Newsletter date: 14 September 2013
Contents:
* Larissa Nicholson, The Canberra Times: Canberra health service leaves scarcely room to protest
* Belinda Mason, The Guardian: Unfinished Business: portraying disability in Indigenous Australia [Photographic Essay]
* Melissa Sweet, Croakey - the Crikey health blog: A call for better support and wider use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers [Closing the Gap]
* Amy McQuire, Tracker: Indigenous health: "We can’t stop now" [Closing the Gap]
* NACCHO Aboriginal Health: Aboriginal Community-Controlled health services are a success: Report [Closing the Gap]
* NACCHO Aboriginal health news: Closing the Gap in NT Aboriginal health outcomes
* Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Greens call for cooperative, community driven approach to closing the gap
* Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Closing the Hearing Gap
* Khama Reid, ABC Online: Research centre funded to bring fresh approach to Indigenous health gap
* SBS Radio News: Indigenous health groups call for more control [Adelaide summit]
* NACCHO Adelaide summit news: Powerful, positive and achieving a healthier future for Aboriginal people
* MJA: Prevalence and perceptions of overweight and obesity in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal young people in custody
* LARISSA NICHOLSON, THE CANBERRA TIMES: CANBERRA HEALTH SERVICE LEAVES SCARCELY ROOM TO PROTEST
- News
The Canberra Times: Canberra health service leaves scarcely room to protest
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-health-service-leaves-...
30 Aug 13: "Doctors, nurses and midwives were seeing patients in tents at the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service in Narrabundah on Thursday, protesting over what they say is a critical lack of space at the facility. But ACT Health said it was aware of the issues at the service but did not have the money to fund the capital works. Winnunga chief executive Julie Tongs said the service urgently needed $1.3 million to build three clinic rooms and a training room which would double as a waiting room for clients. She said three midwives were working out of one room, ... " Larissa Nicholson, Journalist at The Canberra Times
* BELINDA MASON, THE GUARDIAN: UNFINISHED BUSINESS: PORTRAYING DISABILITY IN INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIA [PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY]
- Photographic Essay
The Guardian: Unfinished Business: portraying disability in Indigenous Australia
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/gallery/2013/sep/04/australia-i...
4 Sep 13: "In this photographic essay, Belinda Mason explores disability in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Her exhibition of 30 photographs is currently showing at the Palais des Nations at the UN in Geneva " By Belinda Mason
"Belinda Mason is a photographer based in Sydney. Since 1998 Belinda's work has focused on taboo social issues that explore the very personal and sometimes difficult subjects of grief, body image, identity and family. She is the 2008 winner of the richest photography prize in Australia, The Moran Prize, with her image entitled Four Generations "
* MELISSA SWEET, CROAKEY - THE CRICKEY HEALTH BLOG: A CALL FOR BETTER SUPPORT AND WIDER USE OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH WORKERS [CLOSING THE GAP]
- News
Croakey - the Crikey health blog: A call for better support and wider use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2013/08/21/a-call-for-better-support-...
21 Aug 13: "The role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers is poorly understood, despite their important work in Closing the Gap, the NACCHO Summit heard today. However, a range of multimedia resources to help improve understanding has been developed by the Rural Health Education Foundation. The resources (available here) aim to raise the profession’s profile, foster greater respect for their role, and contribute to improved inter-professional relationships, according to RHEF CEO Helen Craig. ... " By Melissa Sweet
* AMY MCQIRE, TRACKER: INDIGENOUS HEALTH: "WE CAN'T STOP NOW" [CLOSING THE GAP]
- News
newsTracker: Indigenous health: "We can’t stop now"
http://tracker.org.au/2013/08/indigenous-health-we-cant-stop-now/
28 Aug 13: "NATIONAL: A coalition of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organisations committed to closing the gap in Indigenous life expectancy are calling on the incoming government to make Indigenous health a top priority within its first 100 days of office. The Building on the Close the Gap platform: Commitments for an incoming government will be released today by the Close the Gap campaign. The document calls on the government to commit to renewing with adequate funding the expired National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes and ... " By Amy McQuire, a Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman, editor of Tracker
* NACCHO ABORIGINAL HEALTH: ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY-CONTROLLED HEALTH SERVICES ARE A SUCCESS: REPORT [CLOSING THE GAP]
- News
NACCHO Aboriginal Health: Aboriginal Community-Controlled health services are a success: Report
[NACCHO: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation]
http://nacchocommunique.com/2013/09/11/naccho-aboriginal-healthaborigina...
11 Sep 13: "The Report and its statistics provide a good reminder that ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for Indigenous Queenslanders is being achieved through community controlled health services, where local people are involved in decision-making processes that effect their overall health and well-being." Selwyn Button, CEO, QAIHC
"A report on primary health care data extracted from community controlled clinics across Queensland shows significant gains in health access and improvements, whilst demonstrating there is more work needed in coming years. The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) External Report 2013 (the Report) is a clear indication that the National Close the Gap effort is working. The Report is a compilation of primary health care data collected from a number of QAIHC clinics across Queensland from 2009 to 2013. ... "
* NACCHO ABORIGINAL HEALTH NEWS: CLOSING THE GAP IN NT ABORIGINAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
- News
NACCHO Aboriginal health news: Closing the Gap in NT Aboriginal health outcomes
[NACCHO: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation]
http://nacchocommunique.com/2013/09/10/naccho-aboriginal-health-news-clo...
10 Sep 13: "An Aboriginal community controlled comprehensive primary health care service?
A bloody mouthful of a description, but nonetheless a symbol and practical evidence of what Aboriginal people and their supporters have achieved-and continue to achieve."
Chips Mackinolty NT Aboriginal health legend (Ex AMSANT)
"A day after quitting AMSANT, he [Chips Mackinolty] writes an opinion piece for the NT News on an ongoing commitment: Aboriginal health. It is published on the day of the Federal election, but with no intent to influence votes. In his words, "that’s deliberate: whoever wins the election today must commit to the most successful bipartisan strategy in recent Territory history, closing the gap in Aboriginal health outcomes". He tells a story that suggests that the Territory is hitting well above its weight." Bob Gosford, Crikey
* GREENS SENATOR RACHEL SIEWERT: GREENS CALL FOR COOPERATIVE, COMMUNITY DRIVEN APPROACH TO CLOSING THE GAP
- Media Release
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Greens call for cooperative, community driven approach to closing the gap
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/greens-cal...
28 Aug 13: "Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Issues
The Greens today welcomed the Close the Gap Campaign's election statement for 2013 and called for the old parties to commit to a cooperative, community driven approach to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
"Close The Gap's election statement shows us that politicians need to engage closely on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues beyond the three year election cycle and commit to the long term objectives of closing the gap," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues said today.
"In particular, I welcome Close the Gap's call for legislation to be passed to deliver national monitoring and reporting on efforts to close the gap in accordance with benchmarks and targets. For too long, insufficient and anecdotal evidence has been used to justify poor policy making. ... ""
* GREENS SENATOR RACHEL SIEWERT: CLOSING THE HEARING GAP
- Media Release
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Closing the Hearing Gap
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/indigenous-hearing
26 Aug 13: "Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Issues ...
Rates of ear disease and hearing loss in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are up to ten times national averages. Otitis media (middle ear disease) hurts children in these communities more than anyone else.
That's why the Greens are announcing our $47 million Caring for Aboriginal Hearing policy to close the gap in hearing health, as part of our comprehensive hearing health plan.
Our plan will provide testing and diagnosis, early language and literacy support, and ongoing evaluation through an exemplar program in up to five communities. This will guide work nationwide to reduce rates of otitis media and help those with the disease. ... "
* KHAMA REID, ABC ONLINE: RESEARCH CENTRE FUNDED TO BRING FRESH APPROACH TO INDIGENOUS HEALTH GAP
- News
ABC Online: Research centre funded to bring fresh approach to Indigenous health gap
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-27/research-centre-to-study-why-gap-r...
27 Aug 13: "Researchers at a new national centre will work with health providers in Indigenous communities to reduce the impact of chronic disease and attempt to explain why previous attempts to close the gap have failed. The centre will be based at the University of Adelaide and will work with 24 Aboriginal health services around Australia. The university recently received $2.3 million to study how knowledge about chronic disease can best be better applied in remote communities. Professor of Evidence-based Health Care, Alan Pearson, says there are a range of methods to tackle chronic disease that remain untried in Indigenous communities." By Khama Reid
* SBS RADIO NEWS: INDIGENOUS HEALTH GROUPS CALL FOR MORE CONTROL [ADELAIDE SUMMIT]
- Audio
SBS Radio News: Indigenous health groups call for more control
By Karen Ashford
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/284379/Indigen...
21 Aug 13: "Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations have released a major plan they want political parties to commit to before the election. ... Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations have entered the election fray, releasing a major plan they want political parties to commit to. At a national summit in Adelaide, the organisations challenged both sides of politics to promise to give Aboriginal communities greater control over health programs. Karen Ashford reports."
See:
NACCHO political alert: NACCHO calls on both parties for greater control of Aboriginal health
http://nacchocommunique.com/2013/08/23/naccho-political-alert-naccho-cal...
* NACCHO ADELAIDE SUMMIT NEWS: POWERFUL, POSITIVE AND ACHIEVING A HEALTHIER FUTURE FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE
- News
NACCHO Adelaide summit news: Powerful, positive and achieving a healthier future for Aboriginal people
[NACCHO: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation]
http://nacchocommunique.com/2013/08/23/naccho-adelaide-summit-newspowerf...
23 Aug 13: "The inaugural NACCHO National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service Summit kicked off this week in Adelaide. ... The three-day talkfest features dozens of seminars and discussions looking at Aboriginal health from all angles. In the words of NACCHO CEO Lisa Briggs, it’s an opportunity to "showcase the national, state and local best practices in the management of the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People." Journalist John Thompson-Mills reports from the NACCHO Summit in Adelaide. The conference opened with a passionate speech by NACCHO Chair Justin Mohamed who outlined a 10-point plan for achieving a healthier future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. ... "
* MJA: PREVALENCE AND PERCEPTIONS OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN ABORIGINAL AND NON-ABORIGINAL YOUNG PEOPLE IN CUSTODY
- Report
MJA - Medical Journal of Australia: Prevalence and perceptions of overweight and obesity in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal young people in custody
Leigh Haysom, Devon Indig, Elizabeth Moore, Louise L Hardy and Paul A van den Dolder
https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2013/199/4/prevalence-and-perceptions-ove...
August, 2013: "Conclusions: Overweight and obesity were highly prevalent but poorly recognised in young people in custody. A longer incarceration time had the strongest association with overweight obesity and self-reported weight gain. From a population health and policy perspective, changes to the liberal food environment and the approach to increasing physical activity in custody are warranted."
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