The 4th National Indigenous Environmental Health Conference was held in Adelaide on November 6 and 7. The conference program included:
Since 1998, national Indigenous environmental health workshops and conferences have been held regularly to:
These forums seek to identify at a national level the concerns and issues facing environmental health workers and their communities. They provide an opportunity to share information on projects and techniques, facilitate national networks, and highlight common issues. Reflecting the conference’s emphasis on the development and sharing of information resources on Indigenous environmental health, staff from the HealthInfoNet and and the University of Western Sydney were given the opportunity to demonstrate their respective websites at a combined Internet café. Staff introduced conference delegates to the online information services offered through the ‘Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet‘ and ‘Indigenous communities environmental health’ websites. The café also offered an informal setting for further exchange of information on creative and innovative programs and projects currently being implemented across the nation. HealthInfoNet staff used the digital camera to take photos of conference delegates, all of whom are working to improve environmental health conditions in Indigenous communities. Click here to view our conference slideshow. The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet would like to thank the conference organisers and delegates for their support of our initiative. |
||||||
Category: Vol 2 No 4 September 2002 – December 2002
NHMRC calls for submissions to revise guidelines for Indigenous health research
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is currently inviting submissions to comment on recently released draft guidelines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research. When finalised, the draft guidelines will replace the existing NHMRC Guidelines on ethical matters in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research (1991).
Much has changed since the development of the 1991 Guidelines. New collaborative partnerships involving research institutes and the community, including the Indigenous community controlled health sector have emerged. There are now more Indigenous researchers and the level of interest in research as a way to contribute to the health of Indigenous peoples has grown.
In recent years, NHMRC has received strong feedback that Indigenous communities, researchers and health organisations see a clear need for a separate complementary set of guidelines covering research in Indigenous health. The feedback has urged the NHMRC to review and update the 1991 Guidelines. The NHMRC has responded by undertaking a three-year review of the guidelines. The three year term comes to an end in mid-2003.
The consultation paper for revision of the NHMRC’s Guidelines on ethical matters in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research (1991) was released on 13 November 2002. Titled Values and ethics in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research [1], the paper is different in its approach to the 1991 Guidelines, as the draft guidelines are written around a framework of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values and principles.
The paper starts with a broad description of the present context in which research in Indigenous health occurs, and on that basis the paper describes the philosophical foundation of the approach taken to the guidelines. Finally the paper addresses the guidelines themselves – presenting the important considerations and processes that researchers, communities and health research ethics committees should address.
Public consultation on the draft guidelines will run until the beginning of January 2003. The draft will then be reviewed and revised in the light of the submissions received and the document recommended for endorsement by the NHMRC.
The draft consultation paper is available from the NHMRC website.
For detailed information regarding the call for submissions see the following documents:
- Newspaper advertisement (PDF – 13KB)
- Procedures for making submissions to the NHMRC (PDF – 54KB)
References
1. National Health and Medical Research Council (2002) Values and ethics in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research [consultation draft]. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council.
Excerpts from ‘Values and ethics in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research [consultation draft]’ reproduced with the permission of Sharon Hill, Assistant Director, Health Ethics Section, NHMRC.
The RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Project
Suggested citation: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (2002, 1 October) The RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Project. Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin, 2(4), Brief report 2. Retrieved [access date] from http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/html/html_bulletin/bull_24/bulletin_brief_reports_cervical.htm
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Project is about supporting general practitioners (GPs) to improve early detection and management of breast and cervical cancer in Indigenous women.
The objectives are: to identify barriers to the provision of effective screening and management of breast and cervical cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women by GPs; to identify strategies which would enable GPs to overcome these barriers; and to develop and implement a plan which would incorporate potential strategies identified.
Why is this project needed? Screening programs for breast and cervical cancer have had considerable success in preventing deaths among women in the general Australian population. However, this success does not appear to have extended to the same degree to Indigenous women.
Although data on the incidence of breast and cervical cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are limited, available evidence suggests that they suffer a disproportionate burden from cancer of the cervix. The incidence of cervical cancer in Aboriginal women has been reported as three times that of all Australian women and the mortality associated with it is up to twelve times higher.
While the incidence of breast cancer in Indigenous women may be lower than in non-Indigenous women, survival outcomes appear to be poorer, probably due to a lower participation rate in early detection programs and reduced access to services.
The project began in July 2000, with a grant from the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation. Activities to date have included a review of the literature, consultation with Indigenous women and with GPs, discussion with national and state based cancer organisations, and identification of potential strategies to address the barriers to improving early detection and management.
The initial grant has since been supplemented with funds from the Rural Faculty of the RACGP through the General Practice Memorandum of Understanding, as one of a number of projects which support GPs working in remote and rural Indigenous communities.
GPs are seen as key primary health care providers who can improve screening rates for breast and cervical cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, yet a number of barriers prevent them from maximising this potential. To date, the project has identified a range of barriers, and has developed a number of potential strategies to address those barriers.
These strategies are now being tested at the local level, with implementation at pilot sites in three states (Adelaide, Mackay and Coonamble).
Evaluation of the project will help suggest a national framework to support local interventions for improving GP screening and management of breast and cervical cancer in Indigenous women.
The project will run until the end of January 2003 and a report encompassing the findings will be widely distributed.
The initial literature review commissioned through the project is now available through the Rural Faculty Office of the RACGP, or from the Indigenous Health Studies website, James Cook University,Townsville.
For further information about the project, please contact Dr Marion Carey (marion.carey@racgp.org.au) or Dr Jenny Reath (jenny.reath@racgp.org.au).
‘Quick meals for Kooris’
Suggested citation: Leahy J (2002, 1 October) ‘Quick meals for Kooris’. Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin, 2(4), Brief report 1. Retrieved [access date] from http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/html/html_bulletin/bull_24/bulletin_brief_reports_meals.htm
‘Quick meals for Kooris’ is a ‘hands-on’ cooking program that was designed to assist urban Aboriginal people to cook healthy meals for the family. It is delivered in two three-hour sessions and is very flexible and versatile. It can be used as a stand-alone activity or incorporated within larger programs.
The recipes used include ‘everyday’ foods, fresh, frozen and tinned, which are always the cheapest to buy and often in the cupboard. ‘Quick meals for Kooris’ is designed to be run by an Aboriginal health worker or a member of the Aboriginal community. The group leader does not need extensive nutrition knowledge just some basic home cooking skills and knowledge of their local community.
Why was it developed?
There is a need for urban Aboriginal people to have access to relevant food programs that promote healthy family eating. A program was needed that was ‘hands-on’ and enabled new food skills to be learnt in a friendly informal environment.
‘Quick meals for Kooris’ was designed to enable Aboriginal people to improve their health through gaining knowledge and developing skills to enable them to feed their families healthy food on a budget.
A resource was also needed that could be used to train Aboriginal health workers or interested members of the Aboriginal community to deliver the program thus ensuring sustainability.
How was it developed?
The Central Coast Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan 1997-2001 identified that the Aboriginal community wanted health education programs that focussed on healthy eating, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and healthy eating on a budget. A pilot-cooking program was conducted with members of the local community and a pilot training program was conducted with local Aboriginal health workers.
What is in the cooking program?
There are two three-hour sessions, which begin with a demonstration of aspects of each recipe; then the class is divided into groups to cook a recipe together; the meal is then shared and eaten with socialising and happy discussions taking place.
- Session 1 – ‘Family meals – fast and easy’; and
- Session 2 – ‘Feeding children and filling teenagers’
Each recipe has instructions on how to modify it for diabetes, for example: how to substitute ingredients depending on availability; and how to use leftovers.
What are participants involved in?
- discussion of nutrition issues related to diabetes and heart disease;
- preparation of low cost recipes;
- sharing ideas and preparing meals from ingredients that are ‘in the cupboard’;
- using a range of ingredients, modifying recipes or ‘extending meat’ to serve more people;
- learning how to adapt or choose recipes to suit cooking skills, utensils and equipment that they may have available;
- discussing food safety and hygiene (woven into the sessions);
- preparing meals and snacks suitable for the whole family.
What else is in the kit?
Simple nutrition related health information is included as background for the group leader. It briefly covers diabetes, heart disease, nutrition and drug and alcohol abuse issues, kidney problems, chewing and swallowing difficulties and food allergies and food intolerance.
Information and guidelines are also provided to train Aboriginal health workers and Aboriginal community members to conduct the ‘Quick meals for Kooris’ cooking program. This includes a timeframe (what to do 8 weeks before; 1 week before; what to do on the day) and covers such things as funding sources, equipment needed, shopping list for foods, recipes, transport, childcare, promotion and sample letters/flyers/posters/press releases.
How can it be delivered?
The cooking program can be run as a ‘stand alone’ program or included in larger programs, including those that address: diabetes; heart disease; living on a budget; working with youth; community gardens; vacation care etc. The kit is also designed to train Aboriginal health workers or Aboriginal community members to deliver the cooking program.
What do participants say?
Comments have included:
- ‘I am surprised at how easy the recipes were to cook and I’ll definitely make them for my family’ – Sonya, 37.
- ‘It was good to learn how to make the meal go further’ – Lisa, 28.
- ‘I didn’t know you could grate potato!’- John, 33.
Author:
Carolyn Bunney
Community/Public Health Nutritionist
Central Coast Area Health, NSW
Postal Address:
PO Box 361
Gosford NSW 2250
Tel: (02) 4320 3362
Fax: (02) 4320 2828
Email: cbunney@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Acknowledgments:
The Nutrition department of Central Coast Health NSW would like to thank the staff of the Nunyara Aboriginal Health Unit CCAHS; staff of the Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Centre; NSW Aboriginal Health Branch for funding and the Aboriginal community of the Central coast for their involvement in the development of this resource.
The National Indigenous Family Violence Grants Programme
The National Indigenous Family Violence Grants Programme is funded by the Commonwealth Government under the Partnerships Against Domestic Violence (PADV) initiative.
PADV is a collaborative effort between the Commonwealth Government and the States and Territories and the community. Initially funded for $25 million, the PADV aims to achieve more effective ways of preventing and responding to domestic violence across Australia. A second $25 million provided in the 1999 Budget is being directed to key priority areas, including a national Indigenous family violence grants programme.
Over $10 million of the $50 million for PADV is being directed to initiatives specifically addressing Indigenous family violence, including $6 million under the National Indigenous Family Violence Grants Programme. This funding has been allocated to assist grass roots Indigenous organisations to develop culturally appropriate and innovative solutions to family violence. Under the programme sixty-six community organisations have been funded for projects to test and develop new or better ways of responding and preventing family violence.
The Programme’s focus on grass roots Indigenous solutions recognises the need for community ownership and direction of the tools to address family violence. It aims to assist local communities to identify factors which are contributing to family violence and to develop a community strategy to address this problem. The strategies developed will aim to include holistic, sustainable and culturally appropriate responses which strengthen the capacity of individuals, families and the local community to reduce the level of family violence.
In the year 2000, 30 Indigenous organisations from across Australia were funded with $2.2 million to run projects addressing family violence (to view a summary of the 31 projects – see the programme booklet).
Successful projects so far include:
- A national community awareness campaign on Indigenous family violence, called Walking Into Doors, to provide information, support and inspiration for Indigenous communities. This program, led by Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, held community events in 10 Indigenous communities across Australia in 2001.
- A highly successful Rekindling Family Relationships forum on Indigenous family violence held in April 2001. It was attended by more than 400 Indigenous community leaders and service providers.
View details of projects (PDF – 121KB) funded by the National Indigenous Family Violence Grants Programme for the period 2000-02.
View details of PADV Commonwealth projects (PDF – 25KB) focusing on Indigenous family violence.
View details of PADV State and Territory projects (PDF – 41KB) focusing on Indigenous family violence.
A comprehensive evaluation of the first phase of PADV to June 2002 will soon be released. The six volumes of the evaluation will include one volume on what has been learned about addressing and preventing Indigenous family violence.
The findings of the evaluation in relation to addressing and preventing Indigenous family violence include:
- Any response to Indigenous family violence needs to take account of the social, cultural and historical context of a community.
- Community dialogue and encouraging the development of strong, proud communities is seen to be the most effective way of addressing family violence.
- Crisis responses such as safe areas and night patrols are important supports for individuals and families as part of a whole of community response.
- Programs need to provide a more holistic approach to violence which deals with personal, social and political factors; prevention; treatment and rehabilitation.
- Indigenous communities are identifying community ownership and control of the issue of family violence as imperative.
There is a Partnerships Against Domestic Violence web site on which you can find more information about the Partnerships Against Domestic Violence initiative, including its priority themes, taskforce, the projects it funds, and its national evaluation. You will also find facts about domestic violence in Australia, the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse, publications and reports, links and media information. There is a specific area of the site devoted to ‘Indigenous solutions for Indigenous lives’ where you will find more information on the ‘Walking into doors campaign’ and the ‘National Indigenous Family Violence Grants Programme’.
The information on this page has been reproduced with the permission of Rosemary Calder and Robyn Waddington from the Office for the Status of Women.
HealthInfoNet acknowledged with the Eberhard Wenzel Online Media Award
The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet was announced at the Public Health Association of Australia’s 34th Annual Conference in Adelaide on 1 October 2002 as the inaugural winner of the Association’s Eberhard Wenzel Online Media Award.
In making the announcement, the Honourable Lea Stevens, South Australian Health Minister, said the mass media, of all forms, has a significant role to play in protecting and promoting the health of Australians. She commended the HealthInfoNet’s role in contributing to improving the health of Australia’s Indigenous people by facilitating the sharing and exchange of relevant, high-quality knowledge.
Ms Stevens noted that in the five years since HealthInfoNet was established in September 1997, it has emerged as the major source of knowledge and information about the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for policy makers, health service providers, academics, researchers, students and the general community. The HealthInfoNet’s knowledge translation research, which focuses on the utilisation by potential users of the results of pure and applied research, was of particular value. She commented that the HealthInfoNet also facilitates knowledge sharing and exchange by publishing an electronic peer-reviewed journal, operating a list serve, providing an information service and including on its Internet site an electronic notice-board for details of courses and other pertinent information.
The award was accepted on behalf of Professor Thomson and the HealthInfoNet team by Associate Professor Sherry Saggers, a HealthInfoNet Consultant in the areas of Indigenous health policy and substance abuse.
View the HeathInfoNet application (PDF – 46KB)
View the Public Health Association of Australia Media Release (PDF – 21KB)
Editor’s note: The HealthInfoNet is particularly honoured to be the winner of the inaugural Eberhard Wenzel Online Media Award, which is named in recognition of Eberhard’s passion for information technology and Indigenous health improvement. He was an frequent user of the HealthInfoNet, and a very strong voice in support of our aims. We are very proud recipients of the award.
NSW Aboriginal Vascular Health Program
The following summary is reproduced with permission of the Program Manager, Margaret Scott.
 |
NSW Aboriginal Vascular Health ProgramSuggested citation: Scott M (2002, 13 November) NSW Aboriginal Vascular Health Program. Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin, 2(4), Brief report 3. Retrieved [access date] from http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/html/html_bulletin/bull_24/bulletin_brief_reports_cvd.htm Artist : Bronwyn Bancroft |
Overview
The Aboriginal Vascular Health Program was established in July 2000 and is responsible for supporting implementation of the components of the NSW Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan which relate to diabetes, diseases of the circulatory system and renal disease. The NSW Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan (1999) is an initiative under the NSW Aboriginal Health Partnership and the NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Health Agreement jointly developed by the Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council(AHMRC), the NSW Department of Health(DOH), the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH)and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Council (ATSIC).
The Aboriginal Vascular Health Program is committed to working within the NSW Aboriginal Health Partnership Framework at both state and local levels. An Aboriginal Vascular Health Working Group with representation from the AH&MRC, OATSIH and the NSW Health Department oversees the development and implementation of the program.
Program aim
To work in collaboration with relevant organisations and service providers to improve the provision of high quality prevention and care services and programs to promote the vascular health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in New South Wales.
Objectives
- To facilitate implementation of the components of the NSW Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan which relate to diabetes and diseases of the circulatory system
- To improve standards of clinical care for Aboriginal people with or at risk of vascular disease ensuring a more consistent approach, support for chronic disease self-management and reduction in hospitalisation for preventable complications
- To play a key role in facilitating the development of local Chronic and Complex Care projects in relation to cardiovascular disease in Aboriginal people as part of implementation of the NSW Government Action Plan for Health
- To provide input into implementation of related strategies of the Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan which are pertinent to the delivery of a continuum of prevention and care for Aboriginal people in relation to chronic disease
- To facilitate and support the implementation of local initiatives aiming to improve the provision of prevention and care programs to the Aboriginal community
- To facilitate a more coordinated approach to Aboriginal health by directly linking with other related Aboriginal health strategies as appropriate
Reasons for adopting a vascular health approach
The Program has adopted a broad vascular health approach (including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and kidney disease) rather than a single disease or body part approach because of the common risk conditions which place Aboriginal people at greater risk for these diseases, and the common approaches needed to prevent and manage these conditions in Aboriginal communities.
It is well known that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience excess morbidity and mortality from diseases of the circulatory system; heart, stroke and vascular disease are the biggest cause of excess deaths in Indigenous Australians. Compared with the non-Indigenous population, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations experience :
- rates of diabetes which are 2 to 4 times higherrates of heart,
- stroke and vascular disease which are 2 times higher
- rates of renal disease which are 10 to 15 times higher;
- deaths from heart disease at twice the rate, within the 25-64 age groups this rises to 7-10 times higher.
The social and environmental circumstances in which many Indigenous Australians live create risk conditions eg poverty, poor housing, inadequate food supply which predispose them to the development of chronic diseases and the uptake of risk behaviours which may lead to physiological risk factors for chronic disease. (See Fig 1.)
The range of biological and behavioural factors which are common to and increase a person’s risk of developing diabetes, heart, stroke and vascular disease include the following:
Behavioural risk factors
- Smoking
- Physical inactivity
- Poor diet and nutrition
- Excessive alcohol use
Physiological/metabolic risk factors
- Elevated lipids (high blood fats)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar)
- Overweight and central obesity
When several risk factors coexist, the risk of vascular disease is multiplied and having one of these chronic diseases can predispose to another, for example cardiovascular disease is a common complication of diabetes. Many national and state reports and initiatives recommend that a joint approach to chronic vascular disease is likely to be more effective and more efficient.
Advantages of a broad vascular disease approach
Due to the shared risk factors, primary and secondary prevention messages relating to health and lifestyle across the major health issues (ie diabetes, circulatory, renal diseases) are virtually the same. Integration of vascular risk prevention programs and clinical management interventions enables greater efficiency of effort with potentially greater health outcomes. Also a holistic approach is more in keeping with Indigenous concepts of health and illness than a separate body parts or single disease approach. It is anticipated that a coordinated and strategic whole of person approach should over time impact the delay in onset and reduced numbers of adverse health outcomes in vascular disease in Aboriginal people in NSW.
Program guiding principles
- Implementation through state and local Aboriginal Health Partnerships
- Adoption of a social model of health
- Recognition that self-determination and empowerment are central
- Congruence with national and state strategic directions in health
- Strategies developed within a primary health care framework
- A broad chronic disease(vascular) approach
- Ensuring Aboriginal community support and involvement
- Ensuring cultural appropriateness of strategies and programs
- Focus on patient centred services
- Adoption of an holistic approach
- Prevention as a priority, with a whole of life course approach
- Support for chronic disease self-management
- Utilisation of a capacity building approach
- Inter-sectoral collaboration to modify identified determinants of health and achieve consistency and synergy of effort
- Optimum utilisation of all available resources
- Ensuring transparency and accountability
Current program initiatives
The AVHP has developed a comprehensive Strategic Framework (see Fig 2) and is implementing a broad range of interrelated projects with funds allocated in 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 through Aboriginal Statewide Enhancement Funds. From July 2002 the AVHP has been recurrently funded.
Aboriginal vascular health demonstration site projects
A series of demonstration site Aboriginal vascular health projects has been funded throughout the state, commencing in April 2001. The projects are developed and implemented through local partnerships with service providers and communities to establish programs and models of care to improve the prevention and management of vascular disease in local Aboriginal people. All projects have a strong emphasis on working collaboratively with mainstream and Aboriginal Community Controlled Services to provide the best services possible utilising locally available resources. Aboriginal health workers are working in a range of designated roles; training and support is being provided to increase knowledge and skills in prevention, early detection and management of chronic diseases. The projects are being closely monitored and evaluated to gather evidence and develop a better understanding of effective systems and models of care.
In 2001 projects were funded in 8 Area Health Services (Central Coast, Hunter, South Western Sydney, Western Sydney, Macquarie, Illawarra, Mid-Western, New England) and 3 correctional sites serviced by Corrections Health Service (Broken Hill, Tamworth, Grafton).
In 2002 additional projects are being funded in Mid North Coast, Northern Rivers, Greater Murray, South Eastern Sydney, Far West, Wentworth and 3 additional Correctional Centres (Emu Plains, Mannus, Ivanhoe).
Vascular health project objectives
The projects aim to:
- improve prevention, early identification, early intervention and ongoing care for Aboriginal people with or at risk of vascular disease
- increase primary health care utilisation by Aboriginal people
- promote greater coordination and continuity of care for those with established disease, with an emphasis on community based care and support for disease self-management
- reduce preventable hospital admissions for complications of vascular disease
- promote improved environmental and community support for disease prevention and health improvement
Key features of all projects:
- project development and implementation through local Aboriginal Health Partnerships and with relevant local services providers and other stakeholders
- recruitment and training of designated Aboriginal Vascular Health Workers
- close integration with the Chronic and Complex Care Cardiovascular projects in local Area Health Services
- close monitoring and evaluation
- a central focus on improved access to early detection of disease and risk, referral for care improved coordination of services and provision of evidence based care and support for disease self-management
Aboriginal vascular health network
A key strategy of the NSW Aboriginal Vascular Health Program has been the establishment of a network for all health professionals involved in work related to Aboriginal vascular health. The AVHN has a wide range of membership including: Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health professionals, clinicians, and staff from relevant non-government organisations such as Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, National Heart Foundation of Australia, Diabetes Australia, and Australian Kidney Foundation. The AVHN aims to provide a support and information and resource dissemination system for those working in Aboriginal chronic disease in NSW. A quarterly bulletin Vascular Health Matters is distributed to members to share information on the NSW Aboriginal Vascular Health projects, other AVHP activities, available resources, funding opportunities, conferences and current programs being conducted around NSW and Australia. All interested health professionals are welcome to join the network.
Aboriginal vascular health resource catalogue
To increase information on available resources, the NSW Aboriginal Vascular Health Program has developed a comprehensive catalogue which includes a description of education and training resources available for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, renal disease, public health and project development which are relevant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Information on relevant web-sites and available training is also provided.
Aboriginal vascular health workforce development
A strategy to build the capacity of the Aboriginal Health Workforce in the prevention and management of vascular disease is being implemented. A workshop training manual about Aboriginal people and kidney disease Check your kidneys has been produced and similar manuals in cardiovascular disease and diabetes are underway. Other resources will be developed over time according to identified need.
Check your kidneys – training manual
The Check your kidneys training manual was developed in partnership with the Centre for Kidney Research at the Children’s Hospital Westmead and was piloted across the state. The purpose of the training is to increase awareness and knowledge of kidney disease in Aboriginal people and to create an opportunity for health workers and health services to identify steps which can be taken to address kidney disease in their home, community and workplace roles. The training has a strong emphasis on prevention across the continuum of life.
Research initiatives
Improving prevention and care of diabetes and related disease in the Aboriginal community of Wagga Wagga (NHMRC Grant)
This collaborative research initiative involves the implementation and evaluation of an Australian version of a model of systematic diabetes care (Staged Diabetes Management) which has demonstrated significant health improvements following its introduction into American Indian Health Services. The project is being conducted in collaboration with the Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Corporation in Wagga Wagga, NSW.
Models of chronic disease self-management for Aboriginal vascular disease
Specific focussed projects developing and testing appropriate and effective models of disease self-management for Aboriginal people with established vascular disease have been funded in the Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service at Wollongong and Daruk Aboriginal Medical Service at Mt Druitt.
Aboriginal vascular health indicators framework
A framework is under development to monitor progress in Aboriginal vascular disease prevention and management in NSW. The initial focus will be on measuring changes in local capacity to address prevention and management issues.
Program evaluation
A 12 month evaluation of the AVHP commenced in August 2002 to assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of the overall program strategic approach and of individual project initiatives of the Program. The evaluation has a strong participatory and capacity building approach.
On the web
The Aboriginal Vascular Health Program can be viewed on the NSW Department of Health internal website which also contains details of the 9 demonstration site vascular health projects. Address: http://internal.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/crcp/ceb/projects/projects.html
Program contacts
For more information about the Aboriginal Vascular Health Program contact:
Margaret Scott
Program Manager Aboriginal Vascular Health Program
Centre for Research and Clinical Policy
NSW Health
LMB 961, N Sydney 2059
Email: mscot@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
Tel: 02 9391 9853
Fax: 02 9391 9556
To join the Aboriginal Vascular Health Network or obtain a copy of the Aboriginal Vascular Health Resources Catalogue forward contact details to:
Samantha O’Connor
Project Officer
Aboriginal Vascular Health Program
Centre for Research and Clinical Policy,
NSW Health,
LMB 961, N Sydney 2059,
Tel: 02 9391 9571
Fax: 02 9391 9556
Email: socon@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
