Spring is all about getting outside and being active
news Sept-Nov 2018
Images for this story by Mikaela Egan
Water powered football and netball The VACCHO Nutrition Team was up at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association (VACSAL) Statewide Junior Football & Netball Carnival 2018 in Echuca promoting water and encouraging mob to cut back on sugary drinks. It’s great to see our young mob with their #DrinkWaterUMob drink bottles! Kids and families loved the bottles and fruit that was provided by
Njernda Aboriginal Corporation. It’s important to make our events healthy so it’s easy for our families to choose healthy options when they’re there. That way our kids are full of energy for their games. If you want more information about our #DrinkWaterUMob campaign contact our Nutrition Team on 03 9411 9411 or nutrition@vaccho.org.au/ MORE PICTURES ON PAGE 4
Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc.
VACCHO is the the peak body for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people living in Victoria
Elite athletes need to stay strong and healthy with fresh fruit
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Contents 1 Water powered football and netball 3 Bringing culture into schools 4 VACSAL Statewide Junior Football & Netball Carnival Echuca 6 VACSAL Statewide Senior Football & Netball Carnival Ballarat 8 Bendigo Men’s Shed 9 2018 Victorian election 11 Out and about
Bringing culture into schools
Sherry Johnstone is a Keerray Woorrong woman (Gunditjmara) at Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative as an Early Years educator, and artist. Sherry has created a teaching resouce, Waetnanda Ngootoowan Waka Thiyama-ki (Together We All Share Knowledge), which is a locally produced resource for teachers to help them gain confidence and ideas to easily incorporate Aboriginal culture within their programs and services. Sherry’s experience in working with young children and their
families extends across Pre-school and Primary school programs. Her cultural knowledge and connection to Country has resulted in the development of this resource that will lead Early Years Educators and parents to a broader understanding of Aboriginal symbols, stories, games and language for young children from all cultures.
can help make a difference. The Early Years Resource was launched at the Warrnambool Art Gallery and has been highly anticipated and well received. To find out how to get a copy of Waetnanda Ngootoowan Waka Thiyama-ki contact Sherry on 03 5559 1234 or ksjohnstone@ westvic.com.au
It has been made available at no cost to all the Early Years Services in the South West Region and Sherry hopes that teachers and parents find it a valuable learning tool that
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Images: (top l-r) Locky Eccles, Local Elder, teacher of local language and Chairman of the Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative Board | Claire Jennings, Team Leader of Early Years Programs - Ozchild | Jason Kanoa, CEO - Gunditjmara Aboriginal Co-Operative | Robert Lowe, Local Elder and Cultural Educator | Sherry Johnston. Above: Some of the young ones from Lions Hopkins Kindergarten performing for the audience.
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VACCHO NEWS September - November 2018
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VACSAL Statewide Junior Football & Netball Carnival 2018 Echuca
Images by Mikaela Egan
VACCHO NEWS September - November 2018
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VACSAL Senior Football & Netball Carnival 12-14 October Ballarat, Mars Stadium
Images for this story by Tiana Koehrer and VACCHO
The VACSAL Senior Football & Netball Carnival is a statewide celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and pride. The aim of the event is to bring together the Victorian Aboriginal community and promote a healthy lifestyle. VACCHO’s Yarning Straight Out program (Victoria’s Drug and Alcohol info tool for young Aboriginal People) was proud to support Wathaurong Sister Girls in Div 2 Netball, Yakapna in Div 2 Football, and in Div 2,3,4 Netball, Fitzroy Stars in Div 1 Football, Desert Roses in Div 2 Netball. These teams applied for
funding made available by the Program to help with their uniforms and travel expenses etc. It was deadly seeing the Yarning Straight Out logo on the team’s uniforms and both players and the crowd drinking water from our branded bottles. We congratulate all the teams on their amazing performances. Remember, getting info on drugs and alcohol doesn’t have to be awkward. Visit yarningstraightout.org.au to find out more.
Image courtesy Fitzroy Stars
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Image (L-R) Wayne Tanner, John Nikkelson and Uncle Barry Fary
The Bendigo Aboriginal Men’s Shed that’s providing the space for fellas to heal and share their stories VACCHO’s Rebecca Thorpe drove up to Bendigo where she heard there was an Aboriginal Men’s Shed that was a safe and creative place for local fellas to get together, share their stories with a cuppa and create! She met up with Uncle Barry Fary who’s the Chairperson at Bendigo & District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC) and other community members to find out more. Rebecca: So Uncle Barry can you tell us about the Bendigo Aboriginal Men’s Shed? Uncle Barry: We started about three or four months ago now. We’ve been planning this for quite awhile, a long time. We finally got the funding to do it and it’s been fantastic. The men, we started off with about 6, 7, and now they’re coming on a regular basis - up to 15, 16 every week. Some of them it’s their only outlet and it’s been fantastic, and we talk about anything and everything. And we show respect for each and every one and all the staff here. Another pleasing part about it, they’re making things and they’re doing their health checks there too, which is really good. So we’re not afraid anymore, before men don’t go to doctors. I was like that for years, but now it’s good, it’s really fantastic.
Rebecca: Cam [Demarco] can you tell us a bit about your work with the Men’s Shed here? Cam: So my role here as the Men’s Programme Coordinator is about finding ways to support the men. Finding ways to help them become better men. My approach to that is, I’m not here to fix blokes but I’m here to help them find pathways to fix and support themselves. So I support those fellas in their journey, that’s a real privilege, it’s something that I’m really honoured to be part of. Typically we haven’t had a good turnout of numbers for the men stuff. Women in the community have supported stuff really well here in Bendigo, but haven’t seen as much for the men. But with this programme certainly they’ve been turning up for lots of stuff - really engaging really well. That’s been great and there’s so many benefits to it like a traditional Men’s Shed where men come just to have a chat and have a yarn. But here there’s a lot of depth to it. We’ve got the medical centre next door, the BDAC Medical Buildings, so men can access services really well. I’ve had health people come in and do talks around health stuff here. The doctors have come and had a chat about different conditions just to educate the men. We started with very little, now we’ve got a couple of guys who have
What the 2018 Victorian election results mean for our Members
gone through the processes of working with children check and the police check and they’re signed off to drive BDAC vehicles which is a really big thing. So they can pick up fellas, they can do the transport for fellas, they can go and do - if you need to do a food run or do a hardware store run. They can take the keys and take a BDAC car and go and do that, which is awesome for me - it helps me out, keeps me here in the Shed so I can be present to what’s going on. And it’s also for those guys to have that trust, and one of those guys in particular now has a job at BDAC five days a week, which is really huge. So that’s a real success.
The 2018 State election presented an opportunity for VACCHO to advocate for both its Members and our shared priorities for Aboriginal health and wellbeing across the State.
John Nikkelson: I started with the Men’s Shed for my own mental health and I come along and Cam seen that I had skills and said “well how about you jump in and help show the guys a few of the skills?”. I’m like “yeah I can do that”. It just rolled on from there.
VACCHO worked to provide individualised election kits to all Members, assisted in enrolling to vote, and advocated to local candidates and Members of Parliament about the needs of their communities.
Cam: Whenever I have an induction I tell the guys it’s not about the tools, it’s not about the who’s got the most skills or who’s got the coolest 4 wheel drive - no one cares about that here. It’s actually about listening to each other and supporting each other, and everyone’s got something to offer, and everyone’s got a story to share. Put all that stuff aside that might typically happen with a group of men. We look after each other, we look out for each other and support each other. And so that’s what happens - I see that in small ways, the men chatting to each other and I catch little moments where I see two guys connecting and that’s what it’s all about. I say to the guys “some guys come in and make stuff, other guys just come for a cup of tea and a yarn and connect - and that’s all welcome”.
The VACCHO leadership and Board representatives met with Ministers, Shadow Ministers and Spokespersons from major and minor parties. In doing so VACCHO advocated for its election platform asking for self determination, a 10 year industry plan, a review into racism in the health industry, and justice investment in prevention rather than detention. Since the re-election of the Labor Party, VACCHO looks forward to continued investment in the priorities set through self determination and community control to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people living in Victoria.
Bill Gray: Well all the guys are great, we all get on well as a mob down here, and everyone respects each other. And that’s the greatest thing of all - respect and everything, and understanding. So it’s really good. Cam: The Shed’s open to black fella and white fella - that’s really important, because everyone’s got different skills and I see it as a great way for reconciliation to happen. And we said it every week, so it’s a really important thing. RA H CO
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Uncle Barry: The men and the community are right behind us and it’s been fantastic. So hopefully, I know we will get bigger, we need more bigger sheds, but we’re working on that. So far I’m so proud of the men because they’re not isolated anymore. Some have got no friends, no family, no nothing. And it’s beautiful to see them sit around the fire out here, have a yarn, laugh and a joke. ople are ginal pethe person, , Abori on a group t centres tha ver as h. Howepeople. Care olled l nt healt ity Contr excelle n-Aborigina mmun or Co no od al joy go origin s than hcare. the Ab is an UR E O le in Victoria enalth outcomegin al healt e from sector d A PI CT r he op Abori receiv an tream ginal pe ence poore heart of e they mains equitable ori e car Ab Th eri the of y. at exp ality Many must be munit nity lies likely to the qu al com instream more and commu ent in ma origin confid the Ab ry by the vices. family ians are . eded by e delive se ser al Victor CO) sector vices ne d servic essing the Aborigin tions (AC r all ser cess an in acc isa t delive sector. Ac l confident Organ canno sector to the ACCO le to fee op CO pe AC er al The nt partn Aborigin importa safe for FE ally LE LI cultur FEMA ANCY
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VACCHO will be working to provide support and advocacy for the upcoming Federal election in 2019.
VACCHO NEWS September - November 2018
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Sackvi 17-23 132 x PO Bo oo Collingw 11 P 03 94 11 F 03 94 .o vaccho : RTO No
Be game no shame no blame Is it time for your deadly STI check? Just ask for it when you go for your next regular health check, or use the link below. It’s that easy.
#GetTestedSTI
RTO No: 20739
vaccho.org.au/wd/sh/sti Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation is the peak body for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people living in Victoria
Remember, the best way to stay safe is to use a condom and get tested regularly for STIs.
SEWB State-Wide Gathering Tuesday 23 – Thursday 25 October 2018 Dungala Events Centre, Moama NSW
KMS Women’s Business Forum Tuesday 16 - Thursday 18 October 2018 Holiday Inn Flinders & Koorie Heritage Trust
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VACCHO NEWS September - November 2017
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VACCHO Board Members Karen Heap: Chairperson Raylene Harradine: Vice Chairperson John Gorton: Board Member Michael Graham: Board Member Jason Saunders: Board Member Suzie Squires: Board Member
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VACCHO Members • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Aboriginal Community Elders Services Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service Bubup Wilam for Early Learning Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Budja Budja Aboriginal Co-operative Cummeragunja Housing and Development Aboriginal Corporation (Viney Morgan AMS) 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 Service Inc. Lake Tyers Health and Children’s Service Note »» Auspiced
• Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association • Melbourne Aboriginal Youth Sport & Recreation Co-operative • Mallee District Aboriginal Services »» Kerang Aboriginal Community Centre »» Swan Hill and 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 • Weenthunga Health Network Inc VACCHO News Spring 2018
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