New home for Rekindling the Spirit Health Service

the do-not consume symbol. However, this did not seem to reflect federal government unanimity on the issue: Sophie Harrington, the COO of the National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (NOFASD), a body funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Health, said, “Tens of thousands of Australian families who are impacted by FASD are celebrating today’s decision, because they know how significantly this lifelong disability affects the health and wellbeing of our loved ones.

Supporting Sen. Colbeck’s position were the governments of NSW, SA and Queensland. The other jurisdictions and NZ supported the upgraded warning.

An accepted amendment will see a change in the signal wording from ‘HEALTH WARNING’ to ‘PREGNANCY WARNING’.

Sen Colbeck and others, as previously

by Andrew Binns

The development of Rekindling the Spirit Health Service dates back 17 years, its roots lying in what was called Gurgun Bulahnggelah (meaning “agree to walk together”), an Aboriginal health promotion service provided by Ellie Bradshaw and Teena Binge of the then-North Coast Area Health Service’s Public Health Unit.

Since 1998, the premises had been commenced and provided the GP service assistance from the Northern Rivers

reported in GP Speak, had been lobbied intensively by the alcohol and beverages industry, which was “deeply disappointed” by the forum’s decision, asserting that adding red to the labels would cost “hundreds of millions of dollars per year”.

Such, of course, is the cost to the community – not to mention the personal distress to families – caused by FASD sufferers.

A counter lobbying effort came in the form of a full-page ad in The Sydney Morning Herald the day before the forum met, saying more than 3,700 community leaders and advocates and 150 organisations supported the revised labelling. These advocates included the AMA, RACP, Prof Fiona Stanley, Dame The logo was based on an art work by

Quentin Bryce and Professor Elizabeth Elliott, the world renown researcher and advocate for FAS-D reform. (See GPSpeak article, Getting Serious about the Social Determinants of Health).

The Foundation for Education Research & Education’s CEO Caterina Giorgi said, “Collectively, we genuinely thank the Food Ministers for implementing a warning that will benefit the community and reduce FASD.

“Having a red, black and white label is so important so the message can be understood by all Australians regardless of their literacy levels or cultural backgrounds.”

NOFASD’s Sophie Harrington said, “This new mandatory label will go a long way to improve community awareness of the risks of drinking alcohol throughout pregnancy and will result in fewer babies

occupied by the NSW Local Health Social distancing at RTS Health Service District’s Aboriginal Health Education comprehensive GP service. We were Officers. It was suggested that some also joined by some other allied health primary care health services were needed professionals, including a RN in 2008, on the site as well, and I nominated myself and the service gradually expanded. We and sought the assistance of GP colleagues eventually became a service provided by Angela Bettess and Carol Stevenson. We NRDGP with some help from NSW Health. linked to the Casino Aboriginal Medical Then came a name change to Jullums, Service (AMS) as an outreach service. Lismore Aboriginal Medical Service.

Sometime later there were changes Bundjalung artist Adrian Cameron, which resulted in us relying exclusively featuring four fish and symbolising people on Medicare funding to maintain a coming together for yarning around health rudimentary GP service. We asked for matters. born with FASD in years to come.”

Division of General Practice (NRDGP), Jullums partnered with Rekindling the and were supported with an electronic Spirit (RTS), an Aboriginal counselling and medical record system and other resources, support service founded by Greg Telford. including staffing to support a more They provided a culturally appropriate counselling service for us. When it came time for the North Coast Primary Health Network to hand over the service in 2017 to an Aboriginal controlled organisation, the successful amalgamation chosen was with RTS. The service continued to expand.

Initially our service was in an art deco style house opposite Lismore

Base Hospital, charming but requiring a number of refurbishments. By 2020 it was bursting at the seams, with an increasing number of staff and health service providers. The RTS CEO, Georgina Cohen, with support from her Board, found a suitable medical facility nearby in Uralba Street, still close to the Base.

After three months of major refurbishment the big move took place in late-July 2020. The property is spacious, with a lot more consulting rooms for the expanding services. It is early days yet, but there is good feedback already from both the health providers and patients attending. The parking situation is much better and the number of health providers has already increased. Since the move the service has changed its name to the Rekindling the Spirit Health Service. It is located at 92 Uralba Street, Lismore, NSW.