WGAR News: From my father's death bed to the must-do to end the suicides: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer

Newsletter date: 31 May 2014

Contents:

* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: From my father’s death bed to the must-do to end the suicides
* Geoff Bagnall, The Stringer: Scullion hits out at Traditional Owners [Courtesy of The National Indigenous Times]
* Dr Woolombi Waters, The Stringer: Woolombi Waters says "let’s listen"
* Background to Suicide and Self-harm in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities

* NACCHO: Aboriginal controlled health services can close the gap in employment
* NACCHO: Alliance sets sights on final elimination of blinding trachoma in Central Australia
* ABC PM: Forum to wipe out trachoma
* Michael McKenna, The Australian: Health overhaul closes the gap
* Cate Swannell, MJA InSight: Budget threat to Indigenous health
* Joshua Gliddon, Financial Review: Indigenous health an unfolding tragedy

* 9 News: Calls for FASD to become a disability
* Let's Talk's Tiga Bayles interviews Dr Janet Hammell about the neurobiology of stress and fetal alcohol syndrome

* Suresh Rajan, The Stringer: "Homelessness is a weapon of mass destruction"
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Drop the largesse, and instead build houses
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Minister Marmion must be joking, "more support for outback communities"

* Robert Crawford, South Coast Register: Budget 2014: 'We risk a new stolen generation'
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Australia - 14,000 stolen children - today
* Background to 'Keeping Them Home': Campaign against Forced Aboriginal Adoption in the NT

* Mikaela Simpson, The Wire: Child Abuse Royal Commission results will shock us
* Background: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander responses to Royal Commission into child sexual abuse

* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: FROM MY FATHER'S DEATH BED TO THE MUST-DO TO END THE SUICIDES

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: From my father’s death bed to the must-do to end the suicides
http://thestringer.com.au/from-my-fathers-death-bed-to-the-must-do-to-en...
24 May 14: "On the morning of April 16, after a 21 day vigil I left my father’s death bed for several hours to meet with the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion at the Commonwealth Offices in Sydney. Our meeting was about the suicides crises sweeping through many First Nations communities nationwide, and the ways forward. My father had urged me to have the meeting sooner rather than later despite the risk that I would not be by his side during his last breaths. I am a researcher into premature and unnatural deaths and suicides." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist

* GEOFF BAGNALL, THE STRINGER: SCULLION HITS OUT AT TRADITIONAL OWNERS [COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS TIMES]

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Scullion hits out at Traditional Owners
http://thestringer.com.au/scullion-hits-out-at-traditional-owners/
23 May 14: "The Federal Government now appears certain to refuse to empower and allow communities and prominent organisations such as The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to take control of programs such as ending the suicide crisis following an extraordinary attack on Traditional Owners by the federal Indigenous Affairs Minister, Senator Nigel Scullion. The Minister delivered a scathing attack on Traditional Owners claiming young First Nations people do not have self-determination because they are "in thrall" to and are "being disempowered by" Traditional Owners." By Geoff Bagnall, courtesy of The National Indigenous Times

* DR WOOLOMBI WATERS, THE STRINGER: WOOLOMBI WATERS SAYS "LET'S LISTEN"

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Woolombi Waters says "let’s listen"
http://thestringer.com.au/woolombi-waters-says-lets-listen/
28 May 14: "So now Senator Scullion thinks Traditional Owners and consultation with community is holding us back. Last week in the National Indigenous Times we read in Geoff Bagnall’s interview with the Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister, Senator Nigel Scullion how the Federal Government is not only refusing to empower prominent organisations such as Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to take control of programs there was actually an extraordinary attack on Traditional Owners claiming young First Nations people do not have self-determination because they are "in thrall" to and are "being disempowered by" Traditional Owners." By Dr Woolombi Waters, a Kamilaroi language speaker and writer and a lecturer at Griffith University. He writes a weekly column for the National Indigenous Times.

Dr Woolombi Waters - The Stringer
http://thestringer.com.au/dr-woolombi-waters/
"Dr Woolombi Waters is a Kamilaroi Aboriginal man with six children. His PhD "Contemporary Urban Indigenous ‘Dreamings’: interaction, engagement and creative practice," documents surviving Kamilaroi epistemologies essential to cultural maintenance and trans-generational pedagogy. ... "

* BACKGROUND TO SUICIDE AND SELF-HARM IN ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMUNITIES:

Last updated: 15 May 2014

http://indymedia.org.au/2013/08/13/background-to-suicide-and-self-harm-i...

* NACCHO: ABORIGINAL CONTROLLED HEALTH SERVICES CAN CLOSE THE GAP IN EMPLOYMENT

- Report

NACCHO: Aboriginal controlled health services can close the gap in employment
[NACCHO: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation]
NACCHO: http://nacchocommunique.com/2014/05/23/aboriginal-controlled-health-serv...
IAHA: http://iaha.com.au/aboriginal-controlled-health-services-can-close-the-g...
23 May 14: "Investing in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services will help address the increasing gap in employment outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people as revealed in the new report released by the COAG Reform Council. ... Justin Mohamed, Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) said the COAG Reform Council report showed encouraging gains are being made in areas such as life expectancy, child mortality and immunisation, but unemployment and obesity rates needed greater attention."

Download full report here:
https://www.coagreformcouncil.gov.au/reports/indigenous-refo
http://www.coagreformcouncil.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/Indigenous...

* NACCHO: ALLIANCE SETS SIGHTS ON FINAL ELIMINATION OF BLINDING TRACHOMA IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA

- Analysis / Opinion

NACCHO: Alliance sets sights on final elimination of blinding trachoma in Central Australia
[NACCHO: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation]
http://nacchocommunique.com/2014/05/29/alliance-sets-sights-on-final-eli...
29 May 14: "Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, former Governor-General Michael Jeffery, government services, civil society organisations and not-for-profits will gather in Alice Springs from today to work towards the common goal of eliminating trachoma, the leading infectious cause of avoidable blindness, from Central Australia. Australia is the only developed country in the world where trachoma is still endemic and it is only found in remote and very remote Aboriginal communities in SA, WA and NT."

* ABC PM: FORUM TO WIPE OUT TRACHOMA

- Audio

ABC PM: Forum to wipe out trachoma
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2014/s4015001.htm
29 May 14: "The pioneering Australian eye doctor Fred Hollows famously dedicated much of his life to wiping out the blinding disease trachoma, but two decades after his death, the task remains huge. Now an Indigenous health organisation is launching a program to wipe trachoma out by 2020. Australia is the only developed country in the world where trachoma is endemic and it's only found in remote Indigenous communities. Health and Indigenous groups are in Alice Springs today to map out a plan across three states to eliminate the infection for good. Caroline Winter reports."

* MICHAEL MCKENNA, THE AUSTRALIAN: HEALTH OVERHAUL CLOSES THE GAP

- News

The Australian: Health overhaul closes the gap
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/health-overhaul-...
26 May 14: "SIX months has been added to the life expectancy of Aborigines living in southeast Queensland with the launch of streamlined chronic-disease services and aggressive preventive health programs masterminded by local indigenous medical clinics. Just five years after overhauling the region’s indigenous health services, the rate of diabetes-­related illnesses, chronic heart disease, smoking and obesity has fallen dramatically among the 70,000 Aborigines living in and around Brisbane." Michael McKenna

* CATE SWANNELL, MJA INSIGHT: BUDGET THREAT TO INDIGENOUS HEALTH

- Analysis / Opinion

MJA InSight: Budget threat to Indigenous health
https://www.mja.com.au/insight/2014/18/budget-threat-indigenous-health
26 May 14: "THE 2014 federal Budget has the potential to "decimate" quality primary health care for Indigenous Australians, says the president of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association. Dr Tammy Kimpton, a GP practising in Scone, NSW, said she was "deeply disappointed but unsurprised" by the Budget, which included plans for a $7 copayment on GP visits, pathology tests and imaging, as well as a $165 million cut to Indigenous health programs (1) "The current $7 copayment proposal has the potential to decimate good quality primary care for Indigenous Australians", Dr Kimpton told MJA InSight." Cate Swannell

* JOSHUA GLIDDON, FINANCIAL REVIEW: INDIGENOUS HEALTH AN UNFOLDING TRAGEDY

- Analysis / Opinion

Financial Review: Indigenous health an unfolding tragedy
http://www.afr.com/p/indigenous_health_an_unfolding_tragedy_Gc63BoJhV40w...
30 May 14: "The harsh tragedy at the centre of indigenous health in Australia is anchored to shortened life expectancy and a greater predisposition to chronic illness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than the general population. For indigenous men, life expectancy is 11.5 years less than someone of non-indigenous background. ... "The figures can vary," said Professor Ngiare Brown, executive director of research at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. "That’s because there are ­different methods of calculation. ... "" Joshua Gliddon

* 9 NEWS: CALLS FOR FASD TO BECOME A DISABILITY

- News

9 News: Calls for FASD to become a disability
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/2014/05/29/14/06/calls-for-fasd-to-bec...
29 May 14: "Indigenous health groups are calling for foetal alcohol syndrome disorder to be recognised as a disability. The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation is also pushing for sufferers of what's known as the "invisible disability" to be kept out of jail, labelling incarceration unethical and a breach of human rights. The group, which represents 150 indigenous health programs, was appearing before a parliamentary inquiry into harmful use of alcohol in indigenous communities, calling for a rethink of alcohol-related issues. Punishment is not the right policy, NACCHO says."

* LET'S TALK'S TIGA BAYLES INTERVIEWS DR JANET HAMMELL ABOUT THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS AND FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME

- Audio Interview

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane:
Let's Talk - Dr Janet Hammell
http://www.989fm.com.au/category/podcasts/lets-talk/
21 May 14: "Dr Janet Hammell, holds a PhD, has worked as a Nurse in Papua New Guinea, Palm Island, Sydney, Cherbourg, UQ research centre at Herston. Speaking about the Neurobiology of stress and fetal alcohol syndrome."
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasts/lets-talk/dr-janet-hammell/

* SURESH RAJAN, THE STRINGER: "HOMELESSNESS IS A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION"

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: "Homelessness is a weapon of mass destruction"
http://thestringer.com.au/homelessness-is-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction/
17 May 14: "-Dennis Kucinich How many of us knew that we have just been through Perth Registry Week 2014? And what is Perth Registry week? I am one of those who fall into the category of those who did not know this. But that changed yesterday morning at a media briefing when I was a guest of Ruah whose website is accessible here: So what is Perth Registry Week? This is from one of Ruah’s webpages: The Perth Registry Week campaign was undertaken jointly by the Department of Child Protection, City of Perth, Department of Housing, City of Vincent and Ruah Community Services with considerable support from several other agencies including the Salvation Army, St Bart’s, Mobile GP, Nyoongar Patrol and WA Police. ... " by Suresh Rajan, a former president of the Ethnic Communities Council of Western Australia; a regular contributor on the subject of multiculturalism to media in Perth and has been so for many years; an Ambassador for people with disabilities; President of the National Ethnic Disabilities Alliance (NEDA)

* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: DROP THE LARGESSE, AND INSTEAD BUILD HOUSES

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Drop the largesse, and instead build houses
http://thestringer.com.au/drop-the-largesse-and-instead-build-houses/
24 May 14: "Western Australia, the nation’s wealthiest State, with the world’s highest median wage, has the nation’s highest homelessness rate. And, there are more than 20,000 applications in wait for State housing – this translates to thereabouts 43,000 people. In the last week, the nation’s attention was for a little while captured by the plight of a family of six school age children, homeless more than five months, living in tents just off a major Perth highway but going to school each day. Rights advocate, Marianne Mackay said that the majority of homeless people in Western Australia are First Peoples ... " By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist

* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: MINISTER MARMION MUST BE JOKING, "MORE SUPPORT FOR OUTBACK COMMUNITIES"

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Minister Marmion must be joking, "more support for outback communities"
http://thestringer.com.au/minister-marmion-must-be-joking-more-support-f...
24 May 14: "After several days of the Western Australia media soaking up a flurry of criticisms of Government neglect of remote communities, State Housing Minister, Bill Marmion produced an unbelievable press release reporting ‘support’ for outback communities, as if of a never-before-seen nature. Western Australian remote communities snuck into the media for a couple of days after a family of eight - including six school age children - left their remote community because the local school was closed down and drove 2,000 kilometres to Perth to secure "a good education for the kids". ... " By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist

* ROBERT CRAWFORD, SOUTH COAST REGISTER: BUDGET 2014: 'WE RISK A NEW STOLEN GENERATION'

- Analysis / Opinion

South Coast Register: Budget 2014: 'We risk a new stolen generation'
http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2302712/budget-2014-we-risk-a...
23 May 14: "RESPECTED Aboriginal leader Gerry Moore fears cuts in the federal budget could lead to a "second stolen generation". Mr Moore said cuts to welfare and the Aboriginal Legal Service in the Abbott government’s budget could see Aboriginal children being taken away from their parents. "There has been $13 million stripped from the Aboriginal Legal Service in the budget and I fear that could have a huge effect on Aboriginal people gaining good representation," he said." Robert Crawford

* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: AUSTRALIA - 14,000 STOLEN CHILDREN - TODAY

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Australia - 14,000 stolen children - today
http://thestringer.com.au/australia-14000-stolen-children-today/
28 May 14: "Former Government worker for the NSW Department of Families and Communities, Debra Swan on National Sorry Day joined one of the 15 protests happening across the continent to not only remember the Stolen Generations but to point out that they are continuing. In NSW, one in 9 Aboriginal children is ripped from their families into "out of home care". Ms Swan said, "I have seen the injustice, and how unfair this system is, with my own eyes." According to Ms Swan, "Too often, removals happen without any consultation. ... "" By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist

* BACKGROUND TO 'KEEPING THEM HOME': CAMPAIGN AGAINST FORCED ABORIGINAL ADOPTION IN THE NT

Last updated: 28 May 2014

http://indymedia.org.au/2013/07/03/background-to-keeping-them-home-campa...

* MIKAELA SIMPSON, THE WIRE: CHILD ABUSE ROYAL COMMISSION RESULTS WILL SHOCK US

- Audio Interview

The Wire: Child Abuse Royal Commission results will shock us
Produced by Mikaela Simpson
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=11592
29 May 14: "An Aboriginal Cultural Liaison Officer who has been assisting Aboriginal people to tell their stories to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse, says Australians will feel deeply ashamed at the levels of sexual abuse suffered by children, both black and white, when the full findings of the enquiry are made public.
Featured in story: Christopher Lee, Aboriginal Liaison Officer from legal service, Know More"

* BACKGROUND: ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER RESPONSES TO ROYAL COMMISSION INTO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Last updated: 14 May 2014

http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/20/background-aboriginal-torres-strait-i...

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