Newsletter date: 1 June 2013
Contents:
* AHRC: Suicide prevention strategy targets ATSI communities
* NITV News: National strategy targeting Indigenous suicide announced
* CAAMA interviews Professor Pat Dudgeon about the strategy to tackle suicide and self harm
* Pro Bono News: National Strategy on Indigenous Suicide
* SBS Radionews: National strategy to reduce Indigenous suicide
* SBS Radionews: Applause for Indigenous suicide prevention plan
* Australian: Kimberley indigenous suicide prevention plan set to expand
* Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Greens welcome important announcements for suicide prevention & Healing Foundation
* PS News: Strategy to prevent Indigenous suicide
* SBS World News: Indigenous Australians 'facing psychological distress'
* ABC: Head First - The Lost Boys [Suicide attempts in Yirrkala, NT]
* Billi McCarthy-Price, On Line Opinion: Mind the gap on indigenous health [Indigenous youth suicide]
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Political reaction needed to end suicides
* The Wire: Aboriginal youth suicide spike prompts crisis meeting in WA
* SBS World News: WA crisis meeting on Aboriginal suicide
* SBS Radionews: Indigenous suicide summit in Perth
* ABC: More birthing support urged for remote Indigenous women
* SBS Radionews: Concern over Indigenous dementia rates
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Telethon study on mental health disorders
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
* Greens Jamie Parker MP: NSW government refuses funding for live-saving Aboriginal legal advice line
* AHRC: SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGY TARGETS ATSI COMMUNITIES
- News
Australian Human Rights Commission: Suicide prevention strategy targets ATSI communities
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/stories/suicide-prevention-strategy-t...
23 May 13: "“Suicide is robbing young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of their lives,” Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda said today. Responding to the launch of the first National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy, Commissioner Gooda said the unnecessary loss is taking a devastating toll on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities. "The national strategy announced today will help build strength and resilience within individuals and within our communities. ... " Commissioner Good said."
* NITV NEWS: NATIONAL STRATEGY TARGETING INDIGENOUS SUICIDE ANNOUNCED
- News
SBS World News: National strategy targeting Indigenous suicide announced
Source: Ryan Liddle, NITV News
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1770066/National-strategy-targeting-I...
23 May 13: "A new national strategy specifically addressing Indigenous suicide was launched today on both sides of Australia. The new strategy will focus on early intervention, coordinate approaches to prevention and aim to build stronger communities around the country. The federal government will provide nearly $18 million over the next four years to fund the approach. Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin says the funding is going to target communities with high suicide numbers."
* CAAMA INTERVIEWS PROFESSOR PAT DUDGEON ABOUT THE STRATEGY TO TACKLE SUICIDE AND SELF HARM
- Audio Interview
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Experts want local mob involved in mental health
http://caama.com.au/experts-want-local-mob-involved-in-mental-health
31 May 13: "The Federal Government has launched a national strategy to tackle suicide and self harm in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy has a strong focus on building hope, resilience and awareness by promoting positive social and well being in communities. Professor Pat Dudgeon spoke to Paul Wiles about the strategy."
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/AM-27-05.mp3
27 May 13: "The country’s peak Aboriginal and Islander Psychology representative body says it played a strong role in the development of the Federal governments National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy and that it will also have a strong and ongoing role in its delivery."
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/am-24-05.mp3
24 May 13: "* A global educator and campaigner for non violence against women says he believes that mainstream media continues to portray Aboriginal men in a negative way despite the problem occurring in all cultures.
* The Federal Government’s decision to launch a national strategy to tackle Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide has been welcomed by beyondblue."
* PRO BONO NEWS: NATIONAL STRATEGY ON INDIGENOUS SUICIDE
- News
Pro Bono News: National Strategy on Indigenous Suicide
http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2013/05/national-strategy-indige...
23 May 13: "The Strategy identifies six broad action areas, which are:
* Building strengths and capacity in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities;
* Building strengths and resilience in individuals and families;
* Targeted suicide prevention services;
* Coordinating approaches to prevention;
* Building the evidence base and disseminating information; and
* Standards and quality in suicide prevention."
* SBS RADIONEWS: NATIONAL STRATEGY TO REDUCE INDIGENOUS SUICIDE
- Audio
SBS Radionews: National strategy to reduce Indigenous suicide
By Laurie Lawira
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/268662/Nationa...
23 May 13: "A new national strategy to reduce Indigenous suicide highlights the role of local communities in addressing the issue. Over the next four years, almost 18-million dollars will be spent in identifying early intervention strategies, strengthening community prevention services and supporting grieving families. A particular focus of the strategy will be young Indigenous people. Laurie Lawira reports."
* SBS RADIONEWS: APPLAUSE FOR INDIGENOUS SUICIDE PREVENTION PLAN
- Audio Interview
SBS Radionews: Applause for Indigenous suicide prevention plan
By Laurie Lawira
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/268810/Applaus...
24 May 13: "The Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council has welcomed a new national strategy to reduce Indigenous suicide. The federal government has announced almost $18-million over four years for the strategy. An Indigenous member of the Advisory Council, Adele Cox, was on a working group that consulted with communities on how it should be devised and conducted. She spoke with Laurie Lawira."
* AUSTRALIAN: KIMBERLEY INDIGENOUS SUICIDE PREVENTION PLAN SET TO EXPAND
- News
Australian: Kimberley indigneous suicide prevention plan set to expand
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/kimberley-in...
24 May 13: "CULTURAL immersion programs, like the Yiriman project in the Kimberley could be rolled out in other communities as part of the Gillard government's national indigenous suicide prevention strategy. The strategy, which is the first to specifically target Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people, would gather examples of best practice from around the country to determine how and where else they could be applied. With $17.8m in new money, there would be a focus on early intervention and strengthening communities to reduce the rate of indigenous suicide, ... " Nicolas Perpitch
* GREENS SENATOR RACHEL SIEWERT: GREENS WELCOME IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION & HEALING FOUNDATION
- Media Release
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Greens welcome important announcements for suicide prevention & Healing Foundation
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/greens-wel...
23 May 13: "The Australian Greens have welcomed the announcement of two key funding investments- the suicide prevention strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the Healing Foundation.
"Suicide rates amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples remain alarmingly high and specific strategies to address this are essential," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues said today.
"I am pleased the Minister has announced a national whole-of-government strategy approach. Sustained, long term investment across the country is fundamental for ensuring programs and strategies can be effective.
"The huge suicide rate in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities devastates those regions and must be addressed as a matter of priority.
"I am also relieved to see the Government announce renewed funding for the Healing Foundation, who are undertaking incredibly important work with members of the Stolen Generation. ... [Senator Siewert said]"
* PS NEWS: STRATEGY TO PREVENT INDIGENOUS SUICIDE
- News
PS News: Strategy to prevent Indigenous suicide
http://www.psnews.com.au/Page_psn3638.html
28 May 13: "Funding of $17.8 million over four years has been announced to support the first national whole-of-government strategy specifically addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide. The development of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide prevention strategy was recommended by a Senate inquiry into suicide in Australia in 2011. The new National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy focuses on early intervention and building stronger communities with the aim of reducing the prevalence of suicide and the impact on individuals, their families and communities."
* SBS WORLD NEWS: INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS 'FACING PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS'
- News
SBS World News: Indigenous Australians 'facing psychological distress'
Source: Naomi Selvaratnam, SBS
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1770442/Indigenous-Australians-facing...
24 May 13: "A new report by the Council of Australian Governments Reform Council has found over nearly one-third of Indigenous Australians are experiencing high psychological distress. ... Comparatively, 12% of non-Indigenous Australians have the same levels of psychological distress. Psychological distress refers to how a person feels about their well-being. The report also shows that people living in low socio-economic areas are twice as likely to experience high levels of psychological distress."
* ABC: HEAD FIRST - THE LOST BOYS
- TV
ABC: Head First - The Lost Boys
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/abc2/201305/programs/DO1133V005D2013-05-2...
29 May 13: "Sabour heads to Arnhem Land to spend two weeks in a small town called Yirrkala living completely under the rules of the Intervention. On his first night a suicide attempt by a young future leader shocks him to his core. ... What's amazing for Sabour though is that it's the young men who start coming to him wanting to tell their story. It starts to make sense when one of the women from the community tells him, "The boys harm themselves because they want someone to notice them so that for once they're not invisible.""
* BILLI MCCARTHY-PRICE, ON LINE OPINION: MIND THE GAP ON INDIGENOUS HEALTH
- Analysis / Opinion
On Line Opinion: Mind the gap on indigenous health
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=15065&page=0
30 May 13: "There remains a 10-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Australia. Around 12 per cent of this difference has been attributed to mental health conditions, with four per cent to suicide and six per cent to alcohol and substance abuse. Australians must start paying attention. What's more, they must be made more aware of the phenomenally high rates of Indigenous youth suicide that contribute to this gap. Male Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth aged 15-19 are more than four times more likely to attempt suicide than non-Indigenous males." By Billi McCarthy-Price, a Global Voices delegate to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues underway in New York
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: POLITICAL REACTION NEEDED TO END SUICIDES
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: Political reaction needed to end suicides
http://thestringer.com.au/political-reaction-needed-to-end-suicides/
24 May 13: "Led by the Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation which works with many grieving families of suicide victims a Suicide Crisis Summit was held on May 21. More than 300 attended in what was both a highly emotive experience and a direct call to Governments to reduce the Aboriginal youth suicide rates in Australia. Australia’s Aboriginal youth suicide rate is the highest in the world. - Australia’s Aboriginal children - The world’s highest suicide rate. Dumbartung CEO Robert Eggington and his grief counsellor wife Selina Eggington called for the Summit and ensured that it was well attended by Government officials." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist
- Past Event
Event: Tue 21 May 2013: Waterford, Perth, WA
Stop the Suicides in Our Community Now!
"The Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation calls for
all members of the Nyoongah community and organisations
to stand up strong against the ongoing epidemic
and spates of suicide in our Nyoongah community."
Event details: http://allianceaustrale.org/Dumbartung/CommunityNote.html
Event details: http://allianceaustrale.org/Dumbartung/SuicideMediaRelease.html
News: Dumbartung convenes Suicide Crisis Summit: http://thestringer.com.au/dumbartung-convenes-suicide-crisis-summit/
News: Alarm over Indigenous suicide in WA: http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/264404/Alarm-o...
News: Dumbartung calls suicide prevention summit: http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29153/Dumbartung-calls-suicide-...
* THE WIRE: ABORIGINAL YOUTH SUICIDE SPIKE PROMPTS CRISIS MEETING IN WA
- Audio Interview
The Wire: Aboriginal youth suicide spike prompts crisis meeting in WA
Produced by Lisa Burns
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10388
22 May 13: "An emergency meeting has been held in Perth, to discuss the alarming spike in Aboriginal youth suicides in Western Australia. More than 100 people, including Indigenous leaders, Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda and Western Australian Mental Health Commissioner, Eddie Bartnik, were in attendance. Beverley Port-Louis, a Noongar Elder from the small regional town of Moora in Western Australia, was at the meeting yesterday and had her own very personal story to tell.
Featured in story: Beverley Port-Louis, Noogar Elder from Moora, in Western Australia"
- Related Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Suicide crisis summit held in Perth
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29300/Suicide-crisis-summit-hel...
22 May 13: "Indigenous groups who have attended a crisis meeting in Perth say they hope to raise awareness of a spate of youth suicides. More than 100 people, including government representatives, discussed at the summit what’s been described as a 'suicide epidemic'."
* SBS WORLD NEWS: WA CRISIS MEETING ON ABORIGINAL SUICIDE
- Video
SBS World News: WA crisis meeting on Aboriginal suicide
Source: AAP
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1769052/WA-crisis-meeting-on-Aborigin...
21 May 13: ""It's an absolute epidemic," Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation executive officer Robert Eggington told ABC radio earlier today. "It's obviously really worrying in the last three to four months with the spate of suicides that have ravaged our community and families." He said other concerns included high rates of incarceration among Aboriginal men and indigenous impoverishment in an otherwise affluent nation. "Nyoongah men per head per population are the highest imprisoned men on the planet," Mr Eggington said."
* SBS RADIONEWS: INDIGENOUS SUICIDE SUMMIT IN PERTH
- Audio
SBS Radionews: Indigenous suicide summit in Perth
By Ryan Emery & Kristina Kukolja
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/268280/Indigen...
21 May 13: "A summit on Indigenous suicide in Western Australia has been held in Perth. The summit was organised by the Dumbartung Aboriginal corporation, which says the Noongar community is deeply concerned about what they say is a spike in suicide rates -- particularly among young people. Kristina Kukolja asked West Australian correspondent Ryan Emery who attended."
* ABC: MORE BIRTHING SUPPORT URGED FOR REMOTES INDIGENOUS WOMEN
- News
ABC: More birthing support urged for remote Indigenous women
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-30/more-birthing-support-urged-for-re...
30 May 13: "An Indigenous health organisation says more funding is needed to address birthing issues for women in remote Aboriginal communities. Health specialists from the Apunipima Cape York Health Council will attend an Indigenous birthing roundtable at Parliament House in Canberra today. The organisation's Rachel Sargeant says more support is needed for women travelling alone from Cape York to Cairns to give birth. "I think it's incredibly stressful on not just them but their children, their families, especially if English isn't your first language," she said." By Ashleigh Stevenson
* SBS RADIONEWS: CONCERN OVER INDIGENOUS DEMENTIA RATES
- Audio Interview
SBS Radionews: Concern over Indigenous dementia rates
By Peggy Giakoumelos
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/269458/Concern...
28 May 13: "A study has found that Indigenous Australians are three times more likely to suffer from dementia than non-Indigenous Australians. Neuroscience Research Australia says dementia also affects Indigenous Australians at an earlier age than in the general population. Neuroscience Australia's Professor Tony Broe says risk factors range from disadvantage in early childhood to environmental factors such as smoking, substance and brain injury. Professor Broe told Peggy Giakoumelos the effects of early institutionalisation that occurred with many members of the Stolen Generations is also a factor."
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: TELETHON STUDY ON MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS
- News
The Stringer: Telethon study on mental health disorders
http://thestringer.com.au/telethon-study-on-mental-health-disorders/
20 May 13: "Mental health disorders are on the rise among Aboriginal peoples according to a study by the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. The study found that the incidence of mental disorders has an impact on children’s health and for Aboriginal parents this is at least twice the rate than for non-Aboriginal parents. ... The main outcome measure of the study was the prevalence of prior mental health disorders in parents by birth year and by parent and child characteristics, including Aboriginality, maternal age, socioeconomic status and diagnostic groups." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist
* ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Health funding must reach ground level: NACCHO
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29303/Health-funding-must-reach...
22 May 13: "Community groups are calling for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health funding to more efficiently reach the ground. ... The Chief Executive of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation is Justin Mohamed."
SBS Radionews: Torres TB death highlights "worst of both worlds"
By Stefan Armbruster
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/268328/Torres-...
22 May 13: "Queensland's government says federal efforts to deal with tuberculosis in the Torres Strait "are not meeting the needs" after the first death of an Australian citizen from the region. ... Last week state Health Minister Lawrence Springborg confirmed a Torres Strait islander woman died of multi-drug resistant TB in April. ... Mr Springborg told Queensland correspondent Stefan Armbruster the PNG Prime Minister's call to reopen TB clinics in the Torres Strait to treat PNG citizens is not an option."
- News
newsTracker: Torres Strait Islander woman dies of tuberculosis
http://tracker.org.au/2013/05/torres-strait-islander-woman-dies-of-tuber...
20 May 13: "QUEENSLAND: A Torres Strait Islander woman has died from an apparent drug resistant strain of tuberculosis (TB), becoming the first Australian in several years to succumb to the disease. Queensland’s chief health officer Jeanette Young on Friday confirmed the 20-year-old’s death on April 25. Dr Young says it is yet to be determined how she contracted the illness, but she frequently visited Papua New Guinea, which has one of the world’s highest incident rates."
Australian Human Rights Commission: Support for Indigenous people with disability
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/stories/support-indigenous-people-dis...
16 May 13: "The First People’s Disability Network Australia will receive $900,000 over three years to assist Indigenous Australians to understand and access support from the newly-created DisabilityCare Australia. Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda said the funding would help close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage by ensuring the benefits of DisabilityCare Australia are realised for Indigenous people. He said the prevalence of severe or profound disability among Indigenous people is around twice the rate for non-Indigenous Australians."
* GREENS JAMIE PARKER MP: NSW GOVERNMENT REFUSES FUNDING FOR LIVE-SAVING ABORIGINAL LEGAL ADVICE LINE
- Media Release
Greens Jamie Parker MP: NSW government refuses funding for live-saving Aboriginal legal advice line
http://www.jamieparker.org.au/nsw-government-refuses-funding-for-live-sa...
29 May 13: "Greens MP Jamie Parker has slammed the NSW Liberal government for failing to fund a live-saving legal advice line for Aboriginal people who have been taken into police custody.
"The Federal government has cut funding and now the NSW government is refusing to accept responsibility, despite the fact that the requirement for the service is legislated under state law," Mr Parker said.
"Vulnerable people are being put at risk because governments in this country cannot be shaken into action.
"The Custody Notification Service was created as a crucial reform following the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody to ensure that the rights and welfare of Aboriginal people in custody are maintained.
"Two decades after the landmark Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, most of the 339 recommendations for reform still have not been implemented. This service is a rare example of a positive and effective reform that resulted from the Royal Commission and we must ensure it continues. ... " Mr Parker said."
See:
WGAR News: "Stop Aboriginal deaths in police custody by saving the Custody Notification Service" (15 May 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/05/14/wgar-news-stop-aboriginal-deaths-in-p...
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