- Aboriginal Health Council

Transcription

AHCSA NEWS
Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia Inc.
December 2008
This issue
From the CEO P1-P2
AHCSA Supports Health Accreditation P2
Port Augusta Centre for Excellence P3
Yvonne Buza Visits the UN P4
COAG: Significant Step P4
PLAHS Celebrates Upgraded Services P5
Nunyara Wellbeing Centre gets Facelift P6
Nunyara Hosts SA Health Minister P6
AHCSA Assists GMBH in Victoria P7
QUM Attends International Training P8
New Resource for AMIC Training P9-P10
Nganampa Celebrates 25 years P11-P12
Perko Ngurratti ‘Healing Messages’ P13
CCRE Completes Term P14
Our Journey to Respect P15
Wiltanendi Launch ‘Friendz’ P16
Babies on the Move P17
Nunga Young Mums P18
Passionate Workers at Disability SA P19
Denise Thomas joins BreastScreen SA P20
Changes at CNAHS P20
‘Our health, our choice, our way’
SAAHP Update P21
Dreamtime Wins Champion Award P22
Aboriginal People Travelling Well P22
AHCSA Supports Accreditation
From the CEO
Welcome to our last newsletter
for 2008. I can’t believe how fast
this year has gone and how busy
we have been.
Secretariat staff are currently planning
the move to AHCSA’s new premises.
We have found a larger building at 9-11
King William Road, Unley which has a
large boardroom as well as a training room so we can hold our
full board meetings and conduct training onsite. We expect to
move during January and will have a formal opening ceremony
to coincide with the first board meeting next year. I’d like to
say a special thank you to Darrien and Richard for all their
hard work in coordinating the many tasks for the move. New
contact details including phone and fax numbers, postal
address etc. will be notified as soon as they are available.
On 3-4 September, AHCSA Board Members met on the APY
Lands at Umuwa in recognition of Nganampa Health Council’s
25th anniversary. This is a great achievement for Nganampa
as they are now one of the most successful Aboriginal Health
Services in Australia. We were well looked after by all Nganampa
staff and I would like to thank Jamie and John for their gracious
hospitality.
We are also pleased that Pika Wiya Health Service and
Ceduna/Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service are undertaking
the process to become Aboriginal Community Controlled
Health Services. This will mean that they will no longer be
incorporated under the South Australian Health Commission
Act. The transition process will take up to two years and
AHCSA is keen to support both services.
Nunyara Well Being Centre Inc. have also started the process
to become fully independent. A planning day was held in July
and AHCSA will also support Nunyara throughout this process.
AHCSA has had a few more staff changes since our last edition.
I am pleased to announce that we were successful in gaining a
three year funding agreement for ATSIHRTONN and that Anna
Leditschke has rejoined AHCSA as the National Coordinator.
AHCSA News is published three times per year. Editorial and
photographic contributions are welcomed at any time from AHCSA
members and associated government departments and agencies.
Please send your contributions to:
Aboriginal Health Council of SA Inc.
78 Fullarton Road, Norwood SA 5067
(PO Box 787, Kent Town SA 5067)
Tel: (08) 8132 6700 Fax: (08) 8132 6799
Email: [email protected] Website: www.ahcsa.org.au
Coordinated by Amanda Mitchell, AHCSA.
Edited and designed by Dreamtime Public Relations
Tel: (08) 8223 2576 Fax: (08) 8223 4093
Email: [email protected] Website: www.dreamtimepr.com
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AHCSA NEWS DECEMBER 2008
For Health Services
Anna replaces Ruth Miller who left to join Families SA. I’d like
to acknowledge Ruth, particularly her work with Richard Nelson
in securing the three year contract. In late November, AHCSA
advertised for a Project Officer and Admin Officer for
ATSIHRTONN and we will announce the appointees in the new
year. You may have noticed the name has added another ‘N’.
It is now known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Health Registered Training Organisation National Network
(ATSIHRTONN) as members agreed to add national to their
title to adequately reflect the expansive role of the network.
AHCSA is establishing a program for the promotion
and support of accreditation activities in Aboriginal
Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs)
and Substance Misuse Services in South Australia.
Yvonne Helps has been appointed to the role of Research
Assistant ‘Chronic condition management strategies for
Aboriginal Communities’. She is responsible for the provision
of quality research support for the ‘Chronic condition
management strategies for Aboriginal Communities’ project.
Yvonne will assist the Chief Investigators and participating
health services to obtain ethics approvals for the project,
develop data collection tools and protocols, facilitate
collaboration with partner organisations, collect and analyse
qualitative and quantitative project data, liaise with participating
services and communities, implement chronic condition
management strategies, draft reports and disseminate
information, and maintain the administrative requirements
associated with the project.
The 2007-08 Budget measure ‘A Better Future for Indigenous
Australians - Establishing Quality Health Standards’ (EQHS)
sets out an expectation that all ACCHSs funded by the Office
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health be accredited
against Australian health care standards by June 2011.
I am also pleased to announce that AHCSA has secured
funding for three years for a Statewide Aboriginal Tobacco
Coordinator. Harold Stewart came out of retirement to take
the position.
In addition, we welcomed Shay Conder to the Admin Team
on a short term contract as the Acting Officer Manager. Shay
comes with a lot of experience in the corporate field.
Receptionist Lois and Admin Trainee Jonathan are going well
with their studies in Certificate III Business Administration and
we hope this is the beginning of a long career for them.
AHCSA said goodbye to Sean Taylor, Regina Williams and
Chris Rektsinis. Sean was the Clinical Educator with the
Education and Training Team and left to take up a research
This newsletter is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any
process, either in whole or part, without the prior written approval
of AHCSA.
Enquiries should be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer.
Please note that the views expressed may not always be those
of AHCSA. This newsletter may contain photographs of people
who have passed away.
Whilst every care is taken to ensure that the information contained
in this newsletter is accurate, errors and omissions can occur.
We apologise for any error/omission and ask that you report
these to Amanda Mitchell for correction in future editions.
Email: [email protected]
The accreditation framework will ensure that the quality and
safety standards of each service are at least equal to those
in the general Australian health care system. The services
participating have increasingly demonstrated a willingness
to undertake quality improvement and accreditation.
The project is separated into two components:
1.Initial scoping study to assess ACCHSs and Substance
Misuse Services to ascertain their readiness for service
delivery and organisational accreditation, and to identify
obstacles to the process. Kathleen Stacey from beyond...
(Kathleen Stacey & Associates) Pty Ltd began this process
in mid November. Both Kathleen and her team bring a
wealth of experience from their work with AHCSA and
members services, and their background in accreditation.
2.Support program to assist services with the practical
and strategic components required to qualify for full
accreditation status for the services they provide or if
From the CEO cont’d
position in Sydney on renal disease in Aboriginal children.
Diabetes and renal disease is a particular passion of Sean’s
and the opportunity was too good to pass up. We wish him
well and hope to see him back in SA one day.
Regina was working on the AHW Registration Project which
was only funded for one year. The final report is currently being
collated. Regina returned to the Central Northern Adelaide
Health Service and we all wish her well.
Chris was working as the Senior Admin Officer on a temporary
contract. At the end of his contract, he decided to take a well
earned break and travel overseas. We have had some lovely
postcards from Greece.
It is also with much sadness that we announce the Centre of
Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) will be coming to an end
in December 2008 and we will be saying goodbye to Merridy
Malin, Glenn Giles and Helen Diassinas. As you may know, the
CCRE is a partnership between AHCSA and Flinders University
and was funded by the National Health and Medical Research
Council for five years. One of the main goals of the CCRE was
to build the capacity of Aboriginal communities to conduct and
control research. The CCRE has laid a solid foundation for
us to work from and AHCSA will continue to build on this.
AHCSA Board members at the September Board meeting at Umuwa
already accredited, to maintain accreditation. This will
extend over the next two and a half years until June 2011.
An Accreditation Support Officer will be appointed and
based at AHCSA and a key strategy of this project is to
support member services and the Accreditation
Facilitators.
If you would like further information on accreditation for your
health service please contact Richard Nelson, Deputy CEO,
tel: 8132 6700.
A formal launch of the CCRE Achievements Document was
officiated by Minister Hill on 20 November. I would like to thank
Glenn, Merridy and Helen for their hard work and commitment,
and wish them well for the future. I would also like to
acknowledge the contribution of the CCRE Board whose
Chairperson is Yvonne Buza and all the other partners and
stakeholders involved with the CCRE.
The NACCHO AGM was held in Broome on 11-14 November
to coincide with Broome Aboriginal Medical Services (BRAMS)
30 year celebrations. Congratulations to BRAMS!
AHCSA’s 2008 Annual General Meeting was held on 2-3
December in Ceduna and I look forward to bringing you
up-to-date on this in the new year.
I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a
prosperous and happy New Year.
Mary Buckskin
Chief Executive Officer
Cover photo: Pukatja choir performing at the 25th Anniversary
of Nganampa Health Council.
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Port Augusta - Centre for Excellence
In June 2007, the Minister for Health released the State
Health Care Plan which identified Port Augusta would become
a Centre for Excellence (C4E) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Health. The plan highlighted that Port Augusta would
take the lead on developing integrated, connected and
responsive services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
health and support the delivery of this type of integrated
service across country and metropolitan South Australia.
The overarching objectives for the C4E is to ensure Country
Health SA delivers access to better services to Aboriginal
people to improve their health and wellbeing. The Centre will
focus on demonstrating, modelling and teaching best practice
in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health by working closely
with local communities and local health service providers.
The next step was an Open Forum held in Port Augusta on
26 May 2008 at the site of the Port Augusta Hospital and
Regional Health Service. This was the first stage of the
community consultation process which was designed to help
in the development of the C4E operational plan. At the forum
participants were given information from historical and current
perspectives. There was also an opportunity to ask questions
and to contribute to the future directions of the C4E through
participation in a workshop which was facilitated by Dana Shen,
Director of Program Development with the Statewide Service
Strategy, SA Health.
The C4E task group has been meeting since August 2007
and consists of representatives from various sectors including
the PAH&RHS, Pika Wiya Health Service, the Flinders and Far
North Divisions of General Practice, Department of Trade and
Economic Development, Local Government, Transitional
Housing Management in Port Augusta and CHSA Aboriginal
Health Directorate, and since July 2008 AHCSA. The task group
will also see the establishment of sub-groups based on the key
elements with representatives from stakeholders. Objectives
from the open forum were:
Development of a Model
• What does it mean to be a Centre for Excellence in
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
Key Elements to Make the Model Work
• Community Involvement
• Leadership
• Service delivery
• Linkages
• Workforce Development
Community Involvement
• Engaging Aboriginal people from across the State at every
stage in the design of facilities.
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Leadership
• Operational policy development to strengthen ‘Aboriginal
Friendly’ services and encourage cultural respect.
• Clear governance established for the management of the
Centre, driven by Aboriginal people in Port Augusta.
• Establishing a continual improvement philosophy.
Service Delivery
• Developing effective Aboriginal health service delivery
models and resources with a whole of life cycle focus (early
prevention, palliative care, acute) to share across the State.
• Improving outreach services to remote areas.
• Enhancement of social and emotional wellbeing services for
Aboriginal people.
• Developing and modelling clinical pathways specifically for
Aboriginal people including the priority population groups of
early childhood and aged care.
Linkages
• Working in partnership with AHCSA, OATSIH, the Aboriginal
Health Division (Department of Health) and other peak
Aboriginal health organisations.
• Link with the policy framework as identified.
• Linking with the variety of organisations throughout the State
working in partnership.
• Set a standard for best practice in Aboriginal health to the
four general hospitals, all country health services and statewide
health services.
• Provide a clearing house for access to local, statewide and
national research information.
Workforce Development
• Develop the capacity for Aboriginal people to gain and
maintain employment across disciplines in country health
services.
• Have a strong teaching component, building on successful
models such as the Unique Centre of Learning at Pika Wiya
Health Service.
• Accessible for peer shadowing and placements for
personnel from across country to strengthen cultural
awareness skills in clinical practice.
Charles Jackson is the Project Manager for the Centre for
Excellence based at the Port Augusta Hospital, Country
Health SA, and is available to assist with any queries regarding
the Centre and can be contacted on (08) 8648 5779 or
[email protected]
In November, a community meeting was held at Port Augusta
to secure community representation on the sub-groups. An
update will be provided in the next AHCSA News.
Yvonne Buza
Visits the UN
The Seventh Session of the United Nations
Permanent Forum (UNPFII) on Indigenous Issues
was held in New York in April 2008. Due to 2020
summit commitments by the National Aboriginal
Community Controlled Health Organisation
(NACCHO) Chairperson, AHCSA Board Member
Yvonne Buza attended to represent NACCHO.
Yvonne said, “What an experience it was!”
The UNPFII is an advisory body to the Economic and Social
Council with a mandate to discuss Indigenous issues related
to economic and social development, culture, the environment,
education, health and human rights.
This year a special theme was introduced to address many
important issues that may impact on Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people such as climate change, bio-cultural
diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of Indigenous
peoples and new challenges.
The delegation consisted of some 40 representatives from all
jurisdictions including land councils, Human Rights & Equal
Opportunity, government and community organisations. A
youth group was also present to observe the UNPFII process
Yvonne in front of photos of the previous and current UN Secretary-Generals
respectively L-R: Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Kofi A Annan and Ban Ki-Moon
in an effort to guarantee future participation and succession
planning.
Yvonne said, “It was an amazing experience and an opportunity
to unite with other Indigenous people to present views to
existing governments in a neutral and inviting environment.
Although sessions generally kept us busy most days, we
did get the opportunity to check out some of the amazing
landmarks including the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero.”
Updated information on the
seventh session of the UNPFII is
available on www.un.org/UNPFII
COAG: A Significant Step towards Closing the Gap
Dr Mick Adams, Chair of NACCHO, the peak body for
Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs)
says the COAG package for Aboriginal health is unprecedented,
is a huge step forward to closing the life expectancy gap, and
is one that NACCHO welcomes with much excitement and
anticipation to work collaboratively with Governments to
implement this awesome package over the next four years.
“An additional $806 million from the Federal Government for
Indigenous health over four years and $772 million from the
states is a major funding boost that I look forward to seeing
deployed in our primary health care services on the frontline
of closing the gap. The emphasis on chronic disease,
strengthening primary health care services, training, access to
specialists, access to medicines and prevention programmes
are all welcome. I look forward to a meaningful partnership
between, the over 140 ACCHSs represented by NACCHO
and the federal, state and territory governments to ensure
Aboriginal peoples are involved in the development, delivery
and implementation of this new package” Dr Adams said.
A recommendation endorsed by delegates from ACCHSs
across the country at our Annual General Meeting two weeks
ago was: NACCHO members believe that Aboriginal people’s
full participation in the health service design, delivery,
monitoring and evaluation is integral to improving health
outcomes for Aboriginal peoples.
Therefore in order to Close the Gap of life expectancy within
a generation NACCHO Members call on the Commonwealth
and State/Territory Governments to ensure that as much of the
funding as possible for Aboriginal primary health care is provided
through ACCHSs, where it is to have the greatest effect in terms
of access to services and comprehensive models of care.
Dr Adams said, “The philosophy of ACCHSs expressed in the
resolution was endorsed in March by the Prime Minister and
Minister Roxon as part of the Close the Gap Statement of
Intent they signed. The government has committed to a
national partnership with us through the Statement of Intent
and we would like to see that put in action, particularly the
commitment to “Ensuring the full participation of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their representative
bodies in all aspects of addressing their health needs”.
“Accordingly, we would now like to sit down with government
and work out how to get the best value from the funds
committed so far, and to develop a long term comprehensive
strategic plan that covers all areas of closing the gap. I also
welcome the ongoing support from the AMA for our Community
Controlled Services that was expressed again in the last week
by Dr Capolingua in the AMAs Indigenous Health Report Card.
“I believe this package announced at COAG is an important
start to also fulfilling the commitment in the Close the Gap
Statement of Intent to ensure our people have access to
adequate and culturally appropriate health services in order
for us to play our important part in Closing the Gap in life
expectancy for our people by 2018” Dr Adams said.
4
Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service
Celebrates Upgraded Services
The official opening gave PLAHS an opportunity to celebrate
their achievements and the people who helped found it and
keep it running well today. Mr Kropinyeri acknowledged the
hard work of past and present committee members and the
five chief executive officers. “The committee members’ effort
and making themselves available has been the driving force
behind what it is today.”
PLAHS will continue to grow as well as share and glean ideas
and practices with health councils statewide and nationally.
The Service is represented on the State Government’s Advisory
Council, AHCSA and nationally.
PLAHS opening
“We’re sharing ideas at a national level, which means it comes
back down to us, with ideas on accessing mainstream and
other services to get the best possible service we can, and
share ideas on development,” said Mr Kropinyeri.
Sixteen years of improving the health of the
Aboriginal community was celebrated at an official
opening of the Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health
Service’s (PLAHS) major renovations in October.
PLAHS completed a major upgrade this year to
provide more rooms and services.
Chief Executive Officer Harry Miller said quality staff would
continue to make the health service a top organisation. “It’s
obvious the renovations undertaken over the years has given
us a wonderful infrastructure for the Aboriginal community, and
the level of commitment by staff in all the services addressing
health needs in the community, however challenging at the
time, cannot be questioned.”
Promotions Officer Jeremy Coaby was master of ceremonies
and welcomed the public to join in the celebrations. Chief
Executive Officer Harry Miller and Chairperson Les Kropinyeri
gave the keynote speeches and a luncheon followed with
guests from local agencies.
“It’s good to have a governing committee and work with them
representing the community views - it makes us more aware
of what’s needed and how we can plan to address those
needs,” Harry said.
PLAHS began in 1992 and was based at the Port Lincoln
Aboriginal Community Council. The Service then moved to
Haigh Street and in 1993 to the current site behind the
Investigator Clinic.
Nunyara Wellbeing Centre
Gets Facelift
Nunyara Wellbeing Centre Inc. has received a
well-needed face-lift to the front of the building.
The tired front garden also received a massive
boost after the centre enlisted the services of local
gardening company Kev’s Mowing and Landscaping.
“We wanted to clear the yard and install a more efficient
garden while lifting the appearance of the area,” Nunyara
Aboriginal Maternity and Infant Care worker Sonia Beattie said.
“The boys have put in drought resistant plants and shrubs
which have been complemented by the laying of bark-chips.”
Centre Manager Cindy Zbierski said the upgrade was long
overdue. “The front area of the building has remained
unattended since the Centre’s inception in 2000,” she said.
“It took about three days to finish and it really has made a
huge difference. We’re very happy with the end result,” Cindy
added.
Nunyara provides culturally appropriate primary health care
and health promotion programs for Whyalla’s Aboriginal
community including education and advice to help families
access the services they need from government and
mainstream services.
For further information, please contact the centre on
8649 4366.
Kiya Dunn, Brenda Carter and Kayna Dunn
Nunyara Hosts SA Health Minister John Hill
Chairperson Les Kropinyeri said the service had grown from
a staff of about six to eighty full-time and part-time workers.
PLAHS now offers a wide range of health services from clinical to
support and these are now being expanded due to the upgrade.
Nunyara Wellbeing Centre
was pleased to host South
Australian Health Minister
John Hill on 28 October.
“Part of what we do is a holistic approach to health with a focus
on closing the gap. The Federal Government has indicated it
wants to look at the seventeen-year gap between life expectancy
for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people,” Mr Kropinyeri said.
Minister Hill was in town to
officially open a community-run
health information centre at the
Whyalla Hospital called ‘Health
In Our Hands’ and accepted an
invitation from Nunyara Manager
Cindy Zbierski to tour the Centre.
Community members and
management welcomed him
along with his advisor, Natalie
Rutherford.
“The biggest thing for us now is to start being more positive
working in the area of closing the gap and make our services
better and work in with hospitals, community health and other
agencies,” he said.
The expansion of the service has also given more Aboriginal
people the opportunity to be involved and gain experience on
the committee. “More responsibility has come as it’s grown,
along with accountability. Our committee members undergo
governance training and other training,” Mr Kropinyeri said.
Committee representation doesn’t just serve the community, it
helps the individual understand the decisions they make, who
that affects and how an organisation works he said.
5
Kiya on the swing at Nunyara
Minister John Hill at Nunyara,
Manager Cindy Zbierski far right
Jeremy Coaby, MC for the opening
Minister Hill said his government
was keen to adopt an Aboriginal community controlled health
services model. “The outcome is better if the services are
controlled by the community,” he said. “It works better with
the community; I think it’s the right model.”
Minister Hill went on to say that he is committed to help raising
the life expectancy of Indigenous Australians. “A very strong
local run Aboriginal health service and making sure other
services are Aboriginal friendly will help,” he said.
He spoke briefly about the Centre’s Aboriginal Maternity and
Infant Care program. “There are good indicators that birth
weight is increasing. It is important for health workers to
interact with mothers early to ensure a safe and healthy
pregnancy,” he said.
Minister Hill was clearly impressed with the layout and design
of the Nunyara Wellbeing Centre. “It’s one of the best conversions
I’ve ever seen. It’s light, airy and has a beautiful garden, I’m
very pleased,” he commented.
Minister Hill travelled to other towns in the region following
his visit to Nunyara.
6
AHCSA assists Good Medicines
Better Health in Victoria
QUM attends 5th International
Training Course in South Africa
On 29 June to 11 July 2008, Victorian QUM Project
Officer Joanne Hedges was privileged to attend
the 5th International Training Course in Cape
Town, South Africa, with the support of the
National Prescribing Service (NPS).
The course titled ‘Promoting Rational Medicines Use in the
Community’ allowed Joanne to gain a greater comprehension
of medicine use in the community.
Participants were predominantly from Africa and South Africa
with one participant from Canada and Joanne being the only
one from Australia. The course was intense throughout the
entire two weeks with facilitators from the University of
Amsterdam, University of Western Cape, Royal Tropical
Institute, The Netherlands, Medicines Policy & Standards
Dept, WHO, Health Link, London & Halland Communication,
and Norway.
Subjects covered included how to investigate the use of
medicines by consumers, factors which influence medicine
use by consumers, prioritising and analysing medicines use
problems, sampling, data analysis, monitoring and evaluating,
and linking research to interventions.
Joanne Hedges and Colin Mitchell from VAHS
Over the last 12 months, AHCSA have been
assisting the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service
(VAHS) with the Good Medicines Better Health
(GMBH) project.
AHCSA has supported VAHS with initial training, developing
session plans, acquiring resources to assist with training, and
promoting positive reinforcement to trainers that they are
achieving their goals and targets.
The GMBH project has allowed VAHS to develop more scope
with their Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) in terms of
attaining skills and knowledge in the areas of general Quality
Use of Medicines (QUM) and QUM in Asthma, Diabetes and
Hypertension.
VAHS have facilitated training sessions on general QUM and
are currently preparing for the delivery of the QUM Asthma
module.
Within VAHS, the support for the GMBH training has also been
with cooperation and enthusiasm. AHWs attending from the
various programs discuss with each other issues of chronic
disease that translate into whole of organisation and/or
program policies and procedures, greater use and knowledge
of medical equipment and cohesive compliance to structures
that are parallel with medical accreditation processes. This
allows for whole of staff to be involved in how patients are
given greater quality of care.
7
VAHS AHWs have the general concept of quality QUM and the
three chronic diseases with varying degrees of knowledge and
understanding. However, the GMBH train the trainer project
has given VAHS an opportunity to increase AHWs knowledge
and skills to deliver current and effective messages on QUM
to improve the wellbeing of their community and also support
each other in AHWs daily roles and responsibilities.
With the training, VAHS will look at the evaluation of training
and uptake of QUM messages by AHWs. They will continue to
monitor with support and encouragement to maintain the high
standards that the community want and expect from VAHS.
AHCSA has played an important part in preparing VAHS for
delivery of training sessions and they would like to particularly
thank Michele Robinson who supports them with visits to the
service. In the earlier stages of the project, thanks is given to
Graham Williams.
NACCHO and NPS (National Prescribing Service) have also
been significant to the development and VAHS are grateful for
their input and support of the Good Medicines Better Health
project.
To complement this, the course investigated how to improve
the use of medicines by consumers and covered components
of face-to-face communication, developing effective print
materials and mass media, pre-testing, working with journalists,
managerial and regulatory strategies, and advocacy and
networking.
Participants were put in groups and came up with questions
that could be asked when they went on a field trip to a local
community health service. It was at the community health
service that the groups conducted interviews with senior staff,
individual patient interviews and focus group discussions with
data and sampling included at the end of the field trip which
was analysed.
On the last two days of the course participants came together
to develop a work plan of all the subjects they had covered
throughout the course to present to the rest of the group.
Joanne said, “The course contents itself was very rewarding
and allowed me to gain more knowledge in the area of medicine
use in communities. Due to most of the participants being
from Africa and South Africa, a lot of discussion with medicine
use evolved around HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. However,
it was interesting to hear how the participants conduct their
work in their own communities and is very similar to how we
as AHWs provide support, advocacy and education to our
own communities.”
Training course participants in South Africa
She went on to say, “The culture of South Africa was quite
sensitive in terms of race relations and the poverty of the
traditional owners. Seeing the conditions of living standards
where there was no running water, electricity and in some
places no sanitation and the conditions of the community
health service I visited on my field trip made me thankful for
the fight our Elders and leaders have done here in Australia.
To maintain our dignity and rights and standard of health that
we are entitled to, even though it’s not entirely to the benchmark
we would like, I feel that our Elders and leaders need to be
congratulated for the work they have achieved for our people
and continue to fight for equality.”
“I made many new friends during my two weeks and was able
to get some insight into the politics, culture and history of the
country. I am keeping in touch with some of the participants
and I have been invited to visit the many different countries
where they live eg Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and
Canada.”
“I highly recommend consideration be given by NPS to have
a similar course here in Australia to support AHWs, managers
and other staff within Aboriginal Community Controlled Health
Services to have the opportunity to improve knowledge, skills
and competencies in promoting rational medicines use in our
communities.”
On the last day, all participants graduated and received an
award for participating. As a group, they went on a tour of
Cape Town. “I enjoyed seeing the beautiful country and coast
line, although in contrast it was appalling to see the difference
in living standards and conditions between the black and
white groups.” Joanne said.
8
New Resource for Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Care Training
A brand new resource has been developed to
assist to train Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs)
to become Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Care
(AMIC) Workers. Training AHWs in maternal and
infant care has long been a high priority of
AHCSA’s Board of Management.
• Ann Newchurch, Workforce Issues Project Officer,
Workforce Development Branch, AHCSA
• Brenda Carter, Senior AHW, Nunyara Wellbeing Centre
• Sonia Beattie, AMIC Worker, Nunyara Wellbeing Centre
• Ida Calgaret, AMIC Worker, Nunyara Wellbeing Centre
• Eunice Aston, formerly CHSA
The Board’s decision was prompted by:
• Graham Williams, Manager, Education and Training Team,
• Prevalence of low birth weights for babies born to Aboriginal
women.
What Does an AMIC Worker Do?
• Disproportionate rate of infant mortality including Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) of babies born to Aboriginal
mothers.
• Disproportionate rate of Aboriginal teenage mothers.
• Disproportionate rate between non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal
women in breast feeding.
Some members of the TAG Team
• Nunyara Well Being Centre (Whyalla)
• Disproportionate rate of infant mortality in Aboriginal
communities.
• AMIC Workers from Port Augusta and Whyalla hospitals
• Need for training of health professionals to both inform
and support Aboriginal women in maternal and infant care.
• Flinders University School of Nursing
The Gap
Existing models of maternity care in South Australia do
not meet the needs of Aboriginal women. Access to better
maternity services for Aboriginal women and their families
living in country South Australia is essential to achieving a
reduction in the incidence of chronic disease and low birth
weight infants (Pregnancy Outcome Unit Report SA 2006).
Over the last three years, Country Health SA (CHSA) piloted
family birthing programs in Port Augusta and Whyalla
communities. Due to the success of these programs it was
decided to base the training of AMIC Workers on this model
as it rests on a reciprocal partnership - Midwives provide
support with practical skills while AMIC Workers provide
cultural support.
Appropriate Training
In 2006, AHCSA’s Board directed that an appropriate training
resource be developed which would lead to a professional
qualification. The Certificate IV Practice was chosen with
elective units drawn from Diploma level.
A Quality Assurance Group (QAG) was formed to guide the
process of resource development comprising representatives
from:
• Port Augusta and Whyalla Aboriginal communities
• Midwives from Port Augusta and Whyalla hospitals
• University of South Australia School of Nursing
• Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia
In January 2008, AHCSA applied for funding from the
Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing for the
development of the AMIC training resource. The QAG was
replaced by a Training Advisory Group (TAG) which guided a
team of Resource Development Consultants (RDC) to ensure
that the resources were clinically accurate and culturally
appropriate.
The RDC team was made up of:
• Andrea Merrigan, Trainer, Education and Training Team,
• Child Youth and Women’s Services, SA Department of Health
• Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South
Australia and Flinders University
The TAG was supported by the Cultural Reference Group
and included:
• Pika Wiya Health Service (Port Augusta)
• Anna Caponi, Services Coordinator, Pika Wiya Health
Service
9
• Deliver (under the clinical supervision of doctors and midwives)
safe and effective antenatal, labour, birthing and postnatal
care to Aboriginal women using a primary health care
approach.
• Deliver care as an equal member of a primary health care
team in partnership with doctors and midwives.
• Organise and evaluate maternal and infant health programs.
• Provide leadership and guidance to mainstream organisations
and other health professionals in providing a culturally safe
and respectful health care environment.
• Advocate for and support Aboriginal women.
4 Women and their Stories
• Deanna Stuart-Butler, AMIC Worker, Anangu Bibi Birthing
Program, Port Augusta Hospital
It is due to the vision and hard work of many people over a
three year period that the AMIC training package has been
developed. There are too many people to list individually.
AHCSA acknowledges the contributions made by all those
involved.
• Provide the cultural link between Aboriginal pregnant women
and their babies, and the mainstream health system.
• Anne Foale, Community Midwife and Midwife Anangu Bibi
Birthing Program, Port Augusta Hospital
• Ann Screen, Technical Writing Consultant (former Advanced
Skills Lecturer TAFE SA until July 2008, now retired)
Training delivery will be flexible and include a combination of
classroom and on-the-job learning. The course is expected
to take 18 months to 2 years to complete.
• Learn specialist antenatal, perinatal and postnatal knowledge,
skills and attitudes.
• Initiate and coordinate community consultation and
involvement in service planning and development.
• Lavinia Jackson, Administration Support
Negotiations are underway between AHCSA and CHSA to
commence training for AMIC Workers statewide in 2009.
Trainee AMIC Workers will:
• Cheryl Boles, Senior Project Officer, CHSA Aboriginal Family
Birthing Program Project Proposal and Midwife Anangu Bibi
Birthing Program, Port Augusta
• Dr Julia Vnuk, GP Advisor, Aboriginal Health Program,
Flinders and Far North Division of General Practice and
Tutor, Pika Wiya Learning Centre, Port Augusta
• Country Health SA
The AMIC course is designed for AHWs who are working in
an AMIC setting. Students will undertake extensive training
both on the job and in the classroom. Pathways into midwifery
are currently being negotiated with Flinders University and the
University of SA.
AHCSA and CHSA Partnership
• Support and mentor trainee AMIC workers.
AHCSA is delighted to announce the completion of the training
resource package. It is the first training course of its kind and
there is a lot of interest in it already. The package itself is
designed around the stories of four women.
The Aboriginal Maternal & Infant Care Learning Resource
AMIC students follow the women through their journeys
from pregnancy into birth and aftercare of their babies. The
resource package is colourfully presented using culturally
appropriate illustrations and unique borders and symbols
developed by Lavinia Jackson.
10
Nganampa Celebrates 25 years
Choir
Symposium 1
Audience watching choir
Symposium 2
Nganampa Health Council
celebrated its 25th anniversary
over two days at Umuwa on
the APY Lands in September
2008 and invited the AHCSA
Board and others to join in.
Paul Torzillo receiving award
AHCSA Chairperson and Nganampa
Health Council Executive Director
John Singer together with Nganampa
Health Council Chair Jamie Nyaningu
welcomed AHCSA Board members
and staff to Umuwa on the first day.
Also invited were funding partners
from the Office for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Health, NACCHO
and key State Government agencies.
The celebrations commenced with a professional issues
symposium at which some of the key successes and
challenges of Nganampa Health Council were presented
and discussed. John Wilson, Health Services Manager, Paul
Torzillo, Medical Director, Robyn Pitt, Louise Tucker and
Pantjiti Lewis from the Women’s Health Program, and Stephi
11
Inma
Rainow and Peter DeRose, Public & Environmental Health
Officers, all talked about key successes and challenges.
In Women’s Health, major advances in timeliness and coverage
of antenatal care have contributed to significant improvements
in birth weights and proportions of low birth weights over time.
In Public & Environmental Health, Nganampa Health Council
has played a pivotal role in the development of the National
Indigenous Housing Guide and the Fixing Houses for Better
Health program roll out across Australia.
Stephi talked about a range of ground breaking collaborative
action research in areas such as dog health, housing design,
health hardware assessment and fix, kitchen and washing
utilities design, septic tank design and maintenance, dust
control and rainwater usage. Paul Torzillo reviewed Nganampa
Health Council’s impressive population health achievements in
immunisation, STI prevention and control and child health.
A highlight of the evening was the traditional inma under the
stars.
On the next day, the AHCSA Board continued its meeting
at Umuwa before departing for Adelaide after lunch.
Following the symposium, the Ernabella School Choir
performed. That evening, a community BBQ was held and
a number of people who have made a long term and highly
significant contribution to the work of Nganampa Health
Council were honoured and presented with certificates of
excellence and achievement.
Jamie Nyaningu made a formal address around the theme
of the celebrations Pika Wiya Kunpu Nyinama or ’Be Strong
- Look After Your Health’. There was a minute’s silence while
everyone remembered those Anangu who had passed on and
who had made a lasting contribution to the development of
Nganampa Health Council.
Nganampa Health Council was really pleased to have the
opportunity to share its story and pride in its success with
other community controlled health organisations in South
Australia and looks forward to working closely with these
organisations in the future to share knowledge and expertise,
and contribute to excellence in health service delivery.
12
Perko Ngurratti ‘Healing Messages’
Cancer forum
On Wednesday 15 October, AHCSA held an informal
lunch to release the Perko Ngurratti ‘Healing
Messages’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Cancer Forum Report.
It has been two years since the Forum met so the lunch was
an ideal setting to release the report. Members from the Forum
Working Group, Forum presenters and representatives from
key organisations attended.
There was an air of excitement that the Report had been
released as it demonstrated the commitment by Cancer
Council SA (CCSA) and AHCSA to work towards achieving
the key recommendations from the Forum with other partner
organisations.
Updates were given on the progress of some of the Forum
recommendations including:
Perko Ngurratti ‘Healing Messages’ South Australian Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Forum was held in September
2006 at West Beach. It was the first such Forum held in this
State and the main aim was to raise the profile of issues that
affect Aboriginal people with cancer. Information was gained
about cancer management from an Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander perspective and areas that were covered
included risk factors, incidence rates, research and the
effectiveness of treatment and support services.
The Forum highlighted the importance of prevention, early
detection and screening in relation to cancer control and
provided information about relevant support services and
programs.
Forum attendees were privileged to hear Aboriginal people
share their stories and personal experiences about the impact
that cancer has had on them and their families. Listening to
these stories provided the clinicians, service providers and
health workers in the audience with valuable insights into the
cancer experience for many Aboriginal people.
An estimated 120 people attended the first day of the Forum
and around 100 attended the second day.
Findings from the
Forum will also help
inform the Statewide
Clinical Cancer
Network about
Aboriginal issues.
• Recruitment for a statewide Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Tobacco Control position is currently underway.
The position will be based at AHCSA and will work closely
with Drug and Alcohol Services SA (DASSA), Quit SA and
the Aboriginal Health Division, Department of Health.
• CCSA is developing a culturally appropriate support and
information resource that Aboriginal Health Workers in South
Australia can use in their communities and health service to
support Aboriginal people being treated for or affected by
cancer. This is a two-year project and is a collaborative
partnership between CCSA, AHCSA, the Royal Adelaide
Hospital, Cancer Voices SA, and the Aboriginal Health
Division. Funding for this project came from the Building
Cancer Support Networks Grants Program (CanSUPPORT)
provided by Cancer Australia. The result will be culturally
appropriate cancer resources and the project will link with
existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers,
Aboriginal health services, service providers and community
people involved in cancer support and information in SA.
• At a national level, Cancer Australia has Aboriginal
representation on its national Public Health and Supportive
13
Perko Ngurratti “Healing Messages”
South Australian Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Cancer Forum
September 2006
Acknowledgement
and appreciation go
to Ngara Keeler,
AHCSA and Carmel
McNamara, CCSA
for their commitment,
compassion and hard
work in the preparation
and facilitation of the
Forum.
The Perko Ngurratti
‘Healing Messages’
Aboriginal Cancer
Forum Report is available either on www.ahcsa.org.au or by
contacting Carmel McNamara at CCSA on tel: 8291 4149
or Amanda Mitchell, AHCSA on tel: 8132 6700.
Perko Ngurratti ‘Healing Messages’
The CCRE has been led and hosted by AHCSA since 2003 in
partnership with Flinders University. They feel a lot of sadness
as the CCRE project comes to an end, so this is a final word
from Dr Merridy Malin and Glenn Giles, Training and Translation
Officers with the CCRE since 2004.
“It’s been a privilege and learning experience for us to work for
the CCRE at AHCSA. We wish to thank the CCRE Board and
AHCSA for their support and acknowledge the work of the
CCRE’s University researchers. Much of their work continues
in a number of projects and initiatives.
“We hope that the CCRE’s work will provide a strong basis on
which AHCSA can build its capacity in research and that of the
Aboriginal community health sector in South Australia.
Hopefully, AHCSA will succeed in securing funding for:
1.Staff to continue the Certificate IV in Indigenous Research
Capacity Building.
2.An AHCSA Research Support Officer to work with SA
Aboriginal health services to assist them to pursue their
own research priorities.”
Final Workshop
In November, the CCRE held a workshop ‘Summarising
Lessons for a Recommended Model of Chronic Condition
Care’ with Aboriginal health practitioners and researchers
involved in the project.
Participants identified recommendations that came out of the
work of the CCRE for the care of Aboriginal patients managing
with long-term health conditions. A short Policy Briefing
document was produced from this.
CCRE Achievements and Milestones Launch
A report summarising the collective work and achievements of
the CCRE Researchers and staff was launched on 20 November
by SA Health Minister John Hill.
Consulting Members on Research Priorities
Following on from the CCRE Planning Day in March 2008,
staff have been consulting AHCSA members about key issues
that they confront in their operations, research topics and
questions that relate to these issues. This work will assist
AHCSA to help members in the area of research by developing
a database of the research interests. AHCSA is developing
a proposal for an ongoing Research Support Officer whose
tasks will include building on this work.
AHCSA Celebrates Research Course Graduates
On 22 August, 12 people graduated with Certificate IV in
Indigenous Research Capacity Building. The CCRE had a
wonderful celebration at the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre
with family and friends in attendance.
AchievementsandMilestones
• CCSA has met with AHCSA’s Education and Training team
to discuss the development of a cancer awareness and
education training program for Aboriginal Health Workers
in SA.
The Centre of Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE)
will complete its term in December 2008 following
a three-month extension.
C CRE Ac hi evem en ts and M il es ton es
Care committees and next year will fund a national Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander sub-committee. This sub-committee
will have representatives from each state CC and will work
together towards progressing national Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander cancer control initiatives.
CCRE Completes Term
CCRE
Achievements
and Milestones
Centre of Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE)
in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
CCRE Achievements and Milestones
This group of graduates is the first to complete the course
which was piloted by AHCSA for James Cook University
(JCU). Associate Professor Jacinta Elston from JCU came
from Townsville to speak at the ceremony along with Mary
Buckskin and Alwin Chong who congratulated graduates
for their achievement. Merridy Malin thanked everyone who
worked behind the scenes to get the course up and running
including Christine Franks, Sonia Champion, Judy Taylor and
Kim O’Donnell who were in the audience. Jacinta was
instrumental in making the course affordable to AHCSA.
The inaugural graduates will join a national network of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander researchers willing to offer guidance
to people from the outside who want to conduct research in
their own Aboriginal communities and services.
AHCSA is currently hoping to receive a positive response to
a submission to fund the Research Training course in 2009.
Australasian Evaluation Society Annual Conference
Seven participants of the short course in Evaluation and
Action Research, delivered by AHCSA in partnership with
the Secretariat for National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care
(SNAICC), presented on their projects in a symposium at the
Australasian Evaluation Society (AES) conference in Perth.
Merridy introduced the symposium and the presenters.
After the presentation, members of the audience reported to
conference management how impressed they were with the
presentations. AHCSA was pleased to be able to work in
partnership with SNAICC and the Aboriginal Resource and
Management Support Unit (ARMSU) in delivering this short
course. Liz Orr (SNAICC), Debbie Bond (ARMSU) and Tina
Couzens-Quitadamo (ARMSU) offered invaluable assistance
to the course. Fourteen people from Child Care Centres
around SA and from the Aboriginal Family Support Service
(AFFS) completed the three competencies of the course
which were drawn from Certificate IV in Indigenous Research
Capacity Building.
14
Our Journey to Respect
Wiltanendi Launch ‘Friendz’
Cavan Training Centre
Early in the year, Cavan Training Centre trialled the
Journey to Respect Program, an Intergenerational
Violence Prevention Program developed in NSW by
the Gilgai Aboriginal Centre in partnership with the
NSW Department of Juvenile Justice.
Staff from various Families SA sites and the Education Centres
received training from NSW Juvenile Justice.
The aims and objectives of the program are:
• Develop methods in which participants can identify and
manage feelings of anger, sadness and shame which
may lead to aggressive or violent behaviours.
• By undertaking the concept of victim empathy and
perspective, reducing the incidents of family violence,
in particular violence towards older family members.
• Deconstruct and explore the ideas of masculinity and how
that can drive or shape violent and aggressive behavior in
young males.
• Facilitate participants’ movement from relationships based
on power and control towards relationships based on respect.
The program is for Aboriginal young males aged 14-18 years
who have committed or are at risk of committing violent
offences towards older family members. A minimum level of
literacy is desired, however, facilitators can assist the young
person to complete the program.
Facilitators wishing to use the program must attend the four
day ‘Our Journey to Respect’ training workshop designed to
facilitate the acquisition of skills and knowledge required to
implement the program.
It is also recommended that:
• An Aboriginal person be either the group leader or present
during facilitation of the program.
• No female facilitiators be present during session two:
Masculinity - This is Men’s Business.
• That all sessions be run concurrently with session 4&5
covered at the same time.
The program is divided into 12 sessions:
1. Our Families
2. Masculinity
3. Power and Family Relationships
4. Violence in the Family
5. The Road to Respect
6. Identifying Anger, Sadness and Shame
7. Managing Emotions and High Risk Times
8. Self Talk
9. Assertive Communication
10. Victim Empathy and Perspective Taking
15
A Comic Created by Aboriginal Youth
The comic’s story looks at how friendships impact on
decision-making around substance use and lifestyle, and
how young Aboriginal people can disconnect from negative
influences and choose peers who make positive choices.
11. Managing High Risk Situations
12. Putting it all Together
A number of techniques aimed towards enhancing a structured
learning environment are used including role plays, group work,
art activities, Individual book work, brainstorming, and physical
activities including mats and recreation.
The students aged 13 to 17 spent an intense two days
workshopping the design, characters, storyline and script
for the comic and were involved throughout the production
process.
Four young people participated in the pilot program at Cavan.
The program became part of the school curriculum and ran
over a ten week period during the second and third lesson on
Thursdays. The chosen group stayed together for the duration
of the day having morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
Senior students have since put their media and drama skills
to use in a radio play that introduced the comic Friendz at the
launch.
Many people from the local Aboriginal community attended
the launch and the Comic was very warmly received.
The Program Co-coordinator organised resources including
a folder and handouts for each day and any other relevant
resources or program achievements. The mats were designed
by Cavan staff and previous students helped to decorate them.
Monsignor Cappo said, “Peer pressure can be very challenging
for young people and I am impressed with the creative and
mature way these students have dealt with the issue. This
comic clearly demonstrates that we all make choices about
our life and emphasises the importance of choosing people to
be in our lives who encourage us to keep healthy and pursue
our dreams.”
Staff participating in the program included Kenny Wilson
(MAYFS), Keni (Youth Worker, Cavan), Naomi Hicks (Aboriginal
CAMHS Consultant), Auntie Heather Agius (The Grannies
Group), Annie (Cavan Education Department), Major Sumner
(Elder, Aboriginal Sobriety Group), Jodus Madrid (Aboriginal
Programs Coordinator, Cavan), Steve Roach (Program
Coordinator, Cavan), and Tony Minniecon (Aboriginal CAMHS
Consultant).
Feedback from the participants was positive including comments
such as ‘loved it, especially stuff it teaches and the people in
it’. In asking how their heart felt afterwards, most commented
they felt more calm. One said “Less hurt now and a lot calmer
while another commented “Most of this is about my Dad, I have
to learn to move forward, I think about those violent times.
I think about it a lot.”
Overall, facilitiators felt the program ran relatively well and was
received better than they originally thought. All the aims were
addressed and discussed, and the group found it easy to
personalise the topics. All facilitators would be happy to run
the program again with a few minor changes considered.
Participants enjoyed a celebration on the final day at KFC in
the recreational area to acknowledge their hard work. They
were then presented with certificates in front of their peers at
the school assembly by Malcolm Gollan, Elder and Manager of
Life without Barriers, which was a great honour for the young men.
Ongoing evaluations will be undertaken to improve and
personalise the program to suit Cavan Training Centre and its
clients. Another program was to run in the fourth term of 2008.
For more information about the Journey to Respect Program
contact Tony Minniecon, Aboriginal CAMHS Consultant,
Division of Mental Health, Youth Detention Centres South
Australia.
Commissioner Wanganeen said the comic reflects the real
world Aboriginal youth live in. “The characters are people
these students know and the storyline is one they relate to.
Being in comic form will encourage young people to read
the message that these students are conveying.”
Friendz cover
AHCSA and the Wiltanendi Program have an ongoing
partnership working with ‘at risk’ Aboriginal youth.
This year, in project work alone, they have been
involved with Friendz 1 (Northern Suburbs), Friendz
2 (Southern Suburbs) and Wiltanendi Paiendi West
(Western Suburbs).
The comic will be widely distributed to schools, agencies and
organisations working with young people. If you would like
a copy please contact Peter Smith, Coordinator, Wiltanendi
Program on tel: 8226 4621or AHCSA on tel: 8132 6700.
You can find more information about Wiltanendi on
www.wiltanendi.sa.gov.au
The Wiltanendi Program is an initiative of the Alcohol Education
and Rehabilitation Foundation and the Government of South
Australia in partnership with AHCSA. $62,000 was provided in
2007/08 by the Australian Government.
On 21 October 2008, a comic created by Aboriginal youth
that encourages positive friendships was launched at Elizabeth
assisted by two of the State’s highest-ranking advocates,
Commissioner for Social Inclusion, Monsignor David Cappo,
and Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement, Mr Klynton
Wanganeen.
Friendz is the result of nine months work with the Wiltanendi
Program and AHCSA involving fourteen Aboriginal students
from Kaurna Plains High School and the South Australian
Aboriginal Sports Training Academy.
Participants at the launch of Friendz
16
Ngartunna Waiendi… Babies on the Move
Nunga Young Mums
The Nunga Young Mums program is based on the Incredible
Years, an evidence based program from the United States for
parents who have children that demonstrate challenging
behaviours.
• Focus on positive behaviour, then the rewards
Nunga Young Mums was developed using a partnership
approach involving Tracey Gowans (Aboriginal Mental Health
Consultant, Western CAMHS), Alison Friedrich (Senior Social
Worker, Northern CAMHS) and Fionna Bottroff (Speech
Pathologist, Muna Paiendi).
• Be clear with your instructions
In developing the program, many Aboriginal workers were
consulted in the northern area including from DECS Early
Learning Program, Para West Adult Campus Family Learning
Centre, Muna Paiendi, and CAMHS. Aunty Cherie Watkins
provided permission to use Kaurna words.
Eamon and Grandad
Most importantly, families wanted information to be relevant
and presented in a way that they could relate to and it should
reflect the long held tradition of story telling and sharing that
has sustained Aboriginal culture through the ages.
The DVD provides the opportunity for the families filmed to
share their tips on growing up strong Aboriginal babies as
well as the places and people that have supported them when
they were worried or unsure about their baby’s development.
Eamon
Filming for an exciting new health promotion resource for
Aboriginal families is underway with Aboriginal production
company ‘hey you’.
‘Ngartunna Waiendi…Babies on the Move’, is a Kaurna title
suggested by Ngartunna Waiendi, the Kaurna Warra Pintyandi
group. The DVD features local Aboriginal families, babies and
children to highlight and promote the importance of play and
early movement to support and maximise gross motor (large
muscle) development. This project has been made possible
through Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service
(CYWHS) and Central Northern Adelaide Health Service
(CNAHS) who have jointly funded the project with CYWHS
also providing project officer support.
A cultural reference group which includes Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal representatives have kindly provided their
time and expertise in helping shape a culturally relevant and
appropriate resource. This group includes Kaurna Elder Uncle
Lewis O’Brien. A clinical reference group have given their
valued input to ensure information provided to families is
accurate and up-to-date.
The DVD will be available free-of-charge from a range of health
and care settings from early 2009.
For more information contact Tabitha Lean tel: (08) 8161 2447,
email: [email protected] or Mary Schneider
tel: (08) 8161 7145, email: [email protected]
• One command at a time
• Be realistic in your expectations and use age appropriate
commands
• Give warnings and be clear with your commands
Ignore and distract
• Be consistent
• Give attention to positive behaviour
• Return your attention as soon as misbehaviour stops
Nunga Young Mums was promoted by visiting and joining a
Nunga Playgroup and the Aboriginal Community Lunch at the
Gawler Health Service. Young mums who attend the program
at Para West Adult Campus will receive a year 11, stage 1 unit
point towards their education.
• Monitor and control your own anger when using timeout
The program promotes use of the principles of play and attention,
praise and rewards, limit setting, ignoring and distracting, and
timeout. These principles are tiered in order of importance with
greatest focus on play and attention and least focus on timeout,
and use the parenting pyramid.
In consultation with Nunga program leaders, the parenting
pyramid was adapted to use a picture of a fruit tree and its
roots (represents a child) to make it more culturally appropriate.
Some of the language used was also adapted.
The program includes the following topics:
• Be prepared for testing by child
Timeout to calm down
• Be polite
• Don’t threaten timeout unless you’re prepared to follow
through with completing timeout
• Ignore child while in timeout
Natural and logical consequences
• Involve child whenever possible
• Use consequence that are short and to the point
• Make it age appropriate
• Give child choice of consequence ahead of time
Teaching your child to problem solve
• Help children to clearly define the problem and recognise
the feelings involved
• Be positive, creative and humorous
How to play with your child
• Model effective problem solving yourself
• The child leads and you follow
• Help children practice
• Age appropriate play
Nunga Young Mums are currently exploring opportunities
to run the program in the western Port Adelaide area as well
as the northern area at Para West Adult Campus in 2009.
• Laugh and have fun
Positive attention, encourage your child
• Encourage your child’s efforts
• Pay attention to what you want to see more off
• Encourage immediately and in front of others
If you know someone who would like to attend or you have
any questions, contact Tracey Gowans, Western CAMHS
tel: 8341 1222, email: [email protected]; or
Alison (Ali) Friedrich, CAMHS Sidney Chambers Elizabeth City
Centre, tel: 8252 0133, email: [email protected]
• Model self encouragement
Rewards to motivate your child
• Low cost items or no cost items
Eamon and Dad
17
Limit settings
The feedback received from the consultations included to aim
the program at young mums under 25, use a place already
used by the young mums, and promote the program in a way
that is personal and sensitive to possible shame issues about
parenting.
• Don’t compete with your child
The initiative originated through the Aboriginal Healthy Families
Project and Kaurna Plains Child Care Centre, supported by
work produced by University SA’s Health Promotion Physio
students on placement. The Physio students worked with
Tabitha Lean, Project Coordinator CNAHS and families across
Kaurna Plains and Muna Paiendi to develop a health promotion
concept for Aboriginal families. Overwhelmingly, families
supported the idea of using a DVD to promote practical ideas
about playing with babies and young children. The families
wanted relevant information about the various stages of
movement that babies go through to support them to walk
including rolling and crawling.
• Use of stickers to promote positive behaviour
• Star charts
18
Passionate Workers at Disability SA
Introducing Denise Thomas
BreastScreen SA
Denise Thomas is the
Aboriginal Health Worker
with BreastScreen SA at
the Central Northern
Adelaide Health Service.
Claudine Buckskin
Claudine Buckskin is the Service Coordinator, Individual Response team, Southern
Suburbs for Disability SA.
A Ngarrindjeri/Kaurna woman, Claudine has six children and lives in Adelaide with husband
John. She began her career in disability services three years ago. Her passion to work
with Aboriginal people who have disabilities came after the loss of her daughter who was
diagnosed with a terminal illness at age 23 and died 6 years later. A side effect from the
illness was paraplegia and Claudine has worked in the field of disability ever since.
Claudine Buckskin
Claudine’s past achievements include Family Support Worker with Aboriginal Family
Support Services for the Northern Region including Point Pearce and Port Pirie, and
Aboriginal Disability Advisor within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services
Unit of Disability SA.
In her current role as Service Coordinator, Claudine works specifically with Aboriginal clients. The role includes: community
development; case management; consultancy service for non-Aboriginal disability staff to better understand the needs of
Aboriginal clients; and promoting and presenting information to other services and agencies to attract Aboriginal clients and
ensure they are cultural competent.
Claudine completed the National Women’s Leadership Program in Cairns in July 2008 and is currently completing Certificate IV
Advanced Indigenous Leadership with the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre in Canberra with support from Disability SA.
Her commitment to her work continues to ensure Aboriginal people receive fair and adequate services to ‘Close the Gap’.
Aunty Josephine Judge-Rigney
Aunty Josephine Judge-Rigney is the Chairperson, Aboriginal Disability Network SA
Committee and says teamwork is needed because together everyone achieves more.
Aunty Josephine is a mother of 10 children and a grandmother of 12. One of her
daughter’s has an intellectual disability and a son has ADHD, so Josephine is
passionate about having her voice heard and being listened to.
Josephine is concerned that in our complex and dynamic society, Aboriginal young
people with disabilities are experiencing poverty, transience, abuses, foster care and
health problems, as well as racism and harassment within schools and from the
broader society.
Aunty Josephine Judge-Rigney
As the Chairperson of the Aboriginal Disability Network SA Committee and Aboriginal
Secondary Education Transition Officer, Josephine would like more open communication
that supports the needs of Aboriginal people, parents and people with disabilities.
Aboriginal Inclusion Unit
The Aboriginal Inclusion Unit is part of the Office for Disability and Client Services (ODACS) in Disability SA. An important part of
their work is to help client talk and to shape services in the community.
The Unit supports the Aboriginal Disability Network SA Committee which is made up of Aboriginal community representatives
elected by their peers at the Aboriginal Disability Consumer Conference held every three years. They represent remote, rural and
metropolitan communities.
The Aboriginal Disability Network SA Committee will be hosting a BBQ in Berri in January 2009 for Aboriginal people with
disabilities, their families and carers. The BBQ will be a chance for people to get to know the committee members and the work
they do to assist Aboriginal people with disabilities access services. If you would like to register your interest in attending, please
contact Vicki Shaw on 83721479.
For more information contact: Acting Manager Christopher Birtwistle or Assistant Project Officer Vicki Shaw Disability SA,
103 Fisher Street, Fullarton SA 5063, tel: 8372 1479, fax: 8372 1429.
19
Denise Thomas
The main objective of her role
is to promote BreastScreen SA
and screening to Indigenous
women and Health Workers in
South Australia to increase the
number of Indigenous women
having free mammograms
(breast x-rays) every two years.
BreastScreen aims to detect breast cancer early. With early
detection, there is a greater chance of successful treatment
and a reduction in the mortality and morbidity attributable to
breast cancer in South Australian women.
Screening is primarily recommended for all women aged 50
to 69. Women aged 40 to 49 and over 70 are eligible for
screening and are welcome to phone for an appointment
if they wish to attend.
To date, Indigenous women are not participating in regular
screening to the same levels as non-Indigenous women.
BreastScreen SA has a number of strategies to increase
participation:
• Screening Indigenous women from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara
Lands on a mobile unit, which visits Marla every two years.
• Collaborating with community groups and Health Workers.
• Arranging bus transport for groups of rural and metropolitan
women, who may not have access to transport, and
providing group bookings.
• Participating in information seminars and presentations for
Indigenous women and Health Workers.
• Providing free resources for use in communities.
Women can attend BreastScreen SA at one of six clinics in the
metropolitan area or one of the three Mobile Units. The units
visit 27 rural and remote locations and seven metropolitan
locations every two years.
For more information about BreastScreen SA, the Mobile Unit
and clinic locations see www.breastscreensa.sa.gov.au
Central Northern Adelaide Health Service Changes
The Central Northern Adelaide Health Service
(CNAHS) are currently implementing some exciting
changes to extend their service including:
For more information contact:
• Offering a mobile regional clinic with their own doctors,
nurses and other specialists such as podiatrists and
dieticians.
Irene Wanganeen, Regional Manager, Aboriginal Health North,
tel: 8182 9206
• A Wellbeing Team to deliver group programs including
Men’s, Women’s, Art and Support group.
CNAHS have been providing Aboriginal-specific health
services and programs designed, delivered and informed by
Aboriginal people for a number of years. The CNAHS includes
Muna Paendi, Gilles Plains Aboriginal Outreach Health Service,
and the Western Aboriginal Health Team.
There will be no immediate changes to services and programs
delivered at Muna Paiendi, Gilles Plains Aboriginal Outreach
Health Service and the Parks and all permanent staff have a
role within the new service model. Community groups supported
by CNAHS will continue to be provided. There will be no site
closures and Aboriginal Health Workers will continue to be
available five days a week at each site.
CNAHS will consult with clients and the community to seek
advice about which services are most needed. They are
committed to ensuring Aboriginal community members have
access to and a choice about the Aboriginal specific and
mainstream health services they need to enjoy a healthy life.
Vicki-Lee Knowles, A/Director, Aboriginal Health,
tel: 8161 2447
Terry Stewart, Regional Manager, Aboriginal Health East,
tel: 8344 8417
For all the latest news subscribe to
AHCSA CEO Communiqué
If you want to receive news bi-monthly
on what is happening with AHCSA and
Aboriginal health, please email your name,
organisation, address, telephone, fax and
email address to:
[email protected]
OR
Complete the subscribe form on our
website:
www.ahcsa.org.au
20
South Australian Aboriginal Health
Dreamtime Wins
Partnership Update
The South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership (SAAHP)
is a partnership between the federal Department of Health
and Ageing, the SA Department of Health and AHCSA.
The 2005-2010 Agreement provides a framework for the
partners to work together and in partnership with Aboriginal
people and communities, in a spirit of cooperation and
collaboration, to improve health and wellbeing outcomes
for Aboriginal people in South Australia.
• Facilitate the development of accessible, accurate and
affordable data collection and information systems that
support an evidenced based approach to planning, delivery
and evaluation of Aboriginal health improvement planning
approaches.
• Develop a competent health workforce by ensuring
community capacity building, cultural, clinical and
management skills supported by appropriate training,
supply, recruitment and retention strategies.
• Increase statewide and regional resource allocation to
meet identified need on an equitable basis.
• Establish effective linkages with sectors responsible
for improving the social, economic and environmental
determinants of health inclusive of the ‘Whole of
Government’ approach.
Mirjana was born in Adelaide
from newly arrived Eastern
European parents and spent
most of her childhood growing
up in Coober Pedy. She went
to high school in Adelaide and
went on to achieve a Bachelor
of Environmental Health from Flinders University and is
currently completing a Masters in Public Health from Griffith
University.
Mirjana has worked as an Environmental Health Officer
in Mount Isa, Alice Springs, Deniliquin and Clare before
becoming a Project Manager for the SA branch of the
Department of Health and Ageing (Office of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Health).
She joined SAAHP in July 2008 as Senior Project Officer and
looks after the areas of workforce, diabetes, sexual health and
pandemic influenza.
CST consists of 3 staff members:
Born in Adelaide, Ben has
Aboriginal and Anglo-Saxon
heritage with links to communities
on the West Coast and Yorke
Peninsula. He has a Bachelor
of Arts in Politics and Sociology
and a Graduate Diploma in
Education. Ben has worked as a teacher in many different
schools across South Australia and also in Alice Springs.
He was the Innovative Learning Technology facilitator for
the Northern Territory Department of Employment, Education
and Training.
21
In accepting the award, Dreamtime’s Managing Director Janet
Craig said she was ecstatic to be given such recognition.
“Dreamtime began in 2002 to provide culturally appropriate
visual communications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
organisations and to provide professional development
opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
in the creative area.
Mirjana Ostojic
Senior Project Officer
The Coordination and Support Team (CST) acts as the
secretariat of SAAHP and works with the partner organisations
to achieve the aims of the agreement. SAAHP is not a service
provider but coordination mechanism which allows the partner
organisations to work cooperatively and collaboratively to
improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal South Australians.
Ben Sanderson
State Coordinator
are many small business owners who will never be millionaires,
but whose contribution is invaluable.
Ben began working for SAAHP in 2006 as the Senior Project
Officer and in late 2007 he was appointed State Coordinator.
He has a keen interest and belief in the environment, social
justice, youth advocacy and the right of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people to achieve self-determination, a quality
of life and standard of living equal to or better than what is
currently being experienced by mainstream Australian society.
The commitments under this Framework Agreement are to:
• Develop clear community endorsed Aboriginal health
improvement planning with monitoring and accountability
mechanisms.
Small Business Champion Award
Toby Dodd, Janet Craig and Bryan Smith
Hot on the heels of their National Drug & Alcohol
Design Award in June 2008, Dreamtime Public
Relations won the Small Business Champion Award
SA for Business Services on 3 October 2008.
Dubbed the ‘Oscars’ for small business, the Awards are the
only national program of its kind. Judges evaluate business
strategies, customer service, vision, support of the local
community and growth amongst other things.
Precedent Productions who manage the Awards say they
are a celebration of small business and its contribution to the
Australian way of life … It’s not always about money. There
“Toby Dodd, of Ngarrindjeri/Narungga/Kaurna descent, has
been with Dreamtime since he was 17 and at the age of 22,
won the national award for logo design. Other Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people who have worked with Dreamtime
include Tahnee Edwards, Shane Pilot, Sonny Keeler, Dawn
Brown, Irene Allen, Emma Riley, Alice Krakouer, Chloe
Handrikan, and Naomi Carolin who went on to complete
her masters degree and now works for the ABC.
Congratulations rolled in from many clients around Australia,
including AHCSA. Dreamtime produces AHCSA News, Annual
Report, website, and various other materials.
Dreamtime provides a whole-of-project strategy, design, print,
website and promotional merchandise service for clients all
over Australia.
For further information email: [email protected],
tel: 08 8223 2576 or see www.dreamtimepr.com
Chantell Wanganeen
Project Support and
Administration Officer
Aboriginal People Travelling Well
Chantell was born in Adelaide
and is a descendant of the
Narungga people of the Yorke
Peninsula. She spent her early
years at Point Pearce before her
family moved back to Adelaide.
A report titled Aboriginal People Travelling Well:
Issues of safety, transport and health was released
in October 2008 by the Commonwealth Department
of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development
and Local Government.
In 2007, Chantell started work with the Attorney-Generals
Department in the Justice Strategy Division (now called Policy,
Planning and Legislation).
The project proposed that safe and sufficient transport should
be accessible to everyone, and that a lack of safety can be a
consequence of insufficient or inadequate transport.
• Aboriginal culture drives a need to belong to a place and to
meet the obligations to that place. Since the obligations
often require a person to go to a place far from where they
live, this generates a need for long distance travel often over
roads that are of a lower standard and, because of economic
circumstances, in vehicles not suited for this sort of travel.
• Responsibility to family and kin, especially when an important
person dies, generates a need for large numbers of Aboriginal
people to travel at times of high stress.
SAAHP CST can be contacted by:
The study themes and approach were informed by a series of
forums held in 2005, 2006 and 2007, involving representatives
of Aboriginal organisations and government agencies.
Consultations with focus groups and personal interviews were
conducted and case studies recorded in several Aboriginal
communities as well as literature reviews.
• Access to a drivers licence is not straight forward. Problems
with literacy and language often present barriers, as does
access to vehicles and instruction. These barriers to licensing
generate increased risk of Aboriginal people driving while
unlicensed and this offence is one of those most often
charged by police.
PO Box 287, Rundle Mall, Adelaide, SA, 5000
The broad findings were:
Tel: (08) 8226 6604
• Access to safe transport for Aboriginal people is restricted
by their economic circumstances.
A copy of the report is available at http://www.infrastructure.
gov.au/roads/safety/publications/2008/RSRG_1.aspx
She currently works as Project Support and Administration
Officer with SAAHP and is also the Chairperson of the State
Aboriginal Young Women’s Committee with Women’s Health
Statewide.
Fax: (08) 8226 6008
• The poor health of Aboriginal people generates high levels of
need for safe access to a wide range of health and disability
services.
A fact sheet is also available at http://www.crcah.org.au/
research_progam_areas/downloads/184APTWFact_
Sheet-0308.pdf
22

- Aboriginal Health Council

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