Yoorana Gunya has launched their wellness van called Walan Marra Ngayiny translating to very strong mind in Wiradjuri.
The purpose of the van is for Yoorana Gunya to continue to provide a holistic model of care to their clients by being able to take their programs out on country and to utilise the van to provide coffee, water and fresh food to our clients when participating in programs.
Yoorana Gunya envision being able to set up the van out on country on the river and hold a variety of programs including women’s and men’s groups, Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid training and more.
Yoorana Gunya held a Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness day on Thursday 30th June to officially launch their wellness van, the day consisted of traditional dances by Dinawans Connection, Johnny Cakes made by a Yoorana Gunya Director aunty Mavis, cultural art activities, information regarding support available and of course coffee from our van and a BBQ. The wellness van has also made a trip out to Weigelli Centre Aboriginal Corporation.
After the negative impact COVID-19 has had on our communities, Yoorana Gunya was thrilled to be able to hold an event where the community can join together and raise awareness about mental health, whilst celebrating with good food, culture, community connection and overall allowing participating to enhance their own social & emotional wellbeing through cultural connection.
Location: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, QLD
Hosted by: Public Health Association Australia (PHAA)
Attended by & prepared by: Shelley Du
AH&MRC supported 3 staff from the Public Health Intelligence unit and 8 staff from our member services to attend the Preventative Health Conference 2022. The theme was accelerating action and over the 3 days, delegates were able to hear from keynote speakers, researchers and peers in the sphere of preventative health who brought their invaluable experience and keen insights to share.
Of particular note were Professor Yin Paradies, John Safran and A/Prof Tinashe Dune. Professor Paradies spoke about disrupting whiteness in preventative health and persuaded delegates to re-evaluate their practice and consider how racism is pervasive in health and society (see picture below). Writer John Safran illuminated the challenges of language and policy in e-cigarettes and IQOS heated tobacco sticks and the might of tobacco corporations. A/Prof Dune spoke about the importance of having clinicians and health workers who shared a cultural background with those they were caring for and the importance of supporting and building their workforce.
The 8 staff who were supported to attend from our member services spanned 5 ACCHOs and included Aboriginal health workers, practitioners, nurses, a community development officer and admin staff.
The staff from AH&MRC who were supported the Preventative Health conference found the presentations engaging, relevant to their work and were inspired by the many innovative ways to solve healthcare problems. The staff from member services who attended were surveyed post-conference. There were 2 responses and while they did not find the conference very relevant to their work, they found the exhibitions interesting and wanted more discussions around reconciliation and co-design centred around working with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and clients.
I am grateful to be among the delegates representing AH&MRC and bringing the knowledge I’ve learnt back to my work and to have absorbed the passion of others who work in the broader public health space.
On the 5th of May the AH&MRC held its first combined NDIS forum with the objective of addressing the barriers that Aboriginal communities face in engaging with the NDIS, as well as opportunities to work with industry stakeholders.
We were fortunate to hear from NDIS and community services consultant, Mathew Fante. Mathew presented us with the various ways in which ACCHOs can engage with the NDIS, as either registered or unregistered service providers. He broke down the ways in which the fee-for-service model of the NDIS differs to more familiar models. Despite these differences, ACCHOs are able to marry the two in ways that enable business sustainability and quality service delivery. These steps are uncovered in what we call a feasibility study. This process consists of extensive market research including an assessment of local demographics. This is measured against the organisation’s current services, financials and organisational structure. By engaging in this process ACCHOs are able to make an informed decision that best meets the needs of their communities.
Mathew’s presentation was seamlessly followed by Ally O’Rourke from the NDIA’s provider engagement team. Ally answered our challenging questions on the complexities of transitioning from early childhood intervention to NDIS and the access issues faced by Aboriginal communities (which often increase with remoteness). This session gave us the opportunity to share personal experiences and discuss the on the ground barriers faced by communities. As such, we challenged the NDIA on how they plan to address the access issues faced by communities and what they are doing to close the gap. This was supported by Debbie Lee from First People’s Disability Network (FPDN), who shared on her experience as an advocate for people living with disabilities.
In her work, Debbie has developed connections with various government and non-government agencies, community members and peak bodies. Of special mention is her work with the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) on the disability strengthening plan. As part of her advocacy work, Debbie supports participants to know their rights particularly as it pertains to cultural engagement and safety. Additionally, she hopes to encourage the linkage of health and disability to establish consistency and quality of care.
Below are the contact details for the presenters, NACCHO representatives and AH&MRC who were in attendance.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference 2022
“Our Vision Our Hands”(NATSIEHC22)
Date: 24th-26th May 2022
Location: Double Tree Esplanade Darwin
Hosted by: University of Melbourne & Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory
Attended by & prepared by: Shelley Du & Mafi Kailahi
AH&MRC supported 2 staff from the Public Health Intelligence unit to attend the NATSIEHC 2022 conference.
Day 1 – First Nations Delegates Only
Visions For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health in 2030
WORKFORCE “Radical change in eye health education led by Aboriginal people”
“Every child in Australia by age 5 has an eye health assessment”
“Equitable access to eye health services regardless of location”
“Patient led technology driven eye health”
“Better health outcomes through ATSI co-developed pathways”
(Challenging concepts such as “remote”, “overcrowding” and “capacity building”)
“Software and algorithmic diagnosis process to revolutionise the eye care service deliver”
In 2022 the conference is being overseen by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership group, chaired by Shaun Tatipata (Pic below with Mafi Kailahi Programs Officer Ear health/Eye Health AHMRC)
The Program Advisory Group (PAG) and Conference Organising Group will report to the leadership group. Members of the PAG include representatives from AMSANT, OA, RANZCO, Vision 2020 Australia, The Fred Hollows Foundation and The Brien Holden Foundation.
The conference aims to advance the collective work of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health sector towards the shared goal of improving eye health access and outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Key note speakers:
Thomas Mayor
Thomas is a lead campaigner for the Uluru Statement from the Heart proposal for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice and the author of Dear Son – Letters and Reflections from First Nations Fathers and Sons.
Nicole Turner
Nicole’s passion is nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle. She believes we need to give knowledge to our people about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preventing chronic diseases.
Summer May Finlay
This announcement completes the keynote speaker line up for the conference and we are proud and delighted that Summer May Finlay, Thomas Mayor, Nicole Turner and Jaki Adams will be joining us and sharing their knowledge and wisdom.
Jaki Adams – Inaugural Jilpia Nappaljari Jones Memorial Oration
IEH is honoured to announce that the family of the late Jilpia Nappaljari Jones AM have provided their blessing for an annual invited, keynote presentation in memory of Jilpia by a female Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander leader in eye health.
The conference brought together the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander eye health care workers and showcased how eye care clinicians, policy makers, researchers and non-government organisations are working with community to improve eye health access and outcomes.
Thomas Mayor made a moving speech about racism in politics and the Uluru Statement From the Heart. There were several presentations about how culturally safe projects have been carried out and different methods of community involvement to promote eye care and a focus on the environmental issues that affect health.
The conference was overseen by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership group and its strengths lie not only in bringing a diverse group of eye health workers together but also in its cultural messaging. Delegates had the pleasure of witnessing a welcome reception with cultural performances (see photos) and Non-First Nations delegates were taught about kinship systems while the First Nations delegates convened to discuss their visions for the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health.
Although I work in the chronic care space, I found the methods of co-designing and community involvement creative and useful for our team to adapt in future and the presentations on diabetic retinopathy particularly valuable.
Awards Night:
Orange Aboriginal Medical Service (OAMS) received an Award for their Eye Care Model & AH&MRC were mentioned during the presentation of the award – OAMS were not present. Nikki Turner presented the Award to OAMS at the AH&MRC CQI event.
Day 2
Concurrent Workshop and Oral Presentation Session – Break out sessions
Workshop 2: Retinal Cameras in Primary Care. Neville Turner, Kristin Bell
Non-mydriatic retinal camera
Learning how to use the retinal camera and read and detect any eye health issues.
(Break to take group pic of all delegates attended the conference – Melbourne Uni)
Closing Session with Chairs: Shaun Tatipata and Anne-Marie Banfield
Included:
A Presentation from Kristopher Rallah-Baker
Report back from Visions 2030 – Potentially forming a First Nations Eye Health Alliance
Report back from Campfire Session Topics:
National peak body for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander eye health
Inreach eye care- a group of private practices keen to deliver cultural safe care
Diabetic retinopathy treatment and cost
Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) for eye care organisations: advice & lessons
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander optometry student recruitment and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Student experiences
Department of Health
Tasmanian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye care
Transitioning funding to Aboriginal-led solution
RTO delivering the full eye health elective in the AHW/P qualifications
Linking reform – primary care, NRHA?MBS, Indigenous health
Thank you to NACCHO for hosting the NDIS Ready Yarning Circle (for remote and very remote ACCHOs) in Darwin. With attendees from various government departments, social services, advocacy groups and affiliates, the two-day event was both a learning and networking opportunity.
It was insightful to hear how ACCHOs from across the country have navigated the scheme and made it work for their communities. They shared their solutions to common barriers, and their tips and tricks to success in the NDIS space. A key feature of these discussions was the need for more sustainable ways of delivering holistic disability support. ACCHOs have achieved this by developing models of care that align with their clinical services and the NDIS practice standards.
In addition to hearing from ACCHOs, attendees participated in a round of “speed dating” with government and non-government stakeholders. This was an opportunity to have more intimate discussions about the needs of the sector and determine how all parties can work together towards a common goal. From this, we were able to create an action plan with our newly formed partnerships.
If you would like to hear more about the event or get connected with stakeholders, please contact our NDIS program officer, Lisa via email: Lgundani@ahmrc.org.au
The Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of NSW (AH&MRC) approached the Bourke Aboriginal Corporation Health Service (BACHS) to work in partnership on delivering a community event that promoted the importance of annual Aboriginal Health checks (also known as 715s’). Conveniently, BACHS were in the planning phases of convening the first community event since the COVID-19 outbreak, known as the MAYI festival. The event was a day of remembrance and healing for community.
MAYI’s meaning derived from the many clan groups that reside in Bourke and close surrounding areas, originally being that there were 22, and has since been found that there are now around 15 clan groups residing in Bourke. The meaning of MAYI (meaning ‘one’) was introduced by Uncle Phil Saunders, who opened the event with a warm welcome to the many people that were in attendance, expressing the importance to the meaning of the event, Uncle Phil Saunders said that ‘’there are many things that make us different, but for this brief moment, we are one, one mob, standing together on such an important and special day’’.
The AH&MRC sponsored the event and were invited to set up a stall to promote the Your Health, Your Future (YHYF) program. The Your Health Your Future program seeks to enhance health literacy, increase awareness and knowledge of annual health checks, and provide further engagement though health promotional days at a community level in collaboration with member services. The messaging and engagement with Aboriginal Communities by the AH&MRC serves to be culturally safe, educational, and effortlessly drawn off the effective mode of health promotion through modelling on lived experience and understanding the structural theories of Aboriginal perspectives. The program aims to utilise 2 models of health those of that being the social and health promotion models. Ultimately the program engages directly with community and works collaboratively with member services to increase health education through the promotion of the importance of annual 715s.
Your Health Your Future promotes the concept of self-determination and encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to take care of their health.
Your Health not only centralises around one being, or an individual, it targets Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a collective. It encourages individuals to not only be in control of their health, but to promote the importance of all health, to all people.
Your Future is a key component of taking care of physical, mental, and spiritual health, it promotes the concept of staying healthy for one and all’s future. Future is dependant of knowledge, kin, and good health.
The YHYF artwork represents AH&MRC’s commitment to ensuring access to high quality health care services for Aboriginal communities, the colours used show the connection to our land and the importance of this in our health journey. Each element points to the health challenges that our people face and the journey to healing -Aleera Baker, Artist
The AH&MRC engaged community members at the MAYI festival through the promotion of merchandise, inclusive of shirts, lunch boxes, backpacks, yoga mats, sportswear, football’s, and umbrellas and fun activities for kids and adults that depicted aspects of good health. Activities involved in getting the merchandise consisted of completing a video promoting what good health is, how community take care of there health or simply saying ‘Your Health, Your Future’. Community was also encouraged to utilize their local Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) if they were interested in receiving more merchandise, and education was subtly provided about the annual Aboriginal Health Checks (715s).
Throughout the day, there was great uptake of these videos’, consent was sought, and information was provided on the futuristic use of the videos captured. Overall, community members were really encouraging and enthusiastic in participating in the activities. A collated video of communities yarning about ‘your health, your future’, will be provided to BACHS on completion. The entire day met the expectation of its meaning through bringing community together as ‘one’, storytelling, yarning and laughing – The AH&MRC were so proud to be apart of such a significant event in the Bourke community, and thank the community for being so welcoming, and participating in the promotion of the importance of ‘stepping up, for a checkup’ (YHYF).
The Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) has gratefully received support from BHP to aid in the provision of culturally safe care for Aboriginal communities across New South Wales (NSW) in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At AH&MRC we recognise the importance of reaching into community and providing medical care outside traditional clinical spaces. Therefore, with thanks to BHP, we have purchased a motorhome to allow Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHOs) to hold mobile vaccination clinics in their local communities.
Mobile vaccination clinics offer greater access to vaccines for Aboriginal people by overcoming geographical barriers whilst ensuring cultural safety. Providing this service will help to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and keep communities safe.
BHP’s Vice President NSW Energy Coal Adam Lancey said: “We are proud to support the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW in their important work delivering better health outcomes for Indigenous people in this state, particularly for those in regional areas.”
In the short term, this asset will be used in the Northern Rivers region, where whole communities and ACCHOs clinics have been devastated by the recent flooding. This is a key example of how AH&MRC can use assets, like those acquired thanks to BHP, to meet the immediate needs of Aboriginal communities.
CEO Robert Skeen of AH&MRC states “In 2021, AH&MRC have a created a COVID-19 response team who assist Member Services with COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and resources. Our response team is an integral part of our vision and with the help of the valuable partnership of BHP we’re able to provide care to all our mob in every community across the state”.
In the long term, this asset will be used to connect with the Aboriginal people with ACCHOs. This motorhome will bridge this gap and allow for greater access to high quality, comprehensive primary health care services across NSW.
The purchase of the motorhome was made possible thanks to BHP, who, through their generous donation will help Aboriginal communities access culturally safe care throughout NSW.
