Media Release

28-7-2011

“Now is a great time for Aboriginal school students and others to think about a career in Aboriginal health” says Mr Justin Mohamed, Chair of NACCHO*.

“The Health Heroes campaign launched by Minister Warren Snowdon this week is supported by an extensive and easy to use website* about careers in Aboriginal health”, Mr Mohamed said.

“It includes profiles of Aboriginal role models working in Aboriginal health, describes the range of careers available and how to get a job and qualifications.

“It will also be backed up by resources and school visits targeting Aboriginal students, encouraging them to think of a career in Aboriginal health.

“Over 150 Community Controlled Aboriginal Health Services across Australia represented by NACCHO are especially interested in supporting Aboriginal people to have a career in our services.

“Our services are the largest employer of Aboriginal people in Australia yet there are still many unfilled positions. We need more of all the health professions including Aboriginal health workers, nurses, doctors, administrative staff, allied health workers, dental assistants, and dieticians. There are just some of the jobs profiled on the website.

“Having more Aboriginal people working in our services providing culturally appropriate care encourages more of our community members to seek the health care they need. This improves their quality of life and helps to close the gap in health outcomes.

“Our services are also a great place to work with a great community spirit and a shared common goal. Getting an education and qualifications in health leads to a good job, pride in yourself, and a better future for you, your family and our community.

“I’d encourage everyone to have a look at the website and to send on the link, especially to young people wondering what their options are.

A lot of Aboriginal kids don’t know or think, it’s achievable to have a career in health, this campaign begins to dispel this myth”, Mr Mohamed said.

The Health Heroes commercials will run in Aboriginal media outlets but would also be effective if aired on mainstream media where they will also reach the target Aboriginal audience. Reaching and motivating a larger target audience could help to address education and employment disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal Peoples.

* National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)

** http://www.healthheroes.health.gov.au/

NACCHO Media Contact: Chris Hallett 04 0770 4788

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NACCHO Media Release

Aboriginal communities are encouraged to use their local knowledge of what will work to promote healthy living in the new Live Longer* community health campaign says Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Mr Justin Mohamed.

Read More (Download/View PDF)

For many Aboriginal people in the outback town of Walgett and outlying rural communities in the far north west of New South Wales, accessing health care facilities is not an easy task.
Since 2008, a remote outreach program provided by the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Co-operative Limited (WAMS) – the Family Centred Primary Health Care (FCPHC) – has made life easier for people in the region who are unable to travel to Walgett for medical attention.

The program is specifically targeted to the Aboriginal people of Walgett and its outlying rural communities. Patients can access quality and culturally appropriate primary healthcare in a comfortable environment.
Regional communities within the Brewarrina, Bourke and Walgett Shires are now serviced by mobile medical staff who travel in a medically-equipped van. A caravan was purchased by WAMS and converted into a portable medical clinic to service these remote communities.

The mobile team provides weekly clinics at Goodooga, Pilliga, Gingie and Namoi Village, working closely with area health staff in these towns. Planning is underway to begin in other townships.
Medical staff travelling to these remote communities take health care professionals with them to treat people who can’t make it to the medical service in Walgett.

WAMS successfully applied for funding from the Department of Health and Ageing in 2008 to establish the outreach program. The scoping process reviewed what medical attention was needed, demographics of the towns and existing health care providers in these communities.

The program’s main objectives are to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to provide quality primary health care access to people in outlying communities. It promotes a holistic approach to treating the whole family, from the kids to the grandparents.

WAMS promotes the FCPHC program on its website, flyers, local radio and information packs and leaflets at community events. It delivers the program in partnership with the Greater Western Area Health Service (GWAHS) and the Outback Division of General Practice.
Results have shown it is effective in reducing chronic illness factors, due to the visiting clinicians. Without this service many people would not know how to prevent or manage their chronic illness.

Find out more:
Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Co-operative Limited
37 Pitt Street
Walgett NSW 2832
Phone: (03) 6828 1059 or (03) 6828 1611
Email: skye.duncan@walgettams.com.au
Website: http://www.walgettams.com.au/services/fcphc/what-is-fcphc.html

A major campaign to tackle chronic ear disease in Aboriginal communities will see Aboriginal Health Workers from across the country meet in Sydney from 19 to 21 October.

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is convening the three-day Symposium to coincide with a nationwide rollout of new hearing testing equipment in health services.

Aboriginal Health Workers tackle Chronic Ear Disease @ Sydney Symposium – NACCHO Media Release (PDF)

“Having another advocate for Aboriginal health in the government with the reappointment of Warren Snowdon as Indigenous Health Minister should help to maintain the drive to improve our people’s health and services” says Mr Justin Mohamed, Chair of National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the peak body in Aboriginal health.

“Mr Snowdon is well respected within Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services across the nation and we look forward to again working with him.

The Best Return on (Re)Reshuffled Aboriginal Health – NACCHO Media Release (PDF)

“The opportunity to deal directly again with a cabinet minister, Health Minister Nicola Roxon, about the priorities in Aboriginal health should be a welcome result of Prime Minister Gillard’s reshuffle” says Mr Justin Mohamed, Chair of National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the peak body in Aboriginal health.

“We thank former Indigenous Health Minister Warren Snowdon for his efforts over the last 15 months as the first, and perhaps last, Minister for Indigenous Health.

Reshuffle should benefit Aboriginal health – Media Release (PDF)

The Close the Gap campaign today welcomed the commitment by both the NSW Government and Opposition to end Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health inequality in the state within a generation.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader, Barry O?Farrell today signed a „Statement of Intent? at a ceremony in the parliamentary chamber, committing the current and future governments to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people.…Read (PDF)

Thumbs Up to Health Tucker

The Thumbs Up ! Program is aimed at Indigenous children aged 5 – 16. A creative environment using music and multi media workshops, concerts and cooking with senior community women is employed to promote healthy eating education and information. The aim is to encourage young Indigenous Australians to make better and healthier food choices particularly in regard to the drinking of adequate amounts of water daily instead of sweet sugar laden drinks and also to promote the eating more fruit and vegetables as snacks rather than choosing “junk” foods.

The incidence of Diabetes in Indigenous communities leading to the inevitable associated chronic diseases decimating the Indigenous population is alarmingly high. Programs aimed specifically at Indigenous youth informing them of the food choices required for a healthy life are in abundance but using a high profile Indigenous role model like Dr. Jimmy Little AO who has lived with diabetes together with his young artists will help get the message through.

Education surrounding healthy food options in remote areas is intrinsically linked to longer life expectancy for Indigenous communities. Healthy eating has a direct co-relation to the incidence of kidney failure which is destroying families and communities accounting for at least one in three Indigenous deaths. It has been said that it is hard for children to be educated if they are unhealthy and to be healthy they need to be educated.Five remote Arnhem Land communities were involved in the Thumbs Up ! pilot in 2009.Indigenous artists Shellie Morris and Allen Murphy joined Jimmy to deliver the Thumbs Up ! message to these communities.

• Ramingining

• Gapuwiyak

• Galiwinku

• Milingimbi

• Yirrkala

Music is the universal language of love” says Jimmy Little.

Jimmy and his team of Indigenous artists together with employing new media delivery are integral as the driving forces to deliver the Thumbs Up ! message. The unique combination of music, song writing, story telling and recurrent positive food messages is the key to the success of Thumbs Up !

Young people naturally embrace music culture and so are directly influenced by messages, trends & lifestyle choices which the artists they admire; represent. Music is the Thumbs Up ! catalyst which will engage the youth and ensure that the challenging and difficult process of delivering the Thumbs Up ! message is achieved.Indigenous role models such as Jimmy Little are rare. His music career spanning 6 decades is unsurpassed by any other Australian artist. Jimmy’s position as an Indigenous elder and entertainment icon ensures his status and capacity to attract and engage young artists who will follow in his footsteps to continue the Thumbs Up ! legacy. As Jimmy approaches 73 years of age he is a great example to the young of what a non smoking non drinking Indigenous man can achieve by following a healthy lifestyle.

The Jimmy Little Foundation

www.jlf.org.au contact Buzz Bidstrup 02 94760074.
Fofurther information on the Thumbs up ! program visit www.unclejimmy.com.au