Jill Gallagher awarded Order of Australia Jill Gallagher CEO VACCHO, is humbled by her Order of Australia for distinguished service to Victoria’s Indigenous community.
news
Summer 2012
But she’s not about to rest on her laurels. There’s still a lot of work to be done. As head of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation for the past 12 years, she has seen her people face increasingly dire health challenges since she joined the organisation in 1992. ‘’Chronic disease is a huge problem, tobacco is one of them, diabetes is a huge issue and when you look at Victoria you’ve got a lot of Aboriginal people living in urban areas who have shocking health problems. The health status of people living in Fitzroy is the same as people living in Fitzroy Crossing, so we have a job to do convincing governments that there are Aboriginal people who live in Victoria who need just as much support.’’
expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
She says there are many factors, beyond access to health services that contribute to the disparity. “If you’re going to close the life expectancy gap you’ve got to look at education and employment opportunities. Anyone whether you’re black or Asked to list her most significant white, if you’ve got a job you’re achievement in her time in Aboriginal going to be a lot more healthy.” health, the 57-year-old cites her influence in getting the state She is also proud of her role in the government to sign the statement return of 800 Aboriginal skeletons - the Murray Black Collection of intent to close the 17-year life
Contents
01 Jill Gallagher awarded Order of Australia 02 Congratulations Georgie Taylor 03 Healthy Lifestyle Forum 2012 05 VACCHO and SecondBite sign MOU 06 Reflections on the ‘Live Longer! conference
08 Sexy GOANNA team shares the spirit 09 VACCHO staff in-service 09 Koori Safety Grants Program 10 National Apology Day 10 Save the date! VACCHO Quality Workshop 2013 10 Home Energy Saver Scheme
from the Museum of Victoria and the National Museum of Australia to Indigenous communities in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales for burial. “My passion is actually for us as Aboriginal people to be recognised and valued as Aboriginal Australians and to enjoy the same benefits that this country offers as non-Indigenous Australians.” Jill Stark Improving outcomes in Aboriginal health The Sydney Morning Herald January 26 2013
VACCHO and SecondBite sign MOU page 5
Jill Gallagher, Georgie Taylor and Andrew Gardiner
Congratulations Georgie Taylor Aboriginal Health Practitioner My Journey to becoming an Aboriginal health practitioner. I had the full support from my workplace Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative and all the workers were very happy to help me out. I met a lot of new friends and we supported each other through the course. I enjoyed studying Certificate III because it was a stepping stone for me doing a cardiovascular course through VACCHO in Shepparton over three weeks. After I completed that I was asked if I would like to be mentored with a cardio nurse, Fleur Martin at South West Healthcare in Warrnambool which I did six over months, for one day per week. This enforced what I had learnt over the last months. I was then 2
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employed as the Healthy for Life Aboriginal Health Worker which tuned my practical skills through working closely with the Practice Nurse and the doctor. Over this period I also worked in different areas looking into the chronic health of our clients. In 2011 I was asked if I would consider doing my Certificate IV in Aboriginal Health (Practical). I jumped at the chance because I was ready to upskill. This training was in Melbourne three days per month over 12 months. While I was training I participated in the scope of practice which had me involved in the clinical part of the medical clinic working very closely with the doctors and the nursing staff. Also VACCHO asked the participants doing their Certificate IV if they would like to have a week in a hospital
setting which I completed with St Vincent Hospital in Melbourne. It was there I realised what it was like to be a nurse each day. I was on two different wards and I learnt a lot from the very friendly nursing staff that looked after us. I completed Certificate IV in July 2012 with my graduation at the new VACCHO building. I was asked if I would like to register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to become an Aboriginal Health Practitioner. I did and as of the 25 October 2012 I was accepted. Now being the more senior health worker, I help mentor the new workers with their studies and in a clinical setting. It is a very rewarding job because every day is so different, that’s what I love about it.
VACCHO held a state-wide Healthy Lifestyles Forum in November last year to provide invaluable professional development and networking opportunities for Aboriginal health workers and other staff involved in the delivery of primary healthcare services to Aboriginal people. Interstate participants attended the Forum that highlighted the deadly work we are doing here in Victoria. It is this work that is earning us a positive reputation amongst our interstate colleagues working in the Aboriginal health sector.
and heartfelt Welcome to Country delivered by Aunty Di Kerr, followed by an introduction to the VACCHO Healthy Lifestyles working party.
In addition to the three main themes (Tobacco Control, Sexual Health, and Nutrition and Physical Activity) which formed the basis of our hugely successful first State forum in April last year, Chronic Disease prevention and Management also featured as major themes in our November forum – with an emphasis on cardiac and respiratory health.
Day 1 kicked off with a Heart Health theme, with guest speakers presenting from the Heart Foundation (VIC) and the Heart Research Centre (VIC). Lyn Dimer (Heart Foundation WA) presented an engaging and informative workshop on My Heart, My Family and Our Culture which proved to be a major highlight for many of the attendees. The afternoon closed with community presentations from Daryl Smith (VAHS) who gave a
The Forum began with a warm
Well done on organising the event- it seemed like everyone was ‘into it’ and the range of issues were interesting and worthwhile - participant
refreshing insight to his personal heart health journey, as well as Laura Thompson (Plenty Valley Community Health) and Greg Semmler (VAHS) who delivered an inspiring presentation on a successful community partnership initiative. The first day finished with a well-received presentation from Family Planning Victoria. Day 2 commenced with informative presentations delivered by the Cancer Council (Victoria) and Lung Foundation (Australia), which were then followed by an introduction to the VACCHO Sexual Health Team. Andrew Bamblett and Kat Byron introduced the session with an overview of hepatitis and the impacts on our communities. Dr Ben Cowie from the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory spoke about Hepatitis B, a virus that attacks the liver but can be prevented with a vaccine. Hep B is on the rise in Aboriginal communities throughout Australia. Leah Higgins is an Integrated CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE
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Liver Nurse from Royal Melbourne Hospital who talked us through the journey people living with Hepatitis C go through to get on treatment. Leah shared the emotional support clients need when they get treatment.
Great to see so many people participating.... - participant
Day 3 of the forum began with presentations centred on nutrition and physical activity. Representatives from the Department of Health Victoria let attendees know how they can link in with the Victorian Healthy Eating Enterprise (now known as Healthy Together Victoria) We also had some fantastic community presentations. Highlights from these presentations included the deadly work being done in Victoria around community food programs. Ellie Midgely and Julie Kerin from Mildura Aboriginal Cooperative presented on the Red Earth Food Bank, whilst Vanessa Scales from Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place showcased the Community Food Program they run. The final session of the Healthy Lifestyles forums was a fun workshop run by the VACCHO Sexy Health Team. Andrew and Kat gave us a sneak peak of their
new Deadly Sexy Health Kit. The Sexy Health Team facilitated the Condom Game with the group to show an interactive way to communicate something that can be a bit shame to talk with young people about. The Deadly Sexy Health Kit will be distributed to ACCHOs for Aboriginal health workers and youth workers to deliver sexual health and blood borne virus workshops in their communities in April this year.
The staff got a lot out of it both in terms of their ability to provide info to participants but also on a networking level - stallholder The VACCHO Healthy Lifestyles Working Party were delighted with the overwhelming positive feedback received from this forum, and hope to deliver similar forums on an annual basis in the future.
Jimi Peters VACCHO (second left) and Forum attendees
The afternoon session provided participants the opportunity to attend concurrently run small group activities and workshops related to Tobacco Control, Asthma and Feltman training. The latter of these activities was delivered by the VACCHO Nutrition and Physical Activity Team, Colin Mitchell and Jenny Hickleton from Diabetes Australia (VIC). A breakout Aboriginal Health Promotion and Chronic Care (AHPACC) meeting was also hosted by VACCHO to provide important networking opportunities for all participants
working in the state funded AHPACC Program.
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Image credit
Elaine Montegriffo, CEO SecondBite and Jill Gallagher, VACCHO CEO
VACCHO and SecondBite sign MOU On Thursday 17 January 2013, VACCHO and SecondBite celebrated their partnership with the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and a smoking ceremony at SecondBite’s Kensington warehouse. Despite the 39 degree heat, there was a great turn-out of 63 passionate guests representing the Aboriginal community, Government, welfare and health sectors of Victoria. SecondBite is a food rescue organisation that identifies sources of nutritious surplus fresh food and produce that might otherwise go to waste, and redistributes it to community agencies including a number of Aboriginal organisations. In 2012, SecondBite provided almost 2 million hearty meals to 307 community food programs across Australia. Aunty Di Kerr opened the event with her heart-felt Welcome to Country and provided a very real account of the impact of food insecurity amongst Aboriginal
people living in Victoria. Jill Gallagher outlined the devastating fact that “Aboriginal Victorians are almost four times more likely than their non-Aboriginal counterparts to experience food insecurity. It is this unacceptable gap that our partnership is committed to close”. Elaine Montegriffo, CEO of SecondBite, highlighted that “SecondBite is passionately committed to finding sustainable long term solutions to the challenges of food insecurity so that one day all Australians are able to enjoy their right to adequate food for their health and their wellbeing.” To achieve such an ambitious objective, partnerships such as VACCHO and SecondBite, are absolutely vital. Jason B. King, Chairperson of VACCHO and CEO of Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative described the realities of food insecurity as faced by so many Aboriginal people living in the Gippsland region of Victoria, and the positive impact the SecondBite Community Connect program is having on local community members’
access to fresh healthy produce. Wrapping up the formal speeches, Russell Shields, Head of Program Development at SecondBite, thanked VACCHO’s Nutrition Team and SecondBite’s Research and Development Team who are working together on an Aboriginal Food Security Action Plan. The partnership was recognised by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeannette Powell, who released a statement of support, where she acknowledged “Reliable access to nutritious and affordable food is one of the keys to achieving health equality between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Victorians, and this partnership will support community-led action to address disparity in the social determinants of health, one of which is food insecurity.” This was further endorsed by the Premier of Victoria Ted Baillieu. VACCHO and SecondBite share a common vision - to improve the physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing of the community members we serve. We look forward to continuing our work together. VACCHO NEWS Summer 2013
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Reflections on the ‘Live Longer! Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Promotion Conference: Bringing Together Stories to Build Better Health Promotion.’ Sharon Thorpe and Catherine MacDonald Held at the Stamford Grand Adelaide in Glenelg from 22-24 October 2012, the Live Longer! national conference provided opportunities to learn about inspiring health promotion activities being undertaken in Aboriginal communities around Australia. Meeting with passionate individuals working in a wide variety of areas in public health was a highlight of the conference, and many great new friendships and professional networks were formed. The Department of Health and Ageing invited two representatives from VACCHO’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Team to attend the conference as a part the Live Longer! campaign. Here we will share our reflections on this public health event that attracted 178 public health professionals across three days. A formal Welcome to Country by Elder Aunty Josie Agius commenced proceedings and set the scene for a conference where success stories in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health promotion initiatives would be shared and discussed. A keynote address by Dr Tom Calma, National Coordinator Tackling Indigenous Smoking, on day one saw the stressors 6
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affecting mortality of remote and non-remote communities highlighted, citing the death of family members and close friends as key stressors. Dr Calma further emphasised that governments (and their policies and procedures) provide the mechanisms for community members to be healthy and that we must ensure that projects we undertake are monitored and evaluated in their effectiveness to show that future funding is essential. Presentations covered a diverse range of public health topics, including nutrition, physical activity, tobacco, evaluation, program planning and social media. Three interactive breakout sessions during the conference were standout features of the program. These engaging presentations delivered by community members from around Australia showcased the innovative health promotion work they are undertaking in their communities. One of the breakout sessions we attended was presented by Gap Youth Centre (Alice Springs). The Gap Youth Centre’s GYC4 Lyfe campaign is aimed at permanent residents of Alice Springs and individuals living in town camps. A key aim of the campaign is to encourage the use of health services, ensuring active participation and local
relevance. Being active, eating healthy, embedding culture, and media are the four main elements of the project. Gap Youth Centre has developed a set of health promotion posters that were created by local young people. Young people were given a choice of fonts to use for the posters, as well as colour, design, and digital photographs of local community members. Secondary results of the project included the upskilling of young people through using software to make posters, taking photos and doing drawings as well as digitalising photos. A vibrant orange was used across the posters to link the pieces together, and Gap Youth Centre emphasized the importance of local faces to make messages relevant. Messages promoted included, Get a check-up, live longer; Strong culture, live longer; Get active, live longer; Strong family, live longer. A performance by Indigenous Hip Hop Projects (Warrum and other health projects) saw conference attendees up and dancing. Indigenous Hip Hop Projects visit young people in rural, regional and remote areas and run approximately 100 projects annually, reaching over 40,000 participants. Multiple community partners are engaged including schools and Aboriginal education officers, youth workers and community councils. This
Photo courtesy of the Department of Health and Ageing
high-energy physical exercise engages kids, employs local hip hop leaders and provides fresh fruit, healthy snacks and drinking water during school visits. Another engaging activity that conference attendees participated in was dancing with Yamba the Honey Ant. If you haven’t heard of Yamba before we encourage you to look him up! Yamba visited us twice during the conference and got all attendees showing off their groovy dance moves (hopefully the photos taken during Yamba’s performance never surface...). The conference provided plenty of opportunities to network with public health professionals from around Australia and share stories from diverse health promotion activities undertaken. We have been in contact with a number of individuals we met at the conference to share knowledge and health promotion resources.
We are certain that learning from projects and programs undertaken to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities nationally will strengthen and enhance the work we undertake in nutrition and physical activity at VACCHO. Thank you to Department of Health Australia and VACCHO for providing us with the opportunity to engage in such a significant public health event. A note from Catherine As a non-Aboriginal person I found this conference extremely valuable for the networking opportunities and contacts made with health professionals working at both Aboriginal and mainstream health organisations around Australia. Attending the conference alongside an experienced Aboriginal health professional was essential to forming these connections and providing me with opportunities
to network with workers from around Australia and share health promotion success stories. Lastly, we’d like to mention that the catering at the conference was healthy, tasty and enjoyed by all. Fruit smoothies, fresh seasonal fruit, pumpkin quiche, vegetable pastas and finger sandwiches made with multigrain bread, lean meats and salad were some of the delicious items provided. The food and drinks served at the conference venue demonstrated that nutritious catering can be fresh and tasty. Importantly, if we are to be serious about closing the gap in Aboriginal health disparities we need to be serious about food and nutrition when catering to our community. For further information about the Local Community Campaigns to Promote Better Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health visit http://livelonger.health.gov.au. VACCHO NEWS Summer 2013
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The GOANNA team at the Share the Spirit festival
Sexy GOANNA team shares the spirit
The VACCHO Sexy Team celebrated Share the Spirit festival and collected surveys on young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s sexual health as part of the national GOANNA study on Survival Day. 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 (STI’s) and blood borne viral infections among young Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people aged 16 to 29 years. GOANNA is part of a national survey that all NACCHO affiliates have participated in over the last three years. The data helps us establish an evidence base to support policies and programs, at a national and state level, that are aimed at the prevention of STIs in our young people. We collected over 120 surveys from young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the day. Everyone who participated in the survey got some deadly Koori flag sweatbands, temporary tattoos, fresh fruit, healthy fruit Hi my name is Kulan Barney and I’m the new Eye Health Project Officer for Victoria at VACCHO. I will be coming out to visit Aboriginal medical services and Aboriginal community controlled health
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slurpees and an entry to win a new iPad Mini. The winner was announced by Sexy health Team member Andrew Bamblett and his Aunty Shiralee Hood on stage. Congratulations to Savannah Motlop who won the iPad. The last GOANNA survey event will be at the Gippsland Koori Football and Netball carnival in March. Later on in the year the data will be released and shared with all ACCHOs to inform their work with young Kooris. For more info about GOANNA or sexual health, contact the VACCHO Sexy Health Team on 03 9411 9411. organisations in the near future This way I can meet all you mob, so keep an ‘eye’ out for me. If you have any questions please feel free to call me on 03 9411 9411or email me at kulanb@vaccho.com.au.
VACCHO Staff, the Country Place Kalorama
VACCHO staff in-service and visit to Worawa College VACCHO management and staff attended an in-service in early February at the Country Place in Kalorama, Yarra Valley in the Dandenong Ranges. Cultural sharing included a morning tour and lunch at Worawa College. A big thank you to the principal Aunty Lois Peeler for the gracious hospitality and information provided regarding Worawa College and the history of Coranderrk Mission.
Congratulations to the successful recipients of the Koori Community Safety Grants Program Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative Aboriginal Family Violence Harmony Project Mildura Aboriginal Corporation Family and Community Violence Prevention Project Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Strong Relationships, Strong Community Project Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association Strong Men, Strong Communities Project
Community grants programs are administered by the Koori Justice Unit (KJU) and funded through the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement (AJA) include: • Frontline Youth Initiatives Program (Frontline) • Community Initiatives Program (CIP) • Local Justice Worker Program • Koori Offender Support and Mentoring Program Koori Community Safety Grants are a Koori specific component
of a wider Reducing Violence Against Women and their Children Grants Program established under the Department’s Community Crime Prevention Program. The Koori Community Safety Grants Program will provide $2.4m over three years to community organisations to deliver innovative projects that reduce violence in Koori communities, and particularly reduce violence against Koori women and children. For further information please contact the Koori Justice Unit: 03 8684 1766. VACCHO NEWS Summer 2013
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Hon. Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Michelle Winters: Senior Aboriginal Liaison and Project Officer, St Vincent’s Hospital Photo courtesy Auspic
National Apology Day Canberra February 6 2013 St. Vincent’s Health Australia was one of many services to be invited to be part of the Reconciliation Australia event in Canberra. St. Vincent’s Health Australia is committed to supporting reconciliation and has developed their own Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) nation-wide. The Aboriginal Health Teams across St. Vincent’s Australia attended this event to witness the Prime Minister’s annual Close the Gap Speech.
Save the date VACCHO Quality Workshop 2013
VACCHO Quality Workshop 2013 will be held in Melbourne city on 21-22 May. The workshop will
incorporate themes relating to accreditation, continuous quality improvement, governance and risk management. The venue will be confirmed and further information will be distributed in upcoming months. We are
also seeking presenters and guest speakers from within the VACCHO membership. Please contact Yola at yolaf@vaccho. com.au at the Sector Quality Improvement Unit 03 9411 9411 to express your interest.
Home Energy Saver Scheme The Home Energy Saver Scheme (HESS) is a Commonwealth Government initiative aimed at assisting people to manage their energy bills. The Scheme is provided through a range of community-based organisations around Australia and can help by offering: 10
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Information about easy and affordable ways to use less energy in the home One-on-one budgeting assistance Information on whether you are getting the right rebates and assistance; Help to understand your energy bills and the energy market Advice, advocacy and
support Links to other services that may be able to assist you Help to access no or low interest loans to purchase energy efficient appliances
For more information you can call the HESS Helpline on 1800 007001, go to www. fahcsia.gov.au or call local contact Hayden Williams at hwilliams@kildonan.org.au
LOST YOUR SPOT ON THE TEAM
WHAT’S NEXT? Image credit
ICE TAKES EVERYTHING If you want help or information about ICE, quitting and staying clean, contact your local health care provider or Aboriginal community controlled health organisation. Directline is a 24 hour confidential help line that can help you quit and stay off ICE: 1800 888 236
VACCHO.ORG.AU
VACCHO Board of Directors Jason B. King: Chairperson Joanne Badke: Vice Chairperson Andrew Gardiner: Board Member
17-23 Sackville Street Collingwood VIC 3066
Karlene Dwyer: Board Member
P 03 9411 9411 F 03 9411 9599
Daphne Yarram: Board Member Rudolf Kirby: Board Member Marcus Clarke: Board Member
Don’t forget this is your newsletter and we need your stories and ideas.
E enquiries@vaccho.org.au
www.vaccho.org.au VACCHO NEWS Summer 2013
If you would like to give us story ideas or comment on our newsletter please contact our Communications Officer Robyn Bradley on 03 9411 9411 or on robynb@vaccho.com.au.
VACCHO Members • Aboriginal Community Elders Services
• Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation
• Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative
• Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-operative
• Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative
• Ngwala Willumbong Cooperative
• Budja Budja Aboriginal Co-operative
• Njernda Aboriginal Corporation
• Dandenong & District Aborigines Co-operative
• Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation
• Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service • Gippsland & East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative • Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative • Gunditjmara Aboriginal Co-operative • Kirrae Health Services Inc.
• Central Gippsland Aboriginal Health Services • Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd • Victorian Aboriginal Health Service • Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative • Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation
• Lake Tyers Health & Children’s Service
• Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place Association
• Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association
• Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service
• Mildura Aboriginal Corporation
• Healesville Indigenous Community Services Association
• Kerang Aboriginal Community Centre • Swan Hill & District Aboriginal Co-operative • Moogji Aboriginal Council East Gippsland Inc.
• Melbourne Aboriginal Youth Sport & Recreation Co-operative