The South East Koori Men’s Facilitators Network in NSW was recently established to achieve a major priority in Aboriginal health.
That is, getting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Men’s health and thier social and emotional well being back to what it once was.
Dwayne Bannon -Harrison on of the organisers said that the network may have had had diversity in culture and communities however there was connectedness,need and oneness “for our mob to bring the Warrior back. ”
The network pictured above gathered recently at the South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation (SCMSAC) , Regional Services Outreach Office in Falls Creek near Nowra on the NSW South Coast.
There were Aboriginal health workers, AOD Workers, Men’s Group/program facilitators, Funding body representatives, ACCHO board members and mental health workers. The workers all work and are involved with Aboriginal & TSI Men’s Programs, coming from communities all over the South Coast and South East Region
This Network was initiated by SCMSAC –SU/SEWB workers Dwayne Bannon-Harrison & Nathan Deaves, the core focus of this network is to give support to the facilitators on how to establish and maintain Aboriginal Men’s Groups and importantly look after and support the SEWB of the facilitators.
The inaugural meeting was the transfer of knowledge and discussion in regards to Men’s health and SEWB was powerful and very proactive.
Key points and issues were recorded and the strategies on how to counteract those issues will be worked on at the next meeting at the Illawarra Koori Men’s Group Facility in Albion Park NSW on the 13th May 2013. The meetings will be taken all around the region so they can be co-facilitated and hosted by the communities in the network.
Any further enquiries or request for information can be forwarded on to
Dwayne Bannon-Harrison – Dwayne@southcoastams.org.au 0422 233 296
Nathan Deaves – Nathan@southcoastams.org.au 0412 422 026
Attendees
Eric Winch; Illawarra Health & Illawarra Men’s Group Facilitator
Shane Venebles; Illawarra Men’s Group Coordinator
Des Rogers; Congress (Ingkintja) Alice Springs
Mark Saunders; NACCHO Men’s Health Research & Policy Officer
John Bolt; Illawarra Health & SCMSAC Board member
Les Davidson; SCMSAC AOD Outreach Worker & Men’s Group Facilitator
Darren Beetson; Wandama D/A AOD worker &/Men’s Group facilitator
Joe Brierley; South Coast Medicare Local& Men’s Group Facilitator
Ray Smith; FAHCSIA & Indigenous Coordination Centre Batemans Bay
Bruce Sutton; SCMSAC Tobacco Action & Healthy Lifestyle Worker
Ronnie Thomas; Illawarra Health Community Health Worker
Darcy Trindall; SCMSAC Tobacco Action & Healthy Lifestyle Worker
Shane Friend; Illawarra Health Aboriginal AOD worker
Warren Field; SCMSAC AOD Outreach Worker & Men’s Group Facilitator
Daniel Malcon; Illawarra Health Sexual Health Worker
Paul Carbery; Oolong/ Healing House Men’s Program & Respite Facilitator
Colin Cowell; NACCHO National Media and Communications Adviser
Dwayne Bannon- Harrison; SCMSAC Men’s Group Facilitator
Nathan Deaves: SCMSAC SU/SEWB
Apologies
Brendan Church; Aboriginal Justice Centre CEO
Peter Savage; Aboriginal Justice Centre BTH Worker
Warren Daley; Aboriginal Justice Centre Case Worker
Steve Jackson; Katungul AMS AOD Worker
David Naden; Winnunga AMS AOD Worker
Ian Bateman; Winnunga AMS SEWB Team Leader Healthy Lifestyle
David Maher; Wandama D/A AOD Worker & Men’s Group Facilitator
Dennis Scott; South Coast Medicare Local & Men’s Group Facilitator
Chris Ardler; Oolong/ Healing House Men’s Program & Respite Facilitator
SAVE A DATE-TBC
National White Ocre Day-Aboriginal Male Health Day
Canberra 8 August 2013
More details; Mark Saunders NACCHO mark@naccho.org.au