VACCHO AUTUMN 2013

VACCHO welcomes boost to Aboriginal health VACCHO’s policy and advocacy work has been in overdrive in the last weeks and months.

Autumn 2013

In early April, VACCHO attended the landmark funding announcement at the Geelong Football Club, where Victorian Premier Dr Denis Napthine and Victorian Minister for Health David Davis announced their commitment to support Victoria’s long term plan to tackle inequalities in Aboriginal health.

We have actively responded to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan, the OATSIH Primary Health Care Funding review, as well as the state government’s Service System Reform Project. We also continue to pursue improved outcomes for our community and our members in the areas of disability through the National Disability Insurance Scheme trials and in the area of aged care.

VACCHO has also been celebrating renewed and increased commitment from the State government to Aboriginal health which was most welcome in a constrained environment.

Victorian Premier Hon. Dr Denis Napthine with VACCHO CEO Jill Gallagher AO

acknowledged VACCHO and our Members. The Minister also acknowledged the work of VCOSS, the AMA and other VACCHO key partners in furthering Aboriginal health equality in Victoria.

The Victorian announcement was followed by the announcement of the Commonwealth commitment of $777m over three years.

In each case these pre-budget announcements lacked detail as to The Premier and Health Minister announced not only a 30 per cent the allocation of the funds to specific activities. While we look forward increase in funding commitment to more detail to be announced in but the commitment to the the budget, we can be confident centrality of VACCHO and our Members to the strategic planning, that State government funding will be directed towards activity in the advice, evaluation, prioritisation, Victorian 10 year strategic plan for research and partnership in an Aboriginal health, the Koolin Balit. active and energetic speech.

When speaking to the announcement in Parliament, the Victorian Health Minister

news

The Commonwealth funds will be allocated under the yet to be released Aboriginal and Torres

Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc. VACCHO is the peak body for Aboriginal Health in Victoria.

Strait Islander Health Strategy.

In Victoria, government action is guided by the Victorian Framework Agreement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health 20032013, which was established as a governance mechanism for the Victorian Advisory Council on Koori Health (VACKH).

After this agreement was reached, the Statement of Intent on Aboriginal Health Equality was CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

Vibrant, healthy, self-determining Aboriginal communities

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signed by both government and opposition and by the Commonwealth and State government. The Health Equality Statement commits to the centrality of Aboriginal people and their organisations in all aspects of the decisions that affect their health and programs.

VACCHO is actively pursuing the commitment to partnership at the jurisdictional level and the delegation of real decision making capacity to these jurisdictional committees that oversee and coordinate State, Commonwealth and community activity.

Additionally VACCHO was engaged with the Victorian Health Minister in a second meeting of Victorian Hospital CEOs on Aboriginal health. At the first meeting, the Hospital CEOs signed the Statement of Intent as part of the Victorian Aboriginal Health Conference held in May 2012.

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The Victorian Health Minister announced at that gathering his desire to hold a national Aboriginal health summit, to invite Health Ministers and Ministers of Aboriginal Affairs and Mental Health from the Commonwealth and each of the States. He would include VACCHO, our fellow affiliates and NACCHO. The Minister wishes to promote the importance of the partnership with Aboriginal communities and their organisations, to promote the priority of Aboriginal health and to promote success stories.

The Minister is hoping to hold this event mid-year at a time when maximum attendance can be achieved.

The Victorian Minister made a further pre-budget step of commitment to Tele-health in ACCHOs of $500,000. This will enable VACCHO to develop members Tele-health capacity across the State.

01 VACCHO welcomes boost to Aboriginal health.

03 The last of the GOANNA survey.

04 Congratulations Aunty Mavis Egan and Gary ‘Jackie’ Giles.

04 VACCHO supports the 100km Oxfam Trailwalker Challenge.

05 Justice reinvestment and the Aboriginal health sector.

05 Be part of history in the making.

06 Sacred Sistas.

07 Close The Gap medication dispensing trends in Victoria.

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VACCHO NEWS Autumn 2013

In its 2013 budget the Government also announced a $1.7 million investment in local Aboriginal-specific alcohol and other drug awareness campaigns. VACCHO and our members welcome this support and the acknowledgement of the need for a culturally appropriate and sensitive approach to alcohol and other substance misuse.

These budget announcements and the release last year of the Government’s 10 year strategic plan for Aboriginal Health, Koolin Balit, are clear indications that the Victorian Government is honouring to achieve Aboriginal health equality in a generation.

Images L-R: Dr Tom Calma, Jill Gallagher, Peter Sproules and Brad Brown | Marcus Clarke and Allan Miller | and Lyn McInnes and Jody Currie.

Images courtesy of Geelong Football Club. Reg Ryan Photography

08 PHAA National Champions.

08 Victorian Aboriginal Palliative Care Collaborative.

09 The Maternity Services Education Program.

10 Wathaurong kids make Deadly Choices.

11 St Vincent’s Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer (AHLO) Program.

11 Does your ACCHS need a Practice Health Atlas?

12 Important dates.

GOANNA survey team member Gladys Winmar and Hawthorn player Bradley Hill

The last of the GOANNA survey The VACCHO Sexy Team cheered on our Koori sporting stars at the Gippsland Football and Netball Carnival in March. Andrew Bamblett, Peter Waples-Crowe and Kat Byron collected surveys on young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s sexual health as part of the national GOANNA study.

young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from three Share the Spirit Festivals on Survival Day, Mildura Football and Netball Carnival and the Gippsland Football and Netball Carnival.

Everyone who participated in the survey received some deadly Koori flag sweatbands,

The Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Sexual Health Survey or GOANNA for short, is the first Australiawide study describing levels of knowledge, risk practices and access to health services in relation to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood borne viral infections (BBIs) among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 16 to 29 years.

This was VACCHO’s final GOANNA event over the last three years of collecting surveys.

In the past three years we have collected 440 surveys from

temporary tattoos, SNAKE condoms, fresh fruit and an entry to win a new iPad mini. The winner was announced during halftime of the grand final and congratulations went to Amelia Moburn who won the iPad at the Gippsland event.

We would like to give a big thank you and shout out to Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation and the Gippsland Football and Netball Organising Committee. As well as our superstar GOANNA survey collector Gladys Winmar, who had no shame in asking some of the visiting Aboriginal Hawthorn players to take part in the GOANNA survey.

The results from the GOANNA study will be released in October and the Sexy Health Team will share the findings with the ACCHOs to inform the future work with young Koori kids.

Sexy health team member Andrew Bamblett with GOANNA iPad winner Amelia Moburn.

For more info about GOANNA or sexual health, contact the VACCHO Sexy Health Team on 03 9411 9411.

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Congratulations Aunty Mavis Egan and Gary ‘Jackie’ Giles More Victorian Aboriginal Health Workers (AHW) become Aboriginal Health Practitioners

• Everyone who is registered has to meet the same standards.

• Recognition as a registered health professional.

VACCHO congratulates Aunty Mavis Egan and Gary ‘Jackie’ Giles at Njernda Aboriginal Cooperative in Echuca for becoming registered Aboriginal Health Practitioners.

Aunty Mavis and Jackie are among a slowly growing number of Certificate IV qualified AHWs who are choosing to become registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and gain the additional professional title of Aboriginal Health Practitioner.

Aunty Mavis Egan and Gary ‘Jackie’ Giles

Some of the benefits of registering as an Aboriginal health practitioner are: • Once a practitioner is registered they can practice anywhere in Australia.

Njernda has a strong culture of supporting their staff to achieve their education and training goals and should be congratulated for building their Aboriginal health workforce capacity.

For more information about registering with AHPRA contact Tyson Murphy, VACCHO’s Workforce Information Policy Officer on 03 9411 9411 or email tysonm@vaccho.com.au

VACCHO supports the 100km Oxfam Trailwalker Challenge

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On Friday 19 April at 8.30am VACCHO staff member Corina Pesich, Chronic Disease Project Officer/ QUM pharmacist, embarked on a gruelling 100km walk in support of a fundraising initiative for OXFAM Australia.

33 hours and 14 minutes later that Saturday afternoon, Corina and her team of Sole Sisters crossed the finish line extremely tired and weary.

Chris Halacas, Researcher - Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well Being volunteered to shave off their respective scalp hair and facial beard if a total of $400 was raised by VACCHO staff.

After a tepid start, the Shave Off team were delighted to raise well over $400 thanks to the contributions offered by VACCHO staff.

The Sole Sister team raised over $4,000, and more than $2,450 000 has been raised from the Melbourne Oxfam Trailwalker event in total. Further information can be found the OXFAM website.

Craig Holloway, Senior Team Leader - Health Programs and

The Shave Off team are thrilled to announce that the VACCHO

Images L-R The Sole Sisters | Craig and Chris go under the scissors

VACCHO NEWS Autumn 2013

Shave Off raised a grand total of $521 for Oxfam Australia, which is testament to the generous spirit of VACCHO staff. Well done fellas.

Image credit

Justice reinvestment and the Aboriginal health sector Over the last ten years in Victoria, numbers of Aboriginal people in prison have doubled says Dr Karen Adams, Senior Researcher VACCHO. In 2012 Aboriginal people were 13.4 times more likely to be in prison and one in every 30 Aboriginal men in Victoria was in prison. Substance misuse is a strong driver for Aboriginal arrest1. VACCHO’s recent research (in collaboration with Monash University and the Victorian Department of Justice) found much higher rates of substance misuse among Aboriginal prisoners compared to non-Aboriginal prisoners.

The research also found higher rates of mental health problems such as depression, bipolar and anxiety disorders. Displacement, intergenerational trauma, grief, and isolation from Country and mob were common among adult Aboriginal prisoners.

In the Victorian Aboriginal community an estimated 1,238 Aboriginal adults (1 in 20 adults) have used pharmacotherapies2 and mental health issues are high3, indicating a high level of need for drug treatment and mental health support.

Adult imprisonment is strongly linked to experience in out-ofhome care. Alarmingly one in fifteen (6.5 per cent) of Aboriginal children in Victoria aged 0-17 years was in out-of-home care on 30 June 2012, an increase of 103 per cent since 20034,5.

Aboriginal youth in juvenile justice system are also likely to progress to the adult prison system6.

Undoubtedly these youth issues are also linked to mental health issues and substance misuse.

In other areas, such as New South Wales and in Texas, addressing punitive sentencing and provision of drug treatment and mental health services has led to the closure of prisons and a cost saving to tax payers7.

Each person diverted from prison to community residential rehabilitation saves more than $111,0005.

With 359 Aboriginal people imprisoned in Victoria, this represents a substantial economic cost saving. In addition, benefits of diversion flow through to reduce costs in the health system by an estimated $90,000 per person8. There is a clear case that improved mental health

and drug treatment services are desperately needed for Aboriginal Victorians. VACCHO is investigating ways to strengthen and improve this area with Member services and partners.

References 1.

2.

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6.

7.

8.

Weatherburn D, Snowball L, Hunter B. Predictors of Indigenous Arrest: An Exploratory Study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology. 2008 Aug;41(2):307–22.

AIHW Drug treatment series number 15, National Opioid Pharmacotherapy Statistics Annual Data collection: 2011 Report, Australian Government, 2012 Jorm A, Bourchier S, Cvetkovski S and Stewart G. Mental health of Indigenous Australians: a review of findings from community surveys, Med J Aust 2012; 196 (2): 118-121.

Value of a justice reinvestment approach to criminal justice in Australia. Submissions received by the Committee, http://www.aph. gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/ Senate_Committees?url=legcon_ctte/justice_ reinvestment/submissions.htm SCRGSP (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision). Report on Government Services 2013. Canberra: Productivity Commission; 2013.

ABS. 2011 Census Data. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics; Lynch M, Buckman J, Krenske L. Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice [Internet]. 2003 [cited 2013 Mar 4]. Available from: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/ current%20series/tandi/261-280/tandi265/ view%20paper.html Deloitte Access Economics. An economic analysis for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders. Canberra: Australian National Council on Drugs; 2013.

For more information contact VACCHO Senior Researcher, Dr Karen Adams: karena@ vaccho.com.au

Be part of history in the making Australia’s Constitution was written more than a hundred years ago. By then, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had lived on this land for more than 40,000 years, keeping alive the world’s oldest continuous cultures. But Australia’s founding document did not recognise the first chapter of our national story.

from being counted as citizens until 1967.

For the first six decades of our democracy, Aboriginal Australians could not vote, and were excluded

Sign up as a supporter and help shape the future of this movement at www.recognise.org.au.

But the Constitution still does not recognise the first Australians and still lets the States ban people from voting based on their race.

Supporting Recognition is the next step in reconciling our past.

Jill Gallagher AO, CEO and Cherie Waight, Senior Project Officer Palliative Care - VACCHO supporting Recognise.

VACCHO NEWS Autumn 2013

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Sacred Sistas in action.

Sacred Sistas The Sacred Sistas Project is an arts-based sexual and reproductive health program for young Koori woman and girls.

• Menstrual cycle

The Sacred Sistas Project began in 2012 with Arimaya Yates, a passionate and dedicated Koori midwife committed to improving the sexual and reproductive health experiences of young Aboriginal women in Australia.

Sacred Sistas provide young Aboriginal girls and women to come and yarn, share stories, seek advice and support in a fun and safe space. Creative artsbased activities bring the girls and women together, all while learning about women’s bodies and their magic.

• Safe sex

While creating art, they yarn about: • Body awareness • Respectful relationships • Puberty and menarche 6

VACCHO NEWS Autumn 2013

• Ovulation and fertility • Pregnancy and conception • Contraception • STIs • STI screening • Pap testing • HPV vaccination Sacred Sistas also supports Aboriginal health workers and Koori Maternity Service workers in promoting sexual and reproductive health within the community; and provides training that will allow workers to facilitate the program on an ongoing basis in their own communities.

VACCHO Members are encouraged to take advantage of the Sacred Sistas sessions to promote young women’s

wellbeing. There is no cost to VACCHO Members for the Project to visit their service and deliver training or the art workshop.

The sessions can be structured as a single two-hour session, a series of sessions, or full day / half day workshops. Groups can range from 3-20 participants and is for young women and health-worker only sessions, or a mix of young women and health workers.

To organise a Sacred Sistas session contact Kim Sutton, Community Development Worker, Wulumperi Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sexual Health Unit on 03 9341 6272 or email ksutton@mshc.org.au Wulumperi is a partner of the Sexy Health Team at VACCHO and supports VACCHO Members to create sexual and reproductive health workshops in your community.

Close The Gap medication dispensing trends in Victoria The Close the Gap (CTG) Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Co-Payment Measure was introduced on 1 July 2010, and provides cost reduced or free medications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders at risk of or experiencing chronic disease.

Analysis of dispensing trends for CTG prescription dispensing has provided VACCHO with strategic information for primary care advocacy and support. We compared the 25 most commonly dispensed medications under the national PBS scheme and the PBS CTG co-payment measure from 1 July 2011 - 30 June 2012. We then compared this data to the most commonly dispensed CTG medications in Victoria only and our review indicates that when Victorian CTG data is compared to national PBS dispensing data: • Medications dispensed for mental health conditions, including drug dependence and sleep disorders, appear to be more frequently prescribed.

These medications include benzodiazepines and antidepressants.

• Other medications often associated with mental health conditions, including drug dependence, also appear to be more

frequently prescribed. Such medications include proton pump inhibitors (commonly prescribed for conditions related to stress, stomach acid, and alcohol abuse) and codeine-containing analgesics (suggesting chronic pain/substance abuse is a significant burden)

• Medications used for management of chronic disease such as asthma, diabetes and respiratory cardiac conditions appear to be under-represented.

• Further breakdown of CTG dispensing data may also indicate a higher incidence of mental health conditions and drug dependence in the Victorian Aboriginal community when compared to the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. This is largely due to the apparent over-representation of anti-depressants, antianxiety and codeine containing analgesics being represented in the top 25 dispensed medication items.

These prescribing trends suggest significant barriers to accessing non-pharmaceutical, culturally appropriate mental health support programs, including drug dependence and drug treatment support services in Victoria.

While VACCHO is funded to support specific social and emotional wellbeing workforces located in primary care and hospital settings, there is no funding to co-ordinate or plan mental health services more broadly and monitor equitable access to culturally safe specialist mental health and drug dependence support services. VACCHO is currently advocating for an urgent review of the burden of mental health, including drug dependence and drug treatment support services in the Victorian Aboriginal community, and would welcome any feedback or suggestions from Member services to help support these actions.

For further information on CTG prescribing trends or to provide any feedback regarding mental health/drug dependence advocacy, please contact: Corina Pesich Chronic Disease Project Officer/ QUM Pharmacist on: corinap@ vaccho.com.au or Dr Karen Adams Senior Researcher on karena@ vaccho.com.au

We look forward to hearing back from you and would welcome any feedback on any initiatives you are currently undertaking to address mental health and/or drug dependence in your community.

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PHAA national champions

Victorian Aboriginal Palliative Care Collaborative In August 2011 the Minister for Health launched Strengthening Palliative Care: Policy and Strategic Directions 2011-2015.

An initiative of the policy is the establishment of the Victorian Aboriginal Palliative Care Collaborative (VAPCC).

What will this project do?

On 15-16 April 2013 the Public Health Association of Australia hosted the first ever Social Inclusion and Complex Needs Conference at the Realm Hotel in Canberra.

Its aim was to showcase successful programs and approaches in addressing complex needs and social determinants of health – with the broader purpose of identifying what works and how. The conference had a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence and included over 20 presentations on different aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing, including presentations from the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) and VACCHO. Sue Hedges from VAHS and Stella Artuso, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, presented on a partnership to improve ear health for Aboriginal children.

The presentation highlighted the successful partnership between the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and VAHS that improved paediatric ear health by creating specialist pathways and increasing awareness for patients, families and health workers.

The VACCHO presentation, Yarning about hep C DVD was a collaboration between 8

VACCHO NEWS Autumn 2013

the VACCHO sexy team, Hepatitis Victoria and Victorian Aboriginal community member Ron Briggs. The presentation focused on Ron Briggs’ personal journey from having a lot of shame about being diagnosed with hepatitis C and getting successfully treated, to becoming a champion for the need for hepatitis C education and treatment for the Victorian Aboriginal community. Ron features in the Yarning about hep C DVD which aims to get the Victorian Aboriginal community talking about this often stigmatised disease, and getting people to overcome the shame and seek health care and treatment.

The DVD is available from VACCHO or Hepatitis Victoria.

For copies and more information about viral hepatitis contact the Hepatitis Info Line run by Hepatitis Victoria on 1800 703 003.

Image: Ron Briggs, Nicky NewleyGuivarra (Hepatitis Queensland) and Peter Waples-Crowe at the Conference

The VAPCC will provide clinical leadership to promote partnerships between Aboriginal and palliative care organisations.

This project will complement and support the work of the current Victorian Aboriginal Palliative Care Program (managed by VACCHO) to ensure more Aboriginal people have access to culturally appropriate palliative care.

Specialist palliative care providers will be encouraged to enhance their ability to provide the necessary care to their Aboriginal clients by gathering information and data to inform the development of evidence based work plans.

The VAPCC will allocate funding to organisations undertaking the projects on the work plan and the VAPCC will evaluate the impact of these projects. The VAPCC is funded to 30 June 2015.

Who will determine the priorities?

A steering committee has been established to provide strategic governance of the project. Membership includes representatives from Centre for Palliative Care, VACCHO, Palliative Care Victoria, Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit, palliative care clinicians, palliative care consortia, Palliative Care Clinical Network and Department of Health.

For further information please contact Ellen Sheridan, Ellen.

Sheridan@health.vic.gov.au

The Maternity Services Education Program VACCHO’s Koori Maternity Strategy Team has a strong partnership with the Maternity Services Education Program (MSEP) team. MSEP, initiated through the Royal Women’s Hospital, have been engaged in delivering essential clinical training to Koori Maternity Services (KMS) in Victoria since 2011. Each of their education sessions are aligned to priority areas identified in the Koolin Balit.

Health Service (Geelong) • Central Gippsland Aboriginal Health Co-operative (Morwell) • Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (Fitzroy) • Dandenong and District Aboriginal Co-operative (Dandenong) • Northern Health (Epping).

A key feature of the workshop was the preterm birth session.

Kathy, who recently joined MSEP, opened with an informative presentation with a birth simulation to follow. This provided participants the opportunity to practice their skills in a safe and supportive environment.

at ease throughout. Afterwards, I felt really proud of myself for facing my fear of public speaking”, Shakara said.

Mandy and Naomi, the KMS team at Wathaurong, played the role of midwife and AHW, respectively. In this capacity the two professionals supported Shakara through the emergency birthing scenario.

They contacted the family and made an ambulance phone call using ISBAR, a structured communication template used to improve communication in a clinical setting and outcomes for mother and baby. ISBAR stands for: I = Identify S = Situation

The MSEP team left to right Kate Freeman - Project Officer, Bree Bulle - Consultant Midwife, Caprice Brown and Kathy Evans - Midwifery Educators.

In March this year twelve KMS workers, including midwives, Aboriginal health workers (AHW) and a nurse participated in a Pregnancy Care Workshop. Eight of the thirteen Koori/Aboriginal Maternity Services (KMS/AMS) in Victoria were represented, including: • Njernda Aboriginal Corporation (Echuca) • Mungabareena Aboriginal Co-operative (Wodonga) • Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative (Mooroopna) • Wathaurong Aboriginal

B = Background A = Assessment R = Require or Response.

Kathy presenting at the Pregnancy Care Workshop.

The preterm birth simulation was facilitated in the training room at VACCHO. Members of MSEP, VACCHO and Wathaurong KMS teams acted out roles in the scenario. Shakara Montalto, VACCHO KMS Support Officer, perfected the role of a young mum presenting with and labouring through a preterm birth emergency. “Being a part of the simulation was truly an amazing experience. The ladies from Wathaurong made me feel

In the final stages, Naomi comforted and reassured Shakara as Mandy performed the emergency birthing. The scenario concluded with Shakara cradling her baby girl.

Shakara as a young mum cradling her baby girl after the birth simulation.

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Deadly Choices participant, Sonya.

Wathaurong kids make deadly choices Deadly Choices is an eight week education program targeting young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged between 12-25 years. The aim of Deadly Choices is to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make healthy lifestyle choices for themselves and their families, with key messages like stop smoking, eat healthy food, and exercise daily.

Bay College with 12 of them graduating from the Deadly Choices pilot program for Victoria.

As part of the Closing the Gap initiative Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, in partnership with the Department of Health, delivered the pilot for Victoria of the Deadly Choices program which is the first time it has been run outside of Queensland.

Deadly Choices mob with Hayley Couzens, Kat and Andrew from VACCHO’s Sexy Health Team.

Wathaurong’s Kim Smailes and Hayley Couzens managed the project and decided to target 12-17 year olds, due to the difficulty in keeping the information sessions engaging and appropriate for all young Kooris in their group. Kim and Hayley successfully engaged 14 participants from the Northern 10

VACCHO NEWS Autumn 2013

The program was launched in February and ended in April where participants celebrated their Deadly Choices at Kardinia Park, in the Geelong Cats member’s area. The young Aboriginal Geelong Cats players presented everyone with a graduation certificate and Deadly Choices hoodie!

Elder Uncle David did the Acknowledgement to Wathaurong Country and reflected on the journey these young people have taken. Some

of the participants interviewed the Cats players for tips on how they make deadly choices and which parts of the program they liked most. The education program was delivered by Wathaurong staff, external organisations such as Murrenda, VACCHO and City of Greater Geelong, and focused on eight health and wellbeing topics: • Leadership and cultural activities • Diabetes and preventing Chronic Disease • Smoking • Nutrition • Physical Activity • Alcohol and drugs • Sexual Health • Aboriginal Health Checks.

For more information on the Deadly Choices program check out www.deadlychoices.com. au/ or have a yarn with Kim or Hayley at Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative 03 5277 0044.

St Vincent’s Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer (AHLO) Program

The St Vincent’s (STV) Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer (AHLO) Program will now have three AHLO’s working at STV. This is who they are, what their roles are and how you can contact them.

Michelle Winters is the Senior Aboriginal Liaison Officer (SALO). Her client work focuses on St Vincent’s Correctional Health Program (based at Port Phillip Prison) and she consults to programs across STV which do not have specific AHLO coverage.

Michelle is also responsible for partnerships and liaison with Aboriginal community organisations and for STV staff orientation and awareness training. Michelle provides cultural mentoring to other AHLOs. Amanda (Mandy) Punch is the AHLO for Mental Health, Emergency Department and Intensive Care (MHEDIC). This AHLO is a new trial role and Mandy has been seconded to this position until the end of July 2013.

Fay Halatanu has recently joined the AHLO team on a fixed term contact and will be working full-time with the team until the end of July 2013. Fay’s role is AHLO (Acute) covering inpatients and outpatients.

Fay comes to STV having worked until very recently at Aboriginal Hostels Incorporated.

If callers would like to make a referral, or if there is any difficulty connecting directly with AHLOs, reception services are available. This service is for patient related matters only.

AHLO reception can be contacted on 03 9288 3436.

Does your ACCHS need a Practice Health Atlas?

• Increase Medicare earnings

The Practice Health Atlas (PHA) is a decision support tool provided by VACCHO to our Member organisations, assisting services to develop more effective health care service delivery and business modeling. It helps identify gaps in current data input so the data analysis can help you improve your clinical quality of service.

• Plan and develop Chronic Disease Management programs • Enhance workforce through recruitment and training • Highlight evidence to prepare successful funding proposals, reports, internal Image and credit external presentations.

The Practice Health Atlas aims to:

PHA reports delivers recommendations on the implementation of best practice in regards to barriers and potential improvements in health care service delivery and Medicare claiming gaps. This in turn can increase Medicare income for your service, including increased Medicare income from practice nurses and Aboriginal health workers.

Assistance from all areas of VACCHO can be recommended, based on what priorities are recognized through the Practice Health Atlas Report.

• Ascertain the current population and demographics of your ACCHS’s patient population • Identify the incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases amongst the current population • Identify the current business earning potential for your ACCHS by analysing the chronic disease Medicare item numbers claimed for services provided Many ACCHSs better understand their current patient data and have increased their Medicare earnings through the successful completion of a PHA. Members have used PHA to: • Better understand their patient data and disease burden of their community

If you would like to know more about how a PHA report can help improve health care delivery in your service, contact Surbhi Vohra, PHA Project Officer at VACCHO at 9411 9411 or email surbhiv@ vaccho.com.au and have a Practice Health Atlas report completed for your service.

VACCHO NEWS Autumn 2013

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VACCHO Board of Directors Jason B. King: Chairperson Joanne Badke: Vice Chairperson Andrew Gardiner: Executive Member Karlene Dwyer: Executive Member

VACCHO Members • • • • • •

Daphne Yarram: Executive Member

• •

Rudolf Kirby: Executive Member

•

Marcus Clarke: Executive Member

Important dates 26 May - 3 June

7-14 July

National Reconciliation Week

NAIDOC week

www.reconciliation.org. au/nrw 3 June MABO Day http://maboday.com.au/ 10-16 June Mens Health Week www.menshealthweek. org.au/En/Default.aspx Month of July Eye Health Awareness Month

www.naidoc.org.au

• • • • • • • •

14-20 July National Diabetes Week www.diabetesaustralia. com.au www.letspreventdiabetes. org.au 23rd July VACCHO Board meeting 24-26 July VACCHO Members meeting

http://iehu.unimelb.edu.au/

• • • • • •

• • • • •

Aboriginal Community Elders Services Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative 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 Mildura Aboriginal Corporation • 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 Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place Association Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation

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

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

www.vaccho.org.au

If you would like to give us story ideas or comment on our newsletter please contact our Acting Communications Officer Taloi Havini on 03 9411 9411 or on taloih@vaccho.com.au.