On the 26th of July, the collaborative meeting between Ear Health AH&MRC and RDN was a privilege as they had the opportunity to meet with CEO Kayleen Brown and Executive Director to CEO Marsha File. The meeting revolved around discussing the comprehensive scope of Katungul’s clinical service locations in Batemans Bay, Bega, and Narooma. The focus was on accessing specialist services, establishing strong collaboration with the local health district, and ensuring availability of ENT services/resources and ear health training. During the meeting, the Executive Director made a significant remark, stating, “The positive outcomes resulting from the impacts of COVID have brought together local services and fostered stronger relationships, enabling us to work together for the betterment of our local communities.”
Additionally, Katungul is actively involved in the Listen and Learning in Aboriginal Children (LiLAC) research project, which runs parallel to the Improving Care Pathways for Otitis Media (OM) in Aboriginal children project. Through this participation, they provide access to speech pathology and occupational therapy services for children experiencing hearing loss due to OM.
Katungul is seeking further support in terms of continuity of care and access to hearing health specialist services. Despite numerous challenges and environmental factors, Katungul maintains a shared vision and recognizes the urgent need to expand their clinical facilities to accommodate visiting specialist services. The team expresses gratitude to Kayleen and Marsha for their valuable time spent in the meeting, overseeing the internal services provided. This engagement has enhanced their knowledge and understanding of the overall operational perspective, contributing to the holistic quality of care provided to Ear health programs and teams in collaboration with AH&MRC and RDN.
AH&MRC hosted the annual Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) State Forum on the 24th & 25th of May 2023.
This gathering provided an exciting opportunity for ACCHS staff to learn and discuss how ACCHSs can incorporate CQI processes and procedures into their normal practice and service delivery. This year’s theme was ‘Enhancing Operations’.
30 Member Services from all over the state attended, our highest attendance in 3 years!
We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the AH&MRC staff for organising and executing this remarkable event. A special appreciation goes to all the individuals who contributed their time and effort to make the day a success.
Thanks also to our sponsors ICTx, Medilogic, The Benchmarque Group, Lowitja Institute, ACI and HappyWay promotions ____________________________________________________________________________________
Congratulations to all AH&MRC CQI State Forum 2023 recipients of awards and awardees –
Emerging Talent Award – Joseph Gordon from the Brewarrina Aboriginal Medical Service Digital Innovation Award – Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Community & Medical Services Staff Member of the Year Award – Jade Hansen from the Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service Quality Organisation of the Year Award – Waminda – South Coast Women’s Health & Welfare Aboriginal Corp. Quality Team of the Year Award – Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service Sustainability Impact Award – Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Outstanding Contribution to Quality Management Practice Award in the following areas – Admin: Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Corporation Data: Galambila Aboriginal Health Service Clinics: Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service Programs: Yoorana Gunya Family Healing Centre Aboriginal Corporation
Recently, Mafi Kailahi, the Ear & Eye Health Programs Officer from AH&MRC, and Rebecca Stone, the Outreach Project Officer from Rural Doctors Network (RDN), conducted site visits to various locations. These included Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service (TAMS), Werin Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre, and Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service. During the visits, they met with the Practice Managers and clinical teams to discuss Ear Health Initiatives.
The discussions covered a range of topics, including internal mapping of Ear Health services and programs, identifying gaps and barriers in the community’s access to quality ear health care, and exploring the services provided through RDN’s outreach services. They also discussed upcoming training opportunities, such as an Ear Irrigation workshop with the Benchmarque group on July 24th. Expressions of Interest (EOI) details for the workshop will be shared soon, and efforts were made to provide more localized training opportunities for clinical staff, Aboriginal Health Practitioners (AHPs), and Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs).
The discussions also touched upon community events, such as TAMS Cultural Day, where support was provided for conducting ear health screening checks and sharing relevant resources. Additionally, there was a focus on providing Ear Health equipment to members who have received ear health training. The Practice Managers and clinical staff expressed their commitment to prioritizing Ear Health within the community and their interest in upskilling the workforce, potentially through opportunities like the Cert IV in Audiometry offered by TAFE NSW.
The visit to Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service (TAMS) took place on Monday, March 29th, while the visits to Werin Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre and Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service occurred on Thursday, June 8th, 2023.
The 2023 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference (NATSIEHC23) was held on Dharug Country in Western Sydney from 24th – 26th May.
The conference theme ‘Our Vision in Our Hands: Finding Our Voice’ sought to highlight emerging and future First Nations leaders of the sector, while also resonating the strength and values of the longstanding movement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination in health, and the broader current national movement to enshrine First Nations Voice to parliament.
NATSIEHC23 was the seventh annual, national conference and aimed to build on the collective work of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector to improve eye health access and outcomes for First Nations Australians. The conference was led by the National Expert Group in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health (NEGATSIEH) and co-hosted by AH&MRC (Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council, NSW).
Over 240 delegates attended the conference from all states and territories – this included over 100 First Nations delegates. Three days and over 50 presentations provided opportunity for connection and a rich sharing of wisdom and learnings. Delegates included representatives from Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and other primary care service providers, eye care clinicians, policy makers, researchers, non-government organisations, hospitals, professional peak bodies and government departments from across the country.
Conference Co-Convenor – David Roberts, Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW (AH&MRC) – on behalf of (Melissa Sutton
Conference Greetings – Kane Ellis, Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service
PP2.3 Healthy Eyes in Rural Areas Author: Ann-Marie Thomas Abstract: Toomelah is a small Aboriginal Community on the QLD and NSW border , a population of 250 people, 100 percent Aboriginal population. Brien Holden Vision have been working in partnership for many years with Pius X Aboriginal Health Service providing a much needed service to the community. The community has no public transport, no shop and is 30kms form the nearest town, having this service come to the people is imperative. Brien Holden have also trained the Aboriginal Nurse and since her training she is doing screening in schools and have referred children to the optometrist clinic and we now have quite a few children wearing glasses and can now see the boards at school. We are dedicated to closing the gap in numeracy and literacy by ensuring the children have good vision. This screening process also seen a young 15 year old boy at risk of glaucoma. We are dedicated and proud of the partnership to improve vision in rural and remote communities.
PIUS X Aboriginal Corporation
Redfern AMS
Orange AMS (OAMS)
The awards are aligned with the Conference theme – Our Vision in Our Hands: Finding our Voice – set by the National Experts Group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health NEGATSIEH), which contributes to the Conference Leadership Group.
This broad theme works to highlight and promote the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and leadership in the eye health sector locally and nationally. The theme also promotes the need for greater First Nations leadership through community-controlled services and evolving national governance mechanisms, including the call to enshrine an Indigenous voice into the Australian constitution.
We are pleased to open nominations for the 2023 awards, in the following categories:
Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health by Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO)
Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health (Individual)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in eye health
Allyship in contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health
“A very special mention goes to Jenny and team at Walgett AMS for being awarded for their contribution to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander eye health “
Jenny Hunt, who accepted the award for Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (WAMS)
The winner of the NATSIEHC 2023 award for Exceptional contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health by Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO) is: Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service
From the nomination statement: The Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (WAMS) was one of the first eye health locations within an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service in NSW to provide bulk billed optometry services to their community members, starting in 1999 through NSW Aboriginal Vision program, co-designed with the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW (AH&MRC) and the Brien Holden Foundation (then known as ICEE). The fruit of those early seeds of collaboration continue to flourish today.
The nomination highlighted the dedication and commitment of WAMS management to eye health, as they have continued to fund a dedicated Eye Health Coordinator position since the very beginning of this program until today.
The WAMS Eye Health Coordinator supports clinics in Walgett and outreach services at Lightning Ridge, Goodooga, Collarenebri, Narrabri, Wee Waa and Pilliga.
Up until 2015 the WAMS Eye Health Coordinator serviced both the Walgett and Hunter New England regions, supporting over 30 outreach clinics. WAMS worked with the support of optometry provider the Brien Holden Foundation to hand some of the Western NSW and Hunter New England clinics over to the established Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in those communities.
WAMS embraced eye health so much that they applied for infrastructure grants to establish a well-equipped dedicated eye health room. Local outreach patients are referred into WAMS when OCT imaging in required which eliminates travel for patients so eye health conditions can be managed locally.
AH&MRC Deliver Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid (AMHFA) Training to Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service, Kempsey
Colin McGrath and Sylvia Akusah delivered AMHFA training to Durri ACMSs’ health workers in a marathon effort over four days.
Two AMHFA training courses were delivered over the course of four consecutive days and to 36 of Durri’s workforce.
The AH&MRC provide the AMHFA training to it’s Member Services free of charge and is part of a larger suicide prevention strategy.
The AMHFA training is designed to empower our ACCHO’s health workers with the tools to assist community members, family and friends who experience mental health crises. Accredited Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid officers are able to support their community members who are in a mental health crisis, provide them with support and information and encouragement to reach out and get professional help and other supports that will keep them safe until professional support has been arranged.
Kempsey’s Aboriginal community has been rocked by tragedies in recent times and seen much mourning and Sorry Business. Many of the health workers in attendance at the training were still grieving the loss of community members and loved ones.
Colin, himself, has struggled with AOD and Mental Health issues for most of his life, and faced and overcame many challenges that arose from these conditions.
He uses the insights gained from his own life in the delivery of the Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid training. In 2019, his partner’s mother took her own life and he knows the pain and suffering caused and the states of being that make up the journey through loss back to a new normal.
“This is why mental health first aid, provided in a culturally appropriate setting is so important”. Colin said, and then went on to say, “Having people from Aboriginal communities who have the knowledge and skills to provide mental health first aid is essential to safeguard mob, and will benefit the whole community and make them more resilient when there are people from your own community to listen and provide professional support options, and importantly, hope.
A key message to the Durri participants of the training was that grief and mourning is normal, that it is part of the healing process and, to not blame yourselves for a loved one taking their own life, “that their decision to take their own life happened at a moment in time of dark despair when you are not there to talk to them”. And,
“That it is not your fault that you were not there at that moment in time.”
The AMHFA training was well received by Durri’s workforce, which included, Transport Drivers, Reception staff, GPs, AHWs/AHPs, Admin workers, dentists, and nurses.
AH&MRC proudly partnered with ACIs Aboriginal Chronic Conditions Network (ACCN) to put on this year’s Aboriginal Chronic Conditions Conference. The theme was Aboriginal Workforce and Chronic Care Models and aimed to support the Aboriginal Health Workforce across the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sectors and Local Health Districts, by providing information and increasing the workforce’s knowledge, providing networking opportunities for the healthcare staff.
The conference not only engaged AH&MRC member services, and LHD staff, but was also open to anyone passionate about improving Aboriginal Health. Presentations included workforce, and service delivery models to address Chronic Conditions, barriers to accessing healthcare, developing cultural sensitivity among both Indigenous and non-indigenous staff, and working in partnerships to break down those barriers.
140+ people in person attended for day one and at least 120+ people for day 2, plus over 200 people online—a fantastic turnout.
Member services – Dubbo, Waminda, Bullinah, Coomealla, Griffith, Walhallow, Yerin, Walgett, Illawarra, Bourke, and Awabakal – attended and participated at the conference.
Working closely with the Aboriginal Chronic Conditions Network (ACCN) to support our Aboriginal workforce across the sectors and showcase Aboriginal-led innovations in chronic care was an honour. This was the third conference that AH&MRC and ACCN have partnered or co-hosted. “
