News

CRCAH Bulletin - 21 July 2008

A fortnightly bulletin distributed by the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health through our partners - this edition has information on events, courses, funding sources, publications and other activities.  Download bulletin. (loaded 22.7.08)

Indigenous Health Council Announced

Aboriginal health expert Professor Ian Anderson is to head a new government panel with the role of monitoring and improving Indigenous life expectancy.

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has announced the composition of the Indigenous Health Equality Council at a conference in Adelaide.

Ms Roxon has urged Indigenous people to take more responsibility for their own health by giving up smoking and drinking.

She says the methods from the past have largely failed to improve Indigenous life expectancy.

"We are doing what we can in the hope that we are doing what we must," she said.

"Everyone is going to have to play their role in this great challenge, but we hope that the announcements we have made today are another small, but important, step along the road to equality."

Other members are:

• Paula Arnol, Chair of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory, CEO of Danila Dilba Health Service in Darwin and CRCAH board member and CRCAH Board Member
  
• Sally Goold, current Chair and founder of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses
• Dr Tamara Mackean, President of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association
• Dr Alex Brown, Head of the Centre for Indigenous Vascular Research at the Baker Heart Institute
• Gregory Phillips, a medical anthropologist with extensive expertise in Indigenous health workforce and medical curriculum issues
• Romlie Mokak, experienced Indigenous policy maker and current CEO of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association

Non-Indigenous experts on the Council are:

• Associate Professor Paul Torzillo, a respiratory physician with particular expertise in child health, and Medical Director of Nganampa Health Council in the APY Lands
• Professor Kerin O’Dea, a leading expert on nutrition and diabetes
• Dr Ian Cameron, currently the CEO of the NSW Rural Doctors Network, who has extensive experience in rural and remote health

For more information visit: http://healthbulletin.org.au/articles/indigenous-health-equality-council-established/ [external link]

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The Rio Tinto Child Health Partnership

This innovative collaboration brought together the research expertise of Kulunga Research Network. This ambitious partnership aimed to deliver improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander maternal and child health by translating research findings into policies and health promotion programs that make a real difference to Indigenous communities. To view the newsletter click here
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Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Knowledge Conference

The 2008 Indigenous Studies & Indigenous Knowledge Conference will be held in Hobart, 2-4 July 2008, and hosted by the Riawunna Centre at the University of Tasmania.

A key purpose of the ISIK Conferences is to draw colleagues from across the field of education and research to discuss and share developments in areas of Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous Studies. In 2008 we want to build on our discussions at previous conferences and also consider the place of Indigenous knowledge’s within the Rudd Government’s policy platform of ‘Education Revolution’ for Australia. We want to a focus on how we go about getting Indigenous content, perspectives and knowledge’s into teaching. Our keynote and plenary speakers will help set the context for engagements with the various themes.

CRCAH Research Director Professor Ian Anderson will be speaking at this event. For more details view flier

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RANZCOG 2008 Australian Indigenous Women’s Health Meeting

14-16 August 2008, Darwin

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) is convening an Indigenous women’s health meeting, with the aim of bringing together health professionals across the country with the common interest and desire to improve the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. 

The meeting will have a diverse program of presentations covering cultural issues, current public health information, clinical topics and medico-political opinions. Speakers include: Marion Scrymagour, Raymattja Marika, Helen Milroy, Ngiare Brown and Margaret O’Brien. Delegates will gain information on what’s happening in different regions of the country, as well as being informed on broader issues. The meeting will also provide a forum to develop valuable networks, and to assist the College in developing a more active role in improving the health of Indigenous women.

RANZCOG extends an invitation to all health professionals who work with Indigenous women as part of their practice, or have a strong interest in this area register for this important event.

Please visit the meeting website http://www.ranzcog.edu.au/meetingsconferences/iwh.shtml to download the Registration Brochure and for information on sponsorship and exhibition opportunities.

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