NACCHO Aboriginal Health @AIDAAustralia News : The @AMAPresident Dr Tony Bartone speech opening #AIDAConf2019 : We must use collective wisdom and advocacy to ensure that #ClosingtheGap is not just words, but a meaningful and deliverable target. #HaveYourSayCTG

“ The basic principles of successful Indigenous healthcare models should be better promoted as exemplars and replicated across the country.

This will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to translate their knowledge into innovative practices that will help solve intractable health problems in their communities.

Governments at all levels must ensure that policy frameworks move towards harmonisation with norms recognising the autonomy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Governments must ensure that these frameworks are bolstered with adequate funding and workforce strategies to enable Indigenous communities to succeed in their pursuit of the right to health and wellbeing.

With the right support, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people stand to address health inequities by transforming services under their purview, as well as health services provided to Indigenous people by the mainstream.

As President of the AMA, I will continue to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is a key priority.”

President of the AMA Dr Tony Bartone opening speech

Photo above : Opening of #AIDAConf2019 a Welcome to Country from Larrakia Dr Jessica King. MC Jeff McMullen, keynotes AIDA President Dr Kris Rallah-Baker, NLC CEO Marion Scrymgour, Danila Dilba ACCHO Olga Havnen, Dr Tony Bartone

I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we meet today, and I pay my respects to their elders, past and present.

Thank you to the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) for inviting me to speak at your annual conference. This is my third year attending, and I feel very privileged to be here.

The theme for this year’s Conference is ‘Disruptive Innovations in Health Care’.

As a General Practitioner who has been practising medicine for over 30 years, I well and truly understand that innovative health care is needed to achieve improved outcomes for patients.

Indeed, innovation will be crucial as we deal with a health system that is so under strain.

This is especially true for Indigenous health, given the much higher burden of disease and mortality rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and the need for care to be delivered in a manner that is culturally safe.

We all know that Indigenous health statistics paint a bleak picture.

And we all know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have poorer health than other Australians.

Medical science is constantly evolving and we have, only in recent times, recognised the innovations and practices of Indigenous people here and overseas.

There are some parallels and similarities in the way Australia and Canada – both former British colonies – are trying to improve health care for First Nations peoples.

In both countries, we are trying to address a legacy of harm from the imposition of policies that resulted in poor health today.

Sadly, investments in Indigenous health are often inadequate, and they are implemented without proper engagement with, and direction by, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We all know that this approach does not work.

However, I know that there are many innovative health services that are delivering high quality health care for their communities, driven by local leadership.

There are models of health care that are delivering proved health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and these should be supported in terms of funding and workforce.

I was fortunate to visit one such model last year and see first-hand just one example of quality health services and witness the important work that they do.

There are others all underpinned by community oversight and direction. This sense of community leadership is a key feature.

I am sure you will hear of many more positive and innovative healthcare models throughout this Conference.

The problem with such models is that they are not being sufficiently resourced and funded to continue and further their development.

The basic principles of successful Indigenous healthcare models should be better promoted as exemplars and replicated across the country.

This will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to translate their knowledge into innovative practices that will help solve intractable health problems in their communities.

Governments at all levels must ensure that policy frameworks move towards harmonisation with norms recognising the autonomy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

As President of the AMA, I will continue to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is a key priority.

I am very proud to lead an organisation that champions Aboriginal and Torres Strait health care.

This is demonstrated through:

the AMA’s Taskforce on Indigenous Health, which I am honoured to Chair;
having AIDA represented on the AMA’s Federal Council;
producing an annual Report Card on Indigenous Health;
supporting more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to become doctors through our Indigenous Medical Scholarship initiative;
participation in the Close the Gap Steering Committee; and
participation in the END Rheumatic Heart Disease Coalition, among many other things.

See all NACCHO and AMA Articles HERE

The AMA also supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and is encouraging the Australian Parliament to make this a national priority.

I firmly believe that giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a say in the decisions that affect their lives will allow for healing through recognition of past and current injustices.

The AMA believes respecting the decisions and directions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should underpin all Government endeavours to close the health and life expectancy gap.

The AMA is pleased to see the agreement between the Council of Australian Governments and a Coalition of Peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations – an historic partnership to oversee the refresh of the Closing the Gap strategy.

See Coalition of Peaks Press Release this week

But this is not enough.

We must use this collective wisdom and advocacy to ensure that Closing the Gap is not just words, but a meaningful and deliverable target.

This is certainly an innovative approach to improving health and life outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

Since the beginning of the Closing the Gap strategy, progress has been mixed, limited, and, overall, disappointing.

This must change. It has to change.

It is simply unacceptable that year in, year out, we see the same gaps and the same shortfalls in funding and resources.

I hope that the partnership between COAG and the Coalition of Peaks will result in some real, meaningful change. It must.

Governments cannot keep promising to improve health and other services and not deliver on their commitments.

The AMA welcomed the stated intent of the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, to hold a referendum on Constitutional recognition for Indigenous peoples.

And I was disappointed by his recent announcement that an Indigenous voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution would not be included as part of this process.

Ken Wyatt has achieved a tremendous amount in his time as Minister, and I hope that Constitutional recognition is part of his legacy.

Let me conclude by saying that it is our responsibility as doctors to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can enjoy the same level of good health as their non-Indigenous peers – that they are able to live their lives to the fullest.

The AMA recognises that Indigenous doctors are critical to making real change in Indigenous health, as they have the unique ability to align their clinical and cultural expertise to improve access to services and provide culturally safe care.

The Indigenous medical workforce is steadily growing, but we need more Indigenous doctors. And dentists, nurses, social workers, and all other allied health specialists.

The AMA remains committed to working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to advocate for better Government investment and cohesive, coordinated strategies to improve health outcomes.

Thank you, and I wish you the very best for your Conference.

Part 2 Have your say about what is needed to make real change in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people #HaveYourSay about #closingthegap

There is a discussion booklet that has background information on Closing the Gap and sets out what will be talked about in the survey.

The survey will take a little bit of time to complete. It would be great if you can answer all the questions, but you can also just focus on the issues that you care about most.

To help you prepare your answers, you can look at a full copy here

The survey is open to everyone and can be accessed here:

https://www.naccho.org.au/programmes/coalition-of-peaks/have-your-say/

NACCHO Aboriginal Women’s Health : October is #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth Our Feature Story @VACCHO_org BreastScreen Victoria’s hot pink breast screening vans Plus Download Resources from @CancerAustralia

” October, Australia’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, provides an opportunity for us all to focus on breast cancer and its impact on those affected by the disease in our community.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Australian women (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer). Survival rates continue to improve in Australia with 89 out of every 100 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer now surviving five or more years beyond diagnosis.

Take the time this month to find out what you need to know about breast awareness and share this important information with your family, friends and colleagues.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and is the second leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer. Research shows that survival is lower in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women diagnosed with breast cancer than in the general population.

Cancer Australia is committed to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to provide women with important information about breast cancer awareness, early detection as well as breast cancer treatment and care.

Looking after your breasts – Find breast cancer early and survive see Part 2 Below

See BCNA story Part 4 Below

“ BreastScreen Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) are saying goodbye to the days of sterile, cold mammograms under fluorescent flickering lights and saying hello to mammograms in hot pink vans, with beautifully created cultural shawls and lots of love and giggles.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the organisations have introduced a program which enables Aboriginal women living in regional and remote areas of Victoria to access safe, free and comforting breast screening facilities.

“ The idea for the program was born from conversations between BreastScreen Victoria CEO, Vicki Pridmore and VACCHO Manager of Public Health and Research, Susan Forrester.

Ms Forrester said that most women shy away from breast screening due to the safety aspect.

“Why we use the word safe is because there are lots of layers around health and some of the themes that were emerging were that women may have felt a bit uncomfortable being screened for multiple reasons and at times, the staff they had contact with across the health system, although [they] may have been very well meaning, lacked cultural awareness.”

See full story Part 3 below

Picture opening graphic : Almost all the DWECH BreastScreen Team. Rose Hollis DWECH Community Worker, Allira Maes DWECH Aboriginal Health Worker, Joanne Ronald BSV Radiographer, Lisa Joyce BSV Health Promotion Officer

Part 1 Cancer Australia is committed to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to reduce the impact of cancer on Indigenous Australians

About 3 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are diagnosed with cancer every day. Indigenous Australians have a slightly lower rate of cancer diagnosis but are almost 30 per cent more likely to die from cancer than non-Indigenous Australians¹.

Cancer Australia is committed to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to reduce the impact of cancer on Indigenous Australians.

Our work includes:

raising awareness of risk factors and promoting awareness and early detection for the community
developing evidence-based information and resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by cancer and health professionals
providing evidence-based cancer information and training resources to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers
increasing understanding of best-practice health care and support, and
supporting research.

We have a range of resources which provide information to support you and the work you do:

Breast Cancer: a handbook for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers

This handbook has been written to help health professionals support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with breast cancer. Increasing the understanding of breast cancer may help to encourage earlier investigation of symptoms, and contribute to the quality of life of people living with breast cancer.

This handbook has been written for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers, Health Practitioners and Aboriginal Liaison Officers involved in the care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with breast cancer in community and clinical settings.

Download HERE

Part 2 BE BREAST AWARE

Finding breast cancer early provides the best chance of surviving the disease. Remember you don’t need to be an expert or use a special technique to check your breasts.

Changes to look for include:

a new lump or lumpiness, especially if it’s only in one breast
a change in the size or shape of your breast
a change to the nipple, such as crusting, ulcer, redness or inversion
a nipple discharge that occurs without squeezing
a change in the skin of your breast such as redness or dimpling
an unusual pain that doesn’t go away.

Most changes aren’t due to breast cancer but it’s important to see your doctor without delay if you notice any of these changes.

My breast cancer journey: a guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their families

Cancer Australia has developed a new resource My breast cancer journey: a guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their families which outlines the clinical management of the early breast cancer journey to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with breast cancer and their families.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Part 3 BreastScreen Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) are saying goodbye to the days of sterile, cold mammograms under fluorescent flickering lights

Read full story from NIT

The program was trialled, a screen-friendly shawl was designed using artwork by Lyn Briggs, and the shawls were gifted to each woman who was screened.

The trial was a result of a team of around 15 women who screened 14 First Nations women. The feedback received was exactly what BreastScreen Victoria’s Senior Health Promotion’s Officer, Lisa Joyce had hoped for.

“The feedback included things like, I feel safe, protected by culture, cultural safety blanket, made me proud of who I am and visible, the shawl was a screen from feeling shame and it was beautiful, easy to wear and makes you feel comfortable and safe,” Ms Joyce said.

BreastScreen Victoria and VACCHO have partnered with eight Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) who will receive visits from Nina and Marjorie – BreastScreen Victoria’s hot pink breast screening vans.

The vans will work with ACCHOs to provide Aboriginal women with free mammograms, which assist in the identification of breast cancer in its early stages. The program is aimed particularly at women between 50 and 74, who are at higher risk of breast cancer.

Picture above :Rose Hollis who is a DWECH Community Worker had her breast screen and then spent the rest of her day driving Community members to their screenings.

The program will also gift a shawl to 50 women from each centre – which will be printed with a design of their country.

Amber Neilley, VACCHO’s State-wide Health Services Program Officer said artworks have been created by artists both established and emerging.

“Each shawl has been designed by a local artist, we are taking the shawls with the designs back to country,” Ms Neilley said.

Ms Joyce said that bringing the vans onto ACCHO sites offers leadership to those centres.

“We are playing into self-determination in that way as the organisation is in control of who screens and what happens in their community in that time,” Ms Joyce said.

“Many of the sites we are going to … have permanent breast screening facilities in the town but we know that Aboriginal women aren’t attending those clinics so we are trying to increase that by bringing it to a familiar place.”

“Taking the van and using the shawls is the first step in improving Aboriginal women’s experiences when they come to breast screens. I think unfamiliarity, lack of trust and potential fear is why we don’t have that contact with many women.”

Research shows that once a woman has screened for breast cancer, she is more likely to regularly screen – a hope the team have for the women in these communities.

“We hope that when the project leaves town the shawl will be in the permanent screening space and people will become involved,” Ms Forrester said.

“We want to be able to say here is a strength-based, culturally-led model that can go national, and international. The CEO of BreastScreen has just been at the World Indigenous Cancer Conference in Canada and presented this on our behalf and she has had a world of interest.”

Dates and locations for BreastScreen Victoria’s screening vans include:

30/9 – 4/10 at Dhauwurd-Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service (DWECH)
7/10 – 10/10 at Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation
14/10 – 18/10 at Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative
21/10 – 24/10 at Kirrae Health Service
28/10 – 1/11 at Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative
11/11 – 15/11 at Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative
18/11 to 22/11 at Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation.

For more information, visit: https://www.breastscreen.org.au/.

Part 4 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women share their breast cancer experience in new BCNA video

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have come together to share their stories and experiences as breast cancer survivors as part of a video produced by BCNA.

See Website

The video shares the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander women affected by breast cancer and aims to encourage other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to connect, seek support and information on breast cancer.

A number of women in the video, including Aunty Josie Hansen, highlight the importance of early detection.

‘Early detection is really important; not just for women, but for men too,’ Aunty Josie said.

‘Being diagnosed with breast cancer isn’t a death sentence, there’s always hope … as long as you have breath there’s hope,’ she said.

Aunty Thelma reflected that breast cancer is ‘just a terrible disease’.

‘I think it’s so important that women go and have their breast screens done,’ she said.

The video was filmed at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Think Tank at BCNA’s National Summit in March. The Think Tank was facilitated by BCNA board member Professor Jacinta Elston. Jacinta said that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s outcomes are poorer both in survival and at diagnosis.

The Think Tank brought together 48 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women from around Australia to share issues around treatment and survivorship of breast cancer in their communities. The key outcome of the Think Tank was the development of a three-year Action Plan that outlines BCNA’s key future work, in partnership with national peak Aboriginal health organisations.

The group worked to develop and prioritise future action to improve support and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women diagnosed with breast cancer.

This included identifying locally based cultural healing projects, to allow breast cancer survivors to connect and support each other in culturally safe spaces. A weaving project in Queensland and a possum skin cloak project in Victoria is being undertaken and used to support the training of health professionals in local culture and knowledge. The Culture is Healing projects are supported by Cancer Australia.

This video was produced as part of BCNA’s ongoing commitment to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women diagnosed with breast cancer.

You can watch the video below:

NACCHO Aboriginal Health Job alerts at many of our 302 ACCHO : Features #AIDAconf2019 #disruptinnovate @AIDAAustralia Plus #QLD @Apunipima @IUIH_ #NT @CAACongress @MiwatjHealth Sunrise @AMSANTaus @DanilaDilba

Before completing a job application please check with the ACCHO that the job is still open

1.1 This weeks feature article :

AIDA Conference 2019 is a forum to share and build on knowledges that increasingly disrupt existing practice and policy to raise the standards of health care.

1.2 TOP 10 Jobs

2.Queensland

2.1 Apunipima ACCHO Cape York

2.2 IUIH ACCHO Deadly Choices Brisbane and throughout Queensland

2.3 ATSICHS ACCHO Brisbane

2.4 Wuchopperen Health Service ACCHO CAIRNS

3.NT Jobs Alice Spring ,Darwin East Arnhem Land and Katherine

3.1 Congress ACCHO Alice Spring

3.2 Miwatj Health ACCHO Arnhem Land

3.3 Wurli ACCHO Katherine

3.4 Sunrise ACCHO Katherine

4. South Australia

4.1 Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc

5. Western Australia

5.1 Derbarl Yerrigan Health Services Inc

5.2 Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS)

5.3 Bega Garnbirringu Health Services (Bega) WA

6.Victoria

6.1 Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS)

6.2 Mallee District Aboriginal Services Mildura Swan Hill Etc

6.3 : Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-Operative

7.New South Wales

7.1 AHMRC Sydney and Rural

7.2 Greater Western Aboriginal Health Service

7.3 Katungul ACCHO

8. Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre ACCHO

9.Canberra ACT Winnunga ACCHO

Over 302 ACCHO clinics See all websites by state territory

NACCHO Affiliate , Member , Government Department or stakeholders

If you have a job vacancy in Indigenous Health

Email to Colin Cowell NACCHO Media

Tuesday by 4.30 pm for publication each Wednesday

This weeks feature

Disruptive Innovations in Healthcare

Indigenous communities hold profound knowledges of health and wellbeing that are informed over generations.

These holistic understandings are increasingly sought after to improve equitable healthcare for all Australians.

Disruptive transformations to achieve better health for all require innovations that build on the capabilities of individuals, institutions, healthcare settings and the communities in which they serve.

The AIDA Conference 2019 is a forum to share and build on knowledges that increasingly disrupt existing practice and policy to raise the standards of health care.

People with a passion for health care equity are invited to share their knowledges and expertise about how they have participated in or enabled a ‘disruptive innovation’ to achieve culturally safe and responsive practice or policy for Indigenous communities.

SEE FULL PROGRAM HERE

Job Ref : 2019 – 181

ACCHO Member : Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation

Position: General Practitioners (Multiple full/part-time opportunities)

Location: Grafton NSW

Salary Package : $300,000

Closing Date: On Application

More Info apply

Job Ref : 2019 – 182

ACCHO Member : Spinifex Health Service

Position: Health Services Manager

Location: Kalgoorlie Region

Salary Package : Approx $140,000

Closing Date: On Application

More Info apply

Job Ref : 2019 – 183

ACCHO Member : ATSICHS Brisbane

Position: Child Protection/Family Services Worker

Location: Brisbane

Salary Package : $75,000

Closing Date: On Application

More Info apply

Job Ref : 2019 – 184

ACCHO Member : Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation.

Position: RN Practice Nurse

Location: Grafton

Salary Package : On Application

Closing Date: On application

More Info apply Email : hr@bnmac.com.au

Job Ref : 2019 – 185

ACCHO Affiliate : AMSANT

Position: Research/Project Officer Cultural Safety and Community Control/Engagement

Location: Alice Springs (Preferred )

Salary Package : On Application

Closing Date: 18th October 2019

More Info apply : hr@amsant.org.au

Job Ref : 2019 – 186

ACCHO Member : Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative

Position: NDIS Coordinator

Location: Shepparton VIC

Salary Package : On Application

Closing Date : 22 October

More Info apply

Job Ref : 2019 – 187

ACCHO Member : Sunrise Health Service

Position : Remote Area Nurses

Location: Katherine NT

Salary Package : $110,000

Closing Date: On application

More Info apply

Job Ref : 2019 – 188

ACCHO Member : Sunrise Health Service

Position: Clinical Educator

Location: Katherine NT

Salary Package : $110,000

Closing Date: On application

More Info apply

2.1 JOBS AT Apunipima ACCHO Cairns and Cape York

The links to job vacancies are on website

www.apunipima.org.au/work-for-us

2.2 JOBS AT IUIH Brisbane and throughout Queensland

JOBS AT IUIH check the closing dates as some may have closed

2.3 ATSICHS ACCHO Brisbane

As part of our commitment to providing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community of Brisbane with a comprehensive range of primary health care, youth, child safety, mental health, dental and aged care services, we employ approximately 150 people across our locations at Woolloongabba, Woodridge, Northgate, Acacia Ridge, Browns Plains, Eagleby and East Brisbane.

The roles at ATSICHS are diverse and include, but are not limited to the following:

Aboriginal Health Workers
Registered Nurses
Transport Drivers
Medical Receptionists
Administrative and Management roles
Medical professionals
Dentists and Dental Assistants
Allied Health Staff
Support Workers

Current vacancies

2.4 Wuchopperen Health Service ACCHO CAIRNS

Wuchopperen Health Service Limited has been providing primary health care services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for over 35 years. Our workforce has a range of professional, clinical, allied health, social emotional wellbeing and administration positions.

We have two sites in Cairns and a growing number of supplementary services and partnerships.
We have a diverse workforce of over 200 employees
70 percent of our team identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Our team is dedicated to the Wuchopperen vision: Improving the Quality of Life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. If you would like to make a difference, and improve the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, please apply today.

Expressions of Interest

We invite Expressions of Interest from:

Aboriginal Health Workers
Clinical Psychologists
Dietitians
Diabetes Educators
Exercise Physiologists
Medical Officers (FAACGP / FACCRM)

Registered Nurses
Midwives
Optometrists
Podiatrists
Speech Pathologists

In accordance with Wuchopperen’s privacy processes, we will keep your EOI on file for three months.

Current Vacancies

See WEBSITE

NT Jobs Alice Spring ,Darwin East Arnhem Land and Katherine

3.1 JOBS at Congress Alice Springs including

Want to work for Congress?

There are a range of job opportunities available right now, including:

• Governance Support Officer
• Aboriginal Liaison Officer
• Health Information Officer
• Transport Officer- Casual
• Care Coordinator- Chronic Disease
• Lead Aboriginal Cultural Advisor
• Remote SEWB Caseworker
• Child Psychologist/ Clinical Psychologist
• Alukura Midwife
• Early Childhood Educators
• Cleaners
• GPs – Town and Remote

Apply now at www.caac.org.au/hr

More info and apply HERE

3.2 There are 20 + JOBS at Miwatj Health Arnhem Land

We’re one of Australia’s largest providers of Aboriginal healthcare

We’re engaging with health issues at a grass roots community level: We’re looking for passionate individuals who are ready to help change the future for Aboriginal healthcare

Updated 23 Sept Website HERE

3.3 JOBS at Wurli Katherine

More info and apply HERE

3.4 Sunrise ACCHO Katherine

Sunrise Job site

4. South Australia

4.1 Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc

Nunkuwarrin Yunti places a strong focus on a client centred approach to the delivery of services and a collaborative working culture to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients. View our current vacancies here.

NUNKU SA JOB WEBSITE

5. Western Australia

5.1 Derbarl Yerrigan Health Services Inc

Derbarl Yerrigan Health Services Inc. is passionate about creating a strong and dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander workforce. We are committed to providing mentorship and training to our team members to enhance their skills for them to be able to create career pathways and opportunities in life.

On occasions we may have vacancies for the positions listed below:

Medical Receptionists – casual pool
Transport Drivers – casual pool
General Hands – casual pool, rotating shifts
Aboriginal Health Workers (Cert IV in Primary Health) –casual pool

*These positions are based in one or all of our sites – East Perth, Midland, Maddington, Mirrabooka or Bayswater.

To apply for a position with us, you will need to provide the following documents:

Detailed CV
WA National Police Clearance – no older than 6 months
WA Driver’s License – full license
Contact details of 2 work related referees
Copies of all relevant certificates and qualifications

We may also accept Expression of Interests for other medical related positions which form part of our services. However please note, due to the volume on interests we may not be able to respond to all applications and apologise for that in advance.

All complete applications must be submitted to our HR department or emailed to HR

Also in accordance with updated privacy legislation acts, please download, complete and return this Permission to Retain Resume form

Attn: Human Resources
Derbarl Yerrigan Health Services Inc.
156 Wittenoom Street
East Perth WA 6004

+61 (8) 9421 3888

DYHS JOB WEBSITE

5.2 Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS)

Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS)

https://kamsc-iframe.applynow.net.au/

KAMS JOB WEBSITE

5.3 Bega Garnbirringu Health Services (Bega) WA

Are you a dynamic team member who thrives on a challenge, loves working with people and has a genuine passion for client service delivery? A team player who appreciates the value of an energetic team environment and respects cultural diversity?

Bega Garnbirringu Health Services (Bega) is currently seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and committed applicants.

If you have any questions please contact Human Resources on (08) 9022 5591 or email recruitment@bega.org.au

Senior Medical Officer
Counsellor, Social Worker
Speech Therapist (EOI)
Occupational Therapist (EOI)
Physiotherapist (EOI)
Youth Worker (Female)
Manager Social Support
Child Health Nurse
Midwife
Aboriginal Health Practitioner, Enrolled/Registered Nurse

6.Victoria

6.1 Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS)

Thank you for your interest in working at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS)

If you would like to lodge an expression of interest or to apply for any of our jobs advertised at VAHS we have two types of applications for you to consider.

Expression of interest

Submit an expression of interest for a position that may become available to: employment@vahs.org.au

This should include a covering letter outlining your job interest(s), an up to date resume and two current employment referees

Your details will remain on file for a period of 12 months. Resumes on file are referred to from time to time as positions arise with VAHS and you may be contacted if another job matches your skills, experience and/or qualifications. Expressions of interest are destroyed in a confidential manner after 12 months.

Applying for a Current Vacancy

Unless the advertisement specifies otherwise, please follow the directions below when applying

Your application/cover letter should include:

Current name, address and contact details
A brief discussion on why you feel you would be the appropriate candidate for the position
Response to the key selection criteria should be included – discussing how you meet these

Your Resume should include:

Current name, address and contact details
Summary of your career showing how you have progressed to where you are today. Most recent employment should be first. For each job that you have been employed in state the Job Title, the Employer, dates of employment, your duties and responsibilities and a brief summary of your achievements in the role
Education, include TAFE or University studies completed and the dates. Give details of any subjects studies that you believe give you skills relevant to the position applied for
References, where possible, please include 2 employment-related references and one personal character reference. Employment references must not be from colleagues, but from supervisors or managers that had direct responsibility of your position.

Ensure that any referees on your resume are aware of this and permission should be granted.

How to apply:

Send your application, response to the key selection criteria and your resume to:

employment@vahs.org.au

All applications must be received by the due date unless the previous extension is granted.

When applying for vacant positions at VAHS, it is important to know the successful applicants are chosen on merit and suitability for the role.

VAHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to ensuring that staff selection procedures are fair to all applicants regardless of their sex, race, marital status, sexual orientation, religious political affiliations, disability, or any other matter covered by the Equal Opportunity Act

You will be assessed based on a variety of criteria:

Your application, which includes your application letter which address the key selection criteria and your resume
Verification of education and qualifications
An interview (if you are shortlisted for an interview)
Discussions with your referees (if you are shortlisted for an interview)
You must have the right to live and work in Australia
Employment is conditional upon the receipt of:
- A current Working with Children Check
- A current National Police Check
- Any licenses, certificates and insurances

6.2 Mallee District Aboriginal Services Mildura Swan Hill Etc

MDAS Jobs website

6.3 : Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-Operative 2 POSITIONS VACANT

http://www.rumbalara.org.au/vacancies

7.1 AHMRC Sydney and Rural

Check website for current Opportunities

7.2 Greater Western Aboriginal Health Service

Greater Western Aboriginal Health Service (GWAHS) is an entity of Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service. GWAHS provides a culturally appropriate comprehensive primary health care service for the local Aboriginal communities of western Sydney and the Nepean Blue Mountains. GWAHS provides multidisciplinary services from sites located in Mt Druitt and Penrith.

The clinical service model includes general practitioners (GPs), Aboriginal Health Workers and Practitioners, nursing staff, reception and transport staff. The service also offers a number of wraparound services and programs focused on child and maternal health, social and emotional wellbeing, Drug and Alcohol Support, chronic disease, as well as population health activities.

GWAHS is committed to ensuring that patients have access to and receive high quality, culturally appropriate care and services that meet the needs of local Aboriginal communities.

WEBSITE

7.3 Katungul ACCHO

Download position descriptions HERE

8. Tasmania

TAC JOBS AND TRAINING WEBSITE

9.Canberra ACT Winnunga ACCHO

Winnunga ACCHO Job opportunites

The Coalition of Peaks will be leading #HaveYourSayCTG meetings with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations on #ClosingtheGap during the month of October.

‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people know what works best for us.

We need to make sure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are reflected and expertise is recognised in every way at every step on efforts to close the gap in life outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.’

‘The Coalition of Peaks is leading the face to face discussions, not governments.

The Peaks are asking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to tell us what should be included in a new Closing the Gap agreement and we will take this to the negotiating table.’

Acting Lead Convener of the Coalition of Peaks and Chairperson of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, Katrina Fanning, said we must ensure the community’s voice is truly heard and understood.

NACCHO will be updating all states and territories meeting locations and times each Tuesday ( NACCHO Save a date ) and Friday ( NACCHO Good News )

The Coalition of Peaks are leading face to face meetings with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations on Closing the Gap during the month of October.

The meetings provide an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in each state and territory to tell the Coalition of Peaks and governments what changes are needed to improve their lives.

The Coalition of Peaks is working with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to develop a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap for the next ten years and wants to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country can have a say about what should be included in it.

The Coalition of Peaks is made up of around forty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak organisations who have come together to negotiate a new Closing the Gap agreement with governments.

The Peaks are committed to representing the views of their membership and the communities who elected them in negotiations with government.

The face to face discussions are part of comprehensive set of engagements which also includes an online survey and Peak consultations with its own membership.

The online survey is open until 25 October 2019.

A report on the engagements will be prepared by the Coalition of Peaks, to be provided to governments and made public.

The report will inform the finalisation the new National Agreement between the Coalition of Peaks and COAG.

October Engagement Meetings:

South Australia

2 October – Adelaide

15 October – Ceduna

18 October – Port Augusta

23 October – Mount Gambier

Tasmania

11 October – Launceston

Western Australia

14 October – Broome

17 October – Geraldton

21 October – Kalgoorlie

23 October – Port Headland

28 October – Perth

30 October – Narrogin

Australian Capital Territory

17 October – Canberra

28 October – Canberra

Victoria

15 October – Melbourne

16 October – Bendigo

17 October – Morwell

See update below for details

New South Wales

21 October – Sydney

All NSW Regional see below

Northern Territory

4 October – Katherine

11 October – Yirrkala

30 October – Darwin

National

23 and 24 October – Canberra

Note: Each jurisdiction has structured the events differently, some opting for fewer large events and some opting for a larger number of smaller events.

Dates and locations for Queensland will be finalised soon.

For more information on The Coalition of Peaks, The Joint Council, The Partnership Agreement and to sign up for our mailing list, go to: https://www.naccho.org.au/ programmes/coalition-of-peaks/

VIC Update

There will be three meetings held across Victoria, details are below.

Website RSVP

City	Date	Venue	Time
Bendigo	Monday 14 October	Comfort Inn Julie Anna, 268/276 Napier Street	12PM – 4PM
Melbourne	Tuesday 15 October	Mantra Bell City, 215 Bell Street, Preston	12PM – 4PM
Morwell	Thursday 17 October	Gathering Place, 99 Buckley Street	12PM – 4PM

NSW Update

The NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) of which NSW Aboriginal Land Council is a member, are leading the Closing the Gap engagements across the state.

28 consultations will be taking place during the month of October and early November. The consultations are an opportunity for communities to have their say on Closing the Gap.

The 2019 Closing the Gap consultation will see a new way of doing business, with a focus on community consultations. NSW is embarking on the largest number of membership consultations, more than any other state or territory, with an emphasis on hearing your views about what is needed to make the lives of Aboriginal people better.

Your voices will formulate the NSW submission to the new National Agreement. By talking to Aboriginal people, communities and organisations, CAPO can form a consensus on priority areas from NSW when finalising the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap with governments.

The discussion booklet: ‘A new way of doing business’ provides background information on Closing the Gap and sets out what will be discussed at the consultations.

The consultations are being supported by the NSW Government.

Come along and join in the conversation. The dates and locations are:

Route 1
Albury Monday 14th Oct
Deniliquin Tuesday 15th Oct
Balranald Wednesday 16th Oct
Griffith Thursday 17th Oct

Route 2
Wagga Wagga Tuesday 15th Oct
Young Wednesday 16th Oct
Queanbeyan Thursday 17th Oct
Batemans Bay Friday 18th Oct

Route 3
Dubbo Tuesday 22nd Oct
Condobolin Wednesday 23rd Oct
Cobar Thursday 24th Oct
Bourke Friday 25th Oct

Route 4
Newcastle Tuesday 22nd Oct
Central Coast Wednesday 23rd Oct
Muswellbrook Thursday 24th Oct
Tamworth Friday 25th Oct

Route 5
Broken Hill Tuesday 29th Oct
Wilcannia Wednesday 30th Oct
Menindee Thursday 31st Oct
Dareton Friday 1st Nov

Route 6
Lismore Monday 28th Oct
Coffs Harbour Tuesday 29th Oct
Kempsey Wednesday 30th Oct

Route 7
Redfern Monday 4th Nov
Mount Druitt Tuesday 5th Nov
Bathurst Thursday 7th Nov

Route 8
Moree Tuesday 5th Nov
Walgett Wednesday 6th Nov

To register your attendance at Routes 1 and 2, please do so via Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/nsw-coalition-of-aboriginal-peak-organisations-16575398239.

Routes 3 to 8 will follow shortly.

Consultations will run from 11am – 3pm with lunch provided.

If you are unable to make the consultations, you can still have your say through an online survey. The survey closes on 25 October, 5pm.

For more information on the Closing the Gap consultations: https://www.aecg.nsw.edu.au/close-the-gap/

NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO)

NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC)
NSW/ACT Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS)
Link Up (NSW) Aboriginal Corporation (Link-Up)
NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (NSW AECG)
NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation (AbSec)
First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN)

NSW CAPO is co-chaired by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group. NSW CAPO member organisations are non-government Aboriginal peak bodies with boards that are elected by Aboriginal communities and/or organisations which are accountable to their membership.

NACCHO Aboriginal Health Conferences and Events #Saveadate : This week #AIDAconf19 plus REGISTRATIONS open for our #NACCHOAgm19 #NACCHOYouth19 November 4 to 7 Plus #ClosingTheGap #HaveYourSayCTG closes 25 October

Featured this week

4th November 2019 NACCHO Youth Conference Darwin Registrations NOW OPEN

5th & 6th November 2019 NACCHO Members Conference Registrations NOW OPEN

7 th November NACCHO AGM

This week

2- 4 October AIDA Conference 2019

9-10 October 2019 NATSIHWA 10 Year Anniversary Conference

16 October Melbourne Uni: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing Conference

25 October Coalition of Peaks Have Your Say Survey Closes

4 November NACCHO Youth Conference -Darwin NT

5 – 7 November NACCHO Conference and AGM -Darwin NT

5-8 November The Lime Network Conference New Zealand

Monday 4th November 2019 NACCHO Youth Conference *Youth Registration is Free of Charge

The central focus of the NACCHO Youth Conference Healthy youth, healthy future is on building resilience.

For thousands of years our Ancestors have shown great resolve thriving on this vast continent. Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who make up 54% of our population, now look to the example set by generations past and present to navigate ever-changing and complex social and health issues.

Healthy youth, healthy future provides us with opportunities to explore and discuss issues of importance to us, our families and communities, and to take further steps toward becoming tomorrow’s leaders. We hope to see you there!

Registrations are now open for the 2019 NACCHO Youth Conference, which will be held November 4^th in Darwin at the Darwin Convention Centre.

Tuesday 5th & Wednesday 6th November 2019

7th November 2019 NACCHO AGM

This year, NACCHO’s Members’ Conference focuses on the theme –

Because of them we must: improving health outcomes for our people aged 0-29 years.

We have chosen this focus because we know that investing in the health and wellbeing of our babies, children and young people can help prevent ill health, disease and disability. Strong investment in this age group will help them to thrive, help them build strong and healthy families and communities, and help to positively influence their future health outcomes and life expectancy measures.

Because of them we must provides an opportunity to place our future generations at the forefront of our discussions, to hear about the innovative work that is happening in our community controlled and other sectors, to exchange ideas and share our knowledge.

Registrations to this year’s Youth Conference and the NACCHO National Conference will close on Sunday 20th October 2019. Late registrations will not be accepted.

We hope you can join us!

2- 4 October AIDA Conference 2019

Location:             Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin NT
Theme:                 Disruptive Innovations in Healthcare
Register:              Register Here
Web:                     www.aida.org.au/conference
Enquiries:           conference@aida.org.au

The AIDA 2019 Conference is a forum to share and build on knowledge that increasingly disrupts existing practice and policy to raise the standards of health care.

People with a passion for health care equity are invited to share their knowledges and expertise about how they have participated in or enabled a ‘disruptive innovation to achieve culturally safe and responsive practice or policy for Indigenous communities.

The 23rd annual AIDA Conference provides a platform for networking, mentoring, member engagement and the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of AIDA’S Indigenous doctor and students.

9-10 October 2019 NATSIHWA 10 Year Anniversary Conference

2019 Marks 10 years since the formation of NATSIHWA and registrations are now open!!!

During the 9 – 10 October 2019 NATSIHWA 10 Year Anniversary Conference will be celebrated at the Convention Centre in Alice Springs

Bursaries available for our Full Members

Not a member?!

Come and celebrate NATSIHWA’s 10 year Anniversary National Conference ‘A Decade of Footprints, Driving Recognition’ which is being held in Alice Springs. We aim to offer an insight into the Past, Present and Future of NATSIHWA and the overall importance of strengthening the primary health care sector’s unique workforce of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners throughout Australia.

During the 9-10 October 2019 delegates will be exposed to networking opportunities whilst immersing themselves with a combination of traditional and practical conference style delivery.

Our intention is to engage Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners in the history and knowledge exchange of the past, todays evidence based best practice programs/services available and envisioning what the future has to offer for all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners.

Watch this space for the guest speaker line up, draft agenda and award nominations

15-17 October IUIH System of Care Conference

15 October IUIH 10 year anniversary

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural conference, the 2019 System of Care Conference will be focusing on further exploring and sharing the systems and processes that deliver this life changing way of looking at life-long health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

This year IUIH delivers 10 years of experience in improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with proven methods for closing the gap and impacting on the social determinants of health.

The IUIH System of Care is evidence-based and nationally recognised for delivering outcomes, and the conference will share the research behind the development and implementation of this system, with presentations by speakers across a range of specialisations including clinic set up, clinical governance, systems integration, wrap around services such as allied and social health, workforce development and research evidence.

If you are working in:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled health services
Primary Health Networks
Health and Hospital Boards and Management
Government Departments
The University Sector
The NGO Sector

Watch this video for an insight into the IUIH System of Care Conference.

Download brochure HERE IUIH System of Care Conference 2019 WEB

This year, the IUIH System of Care Conference will be offering a number of half-day workshops on Thursday 17 October 2019, available to conference attendees only. The cost for these workshops is $150 per person, per workshop and your attendance to these can be selected during your single or group registration.

IUIH are also hosting a 10 years of service celebration dinner on Tuesday 15 October – from 6.30-10pm. Tickets for this are $150 per person and are not included in the cost of registration.

All conference information is available here https://www.ivvy.com.au/event/IUIH19/

15 October IUIH 10 year anniversary

16 October Melbourne Uni: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing Conference

The University of Melbourne, Department of Rural Health are pleased to advise that abstract
submissions are now being invited that address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and
wellbeing.

The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Conference is an opportunity for sharing information and connecting people that are committed to reforming the practice and research of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health and celebrates Aboriginal knowledge systems and strength-based approaches to improving the health outcomes of Aboriginal communities.

This is an opportunity to present evidence-based approaches, Aboriginal methods and models of
practice, Aboriginal perspectives and contribution to health or community led solutions, underpinned by cultural theories to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.
In 2018 the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Conference attracted over 180 delegates from across the community and state.

We welcome submissions from collaborators whose expertise and interests are embedded in Aboriginal health and wellbeing, and particularly presented or co-presented by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and community members.

If you are interested in presenting, please complete the speaker registration link

closing date for abstract submission is Friday 3 rd May 2019.
As per speaker registration link request please email your professional photo for our program or any conference enquiries to E. aboriginal-health@unimelb.edu.au.

Kind regards
Leah Lindrea-Morrison
Aboriginal Partnerships and Community Engagement Officer
Department of Rural Health, University of Melbourne T. 03 5823 4554 E. leah.lindrea@unimelb.edu.au

25 October Survey Closes : Have your say about what is needed to make real change in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people #HaveYourSay about #closingthegap

There is a discussion booklet that has background information on Closing the Gap and sets out what will be talked about in the survey.

The survey will take a little bit of time to complete. It would be great if you can answer all the questions, but you can also just focus on the issues that you care about most.

To help you prepare your answers, you can look at a full copy here

The survey is open to everyone and can be accessed here:

https://www.naccho.org.au/programmes/coalition-of-peaks/have-your-say/

The Coalition of Peaks are leading face to face meetings with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations on Closing the Gap during the month of October.

October Engagement Meetings:

South Australia

2 October – Adelaide

15 October – Ceduna

18 October – Port Augusta

23 October – Mount Gambier

Tasmania

11 October – Launceston

Western Australia

14 October – Broome

17 October – Geraldton

21 October – Kalgoorlie

23 October – Port Headland

28 October – Perth

30 October – Narrogin

Australian Capital Territory

17 October – Canberra

28 October – Canberra

Victoria

15 October – Melbourne

16 October – Bendigo

17 October – Morwell

New South Wales

21 October – Sydney

Northern Territory

4 October – Katherine

11 October – Yirrkala

30 October – Darwin

National

23 and 24 October – Canberra

Each jurisdiction has structured the events differently, some opting for fewer large events and some opting for a larger number of smaller events. Dates and locations for Queensland will be finalised soon. Additional meetings will also be held in New South Wales.

For more information on The Coalition of Peaks, The Joint Council, The Partnership Agreement and to sign up for our mailing list, go to: https://www.naccho.org.au/ programmes/coalition-of-peaks/

4 November NACCHO Youth Conference -Darwin NT

The NACCHO Youth Conference will again take place the day before the Members Conference on Monday 4 November at the Darwin Convention Centre.

The conference theme is Healthy Youth – Healthy Futures and it is a day of learning, sharing, and connecting on health issues affecting young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This year we aim to have around 80 youth delegates attend to hear from guest speakers, voice their ideas and solutions and connect with the other future leaders in the sector.

Registrations will open in early September 2019, so please encourage the young people from your community who you think will benefit attending.

I strongly encourage those who can afford it to arrange for your youth delegates to remain for the Members Conference and AGM so they can increase their understanding of the Sector as a whole and learn how to network and build useful contacts.

Darwin Convention Centre

Website to be launched soon

Conference Co-Coordinators Ros Daley and Jen Toohey 02 6246 9309

conference@naccho.org.au

5 – 7 November NACCHO Conference and AGM -Darwin NT

As you may be aware, this year’s conference is being held in Darwin on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 of November at the Darwin Convention Centre.

The theme for our conference is Because of Them We Must: Improving Health Outcomes for 0 to 29 Year Olds and will focus on how our Sector is working to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for children, youth and young adults.

Clearly those in the 0 – 29 year age bracket are a significant proportion of our total population. If we can get their health and wellbeing outcomes right, we should hopefully overtime reduce the comorbidity levels which are so debilitating for so many of our older people.

If you have any questions or would like further information contact Ros Daley and Jen Toohey on 02 6246 9309 or via email conference@naccho.org.au

Darwin Convention Centre

Website to be launched soon

Conference Co-Coordinators Ros Daley and Jen Toohey 02 6246 9309

conference@naccho.org.au

7 November

On Thursday 7 November, following the NACCHO National Members Conference, we will hold the 2019 AGM. In addition to the general business, there will be an election for the NACCHO Chair and a vote on a special resolution to adopt a new constitution for NACCHO.

Once again, I thank all those members who sent delegates to the recent national members’ workshop on a new constitution at Sydney in July. It was a great success thanks to your involvement and feedback.

5-8 November The Lime Network Conference New Zealand

This years #LIMEConnection whakatauki (theme for the conference) was developed by the Scientific Committee, along with Māori elder, Te Marino Lenihan & Tania Huria from @otago.

To read about the conference & theme, check out the #LIMEConnection website. https://www.limeconnection.net.au/about/

Aboriginal #MentalHealth and #Wellbeing #SuicidePrevention : NATSIMHL and @cbpatsisp #GayaaDhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration and Indigenous Governance workshop : Keynote Speech from John Paterson CEO @AMSANTaus

“ AMSANT understands that social determinants of health are critical to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal Communities and recognises the role that these determinants play in the development of mental health and harmful substance use issues within communities.

AMSANT therefore recognises that a crucial component of providing support to the delivery of AOD and Mental Health programs and services through the Community Controlled Sector is to continue to advocate and lobby for the improvement of the social determinants of health and mental health for Aboriginal people.

We understand that these determinants extend beyond issues relating to, for example, housing, education, and employment, to more fundamental issues relating to the importance of control, culture and country and the legacy of a history of trauma and loss.

Strong and empowered community governance is the backbone to community resilience and Self-Determination and leads to better health outcomes

We have great challenges and great opportunities here in the Territory and with your commitment to self-determination, Aboriginal Governance, policies and practices that do not re-traumatise, we can achieve strong outcomes together

But first we need to recognise and acknowledge the past to inform our future journey and the sometimes difficult paths we will need to take.

We as Aboriginal people understand the inter-connectivity of all things;

Our call to action is what part will you play, where are you positioned within this connectivity to ensure health and wellbeing is strong for Gayaa Dhuwi our Proud Spirit. “

John Paterson CEO AMSANT ( Pictured above with Kerry Arabena ) Keynote speech see Part 2 Below

Have your say about what is needed to make real change in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people see part 3 below #HaveYourSay about #closingthegap

Part 1 Help close the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health gap by pledging support for the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration.

” The mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is significantly worse than that of other Australians across many indicators. In particular, the suicide rates are twice as high.

The reasons for the gap are many but include the lack of culturally competent and safe services within the mental health system, that balance clinical responses with culturally-informed responses including access to cultural healing.

To rectify this, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership is needed in those parts of the mental health system that work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.

Pledging your organisation’s or personal support for the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration is a first step in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in appropriate parts of the mental health system to improve our mental health and reduce suicide.”

More info sign HERE

Or Download the 6 Page Brochure HERE

Gayaa-Dhuwi-Declaration_Proud-Spirit

Part 2

The Aboriginal Medical Services of the NT is the peak body for the community controlled Aboriginal primary health care (PHC) sector in the Northern Territory (NT). We have 25 members providing Aboriginal comprehensive primary health care (CPHC) right across the NT from Darwin to the most remote regions.

AMSANT has been established for 25 years and just recently celebrated our 25 year anniversary in Alice Springs. AMSANT has a major policy and advocacy role at the NT and national levels, including as a partner with the Commonwealth and NT governments in the Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum (NTAHF).

The ACCHSs sector in the NT is comparatively more significant than in other jurisdictions, being the largest provider of primary health care services to Aboriginal people in the NT. Over half of all the episodes of care approximately 60% and contacts 65% in the Aboriginal PHC sector in the Northern Territory are provided by ACCHSs. Moreover, ACCHS deliver comprehensive primary health care that incorporates social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and AOD services, family support services and early childhood services, delivered by multidisciplinary teams within a holistic service model.

Aboriginal people experience a disproportionate morbidity and mortality burden from mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems. Nationally, mental health conditions are estimated to account for 12% of the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, with suicide contributing another 6% and alcohol another 4% (Vos et al. 2007). Tragically, from 2011-15, the Indigenous suicide rate was twice that of the non-Indigenous population (AHMAC 2017).

At AMSANT, we have come to believe that encouraging an understanding of trauma and its impact and facilitating trauma informed perspectives and ways of working – for all staff throughout our health services – can enhance service delivery and outcomes for the communities in which these services are based.

Some of the most challenging, complex and life threatening issues faced within our health services can be better understood in the context of historical and ongoing experiences of trauma. But as we understand these difficulties in relation to the stories of trauma that communities have lived through since colonisation, it is vital that we also see and understand the strengths and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities – and that we recognise the central role of connection to culture, cultural identity and cultural continuity in maintaining these strengths and keeping people well.

Many Aboriginal people in the NT are happy, engaged with their families and culture, and prepared to make a positive contribution to their communities. The physical and mental health of Aboriginal people have been maintained through beliefs, practices and ways of life that supported their social and emotional wellbeing across generations and thousands of years.

However, factors unique to the Aboriginal experience—including the historical and ongoing process of colonisation that has seen loss of land, suppression of language and culture, forcible removal of children from families, and experiences of racism—have all contributed to profound feelings of loss and grief and exposure to unresolved trauma, which continues disadvantage, poor health and poor social outcomes for far too many Aboriginal people.

This process has directly involved the disruption and severing of the many connections that are protective in maintaining strong mental health and wellbeing – Our connections to a strong spirit

Identifying the extent and impacts of poor mental health among Aboriginal people must be founded on an understanding of this context and the reality that Aboriginal understandings and experiences of mental health and wellbeing are in many ways very different to that of mainstream society.

Also in relation to health and mental health, there is an acknowledgement of the significance of the social determinants of health. There is an understanding of how ongoing marginalisation, disempowerment, discrimination and stress contribute to poor health and mental health outcomes.

AMSANT understands that social determinants of health are critical to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal Communities and recognises the role that these determinants play in the development of mental health and harmful substance use issues within communities.

Strong and empowered community governance is the backbone to community resilience and Self-Determination and leads to better health outcomes. For this reason APONT’s Partnership Principles have been developed to improve collaboration and coordination between service providers with the aim of strengthening and rebuilding an Aboriginal controlled development and service sector in the NT.

It is widely understood that mental illness carries a certain amount of social stigma. The impact of this is magnified however for Aboriginal people, who are often subject to systemic racism and discrimination in their everyday lives. This is demonstrated in the overrepresentation of Aboriginal young people in justice and child protection systems

Census data from June 2017 revealed that among the 964 young people in detention on an average night in Australia, 53% were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and 64% had not been sentenced. In the Northern Territory, these rates were as high as 95% for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children, with 70% not sentenced.

It is now well known that unresolved traumatic experience impacts the developing brain, causing an over-developed fear response leading to increased stress sensitivity and related symptoms can include isolation, aggression, lack of empathy and impulsive behaviour.

Often children in the youth justice system may appear to be violent, aggressive, oppositional, unreachable or disturbed, however, underlying these behaviours is the grief of a child who has had to live through experiences that no human being should ever experience especially a child who does not have the agency to repair, respond and heal, resulting in feelings of powerlessness, anxiousness, and depression.

For these reasons, having a youth justice system that incorporates punishment as a form of behavioural management will only perpetuate the child’s belief that their world is unsafe, and further compound and escalate complex and violent behaviours. If the emotional and psychological wounds do not get appropriately addressed then there is risk of a lifelong pattern of anger, aggression, self-destructive behaviours, academic and employment failures, and rejection, conflict, and isolation in every key relationship. This cycle of trauma and violence can continue across generations.

AMSANT believes that a youth justice system that is trauma informed and sits within a social emotional wellbeing (SEWB) framework would be a positive way forward in redirecting youth away from the justice system, supporting social and emotional health and aiding in community re-entry.

It is also necessary to understand and confront the cumulative impacts of institutional racialism and discriminative policies. For example, the Intervention in the Northern Territory involved the imposition of a series of punitive measures against 73 Aboriginal communities and denied opportunities for community leaders to govern their own communities. The effects of the Intervention on Indigenous people throughout the NT and the fundamental disempowerment that it represented, can hardly be overstated and is demonstrated in our continuing unacceptable disparity in health outcomes.

However Aboriginal Territorian are working together and in collaboration to overcome these disparities. For example, here in the Territory we have the Aboriginal Health Forum which provides high-level guidance and decision-making. The Forum enables joint planning and information sharing, where partners work together in a spirit of partnership and collaboration.

Nationally AMSANT is involved through the Coalition of Peaks in developing agreed policy positions to negotiate a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap with the Council of Australian Governments or COAG. For a long time, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been calling to have a much greater say in how programs and services are delivered to our peoples.

See Part 3 below to have your say about what is needed to make real change in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people #HaveYourSay about #closingthegap

As a result of the work of the Coalition of Peaks, we are now formally represented on the Joint Council on Closing the Gap – which is the first time an external non-government partner has been included within a COAG structure.

Finally we are seeing a change in the policy conversation on Closing the Gap, with our mob at the decision-making table.

And regionally, leadership exists throughout all of our communities. Even without the resources and empowerment that would allow for leadership and governance to thrive, it is intrinsically there, understood and followed by the protocols of community life and our kinship systems.

Our ACCHS in the Northern Territory recognise social emotional wellbeing as holistic and interconnected which includes our cultural knowledge and practices as well as mental health and the social determinants of health.

Having control and governance over our service delivery has paved the way for innovation and best practice within our SEWB programs.

But first we need to recognise and acknowledge the past to inform our future journey and the sometimes difficult paths we will need to take.

We as Aboriginal people understand the inter-connectivity of all things;

Our call to action is what part will you play, where are you positioned within this connectivity to ensure health and wellbeing is strong for Gayaa Dhuwi our Proud Spirit.

Part 3 Have your say about what is needed to make real change in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people #HaveYourSay about #closingthegap

There is a discussion booklet that has background information on Closing the Gap and sets out what will be talked about in the survey.

The survey will take a little bit of time to complete. It would be great if you can answer all the questions, but you can also just focus on the issues that you care about most.

To help you prepare your answers, you can look at a full copy here

The survey is open to everyone and can be accessed here:

https://www.naccho.org.au/programmes/coalition-of-peaks/have-your-say/

NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce : Donnella Mills @NACCHOChair Keynote Address at #CATSINaM19 Building a workforce and embedding #CulturalSafety : Connecting care through culture

” I’m keen to hear your ideas on how we can cooperate across the sector to develop a better workforce with cultural safety embedded throughout the hundreds of clinics and hospitals across the country.

I was impressed by the theme you chose for your conference: ‘connecting care through culture’. That simple phrase captures so much of what we do in our sector each and every day.

Cultural safety, I believe, is what makes us unique and what represents our greatest strength.

In the Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations – the ACCHOs – you have this reinforced through the operating model.

‘Community control’ is not just a term – it is a 48-year-old model – forged at Redern in 1971 – and now exercised in 144 local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the country.”

Donnella Mills Acting Chair, NACCHO Keynote address at the CATSINaM National Professional Development Conference Sydney 26 September

I would like to acknowledge that this conference is being held on Aboriginal land. I recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation who are the traditional custodians of this place we now call Sydney. I pay my respects to their elders.

For those of you who don’t know me, I am a Torres Strait Islander woman with ancestral and family links to Masig and Nagir. I am the Acting Chair of NACCHO, which stands for the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

I thank the CATSINaM Board for inviting me to deliver this address. It is a privilege to be talking with you today and a special pleasure to be among so many hard-working and dedicated healthcare professionals.

Without you, the Health gap would be so much wider than it is now. Without you, there would be little cultural safety in our hospitals and medical services. I have seen how important your work is on the ground at Wuchopperen and in the other services I have visited. You are the backbone of Aboriginal health.

I plan to speak for about 25 minutes. That will leave us about 20 minutes for yarning at the end. I’m keen to hear your ideas on how we can cooperate across the sector to develop a better workforce with cultural safety embedded throughout the hundreds of clinics and hospitals across the country.

Community control

Our people trust us with their health. We build ongoing relationships to give continuity of care so that chronic conditions are managed and preventative health care is effectively targeted.

Studies have shown that Aboriginal controlled health services are 23% better at attracting and retaining Aboriginal clients than mainstream providers.

Through local engagement and a proven service delivery model, our clients ‘stick’. The cultural safety in which we provide our services is a key factor of our success. In this way, ACCHOs are already ‘leading the way’.

We also build partnerships that make things work. Leadership is not all about the strength to stand up on your own, it is about being smart enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with one another. It is about galvanising support on the ground. It is about forging alliances in the sector and building strategic partnerships at the national level.

Employment

Another strength – one that we tend to overlook – is the sheer size of our sector. Let’s have a look at the ACCHO part of it alone. It is not widely known, but the 144 ACCHOs, collectively, are the single largest employer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. That means that one in every 44 Indigenous jobs in Australia is at one of our health services.

If we add the Aboriginal health workers in the mainstream and the rest of the sector, these numbers become all the more impressive.

Our sector is doing more to close the employment gap than any of the employment measures dreamed up by Government agencies.

If the Government really wants to get people off welfare, don’t punish vulnerable people with cashless welfare cards, robo-debts or by sending them off to meaningless Work for the Dole activities.

Work with our sector and grow the Aboriginal workforce together. We have real jobs located in real communities. That is where the investment needs to go.

We should remind our politicians of this when they visit us.

They may see a small clinic somewhere with a few staff, but if they understood that we are part of a huge national network of Aboriginal professionals, they might take more notice of us and realise what we have to offer.

Comprehensive primary health care

Another challenge for us is continuing the development of a comprehensive primary health care model. I think we have been hearing this since the release of the National Aboriginal Health Strategy way back in 1989.

Twenty-one years later, a study concluded that ACCHOs are one of a very few settings where ‘comprehensive primary health care’ is delivered. If we keep offering a comprehensive approach for primary health care across the nation, our people will be much less likely to fall between the cracks.

We can do this through colocation of services or forming partnerships at the local level. This can include clinical care, immunisation and environmental health programs, on-site pharmaceutical dispensing and partnerships with family violence, child protection counselling and legal services.

We can also develop links with sports programs, homelessness services, dental services, aged care and disability support. None of these elements can fully succeed when they stand alone. The voluminous literature on the social determinants of health tell us that. But more importantly, it is what we all know from our own personal experiences.

You don’t need an academic to tell you that comprehensive primary health care is the best approach. We all know this intuitively and from our experiences on the ground.

I am not saying that we should all diversify or ‘dilute’ what we are doing. What I am saying is that while we focus on our core activities, we should also be taking every opportunity we can to link up with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services and programs in complementary areas.

From my own experience ….

When you think about it, it should not be hard to promote ourselves; to sell ourselves to a new Government. After all, we provide value for money. ACCHOs result in greater health benefits per dollar spent; measured at a value of $1.19 for every $1 spent.

Studies have also shown that the lifetime health impact of interventions delivered by ACCHOs is 50% greater than if these same interventions were delivered by mainstream health services. This is primarily due to improved Aboriginal access and outcomes.

I don’t need to tell you that we also have some pretty significant challenges ahead of us. And I’d like to address these now, one by one.

Remuneration

If we are serious about workforce development, then we cannot ignore the issue of wages. Correct me if I am wrong, but from what I have heard, remuneration is a big issue for nurses and midwives. The ALP, as part of its election platform in May of this year had much to say about improving wages and conditions in the childcare sector, and justifiably so. Childcare is another industry in which women dominate, but are underpaid.

We need the Commonwealth and State Governments to take a similar approach to nurses and midwives. As you all know, women make up almost 90% of all employed nurses and midwives. Representative bodies like NACCHO and CATSINaM need to work together to drive this message home to Governments across the country. Remuneration is an important aspect in attracting and retaining staff.

Vocational development

I think we need to keep improving the career development opportunities and skills acquisition not just for nurses and midwives, but for all Aboriginal health workers. Currently, there is an imbalance in the medical services in which we see more Aboriginal people on the lower levels and amongst the non-clinical staff.

The graph in my presentation shows the situation for ACCHOs. We need more Aboriginal non-clinical staff but we need even more Aboriginal clinical staff.

Recruitment

I see that CATSINaM has a proud record in increasing its membership in recent years. I think you had a record number in your 2018 Annual Report – 1,366 members – representing a jump of 35%. Clearly, you are doing something right to have recruited so many new members.

You must have won the trust of your members to have such a healthy and expanding membership base. With almost half of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwifes in Australia as your members, CATSINaM is the key organisation in addressing many of the workforce development issues in our sector.

Certainly, much more needs to be done to develop career pathways to secure more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwifes as well as more doctors and allied health professionals.

Across Australia in 2015 the AIHW reported that there were only about 180 medical practitioners, 750 allied health professionals, and 3,200 nurses (including 230 midwives) who identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. For nurses, this represents just over 1% of all employed nurses and midwives Australia-wide.

The Northern Territory (2.4%) and Tasmania (2.2%) had the highest proportion of Aboriginal nurses and midwives, while Victoria had the lowest (0.5%). Compare these figures to our proportion of working-age Australians – close to 3.%. We should have 3% of all nurses and midwives, not 1%.

As I have already said, our sector is the largest employer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country.

Now, if the ACCHOs as a group employ about 6,000 staff, of which 56 per cent are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, then we still have another 2,500 jobs in our own sector which could be filled by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We have a significant opportunity here. Think of what we could do for our people if we filled such a large number of jobs.

Retention

A big challenge that we confront every day – particularly in the bush – is retention. Stress and burnout is a real problem as Fran Baum’s research has shown. Turnover of staff is high and vacancies remain unfilled for longer than we would like.

With so many vacancies, particularly in remote clinics, a concerted effort could also have a significant positive impact on the size and health of our workforce. It is troubling to hear of the high reported vacancy rate of 6% (i.e. about 380 vacancies at any point in time).

Nevertheless, ACCHOs are doing pretty well in comparison with mainstream and non-Aboriginal organisations. The proportion of health vacancies was 6% compared with 9% for other organisations. My guess is that it is cultural safety that explains the advantage here.

So, if we have a good model and we have sector already working hard for Aboriginal health, then how are we going?

Life expectancy target not met

If we look at just one of the ‘Closing the Gap’ targets – life expectancy – you can see how stark the differences are. According to ABS data, which probably overestimate Aboriginal life expectancy, non-Aboriginal Australians can expect to live to about the age of 82. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are lucky to make it to 72. T

hat’s a ten-year difference. We would be better off living in other countries where the life expectancy is higher. Countries – believe it or not – like Bangladesh or Azerbaijan. Life expectancy is longer in some Third World countries than it is for our people.

Funding for Aboriginal health has fallen

Despite all the words we have heard from Commonwealth and State Governments over the years about ‘Closing the Gap’, instead of increasing expenditure, Governments have actually decreased expenditure on Aboriginal health over the past decade.

Governments need to spend two to three times more on Aboriginal health if we are to have a level of funding commensurate with the actual cost of the burden of disease. This is a huge sum – about $1.4 billion per year – on one estimate.

In real terms health expenditure (excluding hospital expenditure) for Aboriginal people fell 2% from $3,840 per person in 2008 to $3,780 per person in 2016. Over the same period, expenditure on non-Aboriginal people rose by 10%. How can you expect to close the gap when you are reducing funding for our people and increasing it for the non-Aboriginal population?

If we act as one, we can turn things around.

Look at the way that the Aboriginal peaks, like NACCHO and CATSINaM, stood together to force the nine Australian governments to restart the Closing the Gap process. Before we came together and complained to them, the consultation process was expensive lip service.

Before we stood together with one voice, our separate voices were ignored. Now they are listening. Now things are back on track.

Funds are tighter than ever to procure, but, over the years, we have built a world class model of health care and there is too much at stake for us now to start drifting backwards now.

The timing is critical, especially now that we have a re-elected Government and the new arrangements in the administration of Aboriginal programs. It is great to see Ken Wyatt as the first Aboriginal Cabinet member as the Minister for Indigenous Australians.

But we need to engage as closely as we can with him and with Minister Hunt. We also need to keep the dialogue open with Senator Dodson, Senator McCarthy and the Member for Barton in NSW, Linda Burney.

There are also plenty of good Aboriginal leaders in the State and Territory Governments and I urge you to keep talking to them. It is important to have our voice heard.

Especially when we face a mainstream system that continues to overlook us; especially when we have a mainstream system that continues to patronise us. If we don’t act now and keep the pressure up, we will lose some of our recent hard-won gains.

The future

Despite the appalling funding neglect for programs and the low wages paid to our health workers, you have shone in adversity. You are resilient. You survive despite whatever circumstances you find yourselves in.

It’s self-determination and the need to control our own health programs that led to the ACCHO model of care in the first place. It is a lesson for our sector.

If the system was working now, we would have zero preventable hospital admissions. The evidence is not just here, it is overseas as well.

In Canada it has been shown that First Nations communities that transitioned from government-control to community-control of health services experienced a 30% reduction in hospitalisation rates compared with communities where government control was maintained.

In a perfect world our model of primary care through community control would also be complete. We would have full coverage across the land.

We would also have an Aboriginal NDIS workforce in fully-funded models for disability services rolled out, Australia-wide.

And of course, all this hinges on a more accountable public health system and an uncapped needs-based funding model. Who knows, if we had all these things, we may even seriously imagine a future in which we have actually closed the health gap.

With Aboriginal health in Aboriginal hands I know that we can get there eventually.

NACCHO and CATSINaM can continue to work together and to set the way forward for Aboriginal health.

But we can also show the non-Aboriginal population what is possible. It is this future that I imagine for my daughter and my own family.

I am sure that it is a vision that we all share.

Leading the way for all of Australia through cultural safety and respect.

Have your say about what is needed to make real change in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people #HaveYourSay about #closingthegap

There is a discussion booklet that has background information on Closing the Gap and sets out what will be talked about in the survey.

The survey will take a little bit of time to complete. It would be great if you can answer all the questions, but you can also just focus on the issues that you care about most.

To help you prepare your answers, you can look at a full copy here

The survey is open to everyone and can be accessed here:

https://www.naccho.org.au/programmes/coalition-of-peaks/have-your-say/

NACCHO Aboriginal Health and #Disability NEWS #HaveYourSay about #closingthegap @AfdoOffice Launches three new studies highlighting the economic and health impacts of disability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples

“For Indigenous Australians living in regional and remote regions, it can be unfeasible to meet the medical evidence requirements as well as access treatments because of the lack of readily available specialists and medical services.

There are also really serious implications around their personal time and the resources that they have to invest in, in order to collate that evidence, travelling long distances to and from appointments to gain the medical evidence required which is not funded.”

Applicants also required significant support and assistance with advocating their eligibility for the DSP, understanding the paperwork and attending appointments.

In many cases, family members, non-medical service providers and medical practitioners stepped into an advocacy role. ”

Associate Professor Karen Soldactic, a lead author of a report examining the challenges of Indigenous people accessing the DSP told Maggie Coggan is a journalist with Pro Bono News

Download the Report HERE

Indigenous Disabililty support

“The lack of aged care and disability services in regional and remote areas is a major problem that needs to be addressed in ways that take account of the lack of economies of scale and difficulty in attracting health professionals to such areas, as well the need for culturally responsive service delivery. This requires consideration of regional hub models and opportunities for joint initiatives in workforce development, capacity building and the employment of specialist and other allied health professionals.

Some ACCHSs already provide aged care and disability services, sometimes by default due to the failure or lack of service providers. There is further potential for ACCHSs to employ staff who can provide aged care and disability services.

Our vision is for people with disabilities in remote and regional areas to be able to access the services they need and to lead active and fulfilling lives. And for our old people to be able to live out their days in dignity on country and pass away surrounded by family.

We have such a long way to go to achieve this vision and we hope that the current Royal Commissions into these areas will provide a catalyst for action.”

AMSANT CEO John Paterson Speaking at IAHA Conference in Darwin this week : Read full speech

Read subscribe to NACCHO Aboriginal Heath Disability NDIS News

First Peoples Disability Network Australia is a national organisation of and for Australia’s First Peoples with disability, their families and communities.

Part 1

Two in five Indigenous households relying on the Disability Support Pension ran out of money for basic items such as food and fuel in the last year, new research shows, prompting calls from disability advocates for the government to urgently review the scheme.

The research is one of three new studies highlighting the economic and health impacts of disability, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, officially launched on Tuesday by the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO).

The research found Aborginal and Torres Strait Islanders were two and a half times more likely to be on the Disability Support Pension than their non-Indigenous counterparts because of greater exposure to disadvantage, and were more likely to face barriers when accessing support.

Associate Professor Karen Soldactic, a lead author of a report examining the challenges of Indigenous people accessing the DSP, said the extensive evidence required to prove a person had a permanent disability was often a difficult and expensive exercise.

People with disability were found to spend $107 a week more on basic living costs such as transport and healthcare than people without disability and due to successive governments cracking down on the eligibility criteria of the scheme, many who may have been eligible in the past no longer had access to the DSP.

The pool of disability pensioners shrunk from 824,470 in 2014 to 750,045 in 2018.

In 2010-11, 69 per cent of claims were successful. Now, only 29.8 per cent of applicants are approved.

More than 200,000 people with disability were now receiving the lower Newstart Allowance (NSA) and tens of thousands of people were not receiving any support at all.

The report found over 13 per cent of Indigenous DSP recipients could not afford meals, 23 per cent sought financial help from welfare groups, and 34 per cent went to family and friends for money.

AFDO CEO, Ross Joyce said the financial cost of living with disability and the declining access to the DSP was causing significant economic, social, psychological stress and unnecessary hardship for people with disability.

“There are a lot of additional costs of living with disability, including accessible housing, transport and access to health services. These costs are particularly acute for people with disability living in regional and remote areas of Australia,” Joyce said.

AFDO and the report authors said the government needed to immediately review the adequacy of the DSP to ensure the eligibility process didn’t cause further financial hardship, and was fair for all participants.

Joyce said the barriers put in place by both Labor and Coalition governments for people accessing the DSP over the past two decades needed to be wound back.

“Those changes haven’t resulted in more people with disability working,” he said.

“Instead they’ve resigned more people with disability to poverty and financial insecurity and caused stress and heartache.”

Have your say about what is needed to make real change in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people #HaveYourSay about #closingthegap

There is a discussion booklet that has background information on Closing the Gap and sets out what will be talked about in the survey.

The survey will take a little bit of time to complete. It would be great if you can answer all the questions, but you can also just focus on the issues that you care about most.

To help you prepare your answers, you can look at a full copy here

The survey is open to everyone and can be accessed here:

https://www.naccho.org.au/programmes/coalition-of-peaks/have-your-say/

NACCHO Aboriginal Health and our Workforce #IAHAConf19 #ClosingTheGap : Read John Paterson’s CEO @AMSANTaus Keynote Speech :The importance of collaboration , partnerships and the role of leadership vital in supporting and expanding our Aboriginal health workforce.

” Allied health professionals play a very important role in the health system and our services increasingly employ a range of allied health professionals as part of providing holistic, comprehensive primary health care: podiatrists, diabetes educators, dieticians, optometrists, audiologists, dental workers and physiotherapists.

Some areas have received increasing recognition and associated resourcing. For example, better understanding of the issues associated with social and emotional wellbeing, the impact of trauma and the need to address the tragic loss of so many of our people to suicide, has resulted in increased resourcing and employment of allied health professionals, particularly within the multi-disciplinary teams of our health services.

IAHA’s role, as is AMSANT’s, is to build our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce that is critical to improving health outcomes.”

John Paterson CEO AMSANT Keynote Speech IAHA Conference Darwin 25 September

I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners on whose land we gather upon today, the Larrakia people – and to honour their leaders past, present and emerging.

My name is John Paterson and I am the Chief Executive Officer of Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT, or more commonly known as AMSANT. AMSANT is the peak body for Aboriginal community controlled health services (ACCHSs) in the Northern Territory and we are an affiliate of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, NACCHO. We provide a range of support to our members including workforce, public health, policy, digital health, continuous quality improvement and trauma informed care.

I’d like to thank the Indigenous Allied Health Association for inviting me to present this morning at this important conference.

I’d also like to acknowledge my colleague, Donna Ah Chee, who gave an inspiring keynote speech yesterday. In her presentation, Donna outlined the characteristics and importance of the comprehensive model of primary health care, delivered through Aboriginal community controlled health services, and so I won’t go over the same ground here today.

Instead I’d like to focus on the importance of collaboration and partnership that in many ways have come to define the way we work in Aboriginal health; and also to reflect on the role of leadership that is so vital in supporting and expanding our Aboriginal health workforce.

Can I firstly congratulate IAHA on celebrating their first 10 years—hopefully the first decade of many more to come—and to acknowledge their hard work across the nation to build and support quality Indigenous Allied Health professionals for our mob.

I would also like to acknowledge IAHA’s CEO, Donna Murray, their board and its members for the hard work you continue to do to build IAHA to where it is today. We look forward to seeing where your future takes you.

We know how important it is to have our own Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander national and peak organisations to advocate for our mob. We have to be there, in the tent, at the negotiating table, making our case.

And we’ve got to be working together.

One of my other hats is as one of the governing group of CEOs of the Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT, or APO NT, along with the CEOs of the Northern Land Council and Central Land Council. The APO NT alliance was formed in 2010 to provide coordinated Aboriginal leadership in the Territory in the wake of the NT Intervention, although we have also worked effectively at the national level.

APO NT is a member of the National Indigenous Coalition of Peaks, within which IAHA is also represented as a member. The work of the Coalition of Peaks and the outcomes we are achieving in relation to a renegotiation of Closing the Gap is an important example of why working together in partnership is so vital to the future of Aboriginal health. This is a theme I will return to later in my presentation.

The other critical element, of course, is the frontline workers at the health service and community levels, who care for our mob. I want to acknowledge and thank all of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Allied Health Professionals and students in the room today and across the nation who do such an exceptional job in their chosen fields to help make a difference in health.

Find a a job in an ACCHO with NACCHO Job Alerts

You are an essential part of the health system and we thank you for your tireless efforts in everything that you do.

Allied health professionals play a very important role in the health system and our services increasingly employ a range of allied health professionals as part of providing holistic, comprehensive primary health care: podiatrists, diabetes educators, dieticians, optometrists, audiologists, dental workers and physiotherapists.

IAHA’s role, as is AMSANT’s, is to build our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce that is critical to improving health outcomes.

The untapped potential is huge. Collectively, the Aboriginal community controlled health sector employs about 6,000 staff, 56 per cent whom are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This makes us the single largest employer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the country.

But there is still such a long way to go.

One of the areas requiring attention is the need to be advocating for more allied health positions within our sector. Many Aboriginal community controlled health services are not sufficiently funded to employ the multi-disciplinary workforce required to deliver the full range of core comprehensive primary health care services. Expanding and increasing the resourcing of Aboriginal community-controlled comprehensive primary health care services is a key strategy in developing our Indigenous workforce, particularly in allied health positions.

Further potential is provided by the opportunities to expand services in regional and remote areas in aged care and through the NDIS.

The lack of aged care and disability services in regional and remote areas is a major problem that needs to be addressed in ways that take account of the lack of economies of scale and difficulty in attracting health professionals to such areas, as well the need for culturally responsive service delivery. This requires consideration of regional hub models and opportunities for joint initiatives in workforce development, capacity building and the employment of specialist and other allied health professionals.

We have such a long way to go to achieve this vision and we hope that the current Royal Commissions into these areas will provide a catalyst for action.

Increasingly, building our Indigenous workforce requires collaboration between providers and sectors. AMSANT works in collaboration with a wide range of key stakeholders to create career opportunities for our next generation coming through, and to build initiatives and opportunities for our existing Aboriginal health workforce in developing career pathways, whether it be as community workers, health workers or in management.

An important initiative for AMSANT has been our involvement in the Lowitja Institute-funded Career Pathways Project. This is an Aboriginal-led national research project to provide insights and guidance to enhance the capacity of the health system to retain and support the development and careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the health workforce. The project partners include Aboriginal health services in NSW and the NT along with university and peak organisation partners.

This project was important to us. We wanted to give our Aboriginal health professionals a voice that was evidence-based. To be able to provide solutions from the ground up that we could advocate for at local, regional and national platforms. To demonstrate with evidence where the need for investment is and emphasise how critical our Aboriginal health workforce is to improve health outcomes for our mob.

Other significant collaborations include working with Indigenous workforce bodies, such as IAHA and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers Association, or NATSIHWA, on expanding Indigenous workforce in key areas.

You may have heard yesterday that AMSANT has been working in partnership with IAHA for the past 2-3 years to develop and implement a VET in schools pathway for high school students here in Darwin. This will provide students an opportunity to gain a qualification in allied health support and consider a career in health.

This has been a priority for AMSANT for many years, to source opportunities in many health disciplines for the next generation of our kids to start a journey in health. We have known for too long here in the NT that there are simply not enough opportunities for our kids to start that journey. A journey that is supported, nurtured and led by the Aboriginal health sector.

We have also successfully advocated alongside IAHA and other key organisations to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) at a meeting in Alice Springs, for the development of an Aboriginal health workforce plan.

The important message from this is that we can’t do workforce strategy, or broader health strategy for that matter, alone.

Partnerships are vital. We need them to help bridge the gap between the too-often siloed mentality of governments and funders and the reality that health is holistic and demands focus on the big picture.

Partnerships enable us to work together to push the health agenda and encourage investment in the areas our communities so desperately need.

This means following the evidence and advocating on it.

For example, it’s now commonly understood that health services only account for approximately a third of health outcomes, with the other two thirds accounted for by the social and cultural determinants of health.

Increasingly, AMSANT’s partnerships have focused on health determinants, following the evidence and responding to the issues raised by our membership and the community. Our sector’s model of comprehensive primary health care encourages cross sectoral action on the social determinants.

Housing has been at the forefront of community concern, with high levels of overcrowded and inadequate housing and homelessness. We know the health and wellbeing impacts that poor housing and homelessness causes. This includes impacts on the Aboriginal health workforce who struggle with living in inadequate or overcrowded houses while maintaining their responsibilities to their work in health. Strong Aboriginal advocacy on housing is needed.

As a member of APO NT, AMSANT has contributed to the development of a Northern Territory Aboriginal peak housing body, Aboriginal Housing NT or AHNT. The new body will provide a strong Aboriginal voice on housing as well as a mechanism for government to engage with in increasing the involvement of Aboriginal organisations in housing provision and management.

I use this example to illustrate the importance of taking a role in advocating on the social determinants as a means of improving health outcomes as opposed to focusing exclusively on health service or disease specific strategies.

However, it also illustrates the point that I began this presentation with—the importance of Aboriginal leadership and having our own Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to advocate for our mob and to deliver services to our communities that are culturally responsive and effective.

I want to return briefly to my earlier mention of Closing the Gap and the membership of APO NT and IAHA as members of the National Indigenous Coalition of Peaks.

The Coalition of Peaks emerged as a result of a group of national Indigenous organisations writing to the Prime Minister in relation to the exclusion of our mob from the decision-making process for the Closing the Gap Refresh.

After ten years of failed progress under Closing the Gap we weren’t about to submit to another top-down, government-imposed process on our communities.

The letter sparked a meeting with the Prime Minister and subsequently, negotiations with the Council of Australian Governments, or COAG, that have resulted in a formal Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap with the Coalition of Peaks, and the establishment of a Joint Council on Closing the Gap with the Coalition of Peaks represented as a Council member—the first time that a non-governmental body has been represented within a COAG structure.

Importantly, the central ask of the Coalition of Peaks, is not around new indicators—although these are important tools to get right—but for a fundamental change in the way governments work with our people and the full involvement of our people in shared decision-making at all levels.

This includes a commitment to building, strengthening and expanding the formal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled sector to deliver Closing the Gap services and programs.

We are also calling for the new Closing the Gap strategy to be properly funded, at least matching the ten-year funding of the original Closing the Gap.

The potential for this new national partnership with government is that support for the expansion of the Aboriginal community controlled service delivery sector and with it the Indigenous health workforce could be a game-changer.

While nothing is certain in this world, this is one development that gives me real hope that fundamental change is possible.

Have Your Say SURVEY HERE

And it started with Aboriginal leadership.

Of course, Aboriginal leadership is just as important at the sector and service level if we are to be true to our commitment to the aspirations and standards of community control.

AMSANT has been committed to building leadership capacity within the health sector in the NT and has been delivering leadership workshops for over 11 years now. We have recently developed a formal partnership with the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre which will further build our capacity in leadership support within the NT. We look forward to seeing this partnership develop and deliver for our sector.

We especially need to acknowledge our elders—our leaders and mentors who have or still work tirelessly to keep doing what they do to give our communities the best possible chance of improving health outcomes. Too often they are the unsung heroes that have paved the way for the next generations to keep building on the hard work that’s been done.

Leadership is vital at every level, not least in supporting our Aboriginal workforce. We know the many challenges that our workforce face, dealing with burnout, the vicarious trauma they experience, as well as day to day stress—and we know that we have to have in place effective strategies to support them. We know there is much still to do in supporting career pathways. And we know that there are many issues of equity, such as addressing the lack of housing for local workers.

The Aboriginal health sectors and its workforce has decades of knowledge, know-how and lived experience to know what we need by way of services and ways to improve health outcomes.

AMSANT recently celebrated our 25^th anniversary and our oldest member service, the Central Australia Aboriginal Congress, has now been in existence for 45 years. They, along with other pioneers such as the Redfern Medical Service, paved the way for the more than 150 Aboriginal community controlled health services that are currently working for our communities across the country.

Here in the Territory, AMSANT is a member of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Forum along with the Northern Territory and Commonwealth governments, and the NT Primary Health Network. The Forum is a high level Aboriginal health planning body that assures us a seat at the table.

Our sector today continues the mission it took on 45 years ago to provide Aboriginal community controlled holistic, comprehensive primary health care to our people. We have continued to grow our place in the health system, currently providing around two thirds of all primary health care services to our communities. And we are supported to continue to transfer government run services to community control over time.

I hope that the students amongst the audience today can take encouragement from this history of our sector, that you have a secure future in Aboriginal health and that you have a welcome place in our services.

Believe me, as a former bureaucrat and ATSIC Commissioner, there is not much that survives the relentlessly changing priorities of government. That we continue to prevail is a true success story!

And I hope you can take the courage to dream big as our leaders did all those years ago.

Today we have a new vision to follow: the Uluru Statement from the Heart, adopted by the First Nations National Constitutional Convention at Uluru in May 2017.

Treaty, truth, voice!

We have support and as Indigenous peoples we are persistent and patient.

But keep that fire in your belly!

I hope you enjoy the rest of the conference and I wish you all the very best for your futures.

Thank you.

NACCHO Aboriginal #MentalHealth Download @NMHC National Report 2019 Released today : The Australian Government encourages PHNs to position Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services as preferred providers for mental health and suicide prevention services for our mob

” Working to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is a priority area for PHNs.

The PHN Advisory Panel Report recommended that PHN funds for mental health and suicide prevention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be provided directly to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) as a priority, unless a better arrangement can be demonstrated.

The Senate Inquiry into the accessibility and quality of mental health services in rural and remote Australia also made a similar recommendation.

PHNs should continue to work on formalising partnerships with ACCHS.

The NMHC supports the recommendations made by both these reports and recommends that the Australian Government encourages PHNs to position ACCHS as preferred providers for mental health and suicide prevention services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people “

Extract from Page 14

Recommendation 16: The Australian Government encourages PHNs to position Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services as preferred providers for mental health and suicide prevention services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The National Mental Health Commission today released its National Report 2019 on Australia’s mental health and suicide prevention system, including recommendations to improve outcomes.

Download the full 97 Page Report HERE

National_Report_2019

or 9 Page Summary HERE

National Report 2019 Summary – Accessible PDF

The Commission continues to recommend a whole-of-government approach to mental health and suicide prevention.

This broad approach ensures factors which impact individuals’ mental health and wellbeing such as housing, employment, education and social justice are addressed alongside the delivery of mental health care.

National Mental Health Commission Advisory Board Chair, Lucy Brogden, said we are living in a time when we’re seeing unprecedented investment and interest in making substantial improvements to our mental health system.

“Current national reforms are key, but complex, interrelated and broad in scope, and will take time before their implementation leads to tangible change for consumers and carers,” Mrs Brogden said.

“The National Report indicates while there are significant reforms underway at national, state and local levels, it’s crucial that we maintain momentum and implement these recommendations to ensure sustained change for consumers and carers.”

National Mental Health Commission CEO Christine Morgan said the National Report findings align with what Australians are sharing as part of the Connections Project, which has provided opportunities for the Commission to hear directly from consumers, carers and families, as well as service providers, about their experience of the current mental health system.

“What’s clear is we must remain focused on long term health objectives. Implementation of these targeted recommendations will support this focus,” Ms Morgan said.

The NMHC recommendations require collaboration across the sector. As part of its ongoing monitoring and report role, the NMHC will work with stakeholders to identify how progress of the recommendations can be measured.

For your nearest ACCHO contact for HELP

NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News

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Tag Archives: Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service

NACCHO Aboriginal Health @AIDAAustralia News : The @AMAPresident Dr Tony Bartone speech opening #AIDAConf2019 : We must use collective wisdom and advocacy to ensure that #ClosingtheGap is not just words, but a meaningful and deliverable target. #HaveYourSayCTG

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NACCHO Aboriginal Women’s Health : October is #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth Our Feature Story @VACCHO_org BreastScreen Victoria’s hot pink breast screening vans Plus Download Resources from @CancerAustralia

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NACCHO Aboriginal Health Job alerts at many of our 302 ACCHO : Features #AIDAconf2019 #disruptinnovate @AIDAAustralia Plus #QLD @Apunipima @IUIH_ #NT @CAACongress @MiwatjHealth Sunrise @AMSANTaus @DanilaDilba

Over 302 ACCHO clinics See all websites by state territory

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JOBS AT IUIH check the closing dates as some may have closed

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The Coalition of Peaks will be leading #HaveYourSayCTG meetings with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations on #ClosingtheGap during the month of October.

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NACCHO Aboriginal Health Conferences and Events #Saveadate : This week #AIDAconf19 plus REGISTRATIONS open for our #NACCHOAgm19 #NACCHOYouth19 November 4 to 7 Plus #ClosingTheGap #HaveYourSayCTG closes 25 October

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NACCHO Aboriginal Health and our Workforce #IAHAConf19 #ClosingTheGap : Read John Paterson’s CEO @AMSANTaus Keynote Speech :The importance of collaboration , partnerships and the role of leadership vital in supporting and expanding our Aboriginal health workforce.

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