Welcome to the second edition of Gwalwa-Gai, the newsletter for the CRC for Aboriginal Health.

Gwalwa-Gai is an expression used by Larrakia people to call other members of the Larrakia nation to meet. It is used to call clan groups together.

World youth get a lesson on Aboriginal health from Darwin health worker

Anne-Marie with Noongar Mitchell Sellen on the Ship for World Youth

Canadian Aboriginal particpants Joel Cardinal and Nigit'stil Norbert

Anne-Marie Quinn is a health worker at Danila Dilba who recently returned from a two month trip as

part of the 18 th Ship for World Youth Program.

Twenty-six year old Anne-Marie, whose family originally comes from Palm Island and Brisbane, was one of twelve young Australians selected from more than 360 applicants. Keen to take advantage of the opportunity Anne-Marie presented a seminar on Aboriginal health to other young people from around the world………..

From January to March this year I traveled through the Pacific and Indian oceans as part of the Australian delegation on the 18 th Ship for World Youth Program, a Japanese Government cultural exchange program.

The Australian delegation's responsibility was to show case Australia and the two Indigenous representatives, Noongar man Mitchell Sellen, and myself (who is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) took care of representing both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Representatives from Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Greece, India, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Sweden, Tonga, and the United Arab Emirates as well as Japan and Australia participated in the program. We sailed from Japan to Singapore, India, Kenya and Mauritius before returning to Japan. During ports of call we had to make courtesy visits and as the Assistant National Leader I met the Crown Prince of Japan as well as other dignitaries and ambassadors in each country. We also visited institutions related to youth and global issues like the United Nations University.  

I ran a seminar on Aboriginal health, talking about my role as an Aboriginal Health Worker at Danila Dilba Health Service and how community-controlled organisations operate.  

With the assistance of one of the non-Indigenous Australians, Rob, who is currently studying medicine at Monash University, and Canadian Cree Indian Joel Cardinal, from Alberta, we not only raised awareness of the poverty and ill health experienced by Indigenous Australians, we raised awareness of the health of Indigenous peoples around the world and the need for more to be done to help alleviate their situation.

I also did a separate presentation on Indigenous health to representatives from the United Nations.

Each country had to do a national presentation with the Australian presentation starting with Mitch doing a traditional Welcome to Country in Noongar language and finishing with a Murray Island dance which I got special permission from my Uncle Doug Bon – a Traditional Elder from Mer, to teach to the other Australians.

We also showed our friends some Indigenous art including some of Mitchell's own work, some from my Arnhem Land artist friends who donated carvings, and didgeridoo's donated by Elders Mitch knew. Aboriginal design company Balarinji sponsored our delegation in the form of six matching ties and scarves as part of our national uniform, which gave it a nice Indigenous influence.

We also showed the film Rabbit Proof Fence and played Indigenous music. It made us both proud to be able to represent not only our country but our people too. I hope that by writing up my experiences I make other young Indigenous people consider applying for the next intake.

For more info: www.thesource.gov.au/swy
Link People Induction

Di Walker, Lindy Quall, Joelene Preece, Johanna Monk, Penelope Bisset, Barbara Beacham, Cyril Oliver, Mick Gooda, Jenny Brands and Dr Sue Vlack

The CRCAH held a Link People induction in Darwin on the 12 April. New Link People who participated were:

Penny Bisset (LaTrobe University), Cyril Oliver (Danila Dilba), Sue Vlack (UQ), and Jolene Preece (Central Australian Aboriginal Congress).  The induction was organised to support these key people in understanding the CRCAH and thinking about what is involved in being a Link Person.

Each CRCAH partner organisation has a Link Person to liaise between the CRCAH and the partner organisation.  We are keen to make sure that the Link People Group provides an opportunity for capacity exchange and knowledge brokering.  The induction provided a space to share ideas and experiences so that Link people from different organisations can learn from each other.
 
Participants reported that the induction was a fantastic experience and the resources were really useful.  They found it really helpful to meet people face to face, to get an overview of the CRCAH and to have an opportunity to ask questions. 
 
Thanks to everyone who helped organise it and participated in the discussions to make a great day.

ABS Delivers Summary of National Aboriginal Health

Last month saw the release of the largest ever national health survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the release of the Australian Bureau of Statistics report The Health and Welfare of Australia 's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: Summary Booklet, 2005.

The Survey provides a summarised statistical overview, largely at the national level, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and welfare. Among the topics included are: maternal and child health; risk factors; ill health; disability and ageing; mortality; and access to, and use of, services.

Over three-quarters (78%) of Indigenous people aged 15 years and over considered their health to be 'good to excellent' in 2004-05 . However those reporting their health as 'fair or poor' was nearly double the rate of non-Indigenous Australians.

Eye/sight problems the most common
Eye/sight problems were the most commonly reported conditions among Indigenous people (30%), followed by asthma (15%), various back problems (13%), heart and circulatory diseases (12%) and ear/hearing problems (12%).

Indigenous Australians were 1.6 times more likely to report asthma as a long-term health condition than non-Indigenous Australians.

High blood pressure was reported by one in five (22%) of those aged 35 years and over.

Indigenous Australians were more than three times as likely as non-Indigenous Australians to report having diabetes (including high sugar levels). Indigenous people in remote areas were almost twice (9%) as likely to have diabetes as those in non-remote (5%) areas. Nearly one-third (32%) of those 55 years and over had diabetes (including high sugar levels).

One in ten Indigenous children under 15 years old reported having ear/hearing problems, about three times the rate of non-Indigenous children.

Consulting health professionals
Indigenous Australians were more likely to have consulted health professionals (other than doctors or dentists) than other Australians. In remote areas, Aboriginal health workers were consulted by 13% of the population.

More than one in ten (11%) Indigenous Australians aged 15 years and over had never visited a dentist (or other health professional) about their teeth; in remote areas almost a quarter (24%) had never visited a dentist.

One in two (50%) Indigenous adults were daily smokers, about twice the rate of non-Indigenous adults but Indigenous and non-Indigenous adults reported similar rates for drinking alcohol at risky or high risk levels.

Improvements
There were improvements in some of the social determinants of health, particularly in education and employment outcomes. Between 1996 and 2004, there were steady increases in Indigenous primary and secondary school enrolments. Over the same period the proportion of Indigenous people aged 18-64 years in mainstream employment rose from 31% to 38%. Much of this gain was in part-time employment. In 2002, an additional 13% of Indigenous Australians aged 18-64 years participated in the Community Development Employment Program (CDEP).

The report found that 70% of Indigenous adults recognise their homeland or traditional country, 54% identify with their clan, tribal or language group, and 21% speak an Indigenous language. Over 90% participate in social activities, 46% play a sport and 28% do voluntary work.

For more information:Click Here

The US Indian Health Service Visits the CRCAH
Di Walker, Linda Quall, Jodie Lewfatt, Alastair Harris, Barbara Beacham, Shane Huston, Charles Grim, Jenny Brands, Leo Nolan, Philip Smith and Kristen Speakerman

The CRCAH was privileged to host a two day visit to the NT's top-end last month by a delegation from the largest Indigenous health deliverer in the world, the US Indian Health Service.

The delegation was headed by IHS Director Dr Charles Grim and included Senior Policy Analyst Leo Nolan, Dr. Phil Smith and Ms. Kristen Speakman from the prestigious Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health.

Dr Grim, a dentist and member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, was a key note speaker at the recent 5 th International Symposium on Pneumococci and Pneumococcal Disease in Alice Springs before heading north to Darwin.

The delegation visited Nguiu on the Tiwi Islands where they were hosted by the Strong Women, Strong Babies, Strong Culture group and the Julanimawu Health Clinic for a half-day tour of health infrastructure and the Nguiu community.

In Darwin the group met with the Danila Dilba Health Service, the Aboriginal Medical Service Alliance of the NT,the Department of Health & Community Services (NT), the Menzies School of Health Research's Indigenous Forum group and staff and board members of the CRCAH.

Dr Grim addressed a capacity crowd at a CRCAH-sponsored seminar at the Royal Darwin Hospital where he explained the role and structure of the IHS which has a budget of US$3.7 billion to provide a comprehensive health service delivery system to at least 1.8 million American Indians and Alaskan Natives.

Dr Grim and CRCAH Chair, Pat Anderson and CEO Mick Gooda all expressed great interest in establishing ongoing relationships between the two organisations and Dr Grim has offered assistance to the CRCAH in exploring the potential Australian application of the IHS's electronic records system, a comprehensive data base that allows collation of health data at a local, regional and national level.
(http://www.ihs.gov/CIO/EHR/).

The IHS delegation discussed an international exchange program and expressed great interest in exchanges between US and Australian Indigenous health professionals.

The CRCAH presented Dr Grim and the IHS with a painting by Melville Island artist Bima Woody and also received a large map showing the boundaries of the Aboriginal nations of Australia from Danila Dilba. Both of these will soon be hanging in the HIS offices in Washington DC.

For Further Information: www.ihs.gov

IHS Mission Statement

Our Mission ... to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level.

Our Goal... to assure that comprehensive, culturally acceptable personal and public health services are available and accessible to American Indian and Alaska Native people.

Our Foundation... to uphold the Federal Government's obligation to promote healthy American Indian and Alaska Native people, communities, and cultures and to honor and protect the inherent sovereign rights of Tribes.

Dr Charles Grim
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Conference
Australia 's national agency for health and welfare statistics and information, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is holding its biennial conference in Canberra on June 21. The AIHW is an Australian Government statutory authority accountable to Parliament and operating under the provisions of an Act of Parliament in 1987. This one-day conference will provide the big picture on the health of Australians and factors that influence their health, including health services and resources. It will highlight levels and trends and demonstrate successes and concerns in population health. The conference will discuss current health statistics and relate them to existing and future health practices and reforms. It brings together health professionals, researchers, policy makers, practitioners and academics working across all industry and government fields. Delegates will have the chance to listen to expert speakers from these areas, including AIHW staff. Held in Canberra the conference program includes keynote addresses by eminent speakers, with sessions being held in a broad spectrum of health arenas including:
  • Socioeconomic inequalities
  • Workforce planning
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
  • Changing face of primary healthcare
  • Chronic diseases
  • Health as an economic growth sector
  • Rural health

Speakers will include:

Hon. Tony Abbott MP, Minister for Health and Ageing

Hon. Peter Collins AM QC, Chair of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Ms Jane Halton, Secretary, Department of Health and Ageing

Dr Penny Allbon , Director of the Australian Institute of Health and Ageing

Professor Terry Dwyer AM, Director, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

For more details, visit www.aihw.gov.au
or contact Kristy Leversha on 02 6244 1032
or email conference2006@aihw.gov.au

CRCAH meets with Federal ALP

As part of the CRCAH's efforts to inform debate around Aboriginal health in political and other circles CEO Mick Gooda and Menzies Assistant Director, Indigenous Health, Dr Ngiare Brown, met with ALP Spokesperson for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Chris Evans on his recent visit to Darwin.

Mick told Gwalwa-Gai that he was able to update Senator Evans on the research projects being undertaken by the CRCAH and stressed to the Senator the importance of Aboriginal control of Aboriginal health and the Aboriginal health research agenda.

“I was also able to tell Senator Evans of some success stories in Aboriginal health in recent years,” said Mick. “He agreed that it is essential that these success stories are given greater prominence in the media and public debate about Aboriginal health."

Senator Evans said his talks with Mick and Ngiare were very useful, “ I found them extremely productive and enlightening and they will go a long way towards assisting Labor in policy development up to the next election.

“The work of organisations like this CRC make an important contribution to the evidenced based approach I want to bring to the Indigenous affairs portfolio,” said Senator Evans.

High School Students to get a taste of Medicine at Indigenous Winter School

Nura Gili Indigenous Programs and the University of New South Wales are offering Aboriginal secondary students a taste of university at the 2006 UNSW Indigenous Winter School. The program is aimed at allowing students to experience a number of disciplines that they may want to study after matriculation and clarify the subject areas required for study in that field. On offer is medicine as well performing arts, visual arts, law, social work, education architecture and commerce and economics.The one-week program, running from the 10 th until the 14 th of July (including a day either side to travel to and from home), will combine expertise from the University and Industry for an all round comprehensive and unique experience. Deadline for applications is June 9.

http://www.nuragili.unsw.edu.au/prospectivestudents.htm#WinterSchoolPrograms

The UNSW Initiative for Health and Human Rights (IHHR)

The CRCAH has recently made contact with the IHHR to explore possible areas of collaboration.

The University of New South Wales ' Initiative for Health and Human Rights is a multidisciplinary research, teaching, service and advocacy initiative founded collectively by the Faculties of Arts and Social Science, Law and Medicine.

Established in July 2005 the IHHR aims to develop integrated strategies to examine the intersection between health and human rights from new viewpoints. The IHHR advances health and human rights as both an area of study and a new, composite method of research. This work serves as the foundation for an interdisciplinary and international research network. The results will be used to strengthen the capacity of governmental, non-governmental and academic institutions to apply health and human rights principles to policy, programmes and practice, build the evidence of the interactions between health and human rights, support teaching and orient further research.

The Initiative builds on contributions from faculty, students, domestic and international organisations, health practitioners, human rights practitioners, policy makers and civil society, in particular members of communities who are denied access to health and human right.

http://www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au/SPHCMWeb.nsf/page/IHHR

Australian Health Promotion Conference

Report by Co-convenor Jenni Judd

The 16 th Australian Health Promotion Conference concluded in Alice Springs on April 26 th after 4 days of fantastic presentations, plenary sessions, posters, workshops and social events. With over 130 papers and 9 workshops, the conference program kept delegates busy and the social program treated people to some typical Red Centre hospitality. Highlights on the social calendar were the traditional Welcome to Country given by Betty Pearce, the dancers and drummers who performed at the opening ceremony and the dinner under the stars at the Milky Way Café.

The streams at the conference (Social Determinants, Healthy Living, Partnerships and Alliances, Regional Narratives, Community Engagement, Global Health) provided for a diverse range of presentations with a strong theme of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and social determinants were also reflected in the programming.

This year's annual Eberhart Wenzel oration was given by Associate Professor Boni Robertson and called for the return of social capital to indigenous people and questioned how 21 st century concerns can be dealt with when the mentality of those involved remains in the 20 th century. Since indigenous people became recognised as citizens, 31 years ago, punishment and prohibition have been used to deal with issues instead of rehabilitation and reform. The symptoms of this are evident with high rates of alcohol misuse, poverty, poor health, violence, depression, grief and trauma among indigenous people.

Boni's final statement, which was met with a standing ovation, was that we can no longer ignore history or pretend experiences are in the past, or allow people to use lies to justify continued injustices or lack of activity. We can no longer allow Indigenous Australians to remain second class citizens nor have their issues ignored.

Also well received by delegates was the plenary session on Tuesday, with the theme of peacebuilding and health, when Barbara Wingard and Carolyn Koolmatrie and Djappirri Mununggurritj (held up by Cyclone Monica) spoke about sharing stories about suicides, deaths and sorry business in and between their communities located in Yirrkala, Ski Beach and Pt Augusta.

The last plenary of the conference left everyone with a sense of healing and hope as Richard Hayes and Bob Randall shared stories and songs about the stolen generation and culminated in Bob singing three powerful songs- one about where his son came from, the second, the well known “My brown skin baby” and another about the journey forward between Aboriginal and non Aboriginal people.

Finally, a statement about Social Determinants and Health Promotion will be released to branches for further refinement in the next couple of months, as a way for AHPA to move forward.

Those papers and presentations that are available from speakers will be uploaded to the AHPA website so those of you who couldn't join us in Alice Springs can still share in the information.

For more info: www.healthpromotion.org.au

Racism, Identity and Public Health

CRCAH PhD student, Yin Paradies, will jointly present a Menzies School of Health Research short course called Race, Culture, Indigeneity and the Politics of Public Health.

Yin told Gwalwa-Gai that the course “aimed to use interactive exercises, case studies and small group work to introduce key concepts from anthropology, social psychology, sociology and critical Indigenous studies to assist public health practitioners”.

“This course is directly related to my PhD thesis title, ‘Race, Racism, Stress and Indigenous Health',” said Yin. “The relationship between ill-health, racism and disempowerment is often misunderstood by health practitioners and we are aiming to ensure a greater awareness of these issues in the public health context.”

The course will provide public health practitioners access to an improved understanding of issues surrounding cultural diversity, power relations, and identity politics.

This course has been designed as a professional development activity for people working or studying in Indigenous health in research, policy, or service delivery.

Students enrolled in any postgraduate level award (provided prior approval has been granted by the coordinator of that award), will be eligible for 10 credit points on satisfactory completion of the assessment tasks.

The course, co-presented by NHRMC PhD scholar Dr Emma Kowal, will run from August 23 - 25 2006.

For more information:
www.menzies.edu.au/shortcourses or email acad-admin@menzies.edu.au
 

Indigenous Researchers Forum (IRF)

Tappa Tangka Manninendi - Pathways to excellence
Indigenous Researchers Forum (IRF)

The Indigenous College of Education and Research will be hosting this event in Adelaide from 25 – 27 September 2006.

Presentations at the conference will include papers on Indigenous methodologies which will examine the core questions surrounding the legitimacy and use of Indigenous methodologies:

  • how do they differ from non-Indigenous methodologies (multiple perspectives approach, systems science/systems thinking approaches etc);
  • in what domains are they appropriate (is it only applicable to Indigenous communities);
  • what do they offer that other methodologies cannot (are ‘richer' data gathered);
  • who can use these methodologies (can non-Indigenous researchers use Indigenous methodologies);
  • is it ‘good' science (i.e. after making allowances for dynamic systems, are the results gained from Indigenous methodologies replicable in repeated studies);
  • what are the ontological and epistemological underpinnings of this scientific approach
  • A session on the implications for future research will aim to identify current trends in Indigenous research, outline the issues/problems they address, propose alternative research models for consideration and address foreseeable consequences of these research activities.

    Further information: leanne.smith@unisa.edu.au

The CRCAH - Making an IMPAKT in renal health

A team from a joint NHMRC/CRCAH project investigating access to kidney transplants recently gave several presentations – including an invited paper - at the Transplant Society of Australia & New Zealand annual conference in Canberra.

The IMPAKT (Improving Access to Kidney Transplant) team's invited paper ‘Difficult Conversations', drew on the IMPAKT experience to provide pointers to approaching the subject of organ donation and transplantation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities more generally.

IMPAKT is an endorsed CRCAH project funded through the National Health & Medical Research Council.

IMPAKT is looking at how health systems in different Australian states & territories provide transplant services to patients. It has a particular focus on the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients who have chronic kidney disease and is examining in some detail their access and use of transplant services. This includes an in-depth exploration of their perceptions, attitudes and suggestions for improvements.

The issue of transplant is sensitive. While we understand that some people may prefer not to have this treatment, the IMPAKT project is identifying ways that may improve access for those people who are interested.

The IMPAKT study is made up of several discrete studies, including:

  • surveying kidney specialists' views and decision-making practices about what constitutes suitability for transplantation;
  • interviews with patients, nursing staff, allied health and physicians to better understand how the health system supports or constrains access to transplant for suitable patients;
  • tracking the outcomes of a large group of patients;
  • reviewing transplant ‘work-up' requirements, especially issues that might affect access for rural and remote patients;
  • modelling different kidney allocation algorithms (i.e. the factors considered in selecting patients from a waiting list).

The survey of kidney specialists has been completed and a publication on the results is in press while the interview component of IMPAKT - a qualitative study – is now at the data analysis point.

IMPAKT has a specialist, qualitative team of 3 interviewers: Dr Jeannie Devitt (anthropology) Ms Cilla Preece (Aboriginal Health Worker & Health Sciences research) & Ms Kate Anderson (Psychology, PhD student). During 2005 and early 2006 the team visited 25 different sites in 5 states/territories where people are receiving treatment for end stage renal disease.

We have completed in-depth interviews with 149 with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people, 96 non-Indigenous people, and 101 renal staff at these various locations. Additionally the IMPAKT Chief Investigator, Dr Alan Cass, Director of Renal services at The George Institute in Sydney, is conducting in-depth interviews with kidney specialists currently working at sites where high numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander renal patients are being treated.

Publications by the IMPAKT team so far include:

Barriers to access by Indigenous Australians to kidney transplantation: The IMPAKT study Nephrology, 2004, 9 S144-146

Bridging the treatment gap for Indigenous Australians', MJA 2005; 182(10):505-6.

Australian nephrologists' attitudes towards living kidney donation. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. (2006, in press)

Two new staff join CRCAH team

Vanessa Harris and Arwen Pratt

The CRC for Aboriginal Health is proud to announce the appointment of two new staff members.

Vanessa Harris and Arwen Pratt will take up program manager positions in early May, replacing Tamelyn Hall who departs for
a new career in hospitality and Roger Brailsford who is presently seconded to the Aboriginal Medical Alliances of the NT (AMSANT).

Vanessa and Arwen are presently working with the Australian and South Australian Governments respectively and have decades of experience in the sector between them.

Vanessa, born in Darwin, comes from a well known family active in health and community activities. Originally, from the Alyawarre people of Alpurrurulam or Lake Nash through her maternal grandmother, Vanessa has a 23 year old son currently an apprentice electrician working in Maroochydore, Sunshine coast QLD.

Vanessa has just completed a three year degree in Health Science majoring in Management at Flinders University.

“The degree was to enhance my knowledge and skills, and to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through sustainable, holistic research programs and services,” Vanessa told Gwalwa-Gai.

Vanessa joins the CRCAH from the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in Darwin but has previously worked in Maningrida helping to establish a functioning community controlled health board was part of the team that established the Katherine West Health Board (KWHB)

Arwen Pratt is of Narrunga descent and lives in Adelaide.

She graduated from Adelaide University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2001 and has been working since at the Aboriginal Health Division in the SA Department of Health for the past six years, working with Aboriginal communities and health services across South Australia.

“I'm looking forward to working at the CRC to work with experts in the Aboriginal Health sector from all over Australia,” said Arwen. “I believe that Aboriginal people should have greater control and ownership within research and I think this will lead to improved health outcomes for all of us.”

CRCAH Scholarship student wins 2006 NT Young Achiever Award

Kate Mounsey

CRCAH-scholarship PhD Student, Kate Mounsey last month won the NT Young Achiever Award in the Science and Engineering section for her groundbreaking work in emerging drug resistance in scabies, a condition endemic in many remote Australian Aboriginal communities.

Scabies remains a serious public health problem in remote northern Australian Aboriginal communities with prevalences recorded of up to 65% in school children. Worldwide up to 300 million scabies cases are reported per annum, despite the availability of effective chemotherapy. In northern Australia the proportion of those infected who suffer severe and advanced disease (crusted scabies) is also significant. Improving the current situation involves the development of better methods of infection and disease control.

Having only completed 2 years of post-graduate research, Menzies-based Kate already has made an outstanding achievement with two further first author research papers accepted for publication in international scientific journals.

The CRCAH Board, CEO Mick Gooda and staff congratulate Kate on her outstanding success.
 
Fruit, footy and health research
A part of efforts to increase our profile, improve community engagement and promote improved nutrition the CRCAH teamed up with the Tiwi Islands Strong Women, Strong Babies, Strong Culture group and the Julanimawu Health Clinic at Nguiu to hold a fruit stand at the famous Tiwi Australian Rules Football Grand final last month.

A crew of CRCAH volunteers assisted by Menzies research staff and students and Julanimawu Clinic manager and Tiwi woman, Eva Williams,set up the stall on the edge of the footy field. Cut up and distributed were six boxes of bananas, six of apples, six of oranges and more than a dozen watermelons to a huge mob of excited Tiwi children, who, in less than three hours, gobbled up the fruit right to the last apple.

Eva said the stall was to promote good nutrition, particularly amongst Tiwi kids.

“Fruit is a much better treat for the kids than the usual soft drinks and lollies and the kids clearly love it”.

The footy kicked off in the rain with two local women's games followed by the main event; a nail-biting game between the local Pumaralli Thunder and Lightning and Milikapiti outsiders the Muluwurri Magpie Geese. In a top-end wet season downpour the Tiwi players showed off their legendary football skills and some spectacular mud slides in all three of the games.

The game went to the wire with Pumaralli finally winning by just five points 7.7 (49) to 6.8 (44).


Pumaralli, football and good nutrition were all winners on the day.
New Capacity Development Poster

The Faces of Research Poster

The CRCAH Communications Unit got together with Capacity Development Officer Di Walker to produce a poster for the recent NT Aboriginal Health Workers Conference in Darwin.

The poster featured five Aboriginal health researchers from across the country including Flinders University-based Barkindji woman, Kim O'Donnell, Koori otitis media researcher Karen Adams and Helen Guyula, a Djambarrapuyngu researcher and interpreter from Arnhem Land.

The poster, entitled “The Faces of Research”, delivers the message that Aboriginal people, rather than being satisfied with being the subjects of research are taking up the challenge and becoming researchers themselves.

The poster reflects a key component of the CRCAH's Objectives, principles and values;

Strengthening the capacity of Aboriginal people to achieve full participation in services and appropriate means of control of these services is of critical importance for addressing Aboriginal health deficits.

The CRCAH Communications Unit has produced a number of pop-up posters outlining issues relating to Aboriginal health research. These are available to supporters of Aboriginal health research for display at conferences, seminars and summits.

For more information: Cassandra.preece@crcah.org.au

Mental health resources now available on website

The partly CRCAH-funded Australian Integrated Mental Health Initiative - Northern Territory ( AIMHI NT ) is a leader in research transfer as it successfully shares its stories and messages aimed at improving outcomes for people in remote communities of the Top End who have chronic mental illness.

Joining an array of resources, including flip charts, CDs, information sheets, discussion papers, newsletters and a radio spot are the new AIMHI WebPages located on the website of the Australian Network for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health (Auseinet). Auseinet is a national project funded by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing under the Mental Health Strategy and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

The AIMHI pages detail the project's aims and objectives and structure, and provide a detailed description of the project's work, including the development of the AIMHI Care Plan Training Package and other resources designed to assist Aboriginal Mental Health Workers and other professionals working with mental illness in remote areas.

These resources are available for download from the Auseinet website.

AIMHI's main message is that people with mental illness recover and get strong again. Recovery is about knowing what keeps you strong and well, watching closely and being prepared – because it can happen to anyone. Or put simply ‘mental illness – anyone can get it – everyone can help'.

One of the guiding principles in the AIMHI NT project has been the essential need for a decisive Aboriginal voice throughout the life of the project. In addition to widely consulting with Aboriginal people and organisations for two years, the project also has an Indigenous reference group which meets every three months to look at what has been done and what to do next.

With its Aboriginal partners, AIMHI has developed a poster (‘Grow Strong', see website) which is a metaphor for mental health. It is a plant which is thriving – with four branches; cultural, emotional, physical and family and social. On the other hand - troubles can take away our strength, and the troubles can be in any or all of those branches. The more troubles - the less well the plant thrives. The 'Grow Strong' poster reminds us that mental health encompasses everything that we do, and that stress in one part of our lives can affect another. It also tells us that strength in one part of our lives strengthens our overall health and resilience.

For More information:
http://www.auseinet.com/files/recovery/3aimhi.pdf

New Publication features Pilbara Arts and Disabilities Program

  

 

The Arts Access Australia Network recently released Making the Journey: Arts and Disability in Australia , a publication on arts and disabilities across the country.

Making the Journey is about arts activities and people with disabilities. It offers 12 case studies as examples of approaches, issues and achievements in the Australian field of art and disability in recent years.

Amongst the twelve case studies is Northern Exposure, a multi-faceted arts development program in remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia's Pilbara region, which seeks to create new opportunities for improving health, well-being and economic independence.

In November 2003, an exhibition of baskets, works on paper and video productions from the Western Desert Martu communities of Parnngurr, Punmu and Kunawarritji was held at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art. The exhibition also launched the Carer's Book.

The exhibition and the book were some of the first public outcomes of Northern Exposure.

The artists and contributors to the book included people with disabilities acquired through injury, people with intellectual disabilities and mental illness, the elderly living with health issues endemic amongst older Indigenous people in remote areas, and carers for people with disabilities.

For more information:Click Here

Showcase Update

The program of seminars showcasing the diverse range of research projects supported by the CRCAH are progressing well. The showcases will also explain our efforts to reform the research development process in favour of greater Aboriginal control.

The Melbourne (May 30), Darwin (June 14) and Brisbane (June 29) showcases are presently being organised with Alice Springs, Perth, Cairns and Sydney to follow.

The showcases are jointly organised by the CRCAH and our regional partners and are an opportunity to build the relationship with local Aboriginal communities, the Aboriginal health sector and our partners.

Research projects being presented at up-coming showcases include:

  • From healthy skin to healthy hearts and kidneys
  • South East Australian Aboriginal art and well-being
  • Ethics in Aboriginal health research
  • Discrimination, stress and the health of Indigenous Australians
  • Improving the Culture of Hospitals
  • Building capacity in Aboriginal mental health
  • Improving access to Kidney transplants for Indigenous patients
  • Barriers to Indigenous people entering nursing
  • Indigenous Australians Burden of Disease and Injury

For more information on CRCAH Showcases contact the CRC Communications Unit:

Alastair.Harris@crcah.org.au

Cassandra.preece@crcah.org.au

 

Indigenous International Program

The aim of the Indigenous International Program is to give support to Aboriginal researchers and those working in health research to attend and take part in appropriate overseas conferences. The program has been developed with funding support from the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health within the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

There was a good response to the recent call for applications for this Program with ten applications being received.

This first funding round corresponded with the lead-up to the Healing our Spirit Worldwide Conference in Canada and eight out of the ten applications related to this conference. This conference has a very broad focus on health and is appealing to a wide range of people working or studying in Aboriginal Health.

Successful applicants are:
Jackie Ahkit Flinders University
Tony Burgoyne Flinders University
Angela Clarke Melbourne University
Gregory Phillips Melbourne University
Peter Waples Crowe Onemda- Melbourne University
Jill Gallagher Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)
Anthony Ahkit Flinders University
Braiden Abala Department of Health and Community Services (NT)

These people will all be attend the Healing the Spirits Conference in Canada.

( http://www.hosw.com )

Misty Jenkins- PhD Student- Melbourne University

Misty will attend the Viral Immunity: From Basic Mechanisms to Vaccines Conference, Colorado, USA

The participants will contribute in various ways including building partnerships and networks with Indigenous peoples from other countries, bringing back valuable ideas and information that can be transferred into CRCAH projects, networks and policies. There will also be a direct translation of these contacts and experiences into service provision.

Participants have all agreed to be involved organising the conference and will be asked to contribute a small amount of their time. We know that the experiences of these CRCAH-funded participants will be valuable and look forward to getting feedback from participants on their return. Stay tuned to Gwalwa-Gai for more news.

ISPPD5 Conference in Alice Springs

The 5th International Symposium on Pneumococci and Pneumococcal Disease was held last month in Alice Springs.

As part of the CRCAH's commitment to Aboriginal capacity development support was provided for Partner staff members Norma Benger, Geoffrey Angeles , Melissa Dunbar from Menzies School of Health Research and Sandra Nelson from Danilla Dilba Medical Service to attend the conference.

Melissa Dunbar was a presenter in the first Symposium session, Australian Indigenous perspectives on pneumococcal disease, which was attended by most of the 600 international delegates. Melissa spoke about her experience as an Aboriginal Health Worker on a complex maternal pneumococcal vaccine trial (PneuMum). The title of the presentation was “Clear not simple: an approach to community consultation for a maternal pneumococcal vacation trial among pregnant and breast feeding Indigenous women in the Northern Territory of Australia.”

Melissa told Gwalwa-Gai that telling her story at the conference was one of her most rewarding experiences ever.

“I got to tell my story to the rest of the world,” said Melissa. “People responded by coming and asking questions and said how much they appreciated hearing my story. Other Indigenous peoples from other countries were able to identify with what I said.”

The next edition of Gwalwa-Gai will feature an article by Geoffrey "Jacko" Angeles on why Aboriginal participation at such conferences is essential and needs greater support.

Celebrating the graduation of nine Aboriginal students from Flinders

The CRCAH's objective of ensuring greater Aboriginal control of health research and the design and delivery of health services took a small leap forward in late April with the graduation of nine Aboriginal health science students from our partner Flinders University in Adelaide.

One of the CRCAH's core objectives is “Strengthening the capacity of Aboriginal people to achieve full participation in services and appropriate means of control of these services is of critical importance for addressing Aboriginal health deficits” and accordingly the CRCAH offers its congratulations to all of the graduates and to Flinders University Health Sciences Department.

Amongst the graduates were two CRCAH Links people, Braden Abala from the NT Department of Health and Community Services and Kim O'Donnell from Flinders University. Links people work to ensure constant liaison and communication between their organisations and the CRCAH staff.

Also graduating was newly-appointed CRCAH Programs Manager, Vanessa Harris.

Congratulations to Kim, Braiden, Vanessa and the other six graduates. We look forward to seeing more and more deadly Aboriginal graduates taking their place in the Aboriginal health sector.

Flinders Graduate Kim O'Donnell , her  proud son, Jake and mother Mary Anne Hausia

Flinders University Health Sciences Graduation April 2006

Braiden Abala: Master of Health & International Development Darwin, NT

Tony Burgoyne : Grad Cert Health in Diabetes (CCRE scholarship) Port Lincoln, South Australia

Luita Casey : Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Health Sciences (Rotary & Depart of Health Scholarship) Darwin, Northern NSW, now Adelaide

Alwyn Graham : Grad Cert Health in Diabetes (CCRE scholarship) Ceduna, South Australia

Vanessa Harris : Bachelor of Health Sciences (OATSIH/Depart Health& Aging- Scholarship) Darwin, NT

Debra King: Grad Cert Health in Diabetes Menindee, NSW

Kim O'Donnell : Master of Primary Health Care (Public Health) (CCRE scholarship), Wilcannia NSW, now Adelaide

Sandra Suey Thorne : Grad Cert Health in Diabetes Walgett, NSW

Student Profile Sanchia Shibasaki

Sanchia Shibasaki

CRCAH scholarship holder Sanchia Shibasaki was born and raised on Thursday Island in the Torres Straits, where her family still resides. She went to primary school on Thursday Island and then on to boarding school in Townsville.

In 1993, she completed her undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy and worked as a clinician in Far North Queensland and in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of Cape York. In 2000, she enrolled in the Masters of Applied Epidemiology – Indigenous Health course at The Australian National University after which she and her family moved to the Northern Territory . Later, she started work for the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health as the Research Fellow at the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress in Alice Springs.

After leaving Alice Springs Sanchia moved to Brisbane, and enrolled as a PhD student at the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, at the Australian National University. Her PhD project is called the Information Atlas Project and is a study, which explores how Primary Health Care services use information to provide chronic disease management, with a particular emphasis on diabetes patient management.

Sanchia told Gwalwa-Gai that since moving from Thursday Island , it has taken time to adjust to the new places she has visited and she has learnt much from the many people she has met along the way.

“I have been fortunate in meeting a number of people (both the young and the distinguished) from the health and research sector who have generously shared their time and offered their advice to support and mentor my development,” she said.

“I stumbled into health research when I was given the opportunity to apply to the Masters of Applied Epidemiology – Indigenous Health course at the Australian National University. At the time I didn't even know what epidemiology meant, so I thought I would apply and see what would happen next. After the two years, I thought research, if done the right way, could be really interesting. At the moment, I see research as a powerful tool to assist in the planning, development, delivery and adaptation of health services.

“However, there are and have been many bad examples of research going wrong or being used for all the wrong reasons and that is not so encouraging.