Category: Vol 7 No 3 July 2007 – September 2007

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.

Responses to the report: Ampe akelyernemane meke mekarle: little children are sacred

Issue: Vol 7 No 3 July 2007 - September 2007

The report Ampe akelyernemane meke mekarle: little children are sacred, released in April 2007, has been the trigger for Australian Government action addressing a number of issues in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. There have been widespread political and community responses to both the report and the methods that are being put into place to address ongoing Indigenous disadvantage.

Details of the report and and links to a variety of responses are provided below:

Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse (2007)
Ampe akelyernemane meke mekarle: little children are sacred.
Darwin: Northern Territory Government
View abstract: HealthBulletin
View summary (PDF – 900KB)
View report (PDF – 6.3MB – large file warning!)
View website: Northern Territory Government