The HealthInfoNet visits Darwin to conduct workshops and participate at the Chronic Diseases Network Conference

Glenda Trevaskis and Sam Burrow from the HealthInfoNet recently visited Darwin to conduct HealthInternet workshops and participate at the 8th annual Chronic Diseases Network Conference. Negotiations with the NT Department of Health and Community Services (NTDHCS) and local key Indigenous health worker training providers lead to arrangements to conduct two separate ½ day workshops to provide Internet training to Indigenous health workers, prior to the commencement of the conference.

The workshops were conducted at the Danila Dilba Education and Training Centre on 22 September, 2004. They aimed to provide a hands-on opportunity for Indigenous health workers to:

• improve their Internet skills and knowledge;
• enhance their utilisation of the HealthInfoNet website; and
• provide feedback on how the website could be developed to better meet their information needs.

A total of twenty-one Indigenous health workers from NTDHCS, the Katherine West Health Board and Danila Dilba Medical Services attended. Participants were shown how to access the website, were provided with information about different aspects of the site, and were taken through a number of exercises which allowed them to explore the site at their own pace.

Given the diverse background of workshop participants and differences in their access to and use of computer technology, the workshops were well received and provided constructive feedback for developing the site further. Health workers in other areas have expressed interest in workshops of this type and with adequate funding opportunities may exist to develop and conduct similar workshops in other States and Territories in the future.

In the two days following the workshops HealthInfoNet staff attended the Chronic Diseases Network Conference – The Turning Tide: Action and Improvements in Chronic Disease. The conference was hosted by the Chronic Diseases Network and the Good Health Alliance NT and held from 23-24 September, 2004. The conference aimed to bring together local, national and international speakers to talk about the results of working in innovative and creative ways and improving the ways we work together to support and build healthier communities.

Conference presentations included:
• Dr. Dianne Howard, Endocrinologist, RDH, Darwin, NT. Historical perspectives of chronic disease in the NT
• Prof. David Simmons, University of Auckland, NZ. The Pacific Perspective – Chronic Disease
• Des Rogers, Director, Red Centre Produce, NT. Risky Business – a personal perspective
• Prof. Kerin O’Dea, Director, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT. Tackling chronic disease: how research can inform future strategies
• Dr. Christine Connors, Program Director, Preventable Chronic Diseases, Darwin, NT. Thinking Differently
• Malcolm Battersby, Director of the Human Behaviour and Health Research Unit and Senor Lecturer in Psychiatry, Flinders University, SA. Lessons from America
• Dr. Paul Ireland, National Institute of Clinical Studies. Filling the Gaps – The Gaps Report
• Peter Holt, Indigenous Program Coordinator, Fred Hollows Foundation. Developing new partnerships – philanthropic organisations and business
• Anne Kemp, CEO, Diabetes Australia NT and Health Living, NT. Good health for a good country – impact of non government organisations on chronic disease
• Inez Carter, Apunipima Cape York Health Council, Qld. Giving kids a good start – Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Project

Sam and Glenda conducted a HealthInternet café at the conference to give delegates an informal opportunity to learn about web-based health information and other HealthInfoNet services such as training and website development. They also participated in a concurrent session which explored the use of communication technologies to support Indigenous yarning and the sharing of health information.

Whilst visiting Darwin a number of meetings were arranged with other organisations and individuals involved in Indigenous health to promote and discuss the benefits of utilising HealthInfoNet services. The organisations included the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT), Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH), NT Menzies School of Health Research, Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (CRC) and Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education. The visit to Batchelor Institute provided another opportunity to spend time with Indigenous health worker students to demonstrate the use of the website, and to discuss how the information available might be used in their day-to-day practice.

For further details about the 8th annual Chronic Diseases Network Conference view the Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services website.

We would like to thank the workshop and conference participants who provided written permission for us to display their photos here