NATIONAL HEALTH NEWS
The Endgame Strategy The ‘RHD Endgame Strategy: the blueprint to eliminate rheumatic heart disease in Australia by 2031’ was recently launched by the Hon Greg Hunt MP Minister for Health. The Strategy was produced by the End Rheumatic Heart Disease Centre of Research Excellence, based at Perth’s Telethon Kids Institute, with the backing of 25 leading health and research organisations including the National Aboriginal Community END Controlled Health RHD Organisation and QAIHC. The report clearly sets out the steps needed to eliminate the disease. of Centre Research nce Excelle
To set the foundations needed to make ending RHD achievable within the next decade, the Strategy outlines five key priorities for immediate attention.
The five key priorities are: Resource an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led National Implementation Unit to coordinate rheumatic heart disease elimination efforts across Australia. Fund communities to develop their own culturally appropriate programs to eliminate RHD. Tackle the root causes of RHD by guaranteeing communities have access to healthy housing and built environments. Establish a comprehensive skin and throat program for high risk communities. Improve the health and wellbeing of those living with ARF and RHD. RHD is a fatal yet entirely preventable heart disease taking the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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For more information visit endrhd.telethonkids.org.au/ our-research/the-endgame-strategy
Under-reporting of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hearing impairment
The National Indigenous Languages Report
A new analysis by Western Sydney University and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has shown that the under-reporting of hearing impairment is a substantial issue for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The National Indigenous Languages Report (Report) strengthens the evidence base regarding the use, importance and state of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
As part of the 2018-19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged seven years and over across Australia participated in a voluntary hearing test. The independent hearing test found more than four in 10 (43 per cent) of people had a hearing impairment in at least one ear on the day of testing. Analysis by the ABS, in partnership with Dr Scott Avery from Western Sydney University’s School of Social Sciences found almost eight in 10 (79 per cent) of people with a hearing impairment according to the test did not report having a long-term hearing impairment. Dr Avery says both findings are significant as unknown hearing impairments can have wide-ranging and long term impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ lives. For more information visit westernsydney.edu.au/ newscentre/news_centre/research_success 4
Sector Leader M AG A Z I N E
| November/December 2020
The Report identifies the strengths and speaker numbers of Australia’s Indigenous languages, as well as the many economic and social benefits gained through the recognition, use and reawakening of those languages. It provides guidance on practical ways to use its findings to inform policy, program development and service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Report is a key achievement through Australia’s participation in the United Nation’s 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages. It’s a collaboration between the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, and the Australian National University. For more information visit arts.gov.au/what-we-do/ indigenous-arts-and-languages/national-indigenouslanguages-report
