Author: Renae Bastholm

TheMHS Summer Forum – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’s mental health and emotional wellbeing

Issue: Vol 8 No 1 January 2008 - March 2008

Dean Miller, Neville Highfold, Paul Senior and Clyde Rigney Jane Havelka Cherie Kana and Jenny Cardno

The title of the 2008 Mental Health Services (TheMHS) Summer Forum was ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’s mental health and emotional wellbeing’, and had the theme: ‘time to listen, time to act’. The forum was held on 21 – 22 February 2008, at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney . The Forum was attended by 190 people, ranging from consumers to researchers to representatives from the health workforce.

The welcome to country was provided by Uncle George Fisher, with live Didjeridu music by Nathan Scott. The Forum welcome was provided by Kevin Kellehear, chairperson. Tom Brideson provided the introduction to the Forum.

Presentations included:

  • Calma T. Human rights, Indigenous communities and social and emotional well-being
  • Milroy H. Children, transgenerational trauma and the well-being of Indigenous communities
  • Milne M. Maori mental health: past, present, future
  • Hunter E. Promoting mental health and wellbeing in remote communities: overcoming the digital divide
  • Ober C. Workforce development and capacity building: considerations for the future
  • Brideson T. Lessons from the current roll out of the Aboriginal Mental Health Workforce Program
  • Phillips N. From the edge of nowhere to the eye of the storm: Gubbah psychiatrist talks about Indigenous mental health
  • Roberts R, Sanders T. What are the key elements of a good service?
  • Harris V. The Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program within the Co-operative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health
  • Dudley M. Suicide prevention
  • Wieland B, Dodd Z, Wilmott Elder J, Krieg A. A learning guide: a process of cultural respect within a mental health service
  • Rosen A. What can the wider community learn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
Carole Maraku and Dr. Leonie Cox Barbara Ahmat Kara Eddington and Neville Highfold

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid training and research program was launched at the conference.

Some of the presentations will be made available on the TheMHS website. TheMHS will also attempt to make the presentations available in audio form on a CD. Please contact TheMHS to obtain your copy of this CD.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet staff member Ineke Krom ran a HealthInternet café at the conference.

We’d like to thank the conference participants who provided written permission for us to display their photos here (click on the photos to enlarge).

Apology to the Stolen Generations

Issue: Vol 8 No 1 January 2008 - March 2008

The following information has been adapted from information provided by ABC news.

The Federal Government made a formal apology to the members of the Stolen Generation on 13 February 2008. Parliament’s opening ceremony included a traditional Welcome to Country by members of the Ngunnawal people and the first item of business was the apology, delivered by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Prime Minister Rudd apologised for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss, and especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, communities and their country.

He used the word ‘sorry’ three times:

‘For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.’

‘To the mothers and fathers, the brothers and sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.’

‘And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.’

He says it is the first step where the Parliament resolves the injustices of the past, which must never happen again.
With a future:

  • where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
  • where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have changed.
  • based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
  • where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country.

Thousands of people around the country gathered to watch the apology on large TV screens.

 

Formal alliance between the Government and Indigenous Peoples to ‘Close the Gap’

Issue: Vol 8 No 1 January 2008 - March 2008

The following information has been adapted from information provided by ABC news and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity (HREOC) website.

The Government and Indigenous health leaders today signed a Statement of Intent in the Great Hall of Parliament House to work together to achieve equality in health status and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians by the year 2030.

The move has been welcomed by Indigenous and non-Indigenous health representatives and Australian civil society and was the culmination of the first ever two-day Indigenous Health Equality Summit held in Canberra from March 18-20.

The Summit has developed working targets and benchmarks to be used to close the gap in Indigenous life expectancy by 2030.

Indigenous child index launched in Western Australia

Issue: Vol 8 No 1 January 2008 - March 2008

The following information has been adapted from information provided by ABC news and the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research website.

The Indigenous Australian Early Development Index was launched in Perth on 20 January 2008 by Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. The index is an attempt to address inequalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children when they begin formal schooling.

It involves a checklist questionnaire which contains over 100 questions measuring physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills, communication skills, and general knowledge.

The launch of the index follows successful trials with over 30,000 children in 414 communities. The project is expected to extend to other states next year.

The Australian Early Development Index: Building Better Communities for Children project is conducted by the Centre for Community Child Health at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, in partnership with the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Perth. The Federal Government will provide nearly $16 million to the project.

Budgeri Booroody: excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health conference

Issue: Vol 8 No 1 January 2008 - March 2008

Des Jones and Richard Weston Lenease Cooper and Mabrey Fogarty Christine Connors and Sally Goold

Budgeri Booroody, which means ‘good and getting better’ in the language of the Eora people of coastal Sydney, was the name of a two-day conference focusing on quality and best practice within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health sector. The conference, held 21 – 23 November, 2007 in Sydney, New South Wales, provided OATSIH-funded community controlled health services with the opportunity to come together at a national forum to share information about best practice and to hear about current research in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare.

The welcome to country was provided by Allen Madden from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. The conference welcome and overview was presented by Lesley Podesta, First Assistant Secretary, OATSIH, Department of Health and Ageing.

Keynote presentations included:

  • Stephanie Bell, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress: Having quality at the top of your organisation’s agenda
  • Putting research into practice successfully for quality outcomes
  • Allen Benson, Native Counselling Services Alberta, Canada: Managing for quality
  • Mark Wenitong, Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association: Quality models that work
  • Julie Tongs and Karen Flick, Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Services, together with Aunty Rose Fernando, Gamilaroi Elder: Circle of life and wellbeing

The conference included breakout sessions focussing on the following topics:

  • Quality at the top of your agenda
  • Research into practice
  • Managing for quality
Olive Bennet, Paula Wootton and Lorraine Harvey David Monkland and Matthew Cooke Karen Salam and Ineke Krom

The centrepiece of the conference was the inaugural National Excellence Awards in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health ceremony, which was held on 22 November, 2007. A total of 77 individuals and organisations submitted nominations for the awards. The nominations were judged by an eight member expert panel.

The winners in the six award categories were:

  • Mary Martin: Lifetime achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
  • Matthew Cooke: Young leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
  • Bernadette Shields: Individual contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
  • Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (Kimberley Satellite Dialysis Service): Excellence and innovation in service delivery
  • Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service (Youth Diversion Program): Excellence and innovation in community health outcomes
  • Maari Ma (Lower Western Sector Agreement): Working together – partnering for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet staff, Neil Thomson and Ineke Krom, ran a HealthInternet café at the conference.

We’d like to thank the conference participants who provided written permission for us to display their photos here (click on the photos to enlarge).

Western Australian Aboriginal Health Promotion Conference – Strong Communities, Our Stories

Issue: Vol 7 No 4 October 2007 - December 2007

The Western Australian Aboriginal Health Promotion Conference – Strong Communities, Our Stories, was held at the Burswood Convention Centre, Perth, on 29 October. A precursor to The WA Health Conference 2007 – Getting it right, the conference focused on key areas of Healthy Indigenous Partnerships, Leadership and Communities. The interactive style of the workshops provided an opportunity to share ideas and visions for the future. Keynote speakers were Kenneth George Wyatt and Kerrie Tim. Sponsors included the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, the Office of Aboriginal Health – Health Department of Western Australia and Healthway.

View conference website

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet staff, Neil Thomson and Amy Hardy, ran a HealthInternet café at the conference.

We’d like to thank the conference participants who provided permission for us to display their photos here (click on the photos to enlarge).

Deadly Award for outstanding achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health: Gracelyn Smallwood

Issue: Vol 7 No 4 October 2007 - December 2007

The following information has been adapted from the Deadlys website.

Gracelyn Smallwood has won a major award at the 13th annual Deadlys, announced 27 September, 2007 at the Sydney Opera House. The Deadly Awards have become an important event on the Indigenous music and lifestyle calendar, celebrating the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in music and the arts, sport, education and health.

Gracelyn Smallwood is a Birrigubba-Kalkadoon South Sea Islander woman from Townsville whose career as grassroots nurse and midwife, and Indigenous health and human rights advocate spans 35 years. Gracelyn’s achievements include being a Director of Nursing, Associate Professor in Education and Health and a consultant to the World Health Organization and state and federal governments. Gracelyn was also the first Indigenous Australian to graduate with a Master of Science degree in Public Health HIV/AIDS at James Cook University in 1995. Gracelyn is currently completing her PhD and continues to work as a registered nurse and midwife as part of the Townsville and Aboriginal Islander Health Service’s Mums and Babies Program, which has seen a great reduction in low birth weights and perinatal deaths. In 2007, Gracelyn also successfully brought the issue of Indigenous deaths in custody to the attention of the media and repeatedly called for the implementation of the 339 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Deaths in Custody.

Working Out What Works: 16th Western Australian Drug and Alcohol Symposium

Issue: Vol 7 No 4 October 2007 - December 2007

Mary Ford and Sandra Harris at the 16th Western Australian Drug and Alcohol Symposium Noel Robert Wallam and Paul Parfitt at the 16th Western Australian Drug and Alcohol Symposium Lynette Jetta at the 16th Western Australian Drug and Alcohol Symposium Amy Hardy at the 16th Western Australian Drug and Alcohol Symposium

The Working Out What Works: 16th Western Australian Drug and Alcohol Symposium was held in Perth, Western Australia, 18 -19 September 2007. The symposium focused on clinical research, policy & practice and drug regulations & practice, and while not Indigenous specific, many presentations detailed Indigenous issues.

Keynote speakers included:

  • Professor David Nutt
  • Dr Dan Lubman
  • Gningala Yarran-Clanton
  • Professor Robin Room
  • Dr Don Weatherburn

View symposium website

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet staff, Jane Burns and Amy Hardy, ran a HealthInternet café at the symposium.

The event was sponsored by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Reckitt Benckiser and St John of God Healthcare. Collaborating organisations included the WA Drug and Alcohol Office, the National Drug Research Institute, Murdoch University, Curtin University of Technology, University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University and the Western Australian Network for Alcohol and Drug Agencies (WANADA).

  • For further information regarding the symposium contact:
    • EECW Pty Ltd, PO Box 749, Wembley WA 6913, ph: (08) 9389 1488, fax: (08) 9389 1499, email:

We’d like to thank the symposium participants who provided permission for us to display their photos here (click on the photos to enlarge).

Success stories in Indigenous health

Issue: Vol 7 No 3 July 2007 - September 2007

The following information has been adapted from information provided by ANTaR

Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) have published a booklet of success stories in Indigenous health. The aim of the booklet is to highlight Indigenous led health care initiatives across Australia that are successful through the engagement of Indigenous communities, adequate funding and support. A map is provided on the ANTaR website to depict where the success stories have occurred. The Rio Tinto Aboriginal Foundation and the Mercy Foundation provide financial support to ANTaR for the Success Stories in Indigenous Health.

ANTaR invites you to contact them with information on your success stories in Indigenous health.
View information and map

Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (2007)
Success stories in Indigenous health: a showcase of successful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health projects.
Sydney: Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation
View booklet (PDF – 1.2MB – large file warning)
View website: Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation

View individual stories:

One million dollars to fight chronic disease in Torres Strait

Issue: Vol 7 No 3 July 2007 - September 2007

The following information has been adapted from information provided by the Queensland Government

The Queensland Health Minister, Stephen Robertson announced in late June that Queensland Health will invest more than $1 million this year to improve on the prevention and management of chronic disease in the Torres Strait. The announcement was made at a two day health summit on Thursday Island.

Since 1999, the number of people with diabetes has almost doubled to 1047 in the Torres Strait. Indigenous Australians in Queensland are five times more likely to suffer from chronic disease and have three times the rate of heart disease.

The funding will include:

  • $818, 528 for nine chronic disease positions, which include five additional child health workers, two health prevention officers and two clinical workers;
  • $120, 000 to establish programs to address frequent and avoidable hospital admissions;
  • $110, 000 for the Connecting Healthcare in Communities (CHIC) initiative in the Torres Strait.

Mr Robertson said the funding for the CHIC initiative will be used to set up a partnership council to improve access to preventative and primary health care services in the Torres Strait.