2003 Public Health Association Conference: a special interest group and community award for Indigenous Australians

Indigenous special interest group

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Special Interest Group of the Public Health Association (PHA) held a workshop recently at the PHA Annual Conference. This was held in Brisbane from 28 September – 1 October 2003.

The traditional ‘welcome to country’ by Flo Watson was very moving and significant and set the scene for a positive day of dialogue and debate.

The workshop titled Aboriginal health inequality reduction through health policy, provided a forum for participants to question ‘what are the essential actions required to reduce Aboriginal health inequalities?’ Presentations were given based on historical, political, social, and economic perspectives.

Conference workshops included:

• Social and emotional well being
• Sustainable communities
• Developing healthy public policy to improve the accessibility and appropriateness of health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Can health policy constructively engage with Aboriginal holism?

Staff from the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet participated in the workshop, and provided information and promotional resources for delegates. We’d like to thank conference delegates who provided written permission for us to take their photos, the photos will be displayed here in the near future.

Community award: Ngaanyatjarra Health Service’s sexual health program

The 2003 Public Health Association of Australia Community Award was presented to theNgaanyatjarra Health Service for their sexual health program. Heath Greville accepted the award on behalf of the community. The program aimed to reduce the burden of sexually transmitted infections (a sensitive health issue) in the Lands, utilising strategies such as community control and capacity building.

The head office of Ngaanyatjarra Health Service (NHS) is in Alice Springs with clinics in the communities: Blackstone, Cosmo Newberry, Kiwirrkurra, Jamieson, Patjarr, Tjirrkarli, Tjukurla, Wanarn, Warakurna, Warburton and Wingellina. The service provides primary and preventative health care to approximately 2,300 Ngaanyatjarra people in communities widely scattered across the Great Victorian and Gibson Deserts of Western Australia.