National Health News

Congratulations Haylene Grogan

Queensland’s first Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer, Haylene Grogan recently celebrated one year in the role. Since her commencement, Haylene has led the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Division, which has been driving efforts to improve health equity and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders. From all of us at QAIHC we wish you a happy one year anniversary and look forward to many more years working with you.

Torres Strait communities taking back control of their own healing

Torres Strait Island communities are leading their own healing by addressing the trauma, distress and long-term impacts caused by colonisation.

In September, the island communities of Kerriri, Dauan and Saibai hosted a series of healing forums coordinated by The Healing Foundation, in conjunction with Mura Kosker Sorority Incorporated; the leading family and community wellbeing service provider in the Torres Strait.

The Kerriri, Dauan and Saibai communities led conversations during the healing forums and together with The Healing Foundation and Mura Kosker Sorority Incorporated, they will co-design a roadmap to healing with priority solutions identified and developed by community members.

The Healing Foundation CEO, Fiona Petersen has family ties to the Torres Strait and understands firsthand the intergenerational impacts of colonisation at the individual, family and community level.

The forums will create opportunities for community members to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment and a shared vision for healing, by:

identifying local and regional opportunities to embed appropriate healing practices

building upon local partnerships to enable better healing outcomes

building strong community leadership and governance that fosters pride in spirituality and culture. For more information visit healingfoundation.org. au/2020/09/18/torres-strait-communities-taking-backcontrol-of-their-own-healing/

My See Clearer packs

Last year CheckUP received funding from the Arrow Energy Brighter Futures program to develop My See Clearer packs for adults in rural and remote communities undergoing cataract surgery.

In August 2020, with elective surgery starting up again in Queensland following a COVID-19 induced shutdown, CheckUP launched the program and the first 14 patients from Cairns and surrounds received life changing cataract surgery and their My See Clearer packs. The packs include information about what to expect during cataract surgery and post-operative care.

One of the patients Robbie said he is looking forward to going for a drive and painting again.

“I couldn’t see out of my eye at all before and now I can see a bit blurry, and soon I will be able to see out of it. I used to paint a lot but I had to stop. I used to paint turtle shells. I used to do it just for myself but then I started to sell them at Mareeba markets to all the tourists. And now I will be able to paint again and take the shells back to the markets.”

CheckUP thanks their provider Dr O’Hagan from Cairns Eye and Laser Clinic, the Far North Day Hospital and their wonderful patients who are all delighted about their newfound vision. The surgery was funded by the Australian Government Eye and Ear Surgical Support Services Program, coordinated by CheckUP.