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National Leadership in Mental Health
by Lana Al Habl 11 October 2015
N
ATSILMH marked World Mental Health Day by calling on the Australian Government to implement the National Mental Health Commission’s Indigenous-specific recommendations following the National Review of Mental Health Services and Programmes. “Indigenous Australians are suffering double the rates of psychological distress, mental illnesses and suicide as other Australians, and the data suggests the mental health gap is getting wider. The Commission’s recommendations provide us with a roadmap for closing this gap,” NATSILMH Chair Professor Pat Dudgeon said. Recommendation 5 of the Commission’s report is that Indigenous mental health is made a national priority and the subject of a COAG Closing the Gap Target. Further, that Australian governments working with Indigenous mental health leaders develop an Indigenous mental health action plan. “The National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing 2014-2019 should be implemented as an Indigenous mental health action plan. Indigenous Australians have never had such a dedicated plan and it could make all the difference,” said NATSILMH member Professor Tom Calma AO. Recommendation 18 of the Commission’s report is for mental
health and social and emotional wellbeing teams to be established in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and other Indigenous health services, linked to specialist Indigenous mental health services. NATSILMH member NACCHO CEO Ms Lisa Briggs called on the Australian Government to ensure ACCHOs are funded to deliver the comprehensive and holistic model of primary health care they aspire
to, with the capacity to detect and treat mental health conditions and substance use issues at an early stage. “We cannot close our eyes to the fact that mental health problems underpin so many other challenges in our communities. It is time ACCHOs were funded to meet these mental health needs in the communities where our peoples live and provide services that are responsive to local need. Such
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enhanced services not only mean better mental health outcomes, they would lead to savings over time as less people were treated for mental health conditions in hospitals,” said
Ms Briggs. “On World Mental Health Day 2015, we call on Australian governments to adopt a bipartisan approach to closing the mental
health gap based on the National Mental Health Commission’s Review recommendations,” said Ms Briggs and Professors Dudgeon and Calma.
NOTICE OF IMAN PEOPLE NATIVE TITLE AUTHORISATION MEETING The Applicants of the Iman #2 Native Title Claim have called an authorisation meeting for the following purposes: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Approve a draft S87 or a S87A order for a Determination of Native Title over the Iman #2 native title claim. Authorise the Wardingarri Aboriginal Corporation to hold Native Title in Trust for the Iman #2 and be the Registered Prescribed Body Corporate. Authorise an ILUA with Ergon Energy over the Iman #2 claim area. Authorise the following ILUA’s with pastoralists (maps of the ILUA area will be available at the meeting): Name of ILUA Iman People/Comely and Mapala ILUA
5. 6.
Pastoralist Party Consolidated Pastoral Company Pty Limited ACN 010 080 654 Iman People/Coorada ILUA Brian John Atkins Eion Evan Atkins Iman People/Glenhaughton ILUA Avon Ross Hamilton Carol Hamilton Nathan Jay Hamilton Iman People/Glenleigh ILUA Patrick Robert Scott Joan Marjorie Cogill William Robert Cogill Kathleen Ann Harrison Iman People/Korcha ILUA Owen Arthur William Price Brigid Ann Price Arthur William Price Gail Lorraine Price Iman People/Woodine ILUA Andrew Douglas Simmons Tracey Robin Simmons Narelle Effie Simmons Authorise a further Native Title Claim over the shaded area of the Map contained in this notice and authorise Applicants to prosecute the new claim. Authorise compensation claims for native title that has been extinguished over the Iman #2 claim area and the area of the new claim.
The arrangements for the meeting are as follows: Date
31 October 2015
Time
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Conference Centre, cnr Yeppoon Road & Bruce Highway North Rockhampton Only the descendants of the following Iman ancestors will be entitled to participate in the meeting: Mary Arwa, Jim Waterton, Ada Robinson, Maggie Palmtree, Lizzie Palmtree, Eliza Shields, Mary Ann (mother of Maggie Dunn), Fanny Waddy/Sandy, Dick Bundi/Bundai and Alice Dutton and the mother of John Serico (known as Aggie). Travel Assistance Assistance with travel will be provided only to those who register by 4.00pm on Monday 19 October 2015. Persons who registered but did not attend the previous authorization meeting of 14 September 2013 will not be eligible for assistance on this occasion. Please Contact Kylie on 0458 781 504 or 0481 151 750 to register for the meeting. Registration is from 8:00 am.
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