VACCHO NEWS SPRING 2016

ACES leads the way for culturally appropriate aged care

news

Spring 2016

Deidre King, Chief Executive Officer - Aboriginal Community Elders Services (ACES) yarns with VACCHO’s Victorian Committee for Aboriginal Aged Care and Disability (VCAACD) Training and Support Officer, Margaret Clarke.

ACES was established due to the tireless work of the late Aunty Iris Lovett Gardiner and other Elders. Aunty Iris was concerned that Elders were dying in mainstream nursing homes without anyone from the Aboriginal community knowing about it. Initially, volunteers at ACES were assisted by the support of existing Aboriginal community organisations such as the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) and the Aborigines Advancement League

(AAL). Once ACES became incorporated it was eligible to receive funding and set up a 25 bed hostel which was named the Iris Lovett Gardiner Aboriginal Elders Caring Place. It opened its doors at 5 Parkview Avenue, East Brunswick in 1991.

Aunty Fay Carter, a devoted Elder and the first Manager of ACES worked for the first 12 months at ACES without being paid. In March 2001 as part of a submission to the Inquiry Into the Needs of Urban Dwelling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Aunty Fay wrote: “The integration of all these programs on the one site ensures a continuity of medical and health knowledge, informs the assessment and delivery of appropriate care to Aboriginal CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc. The peak body for the health and wellbeing of Victorian Aboriginal people

Aged Care issue + VACCHO 20th Anniversary Dinner special

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Contents 1 ACES leads the way for culturally appropriate aged care 4 Aboriginal life in Gippsland: A senior’s perspective 5 The Victorian Committee for Aboriginal Aged Care and Disability 6 New Loddon Mallee Aboriginal Reference Group’s new regional aged care strategy

7 Training regarding Victorian Aged Care reforms is now available 8 Aunty Patricia Ockwell and Kylie Semmens yarn about the wellbeing of our Elders 10 VACCHO’s work in Aged Care 11 Out and about 12 VACCHO turns 20

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Elders as they age. Aboriginal Elders receive high level care with an ongoing duty of responsibility between the community, the individual and government. In addition, culture is recognised as central to individual and community health.”

These values, high level care and integrity of ACES are still in place today.

Deidre, how did you become involved with aged care?

In 1993 I became the HACC Manager of the Aborigines Advancement League (AAL). With ATSIC gone in 1996 Aboriginal community organisations across the State lost funding, many positions and programs. Because of these funding issues, employees often did more than one job and I was both the CEO of AAL and the HACC Manager for many years.

I worked at the AAL for 17 years in aged care. It was exciting but at times also hard.

In 2010 I was seconded to ACES and this was a new adventure on how Elders were looked after. I was not used to an Aged Care facility and a challenge was to ensure our Elders were looked after in a culturally appropriate way. It takes passion and commitment and here at ACES we love working with our Elders.

Tell us about ACES and the services it provides.

ACES operates three complex aged care programs from one site: 1. Residential Care Services – high and low level care accommodation.

2. Koorie Community Aged Care Program (KCACP) targeted to frail older Aboriginal people to assist with their daily needs, respite and travel to and from medical / social appointments and cultural events.

3. Planned Activity Group (PAG) Provides appropriate activities for the elderly in a comfortable environment. It aims to enhance the Elders’ wellbeing and meets many of their needs. PAG also has in-home respite services available for carers.

How will the current aged care reforms impact ACES? Because we are under Government Flexible Funding we are going well but who knows in the future. Culturally appropriate residential aged care is important but what about our Elders in mainstream who looks after their cultural needs? Where can our Elders go if not places like ACES or Rumbalara Aged Care Facility?

There are only two Aboriginal aged care facilities across the State.

We do have Elders come to ACES from regional Victoria. They would prefer to stay on their own Country than be in Melbourne but for many there is no choice.

How do you inform your community of the changes happening in aged care?

The ACES Board of Directors is made up of Aboriginal community people, both retired Elders and workers in other Aboriginal community organisations. We have a newsletter and we attend both the Metropolitan Aboriginal HACC Network Committee and VCAACD. Our programs also give the community information on what we do and what is going on in all aspects of aged care.

We also have community aged care forums and the last one was March 2016.

To become a member of ACES one must be 45+, it used to be 60 but as we all know, our Elderly don’t always reach that age.

Tell us about the renovations plans for ACES. The ACES building is approximately 30 years old and

requires urgent refurbishment or redevelopment for us to care for our Elders of the future. The Commonwealth reviewed our building in 2010 and reported the need to upgrade.

ACES has completed a feasibility study for redevelopment on our current site and this has been forwarded to the Commonwealth, we have yet to get a response. We do not want to leave the site we are on, there is too much history and many of our Elders fought for what we have today. We have submitted funding application to the Commonwealth to refurbish the nursing home bathrooms and other urgent items, we have yet to hear from them. We have also tried to be included in Victorian Premiers round table and requested to meet with the Commonwealth Minister of Health, all to no avail. In coming weeks we will be meeting with the Moreland City Mayor and hopefully that will be a good meeting.

We know the redevelopment of ACES will take millions of dollars and we will fight to ensure we have buildings that are at least equal to mainstream aged care; that our Elders have a decent, culturally appropriate place to come to and be cared for.

What is your dearest wish for ACES and our Elders?

What do I want? I want to see the redevelopment go ahead.

We need more beds and facilities for our Elders. I want to see our Elders live in the state of the art aged care facility they are entitled to. If it takes years to achieve then we all hope it will be carried on by the people who take over from us when we move on. We all hope that ACES will always be here to care for our Elders and give them culturally appropriate aged care.

For more information about ACES, call them on 03 9383 4244 for a yarn.

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Aboriginal life in Gippsland: A senior’s perspective A short documentary to coincide with the Victorian Seniors Festival Week aims to shine a spotlight on issues and the lives of Aboriginal Elders and seniors within the local Gippsland community.

The hope for the film is to create a learning resource to examine how things were, where they are now and how they could be in the future. This was a great way to hear from our Elders and seniors; hear their perspectives and how agencies can work better utilising the skills and knowledge of our local Elders and seniors when it comes to program development and evaluation.

Karina Crutch, Aboriginal Regional Development Officer - Latrobe Community Health Service

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There are still barriers and challenges for the community, some areas are working better than others.

included perspectives from people living in Lake Tyers, Bairnsdale, Sale, Traralgon, Morwell and Wonthaggi.

Themes and interview questions included the way Aboriginal people were perceived, levels of respect for our Elders, racism past and present, Koori courts, health issues, the services, and how Aboriginal people felt about using mainstream services compared to Aboriginal community controlled organisations.

The project was funded by the DHHS Seniors Festival and in collaboration with the Koorie Heritage Trust and will be stored as a part of the Trust’s oral history collection.

Instigated by Regional Aboriginal Development Officer for HACC Karina Crutch, filmed by Robbie C Bundle from the Melbourne Community Indigenous Film Collective, the documentary

The documentary was launched on Friday 7 October at Kernot Hall in Morwell. Various agencies held information stalls and community members attended and had the opportunity to sell some of their arts and crafts.

For more information contact Karina Crutch on 1800 242 696.

The Victorian Committee for Aboriginal Aged Care and Disability L-R: Cathy Austin, Aboriginal Development Officer - Aboriginies Advancement League, Rachel Muir, Aboriginal Development Officer - Ballarat Community Health, Karina Crutch Aboriginal Regional Development Officer - La Trobe Community Health and Vicki Walker Aboriginal Development Officer - Njernda Aboriginal Corporation.

The Victorian Committee for Aboriginal Aged Care and Disability (VCAACD) is the Victorian reference group for staff in organisations providing Aged Care and Disability services to Aboriginal people.

VCAACD was founded by Aboriginal community members in 1989. Since that time, VCAACD has actively advocated to improve standards of care and the quality of life for Aboriginal people of frail age, carers and younger people with a disability in Victoria.

VCAACD is an important voice for Aboriginal people and is representative of the four Victorian Regional Aboriginal Aged Care Networks. VCAACD and the Networks provide an effective and efficient way for local, state and federal governments to obtain an Aboriginal perspective on matters that affect Aboriginal people of frail age, carers and Aboriginal people with a disability.

Auspice of VCAACD In May 2015 the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) officially became the

Auspice for VCAACD, under a Service Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

VCAACD meets every two months (6 times per year) on a rotational basis across Regional and Metropolitan Victoria.

VCAACD’s role in aged care reforms VCAACD works with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to: • Ensure that they have a good understanding of aged care and disability programs and current reforms, including the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

• Assist them in identifying and prioritising Aged Care and Disability service issues.

VCAACD’s Aims are: • Engage, educate and collaborate with ACCO CEOs and Boards to ensure aged care and disability changes benefit Aboriginal communities and is a viable service option for the organisation

• Build knowledge and understanding about changes to aged care and disability with staff and Aboriginal communities across Victoria • Work in collaboration with VACCHO as the peak body to broker conversations between the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments and ACCOs to ensure changes to aged care and disability benefit Aboriginal people, families and communities • Build relationships nationally to ensure VCAACD is well positioned to secure Commonwealth funding to continue its work post 2019 • Develop a skilled workforce that meets the needs of the Aboriginal community in the new aged care and disability environment.

For more information about Aboriginal aged care and disability in your region contact your local Aboriginal Development Officer or your nearest ACCO (back page).

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New Loddon Mallee Aboriginal Reference Group’s new regional aged care strategy VACCHO News yarns with Raylene Harradine, Chair of the Loddon Mallee Aboriginal Reference Group (LMARG) about the group’s new regional Aged Care Strategy.

VACCHO News spoke with Ms Raylene Harradine, CEO of the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BDAC) and Chair of the Loddon Mallee Aboriginal Reference Group (LMARG).

LMARG is a partnership of the five Aboriginal community controlled health organisations in the Loddon Mallee region.

For readers who may not be familiar with the work of LMARG, can you give me an overview of LMARG and its role.

LMARG represents the five ACCHOs and communities in the region. We meet quarterly with our five communities and then with funders - the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Commonwealth Department of Health (DoH).

Twenty years ago there was only DHHS now we have commitments from a range of funding bodies including the 6 VACCHO NEWS Spring 2016

Primary Health Networks. Our focus is on health and well-being issues for our communities.

We need to examine the cost and feasibility of providing services:

Our strategic priorities cover from birth to death. We have seven priorities: 1. Early years 2. Healthy Communities (health promotion) 3. Aged Care 4. Healing 5. Mental Health 6. Eye Health 7. Oral Health

1. Home and Community Care (HACC) services 2. Aged Care Packages 3. Residential care

Why is LMARG interested in aged care issues?

The aged care services provided across our region are totally different from ACCHO to ACCHO. We don’t provide packages or residential care.

We are an ageing population, though they say we die younger some of us are living longer due to some of the initiatives and programs we deliver in promoting healthy lifestyles.

Especially for residential care the question is can we provide at regional level or more locally?

It is a problem for our elderly as some are living longer and need good aged care. So how can we plan for the future for Elders so that the Elders are there for the young people, to share their knowledge? We don’t often pay attention and respect can be lost. We need to see what our community needs are, how we can look after Elders.

Please tell us about LMARG’s aged care strategy LMARG looked at regional priorities and aged care is a priority. We need to look at the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Consumer Directed Care (CDC) and they need to be in a place where

We need to look at how to provide good aged care locally to our elderly.

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Training regarding Victorian Aged Care reforms is now available The Council for the Aged (COTA) and VACCHO as the auspice for the Victorian Committee Aboriginal Aged Care and Disability (VCAACD) have collaborated to develop and pilot a training program dealing with the Victorian Aged Care Reforms. The focus of the training program is Consumer Directed Care and Home Care Package services.

The COTA / VACCHO Aged Care training was piloted with the Regional Aboriginal HACC Networks across the four Victorian Departmental regions – Metropolitan, Gippsland, Barwon/ Grampians and Loddon Mallee.

The training was developed because the current aged care reforms will affect all aged care organisations, workers and clients both Aboriginal and nonAboriginal. Aboriginal clients

may not require a home care package today, tomorrow, next month or next year. Sometime in the future many elderly Aboriginal people will need an aged care package of some level and the majority of clients will turn to their ACCOs to assist them.

The training includes: • Home care packages – the CDC model • Financial and provider responsibilities of Home Care Packages – who manages them?

• Assessment Needs • Providers of Home Care Packages working with consumers • Flexibility of Home Care Packages and services • What would make a difference in the consumer’s life?

• Package levels and funding and what can and cannot be

we have viable services. We are best placed to provide wrap around services such as HACC and healthy communities, podiatry and access to eye and dental health.

We need to focus so that we get recommendations and ideas to move forward and be able to look at resourcing. We are still looking at how to roll out and resource our services and are currently looking at possible funding sources. As a region, we are looking at regional approaches as to how we roll out these services. This is a big piece of work and we need to work out whether collaboration as a consortium is possible. However, some ACCHOs may want to work as individuals; to work locally – we need to always look at business modelling.

We’re looking at future stainability. If we go as a team we can maximise effectiveness and ‘get bang for the buck’. Also, we have to keep in mind people also move up and down the river and if people are comfortable coming to an ACCHO for services then we need a regional approach. This

‘purchased’ by Home Care Packages.

Each of the four Victorian regions have now been provided with training to help us ensure Aboriginal clients receive the most culturally appropriate aged care assessment and home care services.

Participants in the training are asked for feedback and comments – they are the ‘experts’ in dealing with Aboriginal aged care needs. With the current training, workers will be an information resource for clients and they will understand the best and most culturally appropriate way to assist the client.

For more information contact Arati Vidyasagar, Information Outreach Officer Seniors Information - COTA Victoria on 03 9655 2154 or avidyasagar@cotavic.org.au.

also makes it easier to provide a personalised approach to services.

What does this strategy mean for Elders in your region? (Prompt: what does it mean to your community?)

I think if we were to nut out a model then communities would see the benefits they will get if services are personalised. Services provided by their own communities. People working in our services care for community Elders so that they feel valued. We as ACCHOs need to provide that.

Elders can pass on experience and give us advice on what they really want. It is about empowering our Elders so they live longer without that isolation.

Our Elders have to put up with a lot – if we can give back to them, this is what it’s all about – giving back to our Elders.

To find out more about what LMARG is doing in aged care reform contact Raylene Harradine on 03 5442 4947.

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Aunty Patricia Ockwell and Kylie Semmens yarn about the wellbeing of our Elders

Kylie Semmens, Home Care Coordinator Worker - Dandenong & District Aborigines Co-Operative Limited, Margaret Clarke, VCAACD Training and Support Officer - VACCHO, Aunty Patricia Ockwell, Board Member - Wurundjeri Council, ACES and Dandenong & District Aboriginal Cooperative Limited and Dylan Clarke, Radio Programme Project Officer - VACCHO

VACCHO’s Margaret Clarke and Dylan Clarke yarn with Aunty Pat Ockwell and Kylie Semmens about Aged Care and the wellbeing of our Community Elders.

Aunty Patricia Ockwell is a respected Elder and proud Wurundjeri woman. She is a champion for fairness and justice who has served her Community through her work in hostels, housing and justice.

Aunty Pat was born Patricia Wilma Nicholson on 17 September 1937 in Carlton and was the first of 16 children. Aunty Pat’s father, Patrick Nicholson, was of Irish heritage and served in the RAAF during the Second World War. At the time of Aunty Pat’s birth her parents, Martha and Patrick were living with her maternal grandmother, Jessie Jemima Wandin Terrick, in Collingwood but there was a strong connection to Country in the Healesville area. Jessie was the daughter of Robert and Jemima Wandin of Coranderrk.

Aunty Pat was an extremely good runner, and while living in Toolangi she was approached to train for the 1956 Olympics. Unfortunately her family circumstances prevented this.

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In 1958 she married Ted Ockwell, a farmer from Woori Yallock. The couple lived in Healesville for some years, where four of their children Jenny, Edward, Karen and Margaret were born, and then in Wangaratta where their last two children Patrick and Michael came into the world.

While Aunty Pat was aware from a young age of the struggles of Aboriginal people, it was not until the 1960s that she became politically active. One of her first experiences of activism was travelling to Canberra with her Aunty Winnie Quagliotti to be a part of a protest group organised by Geraldine Briggs. Aunty Pat was also actively involved in protest groups at the time of the 1988 Bicentennial. Aunty Pat says: ‘I always wanted to make sure things were right for our people, that we were getting a fair go too, not be put down all the time just because of our skin.’

Aunty Pat, how long have you been receiving assistance with aged care?

About fifteen years. At first I didn’t know much about it and was more concerned with others worse off than me. I started at the Aboriginal Community Elders

Services (ACES) on a Koorie Community Aged Care Package (KCACP) where both ACES and Dandenong & District Aborigines Cooperative Limited (DDACL) work with me. My KCACP’s package comes from ACES but my worker comes from DDACL. They both look after me very well.

Kylie Semmens works for DDACL as the Home Care Coordinator (HACC) Worker and has been in the position for almost three years.

One of the issues with mainstream workers has been that our mob doesn’t want them to come to their homes, do you find that is true?

Do you enjoy your position?

I am on the Boards of the: • Wurundjeri Council – Elder and Director • ACES – Director and Vice Chair • Dandenong & District Aboriginal Cooperative Limited – Director and Treasurer I enjoy doing what I do and helping our people and when I meet with government I always rip it into them about the way our people are treated.

What is it you do?

Yes. At first when we were redundant only a few Aboriginal clients went to the councils and rather than have a mainstream worker, many didn’t have a service at all. But people who were ok with the service started telling others and the word spread. Then when we returned to providing the services in partnership with the Council, people opened their doors to us.

We now have 70 clients for aged care services.

Do you notice the changes that are happening in aged care?

Yes there are many changes and I notice the cuts in funding.

I worry that our people won’t be looked after; that they will be left behind. The changes are not just in aged care they’re happening everywhere.

The welfare system is changing too and I tell the Judges and Magistrates that when our people come to court they need support. Some people don’t even know what to do and how are they going to cope?

I’ve been ill and when I’m back I expect there’ll be many changes and a big shock for me.

Looking back as a kid life was tough and we had to work hard and help out but I was happy to help mum with the other kids because the person I am today I put down to my parents. They were great parents and growing up they taught me culture and supported me.

Yes, I love working with and learning from Community Elders.

I organise workers to go to our Elders homes and give them the service they need; home care/ maintenance/personal and social support. I continue to work with Aunty Pat. How do you see the aged care reforms will affect DDACL? There will be significant changes in 2019 with aged care funding at DDACL. Our aim is to become an aged care provider and have Home Care Packages to give to our Elders. In the meantime we are working with mainstream providers and organising service agreements with them. Currently we have elderly in our community receiving home care packages.

How do you handle the mainstream aged care assessment processes necessary for your clients?

The history is that before I started the DDACL HACC program was made redundant and then all new workers were hired and we had to re-assess the 15 clients we had. So we organised a partnership with the Dandenong Council as they had the HACC service while we were redundant.

They enjoyed working with the Community and asked for a permanent partnership and this is working well. We now have partnerships with Frankston, Casey and Knox Councils but we always make sure a DDACL worker goes with them if they are assessing anyone from our Community.

What do you see as the main success of DDACL’s HACC program?

Service delivery – being more involved with our clients and not just seeing them once a week to give them the service they need. There is more involvement with clients.

Do you also think your partnership with mainstream services contributes to your large number of clients?

Definitely. We organised the first partnership and the word spread within the departments of the Councils. Next came the Councils, South-East Melbourne Engagement processes. We then did a DVD as to how Councils could maintain engagement with the Aboriginal community and Aunty Pat was in the video.

When the video was launched we had 100 people attend. I will soon be on maternity leave but the aim of the DDACL HACC program is to have all our Elders on home care packages by 2019.

Thank you to Aunty Pat and Kylie for coming in today and yarning with us about aged care.

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VACCHO’s work in Aged Care Aged Care is an emerging issue for Aboriginal communities. As the health gap closes, an increase in the number of elderly people in Aboriginal communities will impact on all Aboriginal community controlled organisations (ACCOs), whether they are providing medical and nursing care to older people or the full suite of aged care services. Census estimates of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population over 50 years increased from approximately 55,000 to over 77,000 between 2006 and 2011 with the highest rate of growth in those aged 55 years and over1.

The health status of this group is poorer than the general Australian population2.

Aged care reform is competing for the attention of Aboriginal providers of primary health care and their representative organisations. In 2012, VACCHO prioritised aged care, on the back of local research commissioned into the implications of federal aged care reform for ACCOs in Victoria.

This research showed that: • VACCHO Members’ concern that without a strong voice, current Aged Care Reforms may not adequately take into account the rights and needs of the Aboriginal Community in Victoria; • Unfamiliarity with the details of the aged care reform package, and a level of urgency in raising awareness and building understanding across the VACCHO Membership; • Potential opportunities for ACCOs resulting from increased Commonwealth funding allocation to aged care; and • High level of support from Members for VACCHO to take a leading role to support Members in the area of aged care, particularly in: research, policy development, lobbying and advocacy, planning, resourcing Members, and workforce3.

The Federal government’s aged care reforms may radically alter access by Aboriginal Elders to aged care services and supports in the long term. There 10 VACCHO NEWS Spring 2016

is currently a window of opportunity to influence the way that these reforms are implemented.

VACCHO is a NACCHO delegate to the National Aged Care Alliance (NACA) an aged care sector peak body advisory group that works with the Commonwealth to influence aged care reforms and their rollout. We are also the auspice of the Victorian Committee for Aboriginal Aged Care and Disability (VCAACD). VACCHO’s work in relation to Aged Care aims to: • Promote fair access to government funded aged care services and supports for Aboriginal people • Advocate for culturally safe, high quality aged care services that meet the needs of older Aboriginal people • Support the role and capacity development of ACCOs as providers of Commonwealth – funded aged care supports to their community members • Disseminate information on Aged Care reform to our Membership, for their use and the use of their communities • Support the development by ACCOs of a “National voice” which can engage the Commonwealth in dialogue around aged care reform and its implementation.

For further enquiries on VACCHO’s work in Aged Care contact Noeleen Tunny, Manager Policy and Advocacy.

(Endnotes) 1. Biddle N. (2011) CAEPR Indigenous Population Project 2011 Census Papers: Paper 14 Population Projections Australian National University http://caepr.anu.edu.au/publications/ censuspapers.php p 1

2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2011) Older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Canberra Cat no. IHW 44 Canberra: AIHW 3. Frizzell J, (2012) Background Paper: Aged Care Issues facing Victoria’s Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and their Communities - Opportunities and Threats VACCHO

KMS Women’s Business Forum November 2016 Mallee District Aboriginal Services, Mildura

ICAP Forum

November 2016 Mantra, Bell City, Preston

Evaluation masterclass October 2016 Melbourne

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VACCHO Board Members John Mitchell: Chairperson Karen Heap: Vice Chairperson John Gorton: Board Member Rod Jackson: Board Member Hilary Saunders: Board Member Suzie Squires: Board Member Daphne Yarram: Board Member

17-23 Sackville Street Collingwood VIC 3066 P 03 9411 9411 F 03 9411 9599 E enquiries@vaccho.org.au

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STORIES | IDEAS | FEEDBACK

Don’t forget this is your newsletter and we need your stories and ideas.

If you would like to give us story ideas or comment on our newsletter please contact our Communications Team 03 9411 9411 or on communications@ vaccho.org.au.

VACCHO Members • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Aboriginal Community Elders Services Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative Bubup Wilam for Early Learning Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Budja Budja Aboriginal Co-operative Cummeragunja Housing & Development Aboriginal Corporation Dandenong & District Aborigines Co-operative Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service Gippsland & East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative Gunditjmara Aboriginal Co-operative Healesville Indigenous Community Services Association Kirrae Health Services Inc. Lake Tyers Health & Children’s Service

• Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association • Melbourne Aboriginal Youth Sport & Recreation Co-operative • Mallee District Aboriginal Services • Kerang Aboriginal Community Centre • Swan Hill & District Aboriginal Co-operative • Moogji Aboriginal Council East Gippsland Inc. • Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation • Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-operative • Ngwala Willumbong Cooperative • Njernda Aboriginal Corporation • Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation • Central Gippsland Aboriginal Health Services • Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd • Victorian Aboriginal Health Service • Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative • Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation VACCHO News Spring 2016

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