Our People to Live Stronger & Longer

Month: May 2020

Awabakal AMS Tackling Smoking During COVID-19

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

COVID -19 certainly provided some challenges in the delivery of our programs and services. As more social distancing restrictions came into place to stop the spread of COVID-19, the more innovative we became in looking for ways to ensure our Community’s needs were met both medically and emotionally.

We thought about what had to change to stay open and keep our frontline healthcare workers and Community safe. Phone consultations and telehealth helped in providing our medical services, and local rapid response funds helped ensure our elderly, chronically ill and vulnerable people were able to access food and hygiene packs. Education and messages were provided for community to stay informed and safe.

Our transport team, and workers from some of our face to face community programs were redeployed to assist our GPs and other Awabakal staff to get medication to clients in need. This included Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) to help Community members to quit. These staff helped fax scripts to chemists and did door drops at people’s homes,  ensuring that social distancing was still being adhered to, while meeting community needs!

The TIS (Tackling Indigenous Smoking) Program moved to online engagement and education during COVID-19.  Many smokers had concerns over their susceptibility to respiratory illnesses, and existing ailments caused through smoking.  Smoking assessments completed by GPs, AHPs and the TIS team by telehealth provided options and alternatives.

Community members contacted us to seek help and access our Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products that are known to assist in reducing cravings and the overall process of quitting. Our drivers delivered the NRT when required and the TIS team, GPs and clinic staff all embraced the opportunity to encourage people to start their quit journey.

Thank you Team Awabakal for being resilient and adaptable in difficult times to help support our communities to quit smoking. This includes helping with deliveries that provided encouragement, support and physical resources (NRT and Quit Kit deliveries) for those wanting to make a better choice.

Changing the ways we work at Awabakal, has helped people to access what they need, provided ongoing work for staff to sustain their incomes, and provided an opportunity to visit and check-in on our Community and clients.

Author – Tori Johnson, Awabakal Community Relations Manager

SCMSAC Helps Local Communities to Quit Smoking through Indigenous Smoking Program

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

The Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) Team at the South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation (SCMSAC) works to promote the harms and risks of smoking in 13 Aboriginal Communities from Gerroa on the South Coast to the Victorian boarder.

Darryll Farrell supports the dedicated team and oversees the comprehensive program that helps people to quit smoking and find good health.

The comprehensive program offers, face to face counselling, support groups, follow up contacts, CO readings, school educations sessions, brief interventions, walking and exercise groups, and free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

Project Officer Thomas Berry travels every fortnight down the South Coast to run the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program, while Mikayla Henry services the Shoalhaven and supports the delivery of the program in the Far South Coast.

Some deadly Ambassadors promote the program as well – Shak Tungai and Dylan Farrell. Community Champions Uncle James Stewart (Uncle Bim) and Aunty Colleen Dixon are integral to the program also, supporting the program by spreading the messages in their communities and providing feedback about the needs of Community.

SCMSAC secured funding from the Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council, and Cancer Institute NSW to provide free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

In the last twelve months we have expanded access to NRT through our 3 clinics – the Jane Ardler Centre, Wreck Bay and Jerrinja clinics. We work in partnership with local pharmacies to make it easy for our clients to access NRT.” Said Thomas Berry.

Community members attending clinics receive a voucher for two weeks’ supply of NRT. Clients redeem their vouchers at any of the partner pharmacies and start their quit journey. This process has created more of an influx of smokers wanting to quit because the support is easily accessible and there is no cost involved for the client.

“We have found that having the funding to provide NRT to Community Members on the spot has helped us close the gap. More Community Members are coming forward to start their quit journey due to the free NRT products that we have been funded to give them,” said Darryll Farrell.

The team closely monitors where NRT is being used and distributed to gauge the impact of the program and identify opportunities to support other community members. The team has also developed their own resources to give Communities a better understanding on how to use NRT, what it does and the harms and risks of smoking.

“Our resources feature local Aboriginal Community Members, children and local landscapes. We know people respond well and want to learn more when they know this information and program is locally created, especially for them.” Said Mikayla Henry

“We play a big role in local Communities. It’s not just about the program, it’s about creating strong relationships with Communities to deliver great health outcomes and help people on their quit journey,” said Darryll Farrell.

Author – SCMSAC Team

WAMS changing the way we do business

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

Staff at Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (WAMS) are on the frontline, helping to protect the local Walgett community from COVID-19 since late January. They have been working very closely with other local agencies in the town to prevent the spread of the virus. This has not come at a cost to the local community or WAMS itself due to the closure of some chronic disease programs and dental services.

Mrs Christine Corby, CEO of WAMS, said “My staff have done a wonderful job under extremely difficult circumstances to ensure the community have access to quality health care.  We have had to make a few adjustments to our daily operations. Staff have been allocated tasks that are not part of their general routine”.

“Staff have been doing regular welfare checks and delivering food and medicine to our most vulnerable clients. This is an activity that WAMS does not normally provide to the community, but we have had to modify our operation to best support community in a time of need” Mrs Corby said.

It is now the beginning of the cooler months and the flu season. WAMS are currently rolling out the 2020 flu vaccination and encourage those who are pregnant, 65 years above with a chronic disease and/or of Aboriginal descent aged 6 months or over, to have their annual flu vaccine. The flu vaccine does not prevent COVID-19 but does protect against influenza which claimed 430 lives and 217 000 hospitalisations last year. Mrs Corby strongly encourages everyone to make an appointment to get their flu vaccine this year.

Author – Jo Coleman, The Spectator

National Sorry Day & Reconciliation Week 2020

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

On National Sorry Day, May 26, we remember the Stolen Generations whose lives were devastated by past Government policies and practices to forcibly remove Indigenous children them from their families and Communities in the name of assimilation until 1969. This day acknowledges and signals deep regret at the impacts these past policies had and continue to have on the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Communities today.

This is also a day of healing. It gives Australians the chance to come together to share their remorse, compassion, and commitment towards healing for the Stolen Generations, their families, and Communities. We still have a lot to do – to address the impact, suffering and grief still felt by Indigenous people every day.

Australia’s former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd’s National Apology made on February 13, 2008 to the Stolen Generations was a small step to acknowledge the trauma caused to Indigenous Australians for the Stolen Generation. It included a policy to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and is seen by many as a step forward in Reconciliation.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) on May 27 – June 3 is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

This year’s theme #inthistogether reinforces the individual role we each have within our organisation and Communities to bridge the gap and help continue to shape a better future for all Australians. To get involved in this year’s NRW events visit the nrw.reconciliation.org.au for more information, and be part of the journey towards a fairer and more just Australia.

Robert Skeen, CEO AH&MRC said: “By working together we can close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Every Australian deserves access to high-quality healthcare, education and equal opportunities to reach their full potential, regardless of their backgrounds or where they may live.”

If you need any support on National Sorry Day, you may like to get in touch with a Bringing them Home (BTH) Worker or Social Emotional and Well-being (SEWB) Worker at your local Health Service, a counselling service or talk with a trusted friend or family member.

Counselling and support services for Stolen Generations Survivors and Descendants:

For further details please contact AH&MRC by phone on 02 9212 4777 or email on ahmrc@ahmrc.org.au.

BHP Vital Resources Fund gives $3.3 million for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

BHP’s Vital Resources Fund will provide more than $3.3 million (AUD) in funding to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander controlled community health services across Australia, as part of new partnerships established to support communities through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding will support peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health councils and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical services to continue to support and deliver high quality and comprehensive primary health care services, distribute supplies and inform communities on how to minimise the spread of COVID-19 and keep their communities safe.

AH&MRC’s CEO Robert Skeen said: “This is not business as usual and we need to do more to support access to equitable healthcare for Aboriginal Communities. This funding will help Aboriginal Medical Services in NSW have the resources they need to operate and continue to work through these challenging times, as they deliver primary comprehensive health care to Communities.

We want to take this opportunity to thank BHP for establishing the Vital Resources Fund and new partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. We appreciate their support, as we support our Member Services to respond to the impacts of COVID-19, and keep Aboriginal people safe, and healthy.”

BHP’s Acting President Operations Minerals Australia Edgar Basto said: “BHP is proud to support the vital work of the Indigenous-led health sector with funds to address the needs identified by Indigenous peoples. BHP is determined to play our part in the collective response to COVID-19, and a critical area is how we support our regional and remote Aboriginal communities at this challenging time.”

The $50 million Vital Resources Fund was established last month to support regional health services and providers, community organisations, Aboriginal communities and local businesses deal with the impacts of COVID-19.

For further details please contact AH&MRC by phone on 02 9212 4777 or email on ahmrc@ahmrc.org.au.