Tag Archives: Indigenous People

NACCHO celebrates International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

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NACCHO today celebrates our international involvement with International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Pictured above NACCHO’s Lisa Briggs,Matthew Cooke and Professor Ngiare Brown at the UN in New York (May 2013)

“We must ensure the participation of indigenous peoples – women and men – in decision-making at all levels.

This includes discussions on accelerating action towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals and defining the post-2015 development agenda

2013 Theme: “Indigenous peoples building alliances: Honouring treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements”

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People (9 August) was first proclaimed by the General Assembly in December 1994, to be celebrated every year during the first International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (1995 – 2004).

In 2004, the Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade, from 2005 – 2014, with the theme of “A Decade for Action and Dignity.” The focus of this year’s International Day is “Indigenous peoples building alliances: Honouring treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements.”

The theme aims to highlight the importance of honouring arrangements between States, their citizens and indigenous peoples that were designed to recognize indigenous peoples’ rights to their lands and establish a framework for living in proximity and entering into economic relationships. Agreements also outline a political vision of different sovereign peoples living together on the same land, according to the principles of friendship, cooperation and peace.

A special event at UN Headquarters in New York will be held on Friday, 9 August, starting at 3pm, featuring the UN Secretary-General, the Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, a delegate of Panama, a representative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, and an indigenous representative. The event will be webcast live at webtv.un.org.

Also on 9 August, hundreds of indigenous and non-indigenous rowers are scheduled to arrive at Pier 96 at 57th Street in Manhattan at 10am, after having collectively travelled thousands of miles on rivers and horsebacks to honour the first treaty -– the Two Row Wampum -– concluded between Dutch immigrants and the Haudenosaunee (a confederacy of six nations, with capital in the Onondaga nation, in NY State) 400 years ago, in 1613. They will gather with members of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza at 1:30pm.

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Ten great reasons why you should not miss the NACCHO Aboriginal health summit In Adelaide

5.Healthy Futures Great

Inaugural Aboriginal health summit: why Aboriginal community control works

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) will hold their first ever National Aboriginal Primary Health Care Summit in Adelaide later this month.

NACCHO Primary Health Care Summit

20th-22nd August 2013

Adelaide Convention Centre

The inaugural summit, which goes for three days, will bring health service professionals from around the country together to discuss national, state and local best practice in health management, and focus on three key themes: primary health care, governance, and workforce.

10 great reasons why you should not miss the NACCHO summit In Adelaide

  1. Inspiring speakers
  2. Opportunities to meet old friends and make new ones
  3. Practical take-home ideas
  4. Entertainment
  5. Resources to equip you
  6. What about ‘Three streams of break-out sessions each day’
  7. Social events
  8. Opportunities to partner with other organisations and people from inside and beyond the ACCH sector
  9. Delicious food (health of course)
  10. and Aboriginal community control according to Justin Mohamed

For more information and to register visit http://www.naccho.org.au

NACCHO Chair, Justin Mohamed (pictured above left with Megan Davis and Deputy Matthew Cooke)  said the Health Summit was a great opportunity to showcase the incredible contribution Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations are making in their communities.

“We have concrete evidence that Aboriginal health in Aboriginal hands is what is really making the difference in achieving health outcomes for our people,” Mr Mohamed said.

“We are seeing big improvements in child birth weights, maternal health and management of chronic diseases like diabetes, highlighted recently in a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Healthy for Life Report Card.

“The Aboriginal community controlled health model has been working well for 40 years, and it is important that we get together to share best practice and discuss issues and areas where we can make improvements.

“Over the three days, summit participants will hear from Aboriginal leaders who are making a real difference in their communities.

“Our culturally appropriate health providers with majority Aboriginal governance are not only providing comprehensive primary health care to just under half of Australia’s total Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, but are one of the largest employers of Aboriginal people as well.

“There is still a long way to go to Close the Gap and to build a healthy future for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations are part of this picture and achieving targets to deliver better health outcomes.

NACCHO Primary Health Care Summit

20th-22nd August 2013

Adelaide Convention Centre

For more information and to register visit http://www.naccho.org.au

 

 Media contact: Colin Cowell 0401 331 251, Anaya Latter 0432 121 636

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NACCHO award winning member news: Carbal Medical Centre QLD takes top gong at awards

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Article by: Adam Davies, The Chronicle

Justin Mohamed chair of NACCHO congratulates another award winning NACCHO member .

CARBAL Medical Centre CEO Dr Harry Randhawa was still on cloud nine yesterday, days after learning the organisation had won a prestigious award as part of NAIDOC week celebrations.

The organisation was named indigenous business of the year at a gala dinner held at the Cathedral Centre at the weekend.

Dr Randhawa said the award came as a big surprise to the organisation and its 33 employees.

“It is a huge boost for the centre,” Dr Randhawa said.

“It is recognition of all the hard work we have done over the past year.

“It came as a very big surprise really,” he said.

Dr Randhawa said Carbal Medical Centre, which was established in 2006, provided culturally safe and secure health service to the city’s indigenous population.

“The centre is an extremely important part of the local community,” he said.

“We provide GP and nursing services for indigenous people.

“However, we also have access to a number of different health services for indigenous people.”

Dr Randhawa said thousands of indigenous people accessed the organisation’s services each year.

“We have more than 4500 clients registered on our books,” he said.

“Last year alone 2723 people accessed the services we provide.

“I am still gob smacked at winning the award. It is just fantastic news for the centre and the staff.”

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NACCHO Male Health event alert:NACCHO OCHRE DAY Canberra 8 August registrations close 26 July

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REGISTER HERE

NACCHO Ochre Day to be held in Canberra on 8th August 2013

NACCHO Ochre Day Breakfast: Male only

NACCHO Ochre Day will commence with a Male only breakfast to be held in the Members Dining Room at Old Parliament House. (Registration for this event is essential)

This event will begin at 8-30am and will include a celebration of current Aboriginal Male Health programs at four  Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services via 10 minute presentations.

The breakfast shall also include an introduction facilitated by Dr Mark Wenitong to NACCHO’s “Blueprint for Aboriginal Male Health”.

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Dr Mark Wenitong (left) pictured here with Cleveland Fagan Apunipima Cape York Health Council.

The breakfast will conclude at 10-30am. Numbers for the breakfast are limited; however priority will be given to delegates from NACCHO Members Services.

YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT .

NACCHO Ochre Day Federation Mall:

Following the breakfast, NACCHO Ochre Day will continue at Federation Mall from 11am with a celebration of achievements in Aboriginal Male health with presentations to be delivered by invited speakers.

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Importantly, as the focal point for the NACCHO Ochre Day the NACCHO Blueprint for Aboriginal Male Health will be launched here.

The event will conclude with a “NACCHO Ochre Day Dedication Ceremony” which will include one of the largest gatherings of Aboriginal Male’s to play their didgeridoo’s in the one place at the same time.

If you are bringing a Didgeridoo please advise us with your registration

For additional information and ways that you could support the NACCHO Ochre Day please contact;

Mark Saunders, Aboriginal Male Health, NACCHO.

Ph; 02-6246 9300 Mob; 040 995 9191

mark@naccho.org.au

REGISTER HERE ONLINE

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NACCHO healthy futures news: Aboriginal kids’ health improves with subsidised fruit and vegetable program

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THE health of indigenous children from low-income families improved significantly after a weekly subsidised fruit and vegetable program, new research shows.

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The children required less antibiotics and there was a small, but significant increase in their haemoglobin levels, according to the research, published in the Medical Journal of Australia.

OPEN ACCESS at MJA

Study author Dr Andrew Black said a broader trial was needed to investigate whether it was feasible to have subsidised healthy food programs in Australia.

“The program could be adapted to target low-income families more generally,” Dr Black and his co-authors wrote.

But Dr Black, who is a general practitioner with a NSW Aboriginal health service and a fellow at the University of South Australia, said the proportion of children with iron deficiency and anaemia did not change.

The study involved children from 55 families who were aged under 18 and lived in northern NSW.

Each family was given a weekly box of subsidised fruit and vegetables, valued at $40 and nutritional information and recipes were provided to families.

A separate study published in the same journal found the health and behaviour of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander children in urban areas may be adversely affected by their high-levels of exposure to stressful events.

The study conducted between 2007 and 2010 at a Brisbane indigenous health service found that of 344 indigenous children aged 14 years or under about half had experienced a stressful event in their lives.

There was a strong association between those events and a history of ear and skin infections and parental or carer concerns about the child’s behaviour, the study says.

Eleven per cent of study participants had witnessed domestic violence, while 10 per cent had experienced it personally.

“The risk of not addressing both the causes and the effects of childhood exposure to stressful events is that the disparity between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians is unlikely to improve,” the study authors wrote.

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NACCHO international news: World Indigenous Nations University Launch

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The Indigenous People’s Organisation (IPO) Network Australia recently promoted a global first in the launch of the World Indigenous Nations University which was profiled at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in New York City.

The World Indigenous Nations University will be launched by the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC) in August after a decade of negotiations and consultations with Indigenous Elders, academics and Knowledge Holders from 8 different countries and many different Indigenous nations across the world.

IPO Spokesperson and WINHEC Executive Committee member, Professor Boni Robertson said the University would establish an education system that honours and respects Indigenous cultural knowledge and knowledge systems and profile the scholarship of Indigenous Elders and Knowledge holders who work in close collaboration with Indigenous academics to address the needs of Indigenous peoples at the local level.

“The World Indigenous Nations University (WINU) programs will be multi modal in delivery, accessible via the internet and face to face to ensure access for local, national and international communities to engage in an education system that is meaningful and relevant to them.

“This is an exciting initiative which will further the education and collaboration of Indigenous Peoples in Australia and across the world,” Professor Robertson said.  It is also an exciting opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous higher education systems to work collaboratively together to address the educational needs of Indigenous students whilst addressing the needs of communities through collaborative evidentiary research.

“The launching of the WINU epitomizes the depth of mobilization that is taking place amongst Indigenous academics, Elders and Knowledge Holders.

“The global members of World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC) have worked on the curriculum for the past 11 years in order to allow Indigenous Peoples across the globe access an education system that meets the needs of their own peoples.

“Working together we can protect and promote the sovereign rights of Indigenous Peoples to systems of education that embed the scholarship of their cultural knowledge in the development of curriculum and research.

“The Pacific region has been specifically influential with Australia, NZ and Hawaii in collaboration with Sami in Norway having had a major influence in the development of this initiative. I am proud that Australia has played such a strong role in the development of the University.

“This initiative can play a role in closing the gap in education standards between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.”

Professor Robertson said the establishment of the University will be at the regional and global level and based upon the involvement of local community in the education for and about their own young people.

“Involvement of community Elders and representatives will foster other forms of engagement to address the ongoing disparities that have occurred for Indigenous Peoples, within the sector.

“It is imperative that western education systems committed to working with Indigenous Peoples at the local level, demonstrate respect for the cultural rights of Indigenous Peoples and profiles and promulgates these rights as determined by the people themselves.

“This philosophy is enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and underpins the drive by the WINHEC to establish the WINU as a historic and progressive shift in the sovereign rights of Indigenous peoples being exercised.”

The IPO is a broad affiliation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s organisations and individuals, who engage with United Nations mechanisms and frameworks to advocate for the implementation of the Declaration.

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Further Information:

IPO Media: IPONetworkAustralia@gmail.com

IPO Australia Ph:  +61 409 763 684 (Professor Boni Robertson WINHEC Executive Board)

IPO Australia Ph: +61 425 820 658 (Amala Groom IPO Communications Coordinator)

Other contacts Ph: +64 276 811 221 (Trevor Moeke WINHEC Executive Co-Chair)

Other contacts Ph: +61 424 156 562 (Berice Anning WINHEC Chair Academic Working Party)

IPO Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Indigenous-Peoples-Organisation-Network-Australia/190946244391874

IPO Twitter: https://twitter.com/IPOAustralia

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NACCHO children’s day alert : Are you promoting 2013 National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day?

SNAICC

National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day (NAICD) is fast approaching and the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) and NACCHO are seeking your help to promote the event within your organisation and through your networks, publications and websites.

We are also hoping that your organisation will show support by issuing a media release, promoting the day through social media and/or holding an event on the day. The event could be something as informal as a morning tea for staff or the launch of a report or resource concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

DOWNLOAD AN ORDER FORM HERE


What is National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day?

NAICD is held on 4 August each year to celebrate the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children within family and community.

First held in 1988, the day has also been used over the years to increase awareness on important issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

In 2013, NAICD is all about stepping up for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s rights.

This year’s theme is Right Here, Right Now. Our Rights Matter.

It seeks to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children by increasing public awareness about:

  • major human rights concerns that impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children across the country; and
  • the unique rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children as First Peoples of this country.

The theme also aims to support local events to celebrate children, assist better  understanding about what their rights mean and how communities can work better to ensure that all children have the opportunity to live these rights every day.

SNAICC wants to work with communities and organisations — Indigenous and non-Indigenous — to make sure this year’s children’s day is the biggest and most successful yet.

We hope the day will provide the opportunity for Australians to come together to discuss issues critical issues impacting our children and work together to improve mutual understanding and to see change happen.

As in previous years, SNAICC will hold a national launch (in 2013 it will be in Melbourne) and assist organisations across Australia to hold local events celebrating the day.

SNAICC has once again developed a range of resources for children and adults to help with celebrations. These include:

  • a glossy National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day poster (see attached PDF)
  • a series of seven beautifully-illustrated posters on child rights and a children’s activity book to accompany the poster
  • an educator’s guide on facilitating child rights workshops with children, and
  • children’s day goodies bag (including stickers, arm bands, pencils and more).

These resources will be available from June for purchase at low cost, with one set also provided free to SNAICC members.

SNAICC would really appreciate any support, assistance and expertise you can provide to help promote this important event.

Obtain an order from from HERE

For more information on NAICD, please go to the SNAICC website: www.snaicc.org.au

You can also contact us (0419) 508 125 or Nick Butera, SNAICC Resource Officer, on (03) 9489 8099.

NACCHO Indigenous United Nations future:Child protection,human rights and criminal justice systems must be future for UN Indigenous work

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Full list below of Australian Indigenous organisations represented at the United Nations over the past two weeks

Previous communiques Health ,education and culture

Human rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia press release below

The overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in child protection and criminal justice systems must be the next focus point of those working on Indigenous issues at the international level said a network of Australia’s Indigenous organisations at a United Nations forum in New York this week.

Brian Wyatt, Co-Chair of the Indigenous People’s Organisation (IPO) Network Australia said the IPO had made six recommendations to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) on the future direction of the Forum. 

“Across the world, and especially in Australia, there is an appalling overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in the criminal justice and child protection systems. This is having devastating effects on Indigenous communities the world over.

“We suggest the issues need be studied in tandem because of their clear links. Indigenous children in care and protection often come into contact with the juvenile justice system and then in turn, the adult criminal justice system.

“Indigenous children and young people are vastly overrepresented in care and protection systems. In 2011-12, they were subjected to child protection substantiations at a rate of nearly eight times that of non-Indigenous children.

“They are also ten times more likely to be in out-of-home care (comprising 31% of all children in care), despite making up only 4.2% of the population of all children and young people.

“The statistics regarding contact between Indigenous Peoples and the justice system are also alarming. Our adults are 15 times more likely to be incarcerated and our youth are almost 24 times more likely to be in youth detention.

 ”We can’t ignore these statistics and let them continue. We have to do everything we can to identify their causes and explore ways to improve the prospects for our young people.

“There is a need for improved, standardised and aggregated data collection regarding criminal justice and child protection on a global level, to adequately understand the issues and put attention where it is most needed.

“We also need to better understand the impact it is having on our communities.”

The forum is currently wrapping up on the discussion on future work and directions for the rights of Indigenous peoples around the world. The final Report of the Forum was adopted and it was revealed that the theme for next years UNPFII will be Good Governance articles 3, 4, 5, 6 & 47 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Human rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia

The human rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia and across the world is under the spotlight at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) at UN headquarters in New York this week.
 

Brian Wyatt, Co-Chair of the Indigenous People’s Organisation (IPO) Network Australia said many countries were still falling behind in recognising the rights of their Indigenous Peoples. 

“The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007 by the United Nations General Assembly was a historic milestone in the international struggle by the World’s Indigenous Peoples towards acknowledgment and respect of their rights to development,” Mr Wyatt said.

“However we remain concerned that some countries are not doing much more than paying it lip service.

“In Australia, the Declaration is not even mentioned in the National Human Rights Action Plan or considered to be one of the human rights standards against which the rights of Indigenous Peoples can be measured.”

Mr Wyatt said the IPO had made two key recommendations to the UNPFII to address these issues.

“All countries need to embed human rights training and education into their bureaucracies including regular updates on the rights and standards contained in the Declaration and their relevance at the national and local levels.

“We also recommend that each country commit to developing a National Strategy with their Indigenous Peoples to give full effect to the Declaration.

“This would ensure the Declaration was used in a practical way to improve the lives of Indigenous Peoples in a meaningful way.

“A National Strategy would need to include monitoring, evaluation and annual reporting to ensure its effective implementation.”

The 12th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is being held at the United Nations in New York from 20-31 May 2013.

The IPO is a broad affiliation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and individuals, who engage with United Nations mechanisms and frameworks to advocate for the implementation of the Declaration.

The 12th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is being held at the United Nations in New York from 20-31 May 2013.

The IPO is a broad affiliation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and individuals, who engage with United Nations mechanisms and frameworks to advocate for the implementation of the Declaration.

 First Peoples Disability Network Australia – Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action (FAIRA) – Foundation for Indigenous Recovery and Development, Australia (FIRDA) –

National Aboriginal Community Health Organisation (NACCHO)

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– National Congress of Australia’s First People’s – National Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) – National Indigenous Higher Education Network (NIHEN) – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance Corporation (NATSIWAC) – National Native Title Council (NNTC) – New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) – Office of the Social Justice Commissioner.IPO Media:

IPONetworkAustralia@gmail.com

IPO Australia Ph: + 61 437 073 224 (Luke Briscoe)

IPO Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Indigenous-Peoples-Organisation-Network-Australia/190946244391874

IPO Twitter: https://twitter.com/IPOAustralia

NACCHO United Nations report:Indigenous heath, education and culture a focus in New York

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The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) held at UN headquarters in New York has throughout the duration of the forum focused on areas including previous forum recommendations relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples health, education and culture.

Picture above of Kirsten Gray, Brian Wyatt (co-chair) Tjanara Goreng Goreng (FIRDA- Culture) and Amala Groom (FIRDA – Culture) at the UNPFII.

NACCHO was represented by Deputy chair Matthew Cooke,CEO Lisa Briggs and Professor Ngiare Brown

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 Brian Wyatt, Co-Chair of the Indigenous People’s Organisation (IPO) Network Australia welcomed the opportunity for Australia’s indigenous issues to be raised on the international stage.

 Mr Wyatt said nine recommendations had been made to the Forum relating to Indigenous health with a strong focus on the need for Indigenous Peoples to have control over health service delivery.

 “All over the world we see evidence that the biggest improvements in Indigenous health is where those people have control over the services provided to them.

 “This is because we understand our own communities and their needs and can deliver culturally appropriate care. Australia’s own Aboriginal Community Controlled health sector has been proven to be the most effective in closing the health gap.

 “We need to ensure measures to promote health equality are consistent with the rights, principles and standards contained in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and particularly the right to Self Determination.”

 Mr Wyatt said the IPO had also made an intervention on education, urging members to ensure knowledge and contemporary social circumstances of Indigenous Peoples are embedded in the curricula of education systems.

 “In the face of global challenges to the self-determining interests of Indigenous Peoples, it is urgent that action be taken by the UN to protect and promote the sovereign rights of Indigenous Peoples to systems of education that embeds the scholarship of their cultural knowledge in the development of curriculum and research.

 “It is imperative that western education systems commit to working with Indigenous Peoples at the local level, demonstrate respect for the cultural rights of Indigenous Peoples and profile and promulgate these rights as determined by the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”

 Mr Wyatt said the IPO had also put forward four recommendations in relation to culture acknowledging the need of Indigenous Peoples to retain control over their genetic resources, intellectual property and traditional cultural expressions.

The 12th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is being held at the United Nations in New York from 20-31 May 2013.

The IPO is a broad affiliation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and individuals, who engage with United Nations mechanisms and frameworks to advocate for the implementation of the Declaration.

First Peoples Disability Network Australia – Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action (FAIRA) – Foundation for Indigenous Recovery and Development, Australia (FIRDA) – National Aboriginal Cultural Community Health Organisation (NACCHO) – National Congress of Australia’s First People’s – National Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) – National Indigenous Higher Education Network (NIHEN) – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance Corporation (NATSIWAC) – National Native Title Council (NNTC) – New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) – Office of the Social Justice Commissioner.