Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HIV Health Retreat
NGALAWI DJARDI ‘SIT & YARN’ Friday 16 - Monday 19 December 2011
ACON acknowledges the traditional owners of the land we operate on across NSW and remind people we are on Aboriginal land. ACON also acknowledges the Elders and in particular those reading this document.
Author Meggan Grose Aboriginal Project Team Leader For any inquiries about this Evaluation Report please contact: ACON Aboriginal Project 02 9206 2000 Please visit www.acon.org.au/aboriginal to download a copy. Photographs of participants have been digitally altered for confidentiality purposes. Š Copyright 2012
Contents Recommendations for future Retreats
2
Acknowledgments
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Background to the Retreat Theme of the 2011 Retreat Aim of the Retreat Target group Retreat registrations
3
Budget
4
Overview of the Retreat Community Afternoon Tea Renaming the Retreat Christmas Lunch & Christmas Dinner Transport to the Retreat Promoting the Retreat Participant Showbag Counsellors and Staff
5
Body Mind Spirit Culture Planning Method
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Participant Feedback Best Daily Sessions Facilitator Feedback Post Retreat Evaluation Pre and Post Retreat Comparison
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Conclusion
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Retreat Program
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Recommendations for future retreats 1. Plan 2012 Retreat sessions based on 2011 Retreat evaluation 2. Explore ways to increase the cultural elements and ceremony to the retreat 3. Remind all retreat facilitators that all sessions voluntary and no participant should be made to attend sessions 4. Continue to use Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation as the retreat venue 5. Investigate using music, dance, the outdoors and movement in more retreat sessions.
Acknowledgements Welcome to Country
Donna Ingram, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council
ACON Staff Neville Fazulla Retreat Facilitator Meggan Grose Aboriginal Project Team Leader David Oxenbridge Retreat Assistant Counseling support, morning meditation and reflection sessions Deb Broughton, ACON After Hours Counseling Russ Gluyas, ACON Counsellor Christmas Lunch
ACON Wellbeing Programs
Massage therapy Julia McCall Kane Puna Information session facilitators Hedimo Santana, Senior Project Officer – Health Promotion Peer Support, Positive Life NSW Jae Condon, Treatments & Client Support Officer, ACON Positive Services & Health Promotion / Positive Living Centre (PLC) Participant travel assistance
Margaret Crowley, Dubbo Sexual Health
Venue NSW Academy of Sport and Recreation Special thanks NSW Aboriginal Sexual Health Worker Network especially the Network Coordinators Robert Monaghan and Peter Patterson. Western Australian AIDS Council and the Watson – Browne Bequest
Lisa Tomney
A sincere thank you to all others who helped with the retreat either by promoting it to potential participants or by assisting with organising it.
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Background to the Retreat Theme of the 2011 Retreat The theme for the 2011 Retreat was “Pre Festive Season Relaxation” and there was a strong focus this year on relaxation, caring for yourself and increasing wellbeing. Aim of the Retreat The aim of the retreat was to increase the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people living with HIV and to help reduce the impact of HIV on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities. The strategy for achieving this was to bring together Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people living with HIV to participate in a range of health promotion activities including group information sessions, free time activities and social support through yarning to each other. The group sessions included: • A Welcome to Guringai Land • Passing around the Message Stick • Caring for yourself: a holistic approach by Positive Life NSW • Exploring HIV experiences • Getting Out There by Michelle Tobin • Connecting to Culture • Eating Well • Walking meditation and bush collection • Sacred Space. Activities included: • Guided meditation every morning • A Christmas dinner on the last night together • canoeing • massage • art activities at night. Every group session and activity was voluntary. Target group The target group was Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with HIV, regardless of gender or sexuality. Each participant was also invited to bring along a partner, carer or family member as a support person. The support person did not have to be positive, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Retreat registrations This year we had a total of 30 retreat applications. Once we commenced promotion of the retreat we accepted applications and confirmed people’s attendance as we got them up until our number of 15 participants and carers was reached.
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We had 30 applications from people wishing to come to the retreat. Persons living with HIV
Support Persons
Staff
21
5
4
The breakdown of where our applications were coming from: Sydney Metro
16
NSW
8
Queensland
2
Western Australia
4
Actual people who attended the retreat: 10 Persons living with HIV
5 Support Persons
4 Staff
Sydney Metro 5
Sydney Metro 3
ACON facilitators 2
NSW 3
NSW 1
Counsellors 2
Western Australia 1
Western Australia 1
Queensland 1
Budget Expenses Accomodation and food $5,177 Welcome to Country Donna Ingram $275 Bus to and from venue $300 Retreat facilitator $2000 Massage therapy 15 x $35each $525 Positive Speakers Bureau Speakers fee $132 20 Notebook sets $312 Birthday cake $30 TOTAL EXPENSES $8751 Other expenses not listed • • •
ACON car used to transport massage equipment to and from venue One cab charge given to Ms Donna Ingram Internal ACON costs eg phone, mail outs and staff time.
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Overview of the Retreat Community Afternoon Tea We assumed that one of the reasons we didn’t get many applications for the Retreat in previous years was because some people may be reticent to travel away with ACON. The Community Afternoon Tea was held on 9 November 2011 ACON and aimed to give people interested in the Retreat an opportunity to meet ACON staff before going away with us for a few days. At the Afternoon Tea we displayed previous Retreat pictures, previous Retreat evaluation reports and of course had a nice feed. We had 10 people come to the Afternoon Tea and all previously connected to the Aboriginal Project. On reflection this event did not increase new members to ACON, but it did provide an opportunity for our community to come into ACON and connect with each other. Renaming the Retreat It is important to continue to make the Aboriginal health retreats more and more culturally appropriate. One way we sought to do this in 2011 was to rename the retreat with a name chosen by Aboriginal people living with HIV. To do this we held a competition for the community. The ‘Name the Health Retreat’ competition was open during October 2011. Aboriginal people living with HIV were invited to submit ideas for the new Retreat name online. All names received by 31 October 2011 were put online at www.acon.org.au/aboriginal and people voted anonymously for their favourite ones up until COB 1 December 2011. All personal details about entrants were kept strictly confidential with only the suggested retreat names were made public. The retreat name with the most votes was declared the winner and they received a $200 Christmas hamper. Suggested Retreat Names and the votes Ngalawi Djiyadi ‘Sit and Talk’
Billabong YarnFest
Us Mob Gathering
Helping Heal HIV Retreat
Yam Yarn Camp
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4
3
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Christmas Lunch & Christmas Dinner At the kind invitation of the Director of ACON Wellbeing Programs Ian Walker, all Retreat participants were invited to attend Christmas Lunch at ACON Head office on the Friday afternoon before the Retreat. This was an excellent opportunity for people to visit the new ACON Head Office, meet other Retreat participants prior to spending a few days alone together and see some of the things ACON does. On the last night of the Retreat we had a Christmas dinner together. Instead of having a standard meal at the Sport and Recreation venue, the Chef kindly cooked Christmas meats and vegetables for our meal. The room was decorated in Christmas hats, tinsel, Christmas tree balls. Small gifts of Christmas cards and candles were given out to everyone by ACON as a token of thanks and Christmas.
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Transport to the Retreat As with previous retreats participants made their own way to ACON from their various communities. The generous support of the Dubbo Sexual Health Service assisted participants to attend. A mini bus was provided to transport everyone to the retreat venue and return Promoting the Retreat The retreat was promoted through all Aboriginal Project contacts including: • • • • •
Direct mailout to all Aboriginal Project community members The fortnightly Aboriginal Project E-News On the ACON website and the Aboriginal Project page of the website Through the Aboriginal Sexual Health Worker Network and the coordinators Robert Monaghan and Peter Patterson An article in the October 2011 Wellbeing Times
Participant Showbag Each year we give out a showbag of goodies and information to our participants. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Aboriginal designed notebook, pen, bookmark and key ring ASHM poster Current Wellbeing Times Aboriginal Project Newsletter Aboriginal Project Safe Sex packs - 1 male & 1 female However You Wanna see me booklet Aboriginal Project postcard Poster & post it notes Invitation to join the Advisory Group Poster SWOP service brochure & mini brochure Top Tips for living Well with HIV booklet Do you use Drugs or Alcohol pamphlet HIV Futures seven postcard Giving up Smoking - pamphlet For PLWHIV Help to manage your HIV Medications pamphlet Ahead of Time: A Practical Guide to growing older with HIV booklet Vitamins catalogue List of other support services eg food vouchers, electricity.
Counsellors and Staff We have two ACON counsellors attend each retreat to run sessions and be available for yarns with participants. This year we had Russ Gluyas and Deb Broughton come along for the duration of the retreat. Jae Condon, ACON’s Treatments Officer attended the retreat to present a session on treatments and stayed Saturday to yarn informally during breaks. Attending the Retreat is a valuable experience for ACON staff as much as it is for retreat participants.
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Body Mind Spirit Culture Planning Method The 2011 retreat was planned using the learnings from all previous retreats the Aboriginal Project has developed. One key item was the Body Mind Spirit Culture planning method. The method aims to ensure participants are getting a retreat which is holistic as much as possible, and that we can measure it. By having equal numbers of sessions for the body, the mind, the spirit and sessions of a cultural basis, helps us to plan a holistic retreat.
Spirit Retreat Planning
Body
Mind
Culture
During this retreat we did the following activities for body, mind, spirit and culture: Body • • •
3 hour canoeing session Swimming on Saturday Massage on Saturday and Sunday
Mind • • • •
“Caring for Yourself: A Holistic Approach” with Hedimo Santana from Positive Life NSW ‘Exploring HIV Experiences” with Deb Broughton and Rus Gluyas “Getting Out There” with Michelle Tobin from the Positive Speakers Bureau “Eating Well” with Jae Condon from the Wellness Program at ACON
Spirit • • • •
Nightly free time Nightly arts activities Walking meditation and bush collection with Deb Broughton and Russ Gluyas Free time for yarning and connecting with each other.
Culture • • • • • • •
Christmas lunch at ACON Sharing the mini bus to and from venue to encourage connecting with each other Welcome to Guringai Land by traditional owners Gift giving of Aboriginal designed and produced writing pad, pens, bookmark and key ring. Passing around the message stick Lunch and breaks Connecting to Culture, Sacred Space and Reflections of the Retreat sessions with Retreat Facilitator, Neville Fazulla
We had assistance from ACON’s Aboriginal Health Promotion Officer David Oxenbridge who assisted the Aboriginal Project Team Leader to promote and plan the retreat including keeping in touch with retreat participants, taking competition inquiries and collating votes.
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Participant Feedback Best Daily Sessions Friday Welcome To Country 6/10 rated it excellent What is the one thing that you will take home with you? • Treatment info • Feeling the power, which I had lost in [home town] • Advice on HIV & mental health • Knowledge, strength, life skills Saturday Exploring HIV Experiences 6/10 rated it Excellent What is the one thing that you will take home with you? • Confidence – knowledge – tools, services and strategy for a healthier lifestyle • Reflecting back on journey and where to next personally • Better understanding of 2 way process – re doctors • Need to take more charge of medical treatments and sort out medical plan • Some subjects were new and informative • Sugar in food Sunday Sacred Space 6/10 rated it Excellent What is the one thing that you will take home with you? • Confidence around disclosure • More insight into HIV & treatments • How to communicate with people in and around HIV • Take more time out for me • Confidence Facilitator Feedback What did you think about the facilitators? (Did they work well? What was good about them? How you think they could do better?) Meggan Grose, Aboriginal Project, ACON • Unreal – Excellent • Feedback of one of the session facilitators Very appreciated of the welcoming and accommodation to do my work. Everything I needed by Meggan and the group provided. Such high praise of Meggan, Neville and staff • Meggan is always very professional in her conduct and always thorough in her planning of these retreats • Thanks for the great weekend. I now feel the power to take home and make things better up in [home] • I find has a caring disposition. She is informative and takes the time to speak and listen • Thank you for giving me another insight into family, friendship and another side of life. I thought I was one of only a few long term survivors but Meggan showed me otherwise • Lovely hospitality. Great karma & feels like home when I’m with her • Always fabulous, made xmas dinner, just so beautiful, warm • Meggan worked hard on the program • Excellent. Planning and organisation of the program. Very well organised and great mediation skills for the group.
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Neville Fazulla, Retreat Facilitator • What would the retreat be without Neville? Many things would/could have been said like as if you were at a conference but with Neville I felt I was in a community • Complete rude tosser • Very friendly. Personally felt welcomed by all the facilitators and did not feel out of place • Managed the weekend very well. Communicates well • Neville’s ability to conduct his professional career is of a very high level • Good and direct • Very informative easy to understand and offers encouragement • Fantastic facilitator but a little pushy • Very professional and knowledgeable. Very culturally competent • Bit pushy. We were told it was voluntary what we attended but felt like we were hiding from parents. • Great, made me laugh • Neville was wonderful as always. Russ Gluyas, Counsellor, ACON • Nice and calm • Russ is always very thorough in his evaluation • Did well at the end in closing the conference • I find he has the patience and understanding and encouragement that I felt I could respond to • What can you say. He is part of us and yet he puts himself out there as somebody you can rely upon to bring yourself out of yourself. Go get em Russ • Amazingly informative, spiritual and understanding • Great man peaceful • Terrific, gentle, available • Russ and Deb are wonderful support • Lovely man, caring and compassionate. Listen and understand, interpret information well. Very friendly and understanding. Deb Broughton, Counsellor, ACON • Beautiful • Warm, supportive, knowledgeable, engaged • Deb’s level of professionalism is exemplary as she demonstrates a high level of compassion to all HIV clients/carers • Didn’t have the chance to get to speak with Deb much but am looking forward to speaking more with her • Insight into other forms of relaxation without being judgemental. Deb is a very quiet achiever but whom you could depend on for assistance • Wonderful listener and able to make ya feel relaxing • Beautiful. Great meditation • Beautiful women. Very understanding and caring. Well informed. Great advice and very supportive. Jae Condon, Treatments Officer, ACON • Is just Jae lol • Knowledgeable, considered, open, understanding • Treatments discussion very informative. Next year we should try to have in session quizzes • He was so informative. He made an answer for whatever it was that we threw at him • I find this session was informative and answered the questions I had re: treatments • Information forthcoming that really got me thinking along the lines of ‘I have to find out more information’ Jae will be a source of future information and friendship • Amazing, amazing, amazing. This guy has so much knowledge. • Very easy to approach and very knowledgeable • Terrific, knowledgeable, accommodating • Jae was very informative • Lovely man. Very good at his job – intelligent. Caring, very good advice and referral to appropriate information.
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Hedimo Santana, Positive Life NSW • Interesting, informed and engaged • Awesome. Great energy • This was my first retreat but I found Hedimo’s session insightful • Fun, vibrant, happy but boy did he get the message across. Wow what a motivator. Keep facilitators like him around as they pass the wow factor • Great facilitator • Lovely man. Knows his job very well, very skilled at interacting with group and identifying issues and information. Michelle Tobin, Anwernekenhe National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HIV/AIDS Alliance • Good and direct • I love to aspire to be where she is. Looking forward to being part of PSB. Bubbly, vibrant mother and community member • Very compassionate about job and very informative and pro active advocate for positive people. Kane (massage therapist) • Has got the best hands I have ever felt • What a fantastic masseur. Wow, sensational, powerful person going places.
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Post Retreat responses Excellent Very Good OK Not so Good Great The ACON Café and Lunch were • • • • • •
5 3 0 3 0
Well catered for. Left with a couple of extra kilo’s The organisers achieved some great results for all HIV clients, carers and health workers I couldn’t eat that much because I have false teeth and the food was too hard to chew Having mentioned before coming to the retreat that I had a special diet made the retreat extraordinary. I would have gotten by in any case because ample vegetables & fruit were made available Nice healthy food/wide range always on time Such good food.
The transport to the retreat was • • • • • • •
4 5 1 1 0
Did not come with group Transport company were very polite and professionalism in their conduct Music on the bus trip What a fun enjoyable way to get from one point to your destination. Being put in a minivan up close & personal makes you come out of the closet as it were to not be shame Traveling down from Sydney was a great experience/intro and welcome to country was appropriate. Great Lacks of conversations and lollies for the trip.
The Retreat accommodation was • • • • • •
5 3 2 1 0
Had a room on my own so very comfortable I hope we can have future retreats at this venue. Quite relaxing. If possible could we extend the retreat? Flat floors no steps. Disabled railing in the shower & toilet were so helpful in my situation. Going to the café for meals was only a five minute walk. Fantastic More towels/heating Excellent Beautiful location and the food was great as always.
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Post Retreat Evaluation Are there any topics we should cover further? • Outdoor ceremonies (smoking ceremony?) • Drug use/disclosure/starting meds • Less dreary dark stuff • Disclosure • Returning to country with a positive diagnosis and the supports or lack thereof in rural areas • Mental health & HIV • I can’t think of any. It was pretty jam-packed but at a lovely pace • Time to share personal stories and own experiences. Can you think of any improvements to the retreat? • Stop forcing others to join in when it’s voluntary • Time management of each session • Relaxing music • Less pressure to do everything • More outdoor things. Didn’t really want to be stuck inside • Bit more structure • More physical team activities eg sport for group participation, interaction and mateship. Are there any other comments you would like to make? • I love retreat • A session or two that may incorporate dance or movement • We appreciate ACON’s efforts in having these retreats funded. It is envisaged that all the health practitioners continue to attend these forms as a way of continually improving the sector • Masseurs – awesome! • Overall I had a good trip • Very informative • Think we should start with a smoking ceremony next year • This will be the first of many for me. Bringing support next year • I had a lovely retreat and recommend it to all my brothers and sisters • Another tv channel • Thanks again for a wonderful retreat – number 3 and re-connecting me back with my community.
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Pre and Post Retreat Evaluation Comparison For the first time we conducted a pre and post retreat evaluation to gauge the learning of retreat participants for next year’s planning I have a good understanding of HIV and how it is transmitted 100% 90% 80% 70%
Strongly Disagree
60%
Disagree
50%
Neutral
40%
Agree
30%
<< There seems to be an increase in participants’ understanding of HIV and how it is transmitted, but there seems to be more neutral people. This may indicate people thought they had a good understanding but then post retreat participants realize they don’t know enough. This means we need to continue yarning up HIV and how it is transmitted.
Strongly Agree
20% 10% 0% Pre Retreat
Post Retreat
Indications that participants felt they have made friends at the retreat. In 2012 we will ask this question as a yes or no question. >>
<< We improved our stronly disagree person that that is a good achievement over the course of the retreat. In 2012 we will ask this question as a yes or no question.
Pre retreat there were at least two participants who were not willing to say they were or were not on treatments as they were neutral. Post retreat these particiapnts were more willing to say no (that is, they strongly disagree or disagree). In 2012 this question will be asked as a yes or no question and also why: why do people take treatments/not take treatments? We need to do more work in this area. This is a stand out graph as it could be said that 45% of retreat participants are not on HIV treatments. Knowing the protective role and advantages of treatments on other health issues for Aboriginal people with HIV, this is a key thing to work on in future retreats. >>
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<< This indicates that post retreat there was at least one person who was less confident about talking to a partner about using condoms. With around 30% of our retreat participants saying they are not confident, we need to think about how we can use the people who do feel confident within the group to increase overall confidence.
It seems that 74% of participants know how HIV treatments work, yet in the ‘I take HIV Treatments’ 45% of people are not on treatments. This is very interesting to note as there seems to be a gap here that should be smaller. The protective factors of HIV treatments should be an encouraging factor to take treatments yet only 45% of people are on treatments. We need to seriously consider what this means for our future retreats and also our future work at ACON. >>
<< It appears that everyone at the retreat now know where to get a sexual health screen. This is great news. We will change this question in the 2012 retreat to a yes or no question.
It is good to see that no one at the end of the retreat felt bad about the food they eat – but this could be because of the food of the retreat! We need to think about the purpose of asking this question and what outcomes we are trying to achieve by asking it. >>
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<< It appears that around 35% retreat participants felt more neutral about being part of a community post retreat, with only 65% of retreat participants feeling part of a community. The isolation that people feel is marked and must be communicated to our community partners like Positive Life NSW for their future program planning.
There is not much change pre and post retreat. Participants may have learnt relaxation techniques at the 2011 retreat but obviously they have not had enough time to put them into practice. In 2012 we should think about ways to ask better questions like ‘Please tell us 3 ways in which you relax’. >>
<< This is great news as every retreat participant indicated they now know how to get support for their health. A key outcome has been met.
This graph indicates 90% of people know about services for people living with HIV. This is interesting to note as 35% of people say they don’t feel part of a community. There is a role for services to increase their promotion of community connectedness programs like 7to9 and Planet Positive – and maybe even set up Aboriginal groups. >>
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Conclusion The Ngalawi Djardi ‘Sit and Yarn’ Health Retreats are growing and evolving to meet the needs of Aboriginal people living with HIV every year but we must take note of two key points from this years’ evaluation: •
45% not on treatment yet 75% say they know how HIV treatments work and
•
35% of retreat participants not feeling part of a community yet 90% know of services for people living with HIV.
ACON must continue to provide the yearly retreat to meet these challenges and also think about what this means for our work with Aboriginal people throughout our organisation.
Retreat Program 2011 AboriginalDjiyadi Health Retreat Program 2011 Ngalawi “Sit & Yarn” Retreat Program
Contacts Meggan & David 0428 477 740 Emergency 000 Health Direct Australia 24 hr health advice line 1800 022 222
Sydney Academy Of Sport Wakefield Parkway Narrabeen NSW Friday 16 December 2011 Monday 19 December 2011
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2011 Aboriginal Health Retreat Program
Welcome!
Session Info
Thank you for coming along to the 2011 Aboriginal health retreat. We are very pleased to announce the winning name from our ‘Name the Retreat’ competition is ‘Ngalawi Djiyadi’ which means sit and yarn. We hope you do a lot of sitting and yarning while you are with us. The program this year is packed full of great sessions and many opportunities to learn lots of new things to assist you to continue to live well. If you need anything during the retreat please don’t hesitate to contact Meggan or David.
Welcome to Guringai Land and Overview of Retreat Be welcomed to the land by a representative of the local Aboriginal land council. Learn about the land we are meeting on and some of their customs. Retreat Facilitator Neville Fazulla will welcome you to the Retreat and give you an overview of the weekend.
We hope you have a great retreat!
Passing around the Message Stick Passing the message stick around the circle, everyone will be invited to introduce themselves and tell the group one thing about themselves. Meditation Wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day. Join in a 30 minute guided meditation for a wonderful quiet start to your day. Eating Well, Living Well This session will be around using bush foods and tips for finding them in your local supermarket. Latest Treatments Get updated on the latest HIV treatments available. Exploring HIV Experiences Using the whiteboard work with the group to create a web Getting Out There Learn about local, state wide and national HIV groups, networks and conferences that are always looking for new members. Caring for Yourself: A Holistic Approach Come along and learn some health promotion messages and strategies delivered with some fun activities.
Art Session Make your very custom made jewellery pieces. Join artist Deb Beale to make some gifts for Christmas. Connecting to Culture Having a strong connection to culture and who you are is key to living well and healthy. How do you connect to your culture? Bring something to share with the group how you connect to culture. Walking meditation & bush collection Walk down along the lake. Discover the power of getting out of your normal environment and retreating. Collect an item which represents you to bring back to the Sacred Space session. Sacred Space Share and tell a yarn with the group about the item you found in the bush. Reflections of the Retreat Pass around the Message Stick one final time and share one thing you will take back home with you from the retreat. Free Time Not ready for sleep? In our workshop room there will be card making materials, jewelry making materials and paints available for participants to use and enjoy during free time. Take home a gift you created. Let your creativity run wild! Why not bring along your musical instruments for a sing along? All participants are invited to bring along something to share with the group around how you connect to your culture.
Program Program FriDecember 16 December Fri 16 11 11
17 December Sat Sat 17 December 11 11
18 December Sun Sun 18 December 11 11
19 December MonMon 19 December 11 11
7:45am 7:45am
Guided meditation Guided meditation
Guided meditation Guided meditation
Guided meditation Guided meditation
8:30am 8:30am
Breakfast + announcements Breakfast + announcements
Breakfast + announcements Breakfast + announcements
Breakfast + farewells Breakfast + farewells
Eating Living Eating Well,Well, Living WellWell Jae Condon Jae Condon
leaves Retreat Bus Bus leaves 9:309:30 fromfrom Retreat Venue to ACON Venue to ACON
9:30am 9:30am 10:30am 10:30am
Morning Morning tea tea
11:00am 11:00am
Morning Morning tea tea
Caring for Yourself: A Holistic Caring for Yourself: A Holistic Approach Approach Hédimo Santana, Positive Hédimo Santana, Positive Life Life
12:30pm12:30pm1:30pm 1:30pm
Lunch Lunch
Lunch Lunch
2:00pm Arrive Arrive at ACON Head Office 2:00pm at ACON Head Office for for coffee coffee and and cakecake ACON ACON CafeCafe
Exploring Experiences Exploring HIV HIV Experiences Broughton, Gluyas DebDeb Broughton, RussRuss Gluyas
1:30pm Canoeing 1:30pm Canoeing Sydney Academy of Sport Sydney Academy of Sport
3:00pm Bus departs Bus departs ACON to Retreat 3:00pm fromfrom ACON to Retreat Venue Academy of Sport Venue Academy of Sport and and Recreation at Narrabeen Recreation at Narrabeen
Getting There Getting Out Out There Michelle Tobin, Michelle Tobin, Positive Speakers Bureau Positive Speakers Bureau
Canoeing Canoeing Sydney Academy of Sport Sydney Academy of Sport
4:00pm 4:00pm
Settle Settle in in
Afternoon Afternoon tea tea
Afternoon 4:304:30 Afternoon tea tea
4:30pm Welcome Welcome to Guringai 4:30pm to Guringai LandLand & & Overview of Retreat Overview of Retreat Donna Ingram, Metro Council Donna Ingram, Metro LandLand Council Neville Fazulla, Retreat Facilitator Neville Fazulla, Retreat Facilitator
Art Session Art Session Debra Beale, Aboriginal Debra Beale, Aboriginal artistartist
Sacred Space Sacred Space Neville Fazulla, Retreat Facilitator Neville Fazulla, Retreat Facilitator
6:00pm Passing Passing Around the Message 6:00pm Around the Message StickStick Neville Fazulla, Retreat Facilitator Neville Fazulla, Retreat Facilitator
Connecting to Culture Connecting to Culture Neville Fazulla, Retreat Facilitator Neville Fazulla, Retreat Facilitator
Reflections of Retreat the Retreat Reflections of the Neville Fazulla, ACON Neville Fazulla, ACON
6:30pm6:30pm7:30pm 7:30pm
Dinner Dinner
8:00pm- FreeFree 8:00pmtimetime 9:00pm ArtsArts activities 9:00pm activities
Dinner Dinner FreeFree timetime activities ArtsArts activities
Bus arrives ACON Bus arrives ACON
Walking meditation & bush Walking meditation & bush collection collection Broughton & Russ Gluyas DebDeb Broughton & Russ Gluyas
Christmas Dinner Christmas Dinner FreeFree timetime
Retreat Staff Retreat Staff A bit about specialist staff attending the 2010 Aboriginal Health Retreat Neville Fazulla, Retreat Facilitator Neville is an Aboriginal- Afghani man from the Arrente people of Central Australia, Neville has a vast and long background in Health and has been involved in Sexual Health services for the past 16 years in both Aboriginal and Non Aboriginal HIV services. Neville has been a long serving board member of both AFAO and NAPWA until recently. Neville has a strong background in Health Promotion and Education and enjoys working within the community to build capacity and further enhance sustainable outcomes in Health and Education. Neville is currently undertaking studies in Masters of Public Health at Deakin University he also holds certificates in Continuous Quality Improvement Cycles, Stanford Self Management , Tobacco Control and Cert 4 Workplace assessment and training. At present Neville works for Country Health SA as a Program Manager in COAG. Neville enjoys group facilitation and will be the facilitator for the retreat. Jae Condon, HIV Wellness Program Jae is a Registered Nurse with a long career in Mental Health and Sexual Health. Jae is currently working as the Treatments and Client Support Worker at ACON based at the PLC. Jae’s job is to help people access information on a range of topics relating to living with HIV. These can include treatments, supplements, dental health, mental health, being recently diagnosed, sexual health and relationships. If you have a question let Jae know. Jae’s presentation will be a question and answer session.
Meggan Grose, Aboriginal Project Team Leader, ACON Meggan is a Weilwan woman from Gulargambone, New South Wales. Meggan is the Team Leader of the Aboriginal Project at ACON Health in Sydney and works with David Oxenbridge to plan this year’s health retreat. Meggan has worked in Aboriginal sexual health since 2007. If there is anything you need while at the retreat please yarn to Meggan.
Deb Broughton, Counsellor, ACON Deb is from the United Kingdom and has lived in Sydney for the past sixteen years. Deb has worked at ACON for the past thirteen years in various roles mainly as coordinator for the CSN and Housing project of ACON. More recently, since 2008 she has been coordinating the After Hours Volunteer Counselling Project and she has worked extensively with HIV positive people within all of these various roles. Deb also coordinates the Newly Diagnosed Priority Service at ACON for those clients who need counselling urgently after testing and has received training in pre and post test counselling with the Albion Street Clinic. Currently Deb is completing her degree in counselling with Australian College of Applied Psychology in Sydney. Deb is excited to be part of the retreat and is looking forward to meeting everyone.
David Oxenbridge, Aboriginal Project Health Promotion Officer, ACON David is Aboriginal and Australian and his mob is from the Gidja nation around Turkey creek in Western Australia. He has always been an active worker, volunteer and member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and sistergirl (GLBT/S) community in Australia since coming out in 1980. He started working with the ACON Aboriginal Project in June this year and is doing a on the job extensive six month training in his position as a Health Promotion Officer. If there is anything you need while at the retreat please yarn to David.
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Russ Gluyas, Counsellor, ACON Russ will be at the retreat for the whole time. Russ will be available for one on one yarn as well as facilitating sessions. Russ was born in Newcastle and moved to Sydney in 1985 spending the first chapter of his life as a chef and restaurant owner. Russ then went on to gain a Bachelor of Applied Social Science majoring in Counselling at the Australian College of Applied Psychology. Russ is trained as a counsellor and psychotherapist with interests in Existential and Person Centred Therapies. He also has a passion for group work. Russ was working with ACON for 3 years in the After Hours Counselling program and currently managers ACON’s Counselling and Enhanced Care service. He maintains a small external private practice and continues therapeutic studies.
414 Elizabeth St Surry Hills NSW 2010 • PO BOX 350 Darlinghurst NSW 1300 Freecall 1800 063 060 • Tel (02) 9206 2000 • Fax (02) 9206 2069 • acon@acon.org.au • www.acon.org.au @ACONhealth
/ACONhealth
Hunter • Illawarra • Mid North Coast • Northern Rivers • Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP) ABN 38 136 883 915 • Authority to Fundraise CFN/21473
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