to ante up on remote housing published in The Australian earlier today (10 May 2024).

Bidyadanga Aboriginal community, WA

The Bidyadanga Aboriginal community in WA. Photo: Colin Murty. Image source: The Australian.

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.

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month

While May is Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Awareness Month, Cystic Fibrosis Australia, says its commitment extends far beyond a single month, saying “Every day, we dedicate ourselves to raising awareness and addressing the needs of our community.”

“While significant progress has been made, especially with the introduction of new modulators and treatments in recent years, it’s essential to recognise that not everyone in our community has access to, is eligible for, or responds well to these advancements. Our mission is clear: our job is not done until every individual with CF has access to the care and treatment tailored to their unique needs. While our ultimate goal is to find a cure, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that ALL individuals in our community have access to the treatment and care necessary to live full, valuable lives without the burden of disease.”

CF Australia encourages everyone to join their ongoing efforts to advocate for equitable access to care, treatment, and support for every member of our CF community, “Together, let’s continue to raise awareness, drive progress, and work towards a future where CF no longer dictates the lives of those affected by it.”

You can find more information about CF and CF Awareness Month on the CF Australia website here.

tile with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Aust logo & text CF Awareness Month, red carnation & dark pink ribbon on light pink background

Image source: Cystic Fibrosis Australia website.

9 May 2024

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

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

New initiative to boost Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Leadership

NACCHO is excited to announce the launch of the 2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Leadership Grant, a significant initiative supported by Pfizer Australia. This grant aims to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacists and 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.

In light of the pressing need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in the pharmacy profession, this opportunity is just one small step towards addressing the disparity. With only 85 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacists out of a total of 27,000 in Australia, representing only 0.3% of the pharmacist workforce, initiatives like these are essential for creating pathways to leadership within the profession.

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

Applications close June 12, 2024.

To apply, or for more information go here.

Social and Emotional Wellbeing Policy Partnership

The Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Policy Partnership held its fourth meeting on 14 March 2024, on Gadigal Country in Sydney. It was Co-Chaired by Professor Pat Dudgeon (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Co-Chair), and Dr Liz Develin, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health and Aged Care (Government Co-Chair).

Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander member updates included examples of work in partnership and shared decision making on investment in community-controlled organisations. Members discussed supporting the SEWB workforce in the context of continuing distress associated with the Referendum on the Voice, as well local initiatives such as the Yoorrok Justice Commission and Truth Telling hearings.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members highlighted the need for appropriate investment in policy and programs to improve SEWB, such as ensuring funding for cultural and clinical supervision. Resourcing and implementation challenges were also discussed in the context of lapsing grant funding and how this could be better managed through early notification of extension and /or expansion. There was a call for government officials in health and mental health roles to more effectively engage across other policy areas to promote understanding of SEWB and health impacts of proposed laws or policies, particularly those relating to law and order. Members also discussed the importance of following through on commitments made in strategic documents, including reporting on progress for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander commitments, initiatives, and engagement mechanisms.

To read the full summary, go here.

Graphic recording by Tatumkenna.com.

Ngaanyatjarra health symposium shares vision for improved child health outcomes

The Ngaanyatjarra Health Service presented the Ngaanyatjarra Aboriginal Child Health Symposium in Fremantle last month. The symposium was attended by almost 100 delegates and included presentations from child health researcher Professor Fiona Stanley and Dr David Scrimgeour, along with talks from Ngaanyatjarra women.

About 350 Aboriginal children aged up to nine-years-old live on the Ngaanyatjarra Lands and are regular clients of Ngaanyatjarra Health Service. Ngaanyatjarra Council Group said despite Australia’s position as one of the wealthiest countries in the world, Ngaanyatjarra children had a health status and social circumstances comparable to low-income countries.

“The underlying factors for this disparity are complex, interrelated and intergenerational, creating a seemingly inescapable cycle,” the group said.

It said the child health study found that “the best child health outcomes are a product of strong families, adequate housing and reduced overcrowding within households”.

During the symposium, Thomas Williams, Ngaanyatjarra Council Group chief executive encouraged delegates to contribute to positive change for children on the Lands.

“This child health study has much to make you despondent, but there are also glimmers of hope,” he said.

“I encourage you to be part of the catalyst for delivering genuine change for our people on the Lands.

“In the work that each of you is doing, consider the children on the Ngaanyatjarra Land and whether anything you’re doing can help them.”

Read the full article here.

Ngaanyatjarra Council Group members and board members. Image source: The West Australian.

Remote communities urged to have their say on new government jobs program

The federal government has announced the next phase of the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program (RJED) by launching community and organisation consultations to help with the design of a program to replace the old CDP. Initially announced in February, the $707 million program will start later in the year and has been pushed by the government with the aim of creating 3,000 jobs in remote Australia over the next three years. The proposed program will see local and community organisations employing people across all ‘CDP regions’ in Australia and is designed to help build the remote workforce and reduce the reliance on the fly-in-fly-out workers.

The government has said the RJED will offer competitive wages, superannuation, and sick leave, all of which were not available under the previous CDP model. The consultations for the program will see communities across the country share ideas on how it should work, with face-to face sessions to be held in remote areas, and survey and succession appears available online. The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) said the consultations will allow them to work with communities to create jobs that help deliver services a particular community needs, as well as supporting people in those jobs and allowing program flexibility to “make the most of local opportunities”.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said partnering with First Nations people and remote communities was critical to successfully creating real jobs in remote Australia.

“We want to hear from locals about how these jobs can make the biggest difference on the ground in remote communities,” Ms Burney said.

“I encourage all to get involved via a face-to-face meeting in your area or online and am looking forward to this vital feedback on how to design the best possible remote jobs program for the future.”

A full list of consultation times and dates can be found here.

Read the full National Indigenous Times article here.

Linda Burney and Malarndirri McCarthy say the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program will be of benefit to Indigenous peoples. (Image: AAP).

Strong Families Study

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare, research and management professionals from rural, regional and metropolitan QLD met in Brisbane last week to co-design a study with Mater Research aimed at improving health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. More than 400 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from across the state have been collaborating with Mater Researchers over the past two years to identify key healthcare needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families during pregnancy and in the first few years of their baby’s life as part of the preliminary work for the Strong Families Study.

Conducted in partnership with a number of Aboriginal community-controlled services, preliminary research has revealed access to child health, mental health and social and emotional wellbeing services are key priorities for growing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

Project lead, Associate Professor Kym Rae, said First Nations people living in communities around the state had participated in the research, and the findings would inform the co-design of a longitudinal project with First Nations families called the Strong Families Study.

“In the past year, our research team has travelled across Queensland and undertaken yarning sessions with communities to identify the most important issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and young families in these communities during the perinatal period, which spans from conception until the first year of a baby’s life,” A/Prof Rae said.

“We have had strong collaborations with Aboriginal and Islander health services across the state and a key consistent finding is the need for parents to have greater access to social and emotional wellbeing services, and for better access to specialist care that can identify children at risk of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, like cerebral palsy. Living in rural and remote parts of the state can make access to services challenging.

“Some families reported having to waiting up to a year for a diagnosis, and that really delays the start of important intervention measures and treatment that ensure best outcomes for children.”

Read the full article here.  

Indigenous Steering Committee. Image Source: Mater Research.

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.

Lung Health Awareness Month

Almost one in three Australians has a lung disease and although it is responsible for one in seven deaths, people are complacent or unaware of the signs and symptoms, leading to delayed diagnosis and high mortality rates.

We lose 45 Australians to lung disease and lung cancer every day. Anyone can be affected, no matter your age or background.

Past and present First Nations people have experienced generational, institutional, and systemic racism and injustice. These centuries old inequalities are rooted in discrimination and bias and are central to the social and health determinants that do great harm to First Nations people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are significantly overrepresented in lung disease and lung cancer deaths.

May marks Lung Health Awareness Month and Lung Foundation Australia is urging all Australians to know the symptoms of lung disease, plan a doctor’s visit and act today.

Breathlessness. A cough lasting more than 3 weeks. Fatigue.

These are just some of the signs many of us ignore or put down to aging and lack of fitness.

Don’t miss the signs that something isn’t right.

Taking action could save your life.

Complete the 2 minute Lung Health Checklist here.

Visit the Lung Foundation Australia website here for more information about how you can check in with your lung health.

Image source: Science Photo Library/Getty Images & Lung Foundation Australia website.

8 May 2024

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

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

Vital centre for Aboriginal health ‘falling apart’

It is an area servicing one of the fastest-growing Indigenous populations in the country. But in Dandenong, in Melbourne’s south-east, a vital centre for Aboriginal health is falling apart. “The facility is just crumbling,” said Jenny Ockwell, a Wurundjeri public health expert who runs the Dandenong and District Aborigines Co-Operative. The co-op is one of the oldest Aboriginal-run health services in Australia and is beloved by elders and families who meet at the centre for community connection. But despite pleas to state and federal agencies for capital funds, its buildings are in a state of disrepair. The roof is leaking, walls are cracking and the front door has been deemed too dangerous to use.

Aboriginal leaders in Victoria said they were urgently trying to get the state and federal governments to listen and to fund an acquisition of new land and a full rebuild. Jill Gallagher, the CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, said the community was missing out on vital health programs. “No-one — state or commonwealth governments — take responsibility for Aboriginal infrastructure,” she said. “That’s the problem … and they’re suffering.” Ms Ockwell said the organisation had received no new capital funds in almost 35 years.

The federal MP for Bruce, Julian Hill, told ABC News: “The current facility is without doubt the worst in Victoria.” “The building is falling apart and should have been condemned and torn down years ago,” he said. “State and commonwealth agencies point at each other. It falls between the cracks of multiple departments, and existing programs generally won’t fund land acquisition … breaking the deadlock will require political will.” Mr Hill said he was working to convene an urgent meeting between state and federal ministers “to try to find a way forward”.

To view the ABC News article Beloved Dandenong and District Aborigines Co-Operative ‘falling apart’ in full click here.

DDAC Aboriginal health expert Jenny Ockwell

Aboriginal health expert Jenny Ockwell says staff are operating in very difficult conditions. Photo: Bridget Brennan. ABC News.

Yarning tool empowers shared decision-making

The Heart Health Yarning Tool, developed through a collaborative effort between community members and researchers from the University of Sydney Healthy Literacy Lab, hopes to transform the way health professionals engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The tool has been crafted through a series of yarning sessions led by Judith Parnham, Deputy Chairperson and Queensland Representative of the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP).

Tailored to facilitate culturally safe and meaningful conversations surrounding cardiovascular risk assessment, the tool is aligned with the latest Australian guidelines. Associate Professor Carissa Bonner, spearheading the project from the University of Sydney, together with Dr Rosemary Wyber from the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research at Australian National University, championed the tool’s development. “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners are adept at delivering culturally sensitive care,” Bonner said. “Our aim is to empower other healthcare professionals to emulate this approach, fostering shared decision-making processes concerning heart health.”

“We are really excited about applying best practice to shared decision-making for mob to talk about heart health. We know that holistic, culturally safe care is critical to reducing cardiovascular risk. This tool supports clinicians to do that really well,” said David Follent, Senior Atlantic Fellow, Chairperson of NAATSIHWP and Senior Project Officer, who co-led a team at the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation that established the new shared decision-making approaches with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people during the COVID-19 response.

To view the Hospital and Healthcare article Yarning tool empowers shared decision-making in full click here.

Funding boost for Indigenous kid’s dental health

A project at The University of WA (UWA) that aims to improve the dental health of Indigenous children has been awarded almost $1.5m Federal Government funding. Dr Peter Arrow, from UWA’s Dental School, will lead the research funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Partnership Project scheme with partner funding support from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation and the WA Health Department.

The project will use silver fluoride to manage and prevent childhood dental decay among Aboriginal children in remote communities. “Access to dental treatment by those living in remote communities is limited to times when an oral health professional team visits the community, or they need to travel long distances for care,” Dr Arrow said. “We aim to improve access to care by testing the feasibility of using the skills of an Aboriginal Health Worker to apply silver fluoride who will be supported through the use of tele-dentistry to assess dental decay.”

Indigenous children in remote communities will have silver fluoride, a bactericidal and remineralising solution, applied to decay-affected teeth and tooth surfaces at risk of decay, to stop the decay and prevent new decay forming. “It is important that these children have access to treatment in their communities as well as ongoing care,” Dr Arrow said. “We hope the combination of an Aboriginal health worker and tele-dentistry will improve the dental health of the recipients not only in childhood but also well into adulthood.”

To read the University of Western Australia’s article All smiles: Funding boost for Indigenous children’s dental health in full click here.

young Aboriginal child with head torch, gloves & dental mirror

Photo: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health. Image source: NHMRC website.

SNAICC welcomes new national early education strategy

SNAICC – National Voice for our Children has welcomed the federal government’s release yesterday (7 May 2024) of the first Early Years Strategy (EYS). The peak body for Indigenous children said the strategy reflected the government’s “commitment to ensuring universal access to quality early childhood education and care”. SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle said the strategy recognised the importance of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in delivering services that ensure thriving children, families and communities.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and organisations now look forward to seeing fully resourced action to realise the vison of the EYS,” Ms Liddle said. “It is positive to see the EYS acknowledge the need for further changes to make early childhood education and care (ECEC) services more accessible and affordable. “The EYS aligns with and supports important policies and commitments such as the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Years Strategy, sector strengthening plans, and other projects.”

Ms Liddle noted that SNAICC and the Aboriginal community-controlled sector have done an “enormous” amount of work over the years, informed by community, about what needs to be done and what makes the difference in setting up children and families to thrive in the early years. “We look forward to seeing the action and commitments that will deliver on the promise of these policies and break down the barriers that face Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in accessing quality ECEC and support services,” she said. The SNAICC head said the Strategy’s goal for all families to have access to high-quality, affordable and integrated services for maternal and child health, parenting support and early learning is “precisely the ACCO model SNAICC has been advocating for many years”. “Closing the gap starts with our children,” she said.

You can access a full version of the Early Years Strategy and the evidence on which it is based here.

To view the National Indigenous Times article SNAICC – National Voice for our Children welcomes new national strategy on early education in full click here.

cover on Australian Government Early Years Strategy 2024-2034 - 5 circles with different images of young children with parents/carers/siblings

Image source: Australian Government Department of Social Services website.

Better healthcare promised for Victoria mob

Today (May 2024) the Premier of Victoria, the Hon Jacinta Allan MP released a statement saying her government is investing record funding into Victoria’s public health system, making sure Victorian families can continue getting the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Premier Allan said the Victorian Budget 2024/25 will see a massive $13b boost to support the delivery of world class healthcare, better facilities and the latest equipment for all Victorians.

Premier Allan said $28.8 million was being invested into statewide Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services, including funding for Universal MCH services available to all Victorian families, enhanced MCH for families facing challenges like disability, mental health, family violence or housing instability – and dedicated Aboriginal services, giving parents the choice to access MCH care at their local ACCHO. An additional $7.5m was being invested to help improve cancer outcomes through our Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance, including better responding to the complex cancer care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and culturally diverse people.

Premier Allan said “we know that when we listen to Aboriginal Victorians, we get better health outcomes – we’ll continue our work to close the health gap with $4m for the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service to provide better access to specialist paediatric medical and allied health services for Aboriginal children. We’ll also invest $10.8m to continue delivering the Victorian Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Agreement – with a Culture and Kinship program in ACCHOs across Victoria and a boost to cultural safety in public hospitals, so Aboriginal Victorians feel safe to seek the care they need. We’ll also strengthen our suicide prevention programs while supporting groups disproportionately impacted by suicide, with $3.8m to continue LGBTIQA+ aftercare support and Youth Life4Life programs, as well as Strong Brother Strong Sister and Yarning Safe N Strong for Aboriginal Victorians, and the Peer CARE Companion Warmline.”

To view the Premier of Victoria the Hon Jacinta Allan MP’s statement Helping Families With Great Healthcare, Close To Home in full click here.

external view of VAHS Fitzroy Office

VAHS Fitzroy Office. Photo: The Citizen. Image source: VAHS 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.

World Ovarian Cancer Day

World Ovarian Cancer Day is observed on 8 May each year. It is the one day of the year dedicated to raising awareness about ovarian cancer, its symptoms, risk factors, and the importance of early detection and treatment.

The ovaries are part of a woman’s reproductive system, and they produce eggs and hormones. There are two ovaries, one on either side of the womb (uterus) . They are connected to the womb by tubes called the fallopian tubes. Ovarian cancer is when abnormal cells in the ovary, fallopian tubes or peritoneum grow in an abnormal way. Ovarian cancer can develop at any age, although it is more common in older women who have been through menopause (the time when a woman stops getting her period), than in younger women. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women ovarian cancer is considered as Women’s Business.

We can recognise World Ovarian Cancer Day by understanding various factors that might increase a person’s risk of ovarian cancer, including:

  • getting older
  • never having children
  • having a family history of ovarian, breast or colon cancer
  • inheriting a gene fault, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, from either parent
  • some medical conditions such as endometriosis
  • use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
  • being overweight
  • tobacco smoking

You can find more information on about ovarian cancer on the Our Mob and Cancer website here.

logo & text 'World Ovarian Cancer Day' & paper 3D version of uterus

Image credits: istockphoto.com/Menshalena – NDTV website & Awareness Days Ltd website.

Free, specialised governance workshops for ACCHOs will be delivered in multiple locations across the country during 2024 and 2025. 

Registrations are open now for Perth: 16-17 April 2024. 

The program is delivered by legal experts and covers:  

  • Delegation of powers 
  • Finance for Boards
  • Governance documents
  • Managing conflicts of interest 
  • Managing risk  
  • Principles of good governance  
  • Structure and role of boards and sub-committees 

To register, go here.

For more information, please contact NACCHO using this email link.

7 May 2024

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

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

VACCHO launches men’s possum skin cloak, embracing the power of Aboriginal culture in cancer care

VACCHO is proud to launch a special Men’s possum skin cloak in a groundbreaking initiative aimed at supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer patients on their healing journey. Developed in collaboration with the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCullum Cancer Centre, this initiative demonstrates the profound benefits of embedding Aboriginal knowledge, empowerment, and innovation into modern medical environments.  Possum skin cloaks hold deep cultural significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria, serving as a symbol of the rich and powerful connection Communities have to Country, Culture, families, and ancestors.  

Featuring artwork created by four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in various stages of their cancer journey, the art is testament to their resilience and wisdom. Each piece of artwork on the cloak showcases personal stories, knowledge, and Aboriginal culture. The eagle placed in the centre of the cloak symbolises the nurturing and supportive environment surrounding patients in all stages of their cancer journey.  To promote cultural connection and holistic healing, the Men’s cloak will sit alongside the Women’s cloak at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. The cloak will be available to all Aboriginal men to wear or place over their beds while receiving treatment at Peter MacCullum Cancer Centre and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.  

VACCHO Acting CEO Jim O’Shea says the launch of the men’s possum skin cloak demonstrates the transformative impact of championing Aboriginal culture in healthcare.  

“Possum skin cloaks have been integral to storytelling and have also protected and helped Aboriginal Communities heal for tens of thousands of years. The launch of the Men’s cloak is a celebration of the healing power of 65,000 years of Aboriginal culture and Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing.” 

“This initiative has been guided by some of the key strategic objectives outlined in the Victorian Aboriginal Cancer Journey Strategy 2023-2028, which prioritises enhancing self-determination, and fostering deeper cultural connections.” 

“Today’s launch marks the beginning of an exciting journey. Our vision is for a possum skin cloak to be available to assist with healing for all Aboriginal patients in all major health services across Victoria.” 

“We are immensely proud of the Men’s possum skin cloak, and the generosity shown by the artists in sharing their stories, wisdom, and culture in bringing this exciting initiative to life. Through strong partnerships, commitment and action, this initiative showcases the power of Aboriginal culture in enhancing health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.” 

For more information visit the VACCHO website here.

Image source: VACCHO.

Preventive Health Conference 2024: CAAC CEO Donna Ah Chee on why public health matters

Donna Ah Chee, CEO of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress says domestic violence assaults and hospitalisations in Central Australia following the lapse of Stronger Futures demonstrated what a missed opportunity the Voice referendum was. Ms Ah Chee delivered the keynote at the Preventive Health Conference 2024 in Darwin. She said it was the implementation of effective public health strategies in the NT that had secured the greatest victories for Central Australia’s Aboriginal people.

“We can rule out role of the social determinants of access to the health system: education, housing, income and economy, they have not improved,” she said.

“There is increasing poverty and inequality in remote areas.

“Housing overcrowding has gone backwards in town and improved slightly in remote communities.”

Ms Ah Chee concluded it was therefore investment in the public health system that had secured gains for Aboriginal people, such as a reduction in infant mortality for Aboriginal Territorians from 90.4 per 1000 births to 12.8, and fewer years of life lost prematurely. She said there were three epoch defining achievements: better primary health care after the national development of Aboriginal community controlled health organisations in the 1970s and 80s; the election of the Territory first Labor government in 2001 and the huge injection of health funding that followed; and the introduction of alcohol restrictions and non-sniffable Opal fuel.

“The Voice would have improved health for our communities, would have made Australia a fairer and more inclusive nation,” she said.

“Defeat makes the voice of self-determining Aboriginal bodies [such as Congress] more important, not less important.

“More than ever, we need to keep speaking out on behalf of our communities.”

To read the full article, go here.

Central Australian Aboriginal Congress CEO Donna Ah Chee speaking at the Preventive Health Conference 2024 in Darwin, May 2, 2024. Image source: The Chronicle.

Culturally safe midwives to birth First Nations babies at Shoalhaven Hospital

Each time Emma Ardler has given birth in hospital it has been with a midwife she has never met before. This is despite having a trusted midwife she spent months forging a connection with.

“I have gone through two pregnancies where I have had to retell my story again and again,” Ms Ardler said.

“I felt scared, isolated, left in the dark.”

The soon-to-be mother-of-three chooses privately employed midwives from local Aboriginal women’s health organisation Waminda to support her culturally as a First Nations woman. Up until this week, Ms Ardler’s privately employed midwives have been restricted and only able to provide pre and post-natal care due to being employed outside the hospital. Now, weeks away from giving birth to her third child, the Wreck Bay woman from Yuin Country on NSW’s South Coast will become one of the first in the country to have her culturally safe midwife birth her baby in Shoalhaven Hospital.

“It means bridging gaps, it means being supported, it means having my spiritual needs met,” Ms Ardler said.

Waminda’s endorsed midwives are expected to help deliver about 90 First Nations babies this year through the program at Shoalhaven Hospital. Waminda executive and Jerrinja Cullunghutti Wandandian woman Hayley Longbottom said it would allow First Nations women to reclaim their birthing rights.

“This is why we do what we do. Nothing is more important than our women birthing in a safe, self-determined space,” Ms Longbottom said.

“This is the resistance and this is the fight.”

Read the full ABC News article here.

Emma Ardler says Waminda’s Birthing on Country gives her a feeling of safety and pride. Inage source: Waminda.

AMA calls out sick system on chronic conditions

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is urging action on the prevention and management of chronic conditions in Australia. The AMA has called for a coordinated policy approach and cross jurisdiction funding for chronic disease, in its response to the Department of Health and Aged Care’s consultation on a new National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions.

“Chronic illnesses are the leading cause of illness, disability, and death in Australia; with almost half of all Australians living with at least one chronic disease, and one in five living with two or more chronic conditions,” AMA President Professor Steve Robson said.

“Long-term commitment and sustainable funding models are urgently needed, with a focus on real solutions that improve quality of life for those who are suffering,” Professor Robson said.Chronic conditions include arthritis, asthma, back pain, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, mental health conditions and osteoporosis. Along with treating disease and risk factors, the AMA highlighted the impact of underlying social determinants of health in contributing to chronic disease. The AMA highlights that rates of chronic conditions and overall poorer health outcomes are far higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples, those experiencing socio-economic disadvantage, people in rural and remote areas and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

“All Australians deserve access to their usual doctor to prevent chronic disease and treat early signs,” Professor Robson said.

“We know the fixes for a sick system with chronic problems ― we just need to make the investment.

“Our health is not a cost to be managed, but an investment to be made. The lack of investment in prevention of chronic disease has resulted in a healthcare system that responds to poor health outcomes rather than actively preventing them.”

Read the full AMA media release here.

Addressing rising STI cases in Indigenous young people

University of Queensland researchers have worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to make a series of videos to address stigma and misinformation about sexually transmitted diseases. Professor James Ward, a Pitjantjatjara and Nukunu man and Director of UQ’s Poche Centre for Indigenous Health said Indigenous young people experience significantly higher rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses (BBVs) compared to non-Indigenous young people.

“Over the past 10 years STI and BBV cases have risen substantially in Indigenous communities in Australia, but testing rates have decreased,’” Professor Ward said.

“Between 2020 and 2022 Indigenous people aged between 15 and 24 had the highest notification rates for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

“Our aim is to raise awareness so people can make informed choices about their sexual health.”

Professor Ward leads the UQ initiative Young Deadly Free (YDF), working to increase rates of STI and BBV testing and treatment for Indigenous young people.

“We partnered with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to create the YDF videos addressing themes of gender, sexuality, young men getting tested, pornography, stigma, shame and consent – and reinforcing that STIs can affect everyone,” he said.

To learn more, visit the University of Queensland 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.

Macula Month

May is Macula Month is an annual awareness campaign to help Australians understand their risk of macular diseases. When a person understands their risk, and knows what to do, they can take early action that could save their sight.

The macula is a part of the eye located in the retina. It’s a small part of the eye (it only has a total diameter of 5.5mm), but its importance in the grand scheme of things should not be underestimated. The macula plays a crucial role in seeing colours, things, and people in front of you clearly. With a healthy macula, you can read words clearly and recognise faces even at a distance. But like other parts of the body, the macula can degenerate over time or be damaged.

Macula disease is a common vision disorder among older adults (50 years old and older). As we age, many parts of our bodies naturally degenerate, and our eyes are not exempt. In fact, the degeneration of the retina’s macula is one of the top causes of eyesight loss in many older adults. However, while some degeneration is normal and macular disease is common, macular disease is not a normal ageing process. You are not guaranteed to get it, unlike how everyone needs reading glasses and how everyone gets cataracts. Genes can play a large part in the degeneration and damage of the macula. If a family member has lost his or her sight due to macular degeneration, a person is at higher risk of developing this condition, too. A person’s lifestyle is also a factor. People who smoke, are obese or diabetic, have a diet high in fat, and have hypertension are more likely to have macular degeneration. Women are also more likely to be affected than men.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience much higher rates of diabetic macular oedema than non-Aboriginal people. Diabetes-related vision loss is estimated to be about five times higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared with other Australians.

You can find more information about macula diseases, the causes and symptoms on the Macular Disease Foundation Australia website here.

Image source: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander older people webpage.

Miracle Month of May

Miracle Month of May is a time to highlight the work of Miracle Babies Foundation in supporting premature and sick newborns, their families and the hospitals who care for them. It is also a time to share the stories of Australia’s littlest miracles.

Birthweight is the first weight of the baby obtained after birth. Babies with birthweights outside the healthy range are at greater risk of illness, poor development, perinatal death, and poorer health in adulthood. Babies with a low birthweight are more likely to experience illness or die in infancy, have poorer development of their mental functioning abilities, and have an increased risk of chronic diseases in adulthood.

According to a 2022 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report, factors related to the mother that contribute to low birthweight for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies are maternal smoking, the mother being underweight pre-pregnancy, and the mother not having access to antenatal care in the first trimester. Additional factors associated with low birthweight are maternal health conditions such as pre-existing and gestational hypertension and pre-existing diabetes. The National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the National Agreement) includes a target to increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies with a healthy birthweight to 91% by 203.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies are more likely to have a healthy birthweight when they are born to mothers who have access to culturally safe antenatal care – early and regularly throughout their pregnancy – intrapartum care and postnatal care.

In 2020, 12% of liveborn babies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers were of low birthweight, 87% had a healthy birthweight and 1.4% were of high birthweight (compared with 6.2%, 93% and 1.2%, respectively, of babies of non-Indigenous mothers). Over time, the proportion of babies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers by birthweight group has remained largely unchanged.

You can read more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and babies on the AIHW website here, find more information about Miracle Month of May on the Mircale Babies Foundation website here.

Image source: Miracle Babies Foundation website.