Our People to Live Stronger & Longer

Month: November 2019

Oceania Conference – Making Tobacco Control a Priority

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

This year, the Oceania Tobacco Control Conference was hosted on Gadigal land in Sydney on the 22-24 October 2019. Held biennially, the Conference provided a unique opportunity for a ‘meeting of minds’, bringing together Tobacco Control Researchers, Advocates, Policy Makers and Program Administrators from Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island Nations.

The 2019 theme was ‘Making Tobacco Control a Priority’ and reflecting this drive for a renewed focus on the topic, the unofficial motto of the conference was ‘smoking is still the new smoking’, meaning that while other ‘new’ health problems might get more attention, smoking is still the leading cause of preventable disease in Australia”.

AH&MRC and the Cancer Council NSW provided 14 team members from ACCHSs with scholarships to attend the conference. This included staff from Galambila, Illawarra, Griffith, Bullinah, Redfern, Albury Wodonga, RivMed, Yerin, Griffith, Tobwabba and Waminda.

AH&MRC was this year’s Aboriginal Health Partner for the conference. AH&MRC contributed to an array of cultural elements throughout the Conference program including hosting the Gamarada Yarning Circles. Gamarada is a local Sydney word for friend and comrade. Lee Bradfield, Public Health Manager represented AH&MRC on a panel asking, “What has happened since the Statement by Indigenous people to the 2017 Oceania Tobacco Control Conference?’, including the research, policies and community controlled cessation programs to reduce smoking.

At the Gamarada Yarning Circles, conference participants met our local Aunties – Ali, Ann, Annette, Barb and Stephanie. Through the yarning circle with the Aunties, we learned and shared experiences of spiritual and cultural safety.

As part of the Gamarada Yarning Circles conference participants helped to develop a communal painting guided by Trevor Eastwood and Jason Douglas, Indigenous artists from Dalmarri.

There was a strong focus on Indigenous strategies to tackle smoking, and a highlight was Galambila’s powerful video on Tacking Indigenous Smoking presented by Connie Smith, which advocated for tobacco control from the perspective of children. Further afield in the Pacific, a New Zealand community was working on creating smoke-free spaces, which resulted in the local Maori community banning smoking at kids’ footy and in the car. Legislation was passed in Kiribati to prevent tobacco sales near schools. Speakers at the Conference also explored that for many communities, smoking is a result of colonisation and intergenerational stress and trauma and in some cases, tobacco was used as a form of ‘payment’ to Aboriginal people.

Passionate speakers from all over Oceania also shared their own projects and research relating to tobacco control, ranging from innovations in plain packaging, sales and retail restrictions, and the concept of the mythical “third rail” (the end of tobacco sales). Stronger support for tobacco control in hospital settings was raised, with the analogy to healthcare professionals being:

“If your patient had open wounds on their leg you wouldn’t ignore it, so why ignore smoking as a risk factor?”

A copy of the conference program which includes a strong focus on the experience of First Nations peoples is now available online.

Author – Nina Betts, AH&MRC Public Health Team

Katungul’s Wellbeing Centre – Healthy mind, body, spirit

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

On the 24th of September AH&MRC visited Katungul’s Bateman’s Bay Service to see their Social Wellbeing Centre in action. The Wellbeing Centre focuses on community-orientated programs which support Aboriginal people with or at risk of chronic illness, mental health, addiction and social isolation. The Centre recognises that community members have varying levels of physical fitness and encourage people to get active in whatever way they can.

Community members warm-up before the exercise group begins

While group members had their screenings done by a Medical Practitioner, AH&MRC were able to chat to one of the Centre’s Personal Trainers, Joe White. Joe mentioned that while the Wellbeing Centre’s Programs are designed for people to get active, it’s more about people having fun and finding a sense of community connection. Laughter is encouraged as one of the best forms of medicine.

Katungul’s Wellbeing Centre is holistic, focusing on social and emotional wellbeing as well as physical exercise. While chatting to group members it became clear that the main reason people keep coming back is because of the sense of community and connection the programs offers, exercise is an added benefit.

The group do some stretching and have a laugh while they go about it

The session started with people hopping onto the exercise mats. Before the exercise kicked off, everyone paid respects to the Stepsister of one of the members who had recently passed away. Cultural safety is recognised throughout all of the Centre’s programs which encourage community members to share stories, history, family connections and, at times, their grief as well. A minute of silence passed and Joe instructed everyone to start stretching. The mood began to lift, and silence was quickly replaced by laughter and chatter.

The session heats up with group members instructed to squat against a wall and pass a ball back and forth

Things quickly amped up when Joe instructed everyone to squat against a wall in a line and pass an exercise ball back and forth. At this point it became clear who was new to the group and who was a regular – a few people couldn’t handle the heat.

The exercise regime concluded and it was time for the group to discuss the Mini Olympics, with an opportunity to rehearse their nominated dance. For information on the Aunty Jean’s Mini Koori Olympics please click here.

The group rehearse their dance for the Mini Koori Olympics

Most of the Wellbeing Centres programs finish up with lunch provided by the Service. On our visit, the lunch was a healthy spread of wraps, chicken, salad, rice crackers and avocados. Everyone involved – community members, program organisers and AH&MRC alike – gathered in Katungul’s conference room next to the gym and had a yarn over lunch. In closing, it became clear that Katungul’s Wellbeing Centre Programs offer more than just an exercise regime, but instead the opportunity to be part of a community of friends brought together by the common goal of getting healthy.

AH&MRC would like to thank Katungul Staff, Southern NSW Local Health District, Katungul’s Personal Trainer Joe White and all the participants on the day for welcoming us into the Service and allowing us to take photos for the 2020 Members Calendar.

Author – AH&MRC Communications Team

Representing Your Health Your Future at the Aunty Jeans Koori Mini Olympics

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

The Aunty Jeans Program was originally founded by the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Aboriginal Chronic Care Unit, in memory of a well-respected local elder who was passionate about Aboriginal health, advocacy and culture.

The Aunty Jeans Program is a community orientated program to support Aboriginal people with/or at risk of chronic illness. The Program combines health promotion and health assessments, information and education, exercise sessions, healthy eating and fun activities.

Above from left (Illawarra) to right (Mungab) 

Above from left (Eden) to right (Eurobodalla)

The Aunty Jeans Program has spread far and wide across NSW. Every year the Program organisers bring together teams to compete in the Aunty Jeans Koori Olympics. This year teams from all around NSW faced off in games such as Kee’an (an Aboriginal throwing game traditionally using an animal bone), quoits, bullseye, frisbee, javelin and ten pin bowling.

In 2019 Aunty Jeans Koori Mini Olympics celebrated its 15th birthday and to mark the occasion organisers brought the event back to home soil. The event had an estimated attendance of 150 participants.

Above from left (NC Winnera) to right (Nowra)

Above from left (Yass Yar Crew) to right (Ulladulla)

Unfortunately, AH&MRC were not able to attend the Aunty Jeans Koori Mini Olympics that took place on Wednesday 23rd of October 2019, but we were there in spirit and are so glad that we were able to provide the participants with Your Health Your Future merchandise.

AH&MRC would like to extend our congratulations to the Coordinators of the event – ‘The Aboriginal Chronic Care Unit’, the participating teams; Illawarra flame tree, Eurobodalla diamonds, Yass Yarr crew, Mungabareena (Wodonga) Aunty Jeans, Eden Aunty Jeans, Ulladulla Aunty Jeans, Nowra Aunty Jeans and of course the 2019 winning team – Central Coast Aunty Jeans.

Authors – AH&MRC Public Health Team

The secret to The Glen Centre’s success

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

Tucked away near The Chittaway Point Trail, surrounded by wide open spaces and trees is The Glen Centre. The only male specific Central Coast Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre. The Glen is proud to take clients from all over NSW and Australia to help them on their road to recovery to eventually return to their families and community as active members.

I was introduced to Chris who led me on the tour of the Centre, with all the staff greeting me with a smile. With every introduction to a staff member, a story followed of their battle with addiction and how they came to The Glen and just never left.

What I cannot capture in words is the atmosphere, the tranquility. Chris led me to an area overlooking the veggie patch and beach volleyball area. “Close your eyes and breathe deeply with me” he said. Beyond the sound of the clients mowing the lawns and the genuine laughter of staff and clients, all I heard was the wind blowing through the trees and the sounds of birds I couldn’t name.

As I opened my eyes, I saw a kookaburra sitting on the volleyball net pole.

“That’s Cyril watching over us” Chris said.

Cyril Hennessy started The Glen in the early 90’s and the story is that he continues to watch over the place and the clients even today.

Kookaburra sitting near the beach netball area.

As I continued the tour, there was a story tied to every section of The Glen.

“The Glen Boys will always be here when we need them” Chris explained.

The clients who have been admitted into The Glen contribute to its foundations by building the house the doctor works in during appointments, the cement on the walkways and even the gym where a banner is proudly hung, with the hand-prints of the clients that build the space. The clients become part of The Glen, and teachings of The Glen become part of them.

The gym built by the clients of The Glen.

As we continued with the tour, I was able to really understand the purpose of the Centre. You can see it in the eyes of every person I walked past.

“It’s the family” Chris explained.

Addiction can be a result of isolation and loneliness and here at The Glen you are welcomed by a family. The staff are a family and the clients become a part of the family, all looking out for each other and all supporting each other through the program.

We made our way to the famous yarning circle of the Glen where most of the activities take place.

“The yarning circle is the heartbeat of The Glen.” said Chris.

The yarning circle. The centre of The Glen.

When a new client arrives, they are inducted here. The celebrations, meetings and even group counselling sessions are all held here.

Chris explained the significance of the circle and how everyone in the circle has a voice, there is no hierarchy. Everyone is on equal footing within the yarning circle.

I was fortunate to meet a few of the clients, some who have been here for 1 year, others who have been here for a few weeks. I was able to sit in the yarning circle during an induction with clients who had just arrived a day or so before. One of the staff; Lenny explained in detail the program and a range of activities clients participate in from volleyball to running, to work and chores. The rules are  simple: Zero tolerance to alcohol and drugs and causing any trouble. Lenny also explained the support network that is available to the new clients, there was even a peer support person present who was familiar with the program and was in the process of transitioning back into society.

The beach volleyball court built by the clients of The Glen.

After the tour, I had a great chat with Alex. He talked about the Glen’s success and how it is centered around the five key ingredients:

  1. An aligned purpose. This flows from the Board to the staff and then in turn to the clients.
  2. Passionate people. Everyone I spoke to loved coming into work and loved the work that they were doing.
  3. The place. The Glen being situated in a tranquil location that provides the perfect location for clients to reassess and reevaluate.
  4. Process. The Glen has a team of 13 staff that work with 35 clients. The processes must work to ensure the longevity of the Centre.
  5. Strong partnerships. The Glen has built some great relationships with the local community and corporates who are strong advocates for their work.

The holistic approach to health here is evident with a strong emphasis on resetting an individual’s mind, body and spirit. While saying goodbye to this place, I asked a client who had been at the Centre for 10 months: If the person he is today could meet the person he was when he arrived, what would you say to him?

“I’d say to trust the process and trust the program. I’d say to not be so scared, there are people here who care about you and will make you a better person.”

Author: Isobel Marasigan

AH&MRC Communications Team

UNICEF Youth Living with Drought Summit: The Impact of Drought Runs Deep

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

From the 9th – 11th of October AH&MRC attended the UNICEF Youth Living with Drought Summit 2019. Each day was an opportunity for young people from across NSW to discuss the impact that drought has had on their communities, families, and on themselves as individuals. The effects of drought are felt perhaps most strongly in Indigenous communities. Aboriginal youth are feeling disconnected from their culture as a result of the death of land and nature.

When health professionals discuss drought it is often in the context of physical health and in relation to issues such as respiratory illnesses, dehydration and malnutrition. However, the impact of drought can also severely impact people’s mental health, specifically young peoples mental health. In the age of social media, young people are inundated with catastrophic news about the irreversible effects of global warming. To counteract this, and provide young people with hope in the face of adversity, UNIFEC hosted the Youth Living with Drought Summit. The Summit provided young people with an opportunity to voice their concerns about drought and brainstorm collaborative solutions.

Over the course of the three days, the group of 88 young people was broken off into smaller groups. This gave young people a comfortable setting to reflect and debrief on their mental health and how it had been affected by drought. It also gave young people an opportunity to share self-care strategies to handle the effects of drought.

Multiple Aboriginal young people (14-24) attended the conference and their voices were strong fierce, and most importantly heard.

‘’How the drought has impacted. Reliance on bore water makes Kidney problems worse and makes Dialysis IMPOSSIBLE’’.

‘’Multiple algae blooms and mass fish kills = Death of rivers, Death of rivers = Death of Sacred trees Death of trees = death of rites, rituals and DEATH OF CULTURE-Impossible to practice culture!’’

Overall, there was great initiative and leadership skills from each and every-one of the young people that attended the Summit, with powerful recommendations such as:

  • Water restrictions should be made in non-drought affected places, such as Sydney.
  • An agreement should be established between the NSW government, Aboriginal communities, elders and young people on water management.
  • Young people should be involved in formal decision-making, given access to relevant state and federal ministers, and be employed as Youth Liaison Officers.
  • Better mental health services, including mental health nurses and access to psychiatrists in every regional hospital, billed through Medicare.
  • Drought employment scheme to ease the “extreme financial stress” felt by their families and communities.

Our leaders of the future are making noise about the things that they want to change – and they are persistent.

‘We must ask, what, in concrete terms, was done in the meantime? What policy, what strategies, what water infrastructure? Unless we commit to long-term action, we will be having this conversation over and over and over again.” – Tameka O’Donnell, Barkindji Woman of Far Western NSW.

Authors – AH&MRC Public Health Team