Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service celebrate 21 years!
news Winter 2015
Dhauwurd Wurrung Crew gettin’ serious
behalf of Uncle Claude Lovett
Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly
and Community Health Service
(Dhauwurd Wurrung) celebrated their 21st anniversary during
as a founding member •
Family on behalf of Aunty Ruth
NAIDOC Week at the Portland
King-Smith and Uncle Alan
Football Netball Cricket Club.
Genelg Shire mayor Robert Halliday
Aunty Christine Pearce and
Smith as founding members •
Aunty Belinda Williams, Aunty
and Dhauwurd Wurrung CEO Mo
Gemma (Francis) Williams and
Connolly-Pitman presented Aunty
Aunty Debbie Williams and
Hilary Saunders with a plaque
Family on behalf of Aunty Amy
recognising her contribution as
Saunders as a founding member
Chairperson of the Board. Amongst the celebrations and awards, six
•
on behalf of Aunty Rita (Bess)
plaques in total acknowledged and were presented to: •
•
Uncle Jim (Brian) and Family Wilson as a founding member
•
Aunty Hilary Saunders (pictured
Aunty Euphemia, Uncle Tommy
right) Chairperson on behalf of
Day and Family on behalf of
the Board of Management: Denis
Aunty Iris Lovett-Gardiner as a
Rose, Greg Pearce, Richard
founding member
Frankland, Amelia Lovett.
Aunty Lyn Lovett and Family on
CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE
Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc. VACCHO is the peak body for Aboriginal Health in Victoria.
Vibrant, healthy, selfdetermining Aboriginal communities
FROM PAGE ONE
Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service (Dhauwurd Wurrung) history: Statement from Aunty Christine Pearce
As the place grew we were able to get our own second office based in Malseed Street Dutton Way which was thirteen kilometres from Portland Post Office.
Way back in the early 90’s, the Gunditjmara Elders of Portland, decided it was time that they had a culturally appropriate Health Service and Aged Care Facility in Portland. This way the Elders wouldn’t have to travel to Melbourne for treatment when ill. Many of the Elders were ill at the time.
By this time, dad had applied for the first Home and Community Care (HACC) Coordinator position and we had employed a Manager. The only drawback was that the community couldn’t always access the place when needed, as most of them didn’t own their own cars. Nor did we have funding to buy a bus at that time.
Mum, Ruth Smith and my step father Alan Smith got together with Aunty Iris Lovett whom had a big part in the building of Aboriginal Community Elders Services (ACES) in Melbourne, as well as Aunty Rita Wilson, Uncle Jim Wilson, Aunty Euphemia Day, Uncle Tommy Day and others. They all wanted something like ACES in the Portland area.
Once again, they approached the applicable people and were able to move camp to a little house in the middle of the shopping centre of Portland, which has since been pulled down and Target built in its place. Dhauwurd Wurrung wasn’t there all that long, as our office was broken into serveral times. Our next office was in the Pioneer Plaza.
Finally after talking with a lot of official funding bodies, Dhurwurd Wurrung Elderly Citizens was born. The first office was in mum’s spare room. I remember we used to use dad’s lawn mower and trailer, pulled by his car. I think the first lot of funding was to the tune of $280 thousand then followed by more, thank goodness.
VACCHO newsletters are also available to view online at www.vaccho.org. au/news-media/nl
During this time, talks with Portland Council had begun. They gave us back the old Portland High School grounds where we built our beautiful building. Alas by this time mum and dad had passed away along with other Elders of the time. The new building has seen many worker and community faces pass through the doors to make it what it is today. The future is looking healthy for Indigenous communities of the Portland surrounding areas with Dhauwurd Wurrung going forward in leaps and bounds. Currently there are skilled and qualified health staff able to serve the community. The buildings are growing which has enabled our health service to grow and to hire and train culturally appropriate staff. On a last note, I would like to thank the Elders of the past and the present for their want of a better way of life and care for the Indigenous peoples in the South Western area of Victoria. From the new Dhauwurd Wurrung website www.dwech.com.au
Contents
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01 Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service celebrate 21 years! 03 Addressing sexually transmissible infections and sexual health among youth - ILBIJERRI’s latest play, North West of Nowhere 04 Consumer Directed Care: Developing Training for Workers 05 FeltmumTM has arrived 06 NAIDOC March Melbourne 2015 08 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day VACCHO NEWS Autumn 2013
08 Yarnin‘ Health wins Best Produced Awareness Program 09 The Victorian Aboriginal Children’s Summit 09 Strong Boorais, Bright Futures: keeping healthy during pregnancy 10 Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme 10 Cultural Safety Training: Enrol Now 11 Around the traps
Addressing sexually transmissible infections and sexual health among youth ILBIJERRI’s latest play, North West of Nowhere Top 3 facts on Chlamydia
1 Chlamydia is the North West of Nowhere is the third play in a series of award winning health education shows produced by ILBIJERRI Theatre Company, Chopped Liver and Body Armour. VACCHO interviewed the writer of the play, Kamarra Bell-Wykes during the SEXrurality conference (Rural Sexual Health Conference - CERSH) in Bendigo while the play was on tour at high schools and prisons across Victoria. “This show in particular is looking at safe and respectful sexual relationships, particularly negotiating safe sex. Chlamydia is a big thing that we needed to address because of the really high rates of chlamydia amongst young Koori people in Victoria” said Kamarra Bell-Wykes. The performance takes the audience on a journey through identity, sexuality, challenges stereotypes and turns the focus back on respectful relationships. This being the key message to young people, who are experiencing complex feelings around sexuality and connections to culture, spirituality, friendships and family. In developing the plot, Kamarra said “We came up with the story first and then brought the issues in through who the
most common STI in Aboriginal and nonAboriginal young people aged 15 - 29 years.
2 Most people don’t
have any symptoms. You can’t tell if your partner ‘looks clean’.
3 Chlamydia is easy to
test, easy to treat! Did you know that a simple urine test is the easiest way to have a chlamydia test? Treatment is a simple antibiotic.
characters were and I suppose by choosing these characters, we felt that it represented a good cross section of Aboriginal youth. Young people get that we need to practice safe sex and that if you don’t you are at risk of pregnancy or sexually transmissible infections, but what they are not getting is strength and confidence in themselves to be able to ask people to respect their bodies, look after their bodies and to look after each other”. With only three actors and four characters, the play speeds past within forty-five minutes
and ends by emphasising the need on building respectful relationships and confidence among our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander youth this being the key message to changing behaviours around practicing safe sex. Discussions took place after each play so that the audience, who were mainly young people, could ask questions to a health worker. In this interview we asked Kamarra to end on a deadly quote. “Respect yourself, love yourself and if it’s not on, ITS not on!” Listen to more of this interview at www.vaccho.org.au/newsmedia/yhr/episodes-2015/ For more information contact VACCHO’s Sexual Health Coordinator, Kat Byron on 03 9411 9411. Download and check out the following sexual health resources: www.vaccho.org.au/resources/sh/ www.northwestofnowhere.net. au/student-resources/ Performance at Thornbury High. Image courtesy of ILBIJERRI and Brent Edwards (photographer) North West of Nowhere is a result of an ongoing partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services, Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health (CERSH) and VACCHO who supported ILBIJERRI to develop the play, primarily intended to bring awareness on the current high rates of STIs and Chlamydia in young people and specifically young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
VACCHO NEWS Winter 2015
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Consumer Directed Care Developing Training for Workers
HACC workers learning about the coming changes in Victorian Aged Care
Our Aboriginal elderly across the state depend upon aged care workers to give them an understanding of the best services there is to offer: they depend upon workers to know and keep abreast with all changes that are happening in aged care services. On 2 June, VACCHO in partnership with the Council Of The Aged (COTA) and the staff from the Choices in Aged Care project, held a one-day workshop at the Aboriginal Community Elders Services (ACES) in Melbourne titled, Consumer Directed Care – Developing Training for Workers which addressed the changes in aged care. The Workshop
New report Rethinking Cancer, Raising Hope
was designed for those who work with Aboriginal elderly people across the state and was well attended by aged care workers employed by Aboriginal Community organisations, three Local Government areas in Melbourne and a mainstream aged care assessment agency. Workers were able to understand their role better in the new system as it will also assist the elderly to understand the new Consumer Directed Care (CDC) aged care package they need that will take the place in the current Home And Community Care (HACC) and Community Aged Cared Packages (CACP) services.
resources and also provided information on the development of future workshops to be carried out across the state. In particular, this workshop provided feedback on the relevance of certain training units and how that might apply when working with Aboriginal Elders and their families. Such training and feedback empowers workers with information that will be crucial to Aboriginal communities, particularly as the various changes in aged care come into force over the next three years.
The Workshop assisted the CHOICES research project with evaluating their training
Contact Margaret Clarke, VCAACD Training and Support Officer 03 9411 9411
The report covers the insights, experiences and recommendations arising from Victoria’s first State of Knowledge on Cancer roundtable for Aboriginal communities. The forum was convened in 2014 by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit. To download a copy of the report go to www.onemda.unimelb. edu.au/rethinking-cancer-raisinghope-0.
Feltmum has arrived TM
Story by Dr Martin Plowman, Aboriginal and Cultural Diversity Program - Diabetes Victoria Maybe you’ve heard of Feltman , the award winning diabetes education tool developed by Diabetes Victoria and VACCHO. Well, the FeltmanTM family just got bigger with the arrival of FeltmumTM, a diabetes in pregnancy add-on kit for FeltmanTM. TM
FeltmanTM was launched nationally in 2010. Since then over 600 FeltmanTM kits have been taken up by Aboriginal health services around the country. FeltmanTM was made for talking about all types of diabetes, but when people in the community said they wanted to know more about diabetes in pregnancy, we decided it was time to update FeltmanTM. Overall, people in the Aboriginal community have 3-4 times the risk of type 2 diabetes compared to the national average. Gestational diabetes is another form of diabetes which some women have during pregnancy, but usually goes away after the baby is born. Up to a quarter of Aboriginal women will have gestational diabetes during pregnancy, which is two to three times the rate of non-Aboriginal women. Women who already have type 1 or type 2 diabetes also need special support before and during pregnancy. FeltmumTM was designed to address these health gaps experienced by the Aboriginal community. The Feltmum kit covers: • How to reduce the risk and impact of diabetes in pregnancy • How gestational diabetes works, and • How pregnant women with diabetes and their babies can stay healthy.
Each FeltmumTM kit includes: • A felt baby, wig and uterine artery • A set of 21 stick-on prompt cards • A set of stick-on discs and keys showing glucose, insulin and pregnancy hormones • A FeltmumTM Key Messages booklet • A USB stick loaded with the FeltmumTM Instructional Video (the training video is also available online on Diabetes Victoria’s YouTube channel. The FeltmumTM add-on will be made available to health organisations in Victoria who work with Aboriginal women during pregnancy. A national rollout is in the works, and dates will be announced once this is confirmed. Other eligibility criteria for receiving a FeltmumTM kit are covered in an expression of interest form, which can be requested by contacting Colin Mitchell at cmitchell@diabetesvic. org.au. For more information about diabetes in pregnancy, contact the Diabetes Helpline at Diabetes Victoria on 1300 136 588 or the Koorie Infoline on 1300 KOORIE (1300 566 743) If your organisation is interested in receiving a Feltmum™ add-on, please complete an expression of interest form, which can be accessed online for Victorians at www. surveymonkey.com/r/FeltmumEOIVic, or for interstate organisations go to www. surveymonkey.com/r/FeltmumEOIinterstate If you have any questions, please contact our Aboriginal Liason Officer, Colin Mitchell at cmitchell@diabetesvic.org.au.
VACCHO NEWS Winter 2015
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NAIDOC March Melbourne 2015
VACCHO NEWS Winter 2015
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Yarnin’ Health wins Best Produced Awareness Program Story by Yarnin’ Health Radio Programme Project Officer, Dylan Clarke
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day Little People, Big Futures On 4 August, Essendon Football club in partnership with Secretariat National Aboriginal Islander Child Care (SNAICC), held an event for Children’s Day. They hosted Yappera and Bubup Wilam, two Aboriginal child care centres in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. Essendon football player, Courtenay Dempsey celebrated his role as the SNAICC 2015 Ambassador for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day. Dempsey said he was honoured to be an ambassador for such an important occasion, “I’m proud to be helping our kids stand tall and feel connected and proud in our culture.” CEO of Bubup Wilam, Lisa Thorpe spoke of the importance for all Aboriginal children in attendance to grow up culturally strong. She also wanted to celebrate as it was the first time Yappera and Bubup Wilam came together for an event.
Dempsey, with the help of fellow teammates Jake Long and Connor McKenna hosted a skills clinic with more than 50 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children between the ages of 3 and 6 years at the True Value Solar Centre in Essendon. After lots of fun activities and a huge game of duck duck goose on the basketball court, the children all enjoyed a delicious healthy lunch together, before heading back on the bus. This year marks the 28th annual celebration of the day, which recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and celebrates the culture of their children. Listen to the interview with CEO of Bubup Wilam, Lisa Thorpe, on Yarnin’ Health at www.vaccho.org. au/news-media/yhr/ episodes-2015/. Watch the video with Courtenay Dempsey here: http:// aboriginalchildrensday. com.au/2015/courtenaytalks-childrens-day-innew-video-series/.
Hey you mob! During NAIDOC Week 2015, VACCHO’s Yarnin’ Health Program was awarded the Best Produced Awareness Program from the South Eastern Indigenous Media Association (SEIMA) at the first ever SEIMA/3KND Open Day and Awards Ceremony. As host and producer of Yarnin’ Health, I extend a warm-hearted thank you to all our Members, partner organisations and community members as Yarnin’ Health celebrates our award and our first full year on the air with 3KND Kool N Deadly. Yarnin’ Health is a powerhouse with the aim of reducing harm in communities, sharing information and knowledge and giving our communities a voice. Yarnin’ Health is the only radio show that focuses entirely on Aboriginal health and wellbeing in Victoria, a great platform to voice opinions and yarn about what’s happening in community. Over the past year I’ve had so many opportunities to meet with mobs from all over Victoria, Australia and the world visiting some beautiful countries. I’m very thankful to all who have welcomed me and I hope to explore with you, more areas in health that we are yet to cover. Stream at www.vaccho.org.au/newsmedia/yhr/ and www.3knd.org.au or tune in on 1503AM Wednesdays 4-6pm. Keep yarnin’ health and sharing the good word. If you want your voice to be heard or know a deadly story contact me on dylanc@vaccho.org.au or call VACCHO on 03 9411 9411. Nukkin Ya’s
The Victorian Aboriginal Children’s Summit August 2015
A historic two-day summit was held with key Aboriginal leaders, Government, and community sector agencies to address the unacceptable overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in out of home care. The focus of the Summit was shaping an ongoing Aboriginal Children’s Forum for Victoria that will meet on a quarterly basis. The Summit was convened by the Hon Jenny Mikakos MP, Minister for Families and Children. The Minister said the issue of overrepresentation of Aboriginal children is a priority for her. Representatives from the Victorian Aboriginal Children and Young People’s Alliance (The Alliance: 13 ACCOs in Victoria) were in attendance, where Strategic Priority One of Strong Families, Thriving Children: The Victorian Aboriginal Children and Young People’s Alliance Strategic Plan 2015-2018, was realised. The strategic plan proposes a range of systemic and policy changes that can be discussed, actioned and implemented through the new Aboriginal Children’s Forum. The Summit reflected a strong commitment from the Victorian Government to working with Victoria’s Aboriginal leaders and communities to enact the key principles of Aboriginal self-
Co-Chairs Minister Mikakos and Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett with participants of the inaugural Aboriginal Children’s Summit in August, including the Victorian Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, respected Aboriginal leaders from across the sector, CSO representatives, and senior staff from the Department of Health and Human Services.
determination. It is expected that in the first year the Forum will strengthen the participation of Aboriginal people in the development of policies, strategies and practices to drive the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people in, or at risk of, coming into out of home care. Chair of the Alliance, Ms Karen Heap, said “the new Forum would provide for a positive approach and strong Aboriginal voice for children in out of home care across our diverse sectors”. We also recognise the crucial role ACCHOs, community service organisations and the Department play in looking after Aboriginal children in out of home care”. The future forums will be co-chaired by Minister Mikakos and an Alliance Member. The Alliance Members openly welcome the current and significant reform into out of home care and early childhood and look forward to progressing the reform, creating culturally safe and culturally connected Aboriginal children. For further information go to www.vaccho. org.au/policy-advocacy/vacypa/ or contact Dana Pyne, Senior Policy Officer on danap@ vaccho.org.au or 03 9411 9411.
Strong Boorais, Bright Futures: keeping healthy during pregnancy A new DVD resource has been created between the Australian Drug Foundation and VACCHO. The DVD is available now for health professionals and community members to share information on the various types of help available for reducing
and stopping the use of alcohol, smoking and other drugs before, during and after pregnancy. You can view the video online at http://www.vaccho.org.au/ resources/kms/dvds.
VACCHO NEWS Winter 2015
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Cultural Safety Training Enrol Now
PUGGY HUNTER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme (PHMSS) provides scholarship support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people studying or intending to study a health related course. Courses include: Aboriginal health work, allied health, dentistry/ oral health, medicine, midwifery or nursing. Applications close 12 October 2015. Apply via www.acn.edu.au/ phmss. For further information email scholarships@acn. edu.au or call 1800 688 628. PHMSS is funded by the Australian Government and administered by Australian College of Nursing.
Cultural Safety Training
Course Info
Cultural safety is about providing quality services that fit within the familiar cultural values and norms of the person accessing the service. This course enhances employees capacity to improve program policy design and delivery of culturally safe services to Aboriginal peoples.
Collingwood 6 October Collingwood 2 December 10.00am - 2.30pm Cost: $250 plus GST
Cultural Safety Training
Course Info
Free courses for the AOD sector workforce
Bendigo 21 October Ballarat 11 November 9.15am - 4.45pm Cost: FREE
This workshop is tailored to address the needs of the various roles within the AOD workforce, including care and recovery coordination, counselling, residential, nonresidential withdrawal and intake and assessment. Youth Mental Health First Aid
Course Info
This course teaches members of the public how to assist adolescents developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional treatment is received or until the crisis resolves.
Collingwood 13 - 14 October 9.15am - 4.45pm Cost: $450 plus GST Attendance is required on both days.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid
Course Info
This course teaches members of the public how to assist Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples who are developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. Mental health first aid is given until appropriate professional treatment is received or until the crisis resolves.
Collingwood 24 - 25 November 9.15am - 4.45pm Cost: $450 plus GST Attendance is required on both days.
For more information or to enrol go to www.vaccho.org. au/consultancy or email cstenquiries@vaccho.org.au.
Deidre King (CEO of ACES), Muriel Bamblett (CEO of VACCA) and Philip Cooper (VACSAL)
Jill Gallagher AO and Pat Ockwell (ACES Board)
NAIDOC Breakfast at ACES
NAIDOC Breakfast at ACES
Syd Jackson and Muriel Bamblett
Around the traps Follow us on
Fay Carter
Mr and Ms NAIDOC Edward Bryant and MonicaCEO McDonald Jill Gallagher AO, VACCHO
VACCHO NEWS Winter 2015
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VACCHO Board Members Jason B. King: Chairperson Marcus Clarke: Vice Chairperson Andrew Gardiner: Board Member Hilary Saunders: Board Member Suzie Squires: Board Member Kevin Williams: 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
www.vaccho.org.au Follow us on
Kelli Bartlett: Board Member
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 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 Winter 2015
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