Caring for your kidneys with dialysis treatment options

September/October 2020

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SectorLeader MAGAZINE

BETTER OUTCOMES FOR MUMS AND BUBS

NEWS

QUEENSLAND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

Optimal oral health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland

National Agreement on Closing the Gap Queensland Murri Rugby League Carnival COHORT STUDY AND PRELIMINARY FINDINGS

A GUIDE FOR OUR MOB:

Human rights and discrimination

I DIDN’T KNOW

(THE YAPATJARRATHATI PROJECT)

BRIAN HEWITT

The resilient CEO of Carbal Medical Services Data Room Cancer

QAIHC Youth Health Network Profile Kieren Wiggins

QAIHC Hall of Fame Ethel Munn Sector Leader M A G A Z I N E

Profile Owen Richardson

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We welcome submissions from our Members, Associates and Affiliates on the great work being undertaken within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisation Sector.

If you would like to contribute story ideas for consideration or comment on items in the current issue, please contact our Communications Team at communications@qaihc.com.au.

Previous issues can be viewed online at qaihc.com.au

Welcome to the seventeenth edition of Sector Leader magazine. We at the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) are proud to bring you this informative magazine and promote the great work being undertaken within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisation Sector.

Over the past 18 months QAIHC has been representing our sector as a member of the Coalition of the Peaks in the development of the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Now that the National Agreement has been signed and the Queensland Government has committed $9.3 million to this work, our focus must shift to working with our other community controlled sectors to progress shared priorities. You can read more about the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap on page 10.

This month the cover story (page 6) features Brian Hewitt, the resilient Chief Executive Officer for Carbal Medical Services. Since Brian became the CEO of Carbal, he has increased the organisations staffing base, has found ways to bring in additional revenue and has expanded services to provide greater preventative health outcomes for the community.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that this publication may contain images or names of people who have passed away.

Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council First Floor, 36 Russell Street South Brisbane QLD 4101 P 07 3328 8500

The Queensland Human Rights Commission have released a report called Human rights and discrimination–A guide for our mob (page 28).

The Commission’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit hopes the guide will help answer some common questions from community and lead to more use of the laws to seek systemic change.

On page 24 we hear about the ‘Tracking Cube’ which is an innovative, culturally-sensitive, abbreviated neurodevelopmental assessment process co-designed by The Yapatjarrathati Project. Across six tiers, the ‘Tracking Cube’ screens for neurodevelopmental problems, and where appropriate, provides structured decision support tools that allow GPs to make neurodevelopmental diagnoses including fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Food security is a fundamental human right and has not yet been achieved for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.

Read about QAIHC’s response to this important matter on page 14.

Gail Wason Chairperson | Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council

NEXT EDITION NOVEMBER Sector Leader M2020 AG A Z I N E | September/October 2020

CONTENTS 2 National Health News 3 Queensland Health News 4 Government News

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5 QAIHC News 6 Cover Story Brian Hewitt, the resilient CEO of Carbal Medical Services

9 QAIHC Hall of Fame Ethel Munn 10 National Agreement on Closing the Gap

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12 Policy Learnings from COVID-19 and the need for Health Sector reform

13 Policy Supporting better birthing outcomes 14 Policy Fundamental food security 15 AOD Breakthrough Our Way program update 16 COVID-19 The importance of testing 18 State Election Health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

19 QAIHC Youth Health Network Kieren Wiggins 20 Medicare Matters Changes to the COVID-19

Temporary MBS Telehealth Services GPs and Other Medical Practitioners

21 Data Room Cancer 22 Health Information Team

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24 I Didn’t Know (The Yapatjarrathati Project) 25 Policy Optimal oral health 26 Research and Evidence Murri Carnival 2019 Cohort study and preliminary findings

28 Human Rights and Discrimination 29 Profile Owen Richardson 30 Communication and Marketing Internal communications

31 World Suicide Prevention Day and R U OK? Day

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32 Deadly Reading and Viewing 33 Events Calendar 34 Our Members and Board Sector Leader M A G A Z I N E

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NATIONAL HEALTH NEWS

2020 Lowitja Institute Cranlana Award winner Congratulations to Professor Roianne West who was named the winner of the 2020 Lowitja Institute Cranlana Award in July.

The award was presented by the Lowitja Institute and Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, and offers a fully-funded position in Cranlana’s Executive Colloquium.

Lowitja Institute CEO Dr Janine Mohamed said the national award honoured excellence from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers whose contributions to their academic field were recognised nationally and internationally, and who had contributed significantly to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Professor West is the Foundation Professor of First Peoples Health and Foundation Director of the First Peoples Health Unit at Griffith University, after beginning her pioneering work in Aboriginal health research and health workforce reform 25 years ago as an Aboriginal Health Worker at an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service.

Born and raised Kalkadoon on her grandmother’s ancestral lands in North West Queensland and with connections to the Djaku-nde peoples in South West Queensland, her work builds on a family legacy that includes four generations of Aboriginal nurses and a long line of healers.

RACGP improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) have launched five revised position statements to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare.

It comes as the RACGP celebrates the 10 year anniversary of its National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, founded in 2010 to help ‘close the gap’.

Now with over 11,000 members, the Faculty is focused on growing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GP workforce and ensuring highquality culturally responsive care.

The revised position statements include: Identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients Increased investment in ACCHOs A stronger primary care system Working together Addressing social determinants of health.

For more information visit racgp.org.au/ the-racgp/faculties/atsi/position-statements 2

Sector Leader M AG A Z I N E

Menzies app improving asthma management in communities The Child Health Division at Menzies School of Health Research have developed ‘Lung Health for Kids’, an educational app about asthma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

Languages included in the app include English, Tiwi, Murrinh-Patha, Yolngu Matha, Kriol, Pitjantjatjara, Western Arrernte and Warlpiri. It uses images, audio and quizzes to teach users about asthma.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are three times more likely to die from asthma and face poor clinical outcomes in the health sector.

Menzies senior research fellow and project lead Dr Gabrielle McCallum says the asthma app is an innovative way to help people access important information about asthma in their home and at their own pace.

“The team evaluated the app with 80 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers from the Northern Territory and Queensland and found that knowledge of asthma significantly improved after using the asthma app, particularly how asthma is treated and the steps in first aid,” Dr McCallum said.

The app is available on Google Play and the Apple Store, for more information visit menzies.edu.au/page/News_and_Events/ E-Newsletter/Healthy_Tomorrow/June_2020/New_asthma_app_to_ increase_health_literacy

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QUEENSLAND HEALTH NEWS

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health program goes online

First Cape York Indigenous language dictionary in 20 years published

Telehealth delivery of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health program is being trialled by the University of Queensland (UQ) to prevent disruption by the coronavirus restrictions.

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies have published a new publication ‘A Dictionary of Umpithamu’ a unique Indigenous language in Cape York.

UQ Associate Professor Dr Maree Toombs said the restrictions in access to high-risk communities and social distancing measures is making it difficult to communicate with participants of the Indigenous Model of Mental Health Care (IMMHC) project.

“Mental disorders are the most common illness among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

Traditional owners say the dictionary will help younger generations to retain aspects of their culture.

Flemish linguist Jean-Cristophe Verstraete compiled the Umpithamu dictionary after spending 17 years working with the Lamalama people of Cape York’s Princess Charlotte Bay region.

For more information visit shop.aiatsis.gov.au/products/ a-dictionary-of-umpithamu

“The effects of isolation, social distancing, job loss and economic burden associated with the pandemic make already vulnerable groups disproportionately more so.

“We cannot afford to put mental health services on hold at such a difficult time,” Dr Toombs said.

The federal government funded program is a culturally acceptable mental health care model developed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and based on cognitive behavioural therapy and traditional healing practices. It was developed in response to concern from local communities about high rates of mental illness and intergenerational trauma.

“The switch to a telehealth mode may seem a quick and easy solution, but information technology is not readily available or used in these communities. It completely ignores cultural protocol, with Indigenous people heavily reliant on face-toface engagement to establish connections.

“Despite this, in consultation with the community we have adapted our protocol to suit the situation because discontinuing the project would do more harm than good,” said Dr Toombs.

Those without IT resources at home are able to access a private room at participating local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Services.

For more information visit uq.edu.au/news/ article/2020/07/indigenous-mental-health-programgoes-online

Queensland Mental Health Week Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW) is held annually to shine a spotlight on individual and community mental health and wellbeing. This year QMHW is being held on 1018 October and the theme is TAKE TIME – for mental health.

QMHW encourages everyone to think about their own mental health and wellbeing, regardless of whether you may have a lived experience of mental illness or not. The week also gives people the opportunity to understand the importance of mental health in their everyday lives and encourages help seeking behaviours when needed.

Each year, people across the state come together during QMHW through local events, conversations and activities to raise awareness of the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing.

QMHW encourages community members to support these activities in 2020 and take time for their own mental health.

For more information or ideas on events visit qldmentalhealthweek.org.au

Sector Leader M A G A Z I N E

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GOVERNMENT NEWS

Meningococcal B – now available on the National Immunisation Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants The meningococcal B vaccine is available at no cost for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants under two years of age.

A step closer to legal recognition of Torres Strait Islander families The Queensland Government has introduced a Private Member’s Bill, Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa (Torres Strait Islander Traditional Child Rearing Practice) Bill 2020, to legally recognise Torres Strait Islander adoption practices.

Cynthia Lui, a proud Iamalaig woman from the Kulkalgau Clan of Iama and the Kulkalgal Tribe of the Torres Strait and Member for Cook, says the Bill is a long time coming.

“Legally recognising Torres Strait Islander traditional child rearing practice and acknowledging the strength of this enduring culture is an historic milestone in the Queensland Government’s journey to reframe its relationship with First Nations peoples.”

“The legislation enables people to apply for legal recognition of the traditional child rearing practice which if granted, means they can get a birth certificate that reflects their lived identity, and opens easy access to Government

Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious condition with young children more at risk.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged under two are at an even greater risk, about four times higher compared with non-Indigenous children.

From 1 July 2020, the meningococcal B vaccine will be given at the same time as other routine baby vaccinations at two, four and 12 months. An extra dose at six months is required for infants who have certain risk conditions.

Children who missed out can still get their meningococcal B vaccines up until they turn two.

If they receive their first dose before turning two, they can complete the other doses even after turning two.

For more information visit health.gov.au/ resources/publications/ national-immunisationprogram-schedule-forall-aboriginal-and-torresstrait-islander-people

services such as financial support and school enrolment,” Ms Lui said.

Torres Strait Islander leadership has been advocating to have this cultural practice legally recognised for more than 30 years. It aims to bridge the gap between traditional lore and western law for caregivers and children from extended Torres Strait Islander families.

A panel of Eminent Persons with legal and cultural expertise — Ms Ivy Trevallion; former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia the Honourable Alastair Nicholson; and Mr Charles Passi — led extensive community consultation ahead of the Bill’s introduction to State Parliament.

For more information visit datsip.qld.gov.au/torreschildrearing 4

Sector Leader M AG A Z I N E

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Australia’s health 2020 data insights The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) have released their 17th biennial report on the health of Australians titled Australia’s health 2020.

Life expectancy, chronic conditions, social determinants of health and the COVID-19 pandemic are some of the issues under the spotlight in the report card.

The report states that 3 in 10 Indigenous Australians had an Indigenous-specific health check in 2017–18, nearly triple the rate in 2010-11, and rates of ear disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are decreasing.

For more information and to view the full report visit aihw.gov.au/reports-data/australias-health

QAIHC NEWS

QAIHC Acting CEO Cleveland Fagan The QAIHC Board welcome Cleveland Fagan as Acting CEO of QAIHC. Direct appointed, Cleveland will be undertaking the role for the next few months until QAIHC’s CEO is recruited. Cleveland has had a long and successful career working in the health sector and is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland.

“I grew up in Cairns and attended University in Adelaide and Arizona (USA). I have previously worked in land management and Native Title and began my health journey in the late 1990s on the Board of Wuchopperen Health Service.

After working with Commonwealth Health and Queensland Health, I started as the CEO of Apunipima Cape York Health Council in 2006, I was in that position for 11 years, leaving in April 2017 to work in Yarrabah.

For the past three years, I have looked after my grandson and been able to see him grow from a baby to a little ‘big’ man.

I’m currently working with the Yarrabah Leaders Forum, a collective of leaders from across the community who are working together to collectively address the social determinants in Yarrabah.

I’ve been involved in this organisation when we were the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Forum (QAIHF), under the leadership of Nancy Long, Les Collins and a number of other CEOs and Chairs who are no longer with us. I was a part of the transition of QAIHF to the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) and worked with Adrian Carson, Justin Saunders, Selwyn Button, Matthew Cooke and many others to build QAIHC. QAIHC is the voice of our sector and with the new challenges that we have at the national and state levels, we have an opportunity to make a difference, that those before us had only dreamed about making when they developed the National Aboriginal Health Strategy in 1989.

Our responsibility is to work together to achieve these lasting legacies and my role with QAIHC is to continue to build the foundations to enable the Board and new CEO to achieve this.”

Acknowledgment of service—Michael Illin Michael Illin has retired as the North and North West Queensland Director on QAIHC’s board. Michael has worked within the health sector in both government and non-government agencies for more than 15 years. He is passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Michael’s dedication to the health sector is evident in his work history which spans across many influential roles including as the Coordinator of the Queensland Indigenous Drug Diversion Initiative at the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS). He has also previously worked as an Aboriginal and Other Drugs (AOD) officer at QAIHC in Townsville, and for Queensland Health in their AOD Unit and as a Cultural Practice Program Coordinator/Facilitator.

Today Michael is the Indigenous Liaison Unit Team Leader for Queensland Health at the Townsville Hospital and Health Service and is currently the Chairperson for TAIHS. QAIHC’s Chairperson Gail Wason thanks Michael for his time with us.

“Michael played an instrumental role in guiding our mission with his insights and unique expertise.”

The QAIHC Board and staff thank Michael for his service and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

Sector Leader M A G A Z I N E

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COVER STORY

BRIAN HEWITT

The resilient CEO of Carbal Medical Services

Brian Hewitt was born in Manly, New South Wales and grew up in the then disadvantaged Western suburb of Sydney, Blacktown.

Brian’s mother and father came to Australia from Staffordshire in England as part of the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme in which adult migrants were charged ten pounds for their sea voyage to Australia.

After the Second World War there was a focus on migration and bringing skilled workers to the country.

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His mother and father worked hard to provide for their five children.

His mother worked at an electrical factory building radios and his father worked as a house painter.

It was during this time growing up in an extremely disadvantaged area, that Brian learned how to be resilient. He wanted to find a way out of this level of disadvantage, and he knew the only way to do that was by hard work.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Blackheath and Thornburgh College an independent, co-educational boarding and day P-12 College situated at Charters Towers. There was a real risk that the College would close and Brian was brought in basically to save the school from closure. In five years, he got the school back on its feet, and then moved back to Toowoomba to help his mother care for his dying father.

After graduating from Seven Hills High School, Brian followed in his father’s footsteps and worked as a house painter. Two years later he was successful in securing a scholarship to the Sydney Teachers’ College. His 35-year career as a teacher started in Special Education, making his way to Katoomba and eventually working as the Headmaster at Blue Mountains Grammar Junior School.

On his return to Toowoomba, Brian broadened his career by becoming the CEO for Regional Development Australia for Darling Downs and South West Queensland (DDSW RDA) which covered a third of Queensland and provided advice to the Federal Minister for Regional Development on Commonwealth investment priorities. It was through this role, which he held for five years that Brian came across Carbal Medical Services in Toowoomba (Carbal).

He later relocated to Queensland to be the Director of Information Technology at Toowoomba Grammar School, with his last position in education being the Principal and

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In 2014, Carbal was struggling with just 27 staff, debt, limited funds coming in and high staff

turnover including management.

Brian was initially appointed for two months to do a review of the service and see what improvements could be made to help stabilise and grow the organisation. This is what Brian is good at, saving organisations which have fallen on hard times, as demonstrated in his work at Blackheath and Thornburgh College.

Brian knew that Carbal was extremely important as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Service providing services for thousands of clients in the biggest inland regional town in Australia.

He put forward to the board his recommendations on how to restore Carbal, and as a result they asked if he would be interested in staying on as the CEO. Initially Brian had no intentions of leaving DDSW RDA, however he was tired of the constant travelling required in his other role and wanted to spend more time with

his family. So, Brian agreed with the Board that he would stay on for a year… and six years later remains as the CEO. Since 2014, the organisation has grown in every area. Carbal is now a multi-million-dollar organisation with 98 staff and many millions of dollars in assets.

The success of Carbal has come about through a new communitycontrolled health service model with around 45 per cent of revenue generated from their own sources.

Brian has been able to secure additional revenue for Carbal by providing refugees with comprehensive health checks

and referrals as well as delivering cultural awareness training for large companies and organisations including airlines and government departments. Carbal works closely with General Practice Training Queensland and Queensland Rural Medical Education Limited to provide the accredited online cultural awareness component of doctor training courses for both the Darling Downs region and throughout Australia.

By bringing in additional revenue, Brian has been able to expand Carbal’s services to provide greater preventative health outcomes starting from a young age. Brian knew from his experience as a teacher and an educator that hearing plays a critical role in the development of peoples learning from their formative years. He says that if children can’t hear properly that leads to missed learning opportunities and discipline problems in classrooms.

That’s why Carbal stepped in three years ago to self-fund hearing

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tests for over 2000 kids a year following the removal of funding to test Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s hearing at lower age levels in schools. More than 44 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are identified as having hearing issues and requiring referral.

By identifying hearing problems earlier, Carbal is providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with the best

and success is proven, the government should be funding in-house allied health services in every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisation that has the capacity to deliver these services.

He says that this initiative is vital in closing the gap, and will be more successful than any other initiative that the government has run in the last 15 years.

start in life.

The difference in the Carbal model extends beyond generating more self-supporting revenue to providing additional preventative health and transport services taking clients as far as Brisbane and the Gold Coast for appointments. The model has also expanded to provide regular access to a diverse range of allied health services inhouse to clients to improve health outcomes. To achieve this Brian had to convince the Commonwealth Government to fund a two-year nation leading trial which started in May 2020.

Under the trial 11 different allied health providers work in the Carbal clinic providing services including dieticians, podiatrists, psychologists and exercise physiologists. Brian says this model is providing both better health outcomes and saving the health system money by allowing for quicker identification and resolution of health problems. For example, clients are being treated early for toe problems from diabetes preventing costly hospital treatment at the amputation stage and shortening hospital waiting lists.

Brian believes that in two years, once the reporting is submitted 8

Sector Leader M AG A Z I N E

Carbal’s success as a medical service has resulted in them being appointed to run the GP respiratory clinic for all of Toowoomba at their third, newly purchased and renovated Toowoomba site. At this clinic they are doing the COVID-19 testing, as well as having doctors available who are able to write scripts for asthma and other respiratory conditions. Once a COVID-19 vaccine is available this clinic will become a vaccination centre for the 160,000 people who live in the Darling Downs region.

There are now 21 staff involved in Carbal’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) services which is one of the most successful services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. The provision of support for people with a disability is yet another part of Carbal’s holistic approach to improving the health of the community.

This holistic approach to health and wellbeing extends to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to lower recidivism. Carbal run two selffunded programs for the Murri

| September/October 2020

Court in Toowoomba. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are charged with certain offences can choose to go through a Murri Court rather than a mainstream court. As part of the Murri Court process people can get a stay of sentencing for three months and in that time, they have to reinvent themselves. However, Brian knew that there was a huge gap in services available to support people during these three months, so they established the Strong Fathers and Strong Sisters programs. Carbal run two ten-week programs for people that the court have given a stay of sentence to and the programs are designed to support people to not reoffend again. These programs are hugely successful, over the last five years they have had more than 900 people participate in the programs and not one single person has reoffended.

Brian ensures that Carbal gives back to the community whenever they can. In the last three years they have funded NAIDOC celebrations, established an artefacts museum on the bottom floor of their clinic facility and run a food program delivering on average 50 to 75 food hampers a week to clients who are in need. Brian’s understanding from his upbringing of the various contributing factors to social disadvantage drives his broad approach to improving the lives and health outcomes for people in his community.

Brian values the awards they have won from their peak body the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC). In 2017, Carbal won the QAIHC Innovation Excellence Award and in 2018 the QAIHC Member of the Year Award and Brian also won Leader of the Year.

He has a deep respect for the CEOs in the sector and the dedication they have to improving the health and wellbeing of their communities. Brian says that working at Carbal has been the most rewarding job in his career, with still many things to achieve.

Hall of Fame

L E A D E R : Ethel Munn

Charleville AWARD Western Areas Aboriginal

Winner 2016

AWARD 2016 Mrs Ethel Munn is a strong and proud Aboriginal Elder of the Gungarri people in South West Queensland. She was born in Bollon a small rural town on 3 August in 1930 and recently celebrated her 90th birthday.

Over many years Aunty Ethel has provided guidance to the 2016 QAIHC community controlled health OF service in Charleville with a holistic perspective to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples emphasising the importance of culture, Country, language and education.

HALL

FAME

AWARD

Aunty EthelQAIHC grewCELEBRATIONS up in a tight25 YEARS knit family, moving often for her father’s work as a station hand, and for schooling.

Hall of Fame logo

A wise man, her father instilled two guiding messages of wisdom upon her: “education is key” and “people were always as good as we are, they were no better”.

She attributes these statements as the basis for how she has lived her life as an advocate for Aboriginal people.

Aunty Ethel grew up with the Gungarri language as her first language spoken by her mother. When starting school, she was forced to stop speaking her language because of bullying from other students.

This experience, and the loss of Aboriginal languages, has ultimately led to Aunty Ethel becoming a strong

and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Limited I N D U C T E D : 2014

HONOUR ROLL

Hall of

O RG A N I SAT I O N :

2016 advocate for the preservation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. She is a Committee Member of the Queensland Indigenous Advisory Committee, a state body which advocates for Queensland’s First Languages.

It is this broad perspective, wisdom

Aunty Ethel has a deep understanding of the link between language and culture and the affect this has on health and wellbeing.

She believes it is a great shame that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were forced to stop speaking QAIHC 2016 AWARD their languages, leading to her dedication to advocate for languages to be revived and spoken again by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples starting at a young age.

has a long history of community

and experience in advocating for her people that Aunty Ethel brought to her service as a board member of the Charleville Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Limited for many years. She involvement—shaping and influencing Aboriginal Affairs, particularly Education, Housing and Health.

From her experience as a board member Aunty Ethel has wisdom to impart to the younger generation and future leaders:

She wants to see traditional languages being taught more in schools by having more First Nations teachers and teacher aides.

Aunty Ethel believes that it is easier to start learning a language through song rather than speaking. This is something she learnt herself from experience as part of the Yamani project where she learnt five other languages through song.

In 2016 Aunty Ethel was one of six women featured in ‘Yamani Voices of an Ancient Land’ a CD which features six different languages across Queensland.

As well as being an advocate for language Aunty Ethel has been influential in securing Native Title handed down to her mob the Gungarri people.

Sector Leader M A G A Z I N E

Be proud of who you are and have your say on what you believe is right, it is best to call it as you see it, don’t try to pretend to know things that you don’t and never be shy in standing up for what is right for your people. | September/October 2020

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New National Agreement marks historic shift The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) supports the National Agreement on Closing the Gap launched by the Coalition of Peaks on 30 July 2020.

The National Agreement signals a turning point in the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and governments – one that is based on shared decision making on policies and programs that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s lives.

QAIHC came together with more than fifty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled peak bodies to fight for our communities.

We were fed up by the failed attempts by governments to Close the Gap, we knew that for things to change we had to take control.

The new National Agreement is a commitment from all governments to fundamentally change the way they work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations through four Priority Reforms that were overwhelmingly supported during the community engagements led by the Coalition of Peaks late last year.

QAIHC’s Chairperson Gail Wason says the National Agreement is a major step forward in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples taking control of their own health and wellbeing.

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“The National Agreement highlights the importance of shared decision making.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations know first-hand the issues affecting their communities and what they need to thrive.

“There have been too many failed attempts in the past to achieve health equity. We don’t have time to wait for governments to get it right. We need to be involved in the decision making affecting our people,” said Ms Wason.

The National Agreement is not just words, they represent actions that can make a real difference to the lives of our people, our families and communities.

More than 4000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people participated in the discussion about what should be included in the National Agreement, led by the Coalition of Peaks.

The Priority Reforms commit governments to new partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the country; strengthen community-controlled organisations to deliver closing the gap services; address structural racism within government agencies and organisations; and improve sharing of

data and information with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to support shared decision making.

Pat Turner AM, Lead Convener of the Coalition of Peaks; CEO of NACCHO and Co-Chair of the Joint Council said the National Agreement and the work of the Coalition of Peaks complements the efforts led by First Nations people across the country to improve the life outcomes of our people, including the implementation of the Uluru Statement of the Heart through a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.

“The work of the Coalition of Peaks is one part of a much bigger picture, of what has come before us and what still needs to be done. As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, we are standing on the shoulders of giants; our ancestors.

They are our strength in all that we do.

It is their work before us that has made today possible. We continue to do what we can to honour them with our actions as we work for a brighter future for our people” said Ms Turner.

To read the full new National Agreement on Closing the Gap visit coalitionofpeaks.org.au/ final-national-agreement-onclosing-the-gap

Pictured: Hon. Ken Wyatt am, Minister for Indigenous Australians and Pat Turner am, Lead Convener of the Coalition of Peaks

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WITH

POLICY

ANGELA YOUNG GENERAL MANAGER, POLICY AND RESEARCH, QAIHC

Learnings from COVID-19 and the need for Health Sector Reform

As Queensland experiences a reprieve from COVID-19 infections, the Queensland Government has seized an opportunity to identify pockets of innovation and exemplars of best practice to initiate health reform.

In May 2020 the Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Ambulance Steven Miles assembled a Reform Planning Group (RPG) with the purpose of advising the Government “how best to harness the opportunities arising from the pandemic to achieve the best possible health and healthcare for Queenslanders. Reform activities must focus on preventing ill health and delivering better value for our patients, our workforce and our public health system.”

The RPG consisted of a diverse group of health system leaders, including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisation (ATSICCHO) sector’s Adrian Carson (CEO, Institute for Urban Indigenous Health).

With four clear workstreams: Prevention and Wellbeing, Driving Value, Health System Integration and Data and Innovation, the RPG had the enormous task of developing a Reform Roadmap including priority recommendations by the end of August 2020.

The RPG were committed to an inclusive consultation process with multiple opportunities for stakeholders from all corners of the health system to provide feedback on reform. QAIHC was pleased to join some of our Members and participate in all aspects of the consultation process including:

formalising integration between HHS regions and ATSICCHOs; reshaping the relationship between primary and tertiary care sectors improving data sharing capability to provide optimal care.

health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples embedding the ATSICCHO sector as integral members of the Queensland health system

* If you would like to see these documents please email your request to policyteam@qaihc.com.au

presenting QAIHC’s position to the RPG* participating in health system stakeholders’ virtual workshop to provide feedback on proposed reform priorities.

QAIHC’s advocacy focussed on the following reform priorities:

Sector Leader M AG A Z I N E

increasing funding for ATSICCHOs to support the reduction of HHS elective surgery and outpatient specialist waiting lists

The consultation process has revealed some clear opportunities for innovation. It has forced all system stakeholders to participate in an honest conversation about how the current health system could be improved for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders. QAIHC is working with the Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer to bring to life some of the early recommendations from the Reform Group consultation processes.

Regardless of the findings of the final Reform Roadmap, QAIHC is enthused by the renewed commitment to working better, together for the benefit of our communities.

lodging a written submission*

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devolving non-acute Hospital and Health Service (HHS) delivery to ATSICCHOs providing a more culturally safe health journey for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders

| September/October 2020

WITH

POLICY

MARGARET CASHMAN AND KAREN FRANCISCO SENIOR PROJECT OFFICERS (MSIP), QAIHC

Supporting better birthing outcomes

QAIHC is proud to be coordinating the Maternity Services Integration Project, otherwise known as the MSIP. The overarching aim of the project is to improve the maternity services journey of mothers birthing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies in Queensland.

The MSIP is funded under the Queensland Government’s Growing Deadly Families Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Maternity Services Strategy 2019–2025 (Strategy), which was informed by a Queensland Clinical Senate Forum in 2017. The Forum was attended by maternity service health professionals, policy writers, senior government advisers and consumers, with a strong voice from consumers who consistently raised the following: we want a say in how maternity services are designed and delivered we don’t want to keep telling our same story to different people we want more of our people providing our maternity care.

The MSIP works towards both short and long-term outcomes and includes three components with an overarching evaluation: 1. Local site-based delivery of integration activities between hospitals and local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisations (ATSICCHOs).

2. A state-wide review of maternity service models used across the sector to deliver maternity services.

3. Maternal health resources.

The local site-based activities have developed a range of local projects that increase integration and collaboration between the ATSICCHO sector and Hospital and Health Services (HHS) across different regions in Queensland.

Specific MSIP examples of integration activities include: development of information sharing processes, including discharge summaries

improved professional relationships and understanding of each organisation’s values and service offerings co-designed and co-delivered antenatal education sessions delivery of antenatal hospital appointments held at the local ATSICCHO development of a co-designed shared model of care development of co-designed culturally appropriate pregnancy resources collaboration with local stakeholders for better continuum of care implementation of a Maternity Nurse Navigator to map the journey of the mother and highlight enablers and barriers for mothers seeking maternity services

Initial consultations have occurred for the MSIP maternal health resources with QAIHC Member Services not involved in MSIP place-based sites, the resources will assist not only mothers but the staff who are caring for them.

COVID-19 has impacted the MSIP, however due to the skills, adaptability and resilience of all service providers, the project continues to deliver with the additional outcomes: implementing telehealth for high risk antenatal appointments to continue service delivery through COVID-19 co-ordination of services, sharing and streamlining referral pathways through increased communication across all service providers identifying and improving service gaps and reporting back to QAIHC to advocate for system change relationship building between QAIHC and Queensland Health.

The MSIP Team have had significant guidance from QAIHC’s Members and the HHS. To all staff involved — a big thank you from us to you, it is a pleasure working with such caring and dedicated staff!

development of Memorandums of Understanding.

The Maternity Health Services surveys have been completed by our Member Services, this information will enable QAIHC to identify strengths, areas of need and opportunities across the state.

Sector Leader M A G A Z I N E

| September/October 2020

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POLICY

WITH

GOVIND OJHA SENIOR POLICY OFFICER, QAIHC

Fundamental Food Security

QAIHC calls for immediate collective action to achieve food nutrition security for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples QAIHC believes that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should have equitable access to adequate, affordable, safe and nutritious food to maintain good health and wellbeing, no matter where you live or socioeconomic status.

Food security is a fundamental human right1 and has not yet been achieved for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, current responses are not sufficient.

Key components of food security include: a) Access to food: refers to capacity to acquire and consume a healthy diet, including: the ability to buy and transport food; to store food at home; access to suitable preparation and cooking facilities; knowledge and skills to make appropriate choices; and time and mobility to shop and prepare food. b) Supply of food: refers to aspects of the supply of food within a community affecting the food security of individuals, households or an entire population, specifically including the location of food outlets,

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Sector Leader M AG A Z I N E

availability of food within stores, and the price, quality and variety of available food.

Food insecurity has a pervasive history for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, instigated with the colonisation of Australia resulting in intergenerational racism and ongoing policy and socio-economic influences.2 There are many overarching complex structural barriers, beyond the control of individuals and communities, it is a complex issue with no single solution.

In June this year, QAIHC collectively worked with our Members to respond to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs’, Inquiry into Food Pricing and Food Security in Remote Indigenous Communities. The following solutions with specific recommendations were proposed: I. Strategic structural improvements where the Australian Government works collaboratively with multisectoral partners (national, state and local government, nongovernment and community) to fundamentally resolve systemlevel issues; this includes eliminating institutional racism and undertaking policy reform at all levels.

| September/October 2020

II. Environmental improvements to bring practical changes to the food system to improve availability, affordability and utilisation of healthy food. These solutions include: improving the food supply chain; creating a healthy store environment; promoting community ownership and self-development; improving environmental health; and promoting access to, and the use of, traditional/cultural foods.

III. Strengthened community capacity to enable individual health choices to change and empower community to support decision making; and having the ability to access food and infrastructure. Empowering the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisation sector to build food literacy and advocacy amongst their communities will strengthen community capacity.

QAIHC is strongly committed to a coordinated, evidence-based, regional response and will be following the progress of the National Inquiry closely.

For more information, read QAIHC’s submission at qaihc.com.au/publications/ submissions.

References see page 33

WITH

JERMANE HERBOHN AOD PROJECT OFFICER, QAIHC

AOD

PROGRAM UPDATE:

BREAKTHROUGH Breakthrough Our Way is an initiative funded through the Queensland Government’s Action on Ice strategy. QAIHC, in partnership with Apunipima Cape York Health Council, has developed and contextualised the Insight Breakthrough for Families Queensland package, resulting in the Breakthrough Our Way program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

Breakthrough Our Way provides voluntary information sessions for families, significant others and the broader community whose lives are affected by ice and other drugs. A particular focus for the project is for families with children providing information, developing support strategies and connecting those families to treatment and other support services.

The program provides access to free information covering basic harm reduction ideas for families, stages of change, the coexistence of drug use and mental health issues, boundaries and ideas around how to look after yourself.

QAIHC is pleased to advise that the Breakthrough Our Way program has been extended until 30 June 2021 through the Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs (MHAOD) Branch in Queensland Health. Potential sites for program delivery will be identified over the coming months.

Jermane Herbohn is the contact officer for this project in QAIHC. An online training format for the resources is being developed to accommodate COVID-19 travel disruptions and depending on developments in the future, face to face training will be considered.

For further information please contact Jermane at jermane.herbohn@qaihc.com.au or phone 0428 569 415.

Sector Leader M A G A Z I N E

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15

I t is the time for testing

COVID-19 has been in Australia for six months and with a resurgence of infections in some jurisdictions, now is not the time to become complacent.

The outbreaks in Victoria and New South Wales have contributed to an increase in the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infection rates which is a huge concern for our communities. As at 16 August, the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) reported 132 cases of COVID-19 in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons1.

In recent times, we have seen cluster outbreaks occur in Queensland, where people have had one or more symptoms and have carried on with their daily lives.

Using this as an example, we must remain proactive about prevention and encourage people with symptoms of COVID-19 to be tested.

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Remember the symptoms At the time of writing, Queensland Health declare the following symptoms as reasons to be tested for COVID-19: shortness of breath fever cough sore throat fatigue runny nose loss of smell and or taste.

Take the test A health worker will conduct a test by swabbing your nose or throat and/or collecting any mucus that is coughed up. A swab is a small piece of absorbent material on the end of a little stick, like a cotton bud.

The test shouldn’t be painful but may be uncomfortable for a small period of time. It is then sent to the nearest lab for testing.

It is recommended that you isolate while you wait for your results, just in case you are positive. Failure to isolate may see you infecting your family and your community, triggering a cluster outbreak. This is what we need to avoid, to keep everyone safe.

The results are in

If the results come back as negative, you no longer need to isolate, it is important however to keep at least 1.5m between you and others when in public spaces and practice good hygiene, including washing your hands frequently.

If the results come back as positive, you must self-isolate in a suitable location where you can separate yourself from other people to the best of your ability. If you do not have somewhere that you can selfisolate, you can ask your local health service or hospital for help.

Anyone that has had any contact with you, including family members and people you live with will also need to be tested and self-isolate.

While this might all sound scary, something as simple as taking a COVID-19 test will not only help your health and put your mind at ease, it could end up saving your family and your community.

Don’t be complacent, remind others of their responsibilities and look out for one another.

f wab or mob S | September/October 2020

References see page 33

f wab or mob S How are you tested for covid-19 ? + – A COVID-19 test is done by collecting swabs from inside your nose or throat and/or mucus that has been coughed up.

After you have been tested you will need to self-isolate until you receive your results which might take a few days.

Where to get tested?

To find out where to get tested, contact your local health service or call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Visit health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus Sector Leader M A G A Z I N E

| September/October 2020

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STATE ELECTION forfor Aboriginal and Health equity Aboriginal Health equity Torres Strait Islander peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples The Queensland State Election will be held on 31 October this year.

This provides us with an important opportunity to advocate on behalf of the Sector and to influence the next State Government.

This election QAIHC will be asking political candidates to: 1 Speak up in support of equity: Advocate for equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; support legislation that will ensure health equity; and address institutional racism in the health system by holding hospitals accountable to Health Equity Strategies.

2 Champion the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap: In partnership with Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the community-controlled sectors, implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. 3 Foster a culture of diversity in your community: Eradicate interpersonal and institutional racism.

4 Demand Health Reform: Create a health system that delivers high value, family centered care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders that is free from racism.

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Sector Leader M AG A Z I N E

| September/October 2020

5 Keep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples out of hospitals where possible: Devolve nonacute care to the ATSICCHO Sector and other culturally safe health care providers.

6 Establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Board: Commission a Board to oversee planning and to monitor and report on progress towards achieving health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (including the development of health equity accountability measures).

You can help by: Educating yourself on

what equity is and why it is needed in Queensland.

Talking to friends and family

about health equity.

Talking to your political

candidate about why equity is important to you.

Voting for parties that

reflect your views.

YOUTH HEALTH NETWORK INTRODUCING

Kieren Wiggins QAIHC Youth Health Network member

How old are you? 26 Who’s your mob? Kamilaroi born

The QAIHC Youth Health Network provides an opportunity for young people to come together and yarn about health and develop solutions for their health and wellbeing.

Primarily the Network will lead: the annual QAIHC Youth Health Summit the development and implementation of the QLD Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Health Strategy other policy initiatives.

and raised in Moree NSW.

Where do you work/ what are you studying? I work for Kalwun

Development Corporation which is the Aboriginal Medical Service on the Gold Coast. I manage and look after the Deadly Choices Team. I am not currently studying, but I do want to finish off my Certificate 4 in Business and complete the Diploma in the near future.

Why is it essential that youth are involved in discussions about their own health?

It is essential for our youth to be involved in these discussions as it allows them to be educated about their own health and what healthy lifestyle choices and changes they can make. It is also important to be aware of the dangers and risks that are associated with their general health, whether it be prevention of chronic diseases and education around sexual health. Education allows youth to ask questions about their health, to be able to make informed decisions around their health. It also empowers our youth who may have health issues to be able to educate those around them by telling their own story (e.g. someone who has been diagnosed with diabetes and must manage that daily).

Who inspires you? I have two

people who inspire me every day.

The first one is my grandfather, he inspires me to make positive change not only for myself but for my son as well and the community we come from or live in today. To educate and give back where you can and use life experiences to help others. He made some poor health choices and it’s inspired me to want to be around for years and years to come, to watch my kids grow up plus see the growth in our young leaders come through and be proud.

The other person who inspires me is Preston Campbell. I am very lucky to be able to work closely alongside this man, his passion and desire drives me to always want to give back and encourage our youth to be healthy and better role models.

What is your role in the QAIHC Qld Youth Health Network?

To have input to help build our Youth Health Network, being included in the decision making and co-design to produce a strategy/ template to assist the needs of young people by young people.

Sector Leader M A G A Z I N E

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WITH

SANDY ROBERTSON WORKFORCE COORDINATOR, QAIHC

Changes to the COVID-19 Temporary MBS Telehealth Services GPs and Other Medical Practitioners The new MBS items are available to providers of telehealth services for a wide range of consultations, that are available to all Medicare eligible Australians.

As part of the Australian Government’s response to COVID-19, the telehealth items provided by GPs and Other Medical Practitioners have been updated from 20 July 2020, to ensure that patients receive continuity of care from a GP, other medical practitioner or clinic whom they have an existing relationship with.

The patient will be eligible for the GP and Other Medical Practitioner telehealth services if they have seen their GP, another Medical Practitioner or health practitioner (such as a practice nurse, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner) within the same practice at least once in the previous 12 months.

An existing relationship means the Medical Practitioner performing the service: has provided a face-to-face service to the patient in the last 12 months or is located at a medical practice where the patient has had a face-to-face service arranged by that practice in the last 12 months (including services performed by another doctor located at the practice, or a service performed by another health professional located at the practice, such as a practice nurse, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner) or is a participant in the Approved Medical Deputising Service program, and the Approved Medical Deputising Service provider employing the Medical Practitioner has a formal agreement with a medical practice that has provided at least one face-to-face service to the patient in the last 12 months.

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The existing relationship requirement does not apply to: children under the age of 12 months people who are homeless patients living in a COVID-19 impacted area patients receiving an urgent after-hours (unsociable hours) service patients of Medical Practitioners at an Aboriginal Medical Service or an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service.

What is a COVID-19 impacted area?

A COVID-19 impacted area is one where a person’s movement is restricted by a State or Territory public health requirement that applies to the person’s location. This includes patients subject to quarantine, and other restrictions intended to support infection control.

New patients of a practice New patients of a practice and regular patients who have not attended the practice in the last 12 months are encouraged to book their next appointment as a face-to-face attendance, and subsequent services may be provided by telehealth, if it is safe and clinically appropriate to do so.

Bulk billing requirements For GP and other Medical Practitioner services, it is a legislative requirement that the new MBS telehealth items must be bulk billed for Commonwealth concession card holders, children under 16 years of age, and patients who are more vulnerable* to COVID-19. *For more information visit mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/ publishing.nsf/Content/factsheet-tempbb

DATA ROOM Incidence1 Between 2010–2014 an average of

1696

Cancer

diagnosed among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Incidence ranks of selected cancers1 between 2009–2013 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

1

prostate cancer

breast cancer (females)

2

2

breast cancer (females)

colorectal cancer

3

3

colorectal cancer

prostate cancer

4

4

lung cancer

head and neck cancer

5

5

melanoma of the skin cancer

Lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer-related death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Followed by colorectal cancer, head and neck cancer, liver cancer and cancer of unknown primary site.

1

1

with all cancers between 2007–2014

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

50%

1

between 2012–2016

Relative survival rate3 of people diagnosed

Non-Indigenous people

lung cancer

Mortality1

This means… almost 5 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are diagnosed with cancer every day.

cases of cancer were

Non-Indigenous people

65%

Age standardised mortality rates2

In 2011–2014, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

for all cancers, Queensland between 2011–2015

2 3

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Non-Indigenous

231 169

1.4X

300 216

186 132

4 5

more likely to die from cancer than nonIndigenous people2

Rate per 100,000

Cancer Strategy collaboration In recognition of the growing and inequitable cancer burden experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in Queensland, QAIHC worked collaboratively with Queensland Health and Menzies School of Health Research to develop a draft Queensland Cancer Strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

The Cancer Strategy, once published, will set priorities and goals that Queensland Health, QAIHC and other partners can take to address the issue.

References see page 33

QAIHC General Manager for Policy and Research, Angela Young, co-chaired the Project Advisory Group that provided high level strategic guidance throughout the strategy development process.

QAIHC is committed to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in Queensland receive high quality, accessible and culturally safe cancer services and care through the development and implementation of the Cancer Strategy.

Sector Leader M A G A Z I N E

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21

Health Information Team Established in 2007, QAIHC’s Health Information Team (HIT) are here to provide a range of support for Member Services. HIT have adapted how they do business to provide ongoing assistance during COVID-19 engagement restrictions.

There are three main software tools developed

by PenCS:

CAT4

PenCS installation and administration (MyPen) The administration of systems access is particularly important in the healthcare setting.

Legislation such as the Privacy Act 1988 stipulates how health services must collect and handle health information. An integral part of robust data management is having policies and processes in place to ensure access to data systems is limited to people in appropriate roles.

Administration of users for PenCS systems can be done via the MyPen system. Services can elect to either administer their own account or have QAIHC administer their account. MyPen can also produce usage reports for each service including login history, login counts by user and total login counts.

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Sector Leader M AG A Z I N E

CAT4 translates coded identifiable information from the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) into an analytical platform where data can be interrogated by the QAIHC Member Service. This is based on monthly data collected from the EMR which has to be configured upon installation.

CAT4 operates a scheduler option which will automatically collect a data extract at any assigned time. CAT4 data extracts are de-identified and shared with PAT CAT.

PAT CAT PAT CAT is the data repository that QAIHC administers as the data custodian.

TOPBAR Topbar is a data quality tool which is used in conjunction with EMRs to improve the quality of items entered into the EMR. It can also be used to issue reminders for completion of clinical care items.

| September/October 2020

To complete an installation with CAT4 or Topbar, contact PenCS via their booking calendar pencs.com.au/support/onlinebooking/ You will need to provide your contact details and have the relevant written permission and/or IT administrator to install the software on the server.

For more information on the administration of users in PenCS systems, please contact HIT.

QAIHC Report Redesign Working Group Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey (August 2020) about preferences and suggestions for QAIHC health information reports. Survey findings from the Sector provided valuable knowledge and insights to help guide the future direction of health information reports produced

by HIT. Consultations are ongoing and additional opportunities to provide input will be communicated across the Sector.

Identifying patients eligible for a Mental Health Treatment Plan or Review A mental health treatment plan (MHTP) provides a structured framework for GPs to undertake early intervention, assessment and management of patients with mental illness, as well as providing clinical pathways focused on healing and recovery.

COVID-19 Temporary MBS Telehealth Services

Commencing 13 March 2020, new temporary MBS telehealth items were made available to help reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 and provide protection for patients and health care providers.

The new temporary MBS telehealth items are available to GPs, other medical practitioners, nurse practitioners, participating midwives, allied health providers and dental practitioners in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Data relating to use of these MBS telehealth items is now available in CAT4 and PAT CAT. MBS COVID-19 telehealth items: GP telehealth items

91790, 91800, 91801, 91802

GP telephone items

91795, 91809, 91810, 91811

Other Medical Practitioner telehealth items

91792, 91803, 91804, 91805, 91806, 91807, 91808, 91794

Other Medical Practitioner telephone items

91797, 91812, 91813, 91814, 91815, 91816, 91817, 91799

Nurse Practitioner telehealth items

91192, 91178, 91179, 91180

Nurse Practitioner telephone items

91193, 91189, 91190, 91191

The interrogation of clinical records using CAT4 provides a systematic way to achieve targeted patient contact which can be used to initiate preventative health services.

QAIHC Member Services can apply ‘CAT4 recipes’ to identify patients who are eligible for a MHTP or who are due for a review of their current mental health treatment plan.

The MBS Report Cards* produced by QAIHC for the April to June 2020 period were distributed to services in August and include the new MBS telehealth items. Data for COVID-19 testing across the threemonth period were not included.

CAT4 recipes can be found at help.pencs.com.au/display/CR/ CAT+RECIPES

Further information can be found on MBS telehealth services factsheets at mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/ Content/factsheet-tempbb

CONTACT DETAILS For all Helpdesk and general HIT enquiries, please contact the team at hit@qaihc.com.au or phone 3328 8500 * For Members who have an executed Data Services Deeds and Protocols in place with QAIHC

Sector Leader M A G A Z I N E

| September/October 2020

23

I Didn’t Know

I didn’t know how bad it was. I just didn’t know.

Parent learning about alcohol during pregnancy from a Gidgee Healing doctor.

Is Gidgee Healing the first primary healthcare setting to establish an FASD screening and diagnostic service nationwide?

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. Early identification can improve functioning for individuals and reduce costs to society. Gold standard methods of diagnosing FASD rely on specialists to deliver intensive, multidisciplinary assessments. While comprehensive, this method is not feasible in rural and remote areas where specialist services are lacking.

The Yapatjarrathati Project co-designed an innovative, culturally-sensitive, abbreviated neurodevelopmental assessment process known as the ‘Tracking Cube’. The foundation of the Tracking Cube is connection. It starts with a Dreamtime Story written by Dr Marjad Page, a Christian from the Kalkadoon, Waanyi, and Ganggalidda Nation groups and a Rural GP, and illustrated by Shirley Dawson, from the Eastern Aranda people of the Harts Range area, Northern Territory.

Across six tiers, it screens for neurodevelopmental problems, and where appropriate, provides structured decision support tools that allow GPs to make neurodevelopmental diagnoses such as FASD. Gidgee Healing has built the Tracking Cube into a larger model of care to support all children who might be developmentally not-on-track. The Gidgee Healing team have used the Tracking Cube to integrate with and extend a preventative primary health check (Medicare item 715). The Tracking Cube has helped practitioners to flag children who are most at risk, and to place them on one of five pathways of

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Sector Leader M AG A Z I N E

support for follow-up. So far, 233 children have progressed through this part of the Tracking Cube (ranging in age from 1 month to 17 years old). Of these, 19% have had suspected prenatal alcohol exposure and 58% have been screened as having at least one neurodevelopmental concern.

The Yapatjarrathati Project has uniquely involved: True partnerships between community Elders, health practitioners, and university researchers whereby multiple worldviews have been genuinely valued and integrated. The co-designed end product was a community-led solution to a health service delivery problem that Gidgee Healing staff were proud to implement.

An Aboriginal Health Worker led model of care, whereby health workers in primary care who know the families best act as the home point of coordination for supporting the children.

Ongoing support, whereby telementoring from experts in child development (child psychologists, paediatricians) occurred regularly with Gidgee Healing staff over two years. Staff at Gidgee Healing have now become local experts in child development, training their own staff going forward, resulting in a sustainable model of care that can continue to help children close to home for years to come.

| September/October 2020

Our vision is for every GP in primary care within Australia to efficiently and effectively manage developmentally not-on-track children. Co-designed with the local community, staff at Gidgee Healing, and university researchers, the Tracking Cube provides a blueprint that can be adjusted to accommodate unique needs of diverse rural/remote communities. Non-Indigenous settings can learn from this innovative, flexible solution to enhance outcomes for children nationwide.

Let’s work together so there are no more “I didn’t knows”.

This project has been funded by the Department of Health, FASD Diagnostic Services and Models of Care Grant H1617G038. For more information contact A/ Professor Dianne Shanley (d.shanley@griffith.edu.au) about the Yapatjarrathati Project, or Dr Marjad Page (mpage@gidgeehealing.com) about its implementation at Gidgee Healing.

POLICY

WITH

JENNY GILLETT SENIOR POLICY OFFICER, QAIHC

Optimal Oral Health

for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland It is QAIHC’s position that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should have: access to holistic, culturally

safe, timely, affordable oral health services that are close to home and include regular preventative and restorative treatment services.

access to culturally appropriate

oral health promotion to increase health literacy and enable informed and confident decision making for themselves and their family.

The problem

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience poor oral health earlier in their lifespan and in greater severity and prevalence than the rest of the population. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are also less likely to receive treatment to prevent or address poor oral health, resulting in emergency treatment.”1 Good oral health is paramount to achieving overall health and wellbeing. Implications of poor oral health include chronic pain, infection,

References see page 33

difficulty eating and poor nutrition, mental health and wellbeing issues, sleep disruptions, decreased work productivity, and associations with chronic diseases such as heart health and diabetes.2 In 2019, QAIHC spoke with Members about oral health services provided.

This information, along with a review of available literature, found that barriers to accessing oral health services in Queensland include: geographic location including food security cultural safety of services Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisations’ (ATSICCHOs’) financial capacity to deliver services availability of public health services health literacy poverty.

The solution To fix this problem, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples must have access to free, tailored oral health services that reach them where they are. Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) and ATSICCHOs should be supported to co-commission, co-design and co-locate services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within ATSICCHOs. In responding to community need, many ATSICCHOs have selffunded oral health services and/ or established partnerships with universities, HHSs or private providers.

QAIHC’s report: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Oral Health Care in Queensland showcases some of Queensland’s ATSICCHOs’ current oral health services.3 The Report shows that where oral health services have been embedded within ATSICCHOs it has proven to have greater community uptake, reduced access barriers, increased utilisation and had a direct impact on the level of periodontal disease and dental carries which risk chronic disease.

Improving oral health community outcomes and increasing oral health literacy will provide a return on investment through the early detection of chronic disease, reducing rates of potentially preventable hospitalisations and ‘failure to attend’ rates, reducing over prescription of medications and reducing the impacts of institutional racism.

QAIHC is advocating for regional network funding agreements with HHSs to include oral health funding, and for Australian Governments to work with QAIHC to identify policy and funding solutions that will address the evidenced need for oral health improvements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland in 2020.

For more information visit qaihc.com.au/media/37576/ 0069-qaihc-oral-health-carein-queensland_v10_f.pdf

Sector Leader M A G A Z I N E

| September/October 2020

25

RESEARCH & EVIDENCE

WITH

LEE YEOMANS RESEARCH OFFICER, QAIHC

Cohort study and preliminary findings The Queensland Murri Carnival (QMC) is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sporting event that unites players, spectators and officials from across Queensland. QMC 2019 saw a great year of intense rugby league competition with an estimated attendance of 23,500 across the four days.¹ An accredited Queensland Rugby League event, the QMC² is administered by the Arthur Beetson Foundation, and co-ordinated by the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health.

The Cohort Study

Two-month follow-up survey

QAIHC have been leading a Cohort Study³ (the Study) of the QMC to explore how Carnival participation as a player, spectator or official may influence levels of access to health services, along with knowledge and understanding of preventative health. Importantly, the Study also examines how involvement with the QMC over time may influence health-related perceptions and behaviours. These insights are vital for identifying the longer-term effects of health promotion activities designed specifically for and

by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Findings of the Study will contribute valuable data to inform and support evidence-based health promotion.⁴

Study phases

Participants were invited via SMS and email to take part two months after the QMC. Conducted in December 2019, participants were able to complete the survey online or in person at a QAIHC office (Brisbane, Cairns). A ‘thank you gift card’ was emailed to all eligible participants.⁹

Six-month follow-up survey Using a process similar to the Two-month follow-up survey, participants were invited to complete the Six-month followup survey in April 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, surveys were available online only. A ‘thank you gift card’ was emailed to all eligible participants.

Demographics snapshot

Baseline survey

Sex of participants

Pre-carnival survey⁵ When registering for the QMC, Team Managers were contacted (with consent) to invite players to complete a Pre-carnival survey. Teams who met participation thresholds⁶ were eligible for discounted registration fees.⁷

43%

On-site survey⁸

1%

Survey collectors invited QMC attendees to complete an Onsite survey, with the option of using a tablet or paper-based survey. Deadly Choices Merchandise was offered as a thank you for participation.

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34%

56% Prefer not to say

66%

36% 64%

Six-month follow-up (N=109)

Baseline (N=395) Two-month follow-up (N=116)

Feeling healthy, living healthy

Age range of largest group of participants Baseline

Pre-carnival

22-25 years

Onsite

Two-month follow-up

Other

26%

36-40 years

Other

15%

22-25 years

17% 93%

Other

17%

Six-month follow-up

Consistent with the strengths-based focus of the QMC, most participants rated their health as either Excellent, Good, or Very Good.

36-40 years

Other

20%

Table 1 715 Health Check in previous 12-months

Location of 715 Health Check Any ATSICCHO

Mainstream clinic

Unsure

Encouraged one or more persons to have a 715 Health Check

Baseline

84%

83%

16%

1%

87%

Twomonth follow-up

87%

75%

23%

2%

90%

Sixmonth follow-up

88%

83%

16%

1%

94%

Overall

85%

82%

17%

1%

89%

Health access and engaging in positive health promotion The majority of participants reported having a Health Check within the previous 12 months (Table 1).

The Baseline pre-carnival survey had the highest percentage of Health Checks reported (97%), as participants were predominantly players or officials.

Local ATSICCHOs were the preferred location for a Health Check Overall, respondents had a strong preference for having a Health Check at their local ATSICCHO (77%), with 5% of those who had a Health Check having it at an out of area ATSICCHO. Only 17% of respondents had their Health Check at a mainstream clinic, while 1% overall were unsure of the location of their Health Check (Table 1).

Overall

Most respondents* encouraged one or more people to have a 715 Health Check (Health Check) after having one themselves:

90%

Six-month follow-up

Baseline survey

The positive flow-on effect of having a Health Check

86%

Two-month follow-up

Rating (%) of health as Excellent, Good or Very Good

86%

Building on the knowledge gained Survey responses reveal high levels of engagement with participants over a six month period. The appeal of the QMC to a broad range of age-groups demonstrates the reach of the Carnival to positively influence health access and health literacy. With more than ¾ of respondents visiting their local ATSICCHO for a Health Check, the importance of the Sector for providing comprehensive primary health care cannot be understated. Preliminary findings also show that not only does having a Health Check benefit the individual, it promotes a protective mechanism by encouraging others to engage in primary health care. The inclusive nature of the QMC as a sporting and cultural event has proven to be a platform that supports healthy lifestyle choices through sport and positive health messaging. The ability of these influences to transcend players and also include officials and spectators of varying ages, physical ability, and health makes the health promotion approach unique.

The Study findings presented in this article are just some of the many interesting insights gained from the Cohort. More detailed findings and implications of the research will be available in publications that contribute to the evidence base needed to enable culturally appropriate health promotion. QAIHC is committed to supporting improvements in health literacy and access to health services and look forward to sharing project updates and further findings over coming months.

For more information, please contact the Study Team at research@qaihc.com.au

*In this article, ‘participants’ includes all those who took part in the survey and ‘respondents’ refers to those who answered this question.

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Human rights and discrimination

Human rights and discrimination

A guide for ou

r mob

A guide for our mob The Queensland Human Rights Commission has released a new guide to the state’s human rights and discrimination laws for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

The guide includes an overview of the protections offered by Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 and Human Rights Act 2019, and information on how to make a complaint. The Commission’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit hopes the guide will help answer some common questions from community and lead to more use of the laws to seek systemic change.

“The Human Rights Act only came into effect on 1 January this year, so it’s a learning process for all of Queensland,” says Unit Coordinator Jodie Luck.

“But there are specific rights that are protected by the Act which are going to be particularly relevant for mob, so we wanted to put out this guide to explain how those protections work and the types of situations they might be used in.”

Those rights include Section 28 of the Act – the protection of cultural rights for Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which includes the rights to maintain kinship ties, use language, teach cultural practice

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and maintain connections to country – as well as the rights to education, health services, the protection of families and children, and the right to recognition and equality before the law.

The guide also includes information on Queensland’s anti-discrimination laws and how to make a complaint.

“We usually receive a very small number of official complaints about discrimination from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, even though we know that most First Nations people experience discrimination on a very regular basis,” says Ms Luck.

The guide is part of a whole-ofCommission commitment to make their processes more accessible to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.

“There are several reasons why people might not want to make formal complaints about discrimination or vilification. Some of those reasons we can’t do anything about, but we’re working on changing those we can. One of the things we’re looking at is how to streamline our complaints process, to make that more accessible to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, for example,” says Ms Luck.

The Commission has also recently launched a new racism reporting tool to allow people’s experiences of racism and discrimination to be

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documented.

The tool isn’t part of the Commission’s formal complaints process but helps them capture information about the issues facing community. Unlike the formal complaints process, it also allows for anonymous reports, and for people who’ve witnessed acts of racism to report them.

Almost a third of submissions via the tool since its launch in June recount instances of discrimination towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.

To report an experience of racism or discrimination, or to read the guide, head to the Queensland Human Rights Commission website at qhrc.qld.gov.au.

For further information and assistance for your team or your clients, you can contact our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit.

Jodie Luck

phone 07 3021 9113 or email jodie.luck@qhrc.qld.gov.au Luke Wenitong

phone 07 4037 2104 or email luke.wenitong@qhrc.qld.gov.au

PROFILE

OWEN RICHARDSON WELLBEING COORDINATOR

Normanton Recovery & Community Wellbeing Service, Gidgee Healing

My name is Owen Richardson, I am a proud Tagalaka man from the Gulf of Carpentaria.

I have worked for Gidgee Healing for five and a half years at the Normanton Recovery and Community Wellbeing Service. I started off as a Wellbeing Officer then moved into the position of Wellbeing Caseworker and now I am the Wellbeing Coordinator.

I really enjoy working for Gidgee Healing because we are strongly committed to working with the Lower Gulf communities to develop local solutions to alcohol and other drugs (AOD) misuse and social and emotional wellbeing challenges that is damaging to all of our mob. I like that we have a strong emphasis on incorporating culture, tradition and connection to country to help our mob to heal.

I am very passionate about helping my mob and being a part of their healing journey, I’m also a big believer in advocating for my

community and my mob when they don’t have a voice or if they haven’t found their voice just yet.

From the first day I started with Gidgee Healing I have felt like they have really supported me in up skilling myself. I first got my AOD Certification IV and now I have recently completed my Diploma of Leadership and Management through Gallang Place. I have also completed my Mental Health Certificate IV with Gallang.

I am looking forward to taking up more training opportunities that will benefit, support and help the communities and my mob who I work with.

I am very passionate about helping my mob and being a part of their healing journey...

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COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING

WITH EMMA CLARKE

MANAGER, COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING, QAIHC

Internal communications Often the lesser known or focused communication channel, internal communications would have more than likely become the star over the past few months due to the situations COVID-19 has created for the workplace.

Its relevance in teamwork and business continuity has been highlighted and emphasised more than ever.

What is internal communications, and why is it important?

Internal communication can be exchanged through such means as face to face, telephone, email, intranet or employee communication platforms.

Without internal communication, you open your workplace up to: divides between internal departmental teams workplace gossip ineffective customer service with customers/clients/affiliates being aware of special events, opportunities etc. before staff.

These generally, stem from: outdated or non-existent communication methods working in silos leaders with conflicting messages external communication focus a lack of transparency ‘too busy’ environments or mindsets.

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Internal communication fosters transparency, a sense of belonging, importance and contribution. Not only does it keep a consistent message to all staff across the organisation, it fosters the belief and opportunity to be transparent and open; it is a gateway to trust and honesty.

There are four types of internal communications: Vertical—Communication between staff members on different hierarchical positions.

Downward—Communication from managers or leaders to employees.

Upward—Communication from employees to managers and leaders.

Horizontal—Communication between individuals on the same hierarchical positions.

If your workplace has been forced into working remotely, as many businesses around the country, reliance on internal communication methods have greatly improved. QAIHC for example started using Microsoft Teams and created virtual networking opportunities for employees to check in and get to know each other on a more personal level, this technology also allowed for teams to cross communicate and keep personalprofessional relationships in touch.

If your workplace was still moving forward but with changed conditions including an increase in emails, bulletins, teleconferences, webinars etc., it was providing those in a clinical setting the opportunity to receive as much information as possible— extending from the top down approach.

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As we shift through another phase of COVID-19 towards a ‘new’ normal, take some time to reflect on the communication channels and opportunities that have best served your business.

What changes did you make?

What worked? What didn’t work?

What can you keep doing?

Think about weekly team huddles, take the time to highlight both personal and professional achievements within the workplace—perhaps in a monthly newsletter or email from management or during a monthly morning tea.

Provide a central point for resources, knowledge sharing and more.

What to communicate?

You cannot over communicate with your employees, but it is important to know the difference between sensitive/confidential information and information that is important to progress the organisation forward.

Try communicating updates on the following with your staff: operational news relevant outcomes of board meetings discussions from management meetings relevant legislation upcoming events changes in policies and procedures staff movements (travel, appointments and resignations).

Now is a perfect opportunity to reflect on what internal communications means to your organisation and how you can continue to take your workforce on a journey together.

Let’s talk, we’re stronger together.

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), created by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is observed every year on 10 September. WSPD provides the opportunity for people across the globe to raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention. Joining together is crucial to preventing suicide and everyone can contribute.

Many people with mental illness are not affected by suicidal thoughts and not all people who attempt or die by suicide have a mental illness.

The causes of suicide are complex and there is no single reason why a person attempts or dies by suicide. However, mental illness is a recognised risk factor for suicidal behaviour.

Early identification and intervention play an important role in managing suicide risk.

There are a range of activities that everyone can get involved in to support WSPD. You can:

R U OK? Day is held on 10 September each year. It is a national day of action when we are reminded that every day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” Regardless of where we live, or who our mob is, we can all go through tough times; times when we don’t feel great about our lives or ourselves.

That’s why it’s important to always be looking out for each other.

By asking and listening, we can help those we care about feel more supported and connected, which can help stop them from feeling worse over time.

The R U OK? campaign includes a number of resources like videos, written stories, social media tiles, posters and a conversation guide. Three simple ways to support the campaign are to: 1. visit the website and download the resources today

Yarning and listening helps

“Sometimes, all we can do is listen . Sometimes, that might be all someone need s, or it might be the first impo rtant a much longer journ step for them towards ey.”

participate in the World Suicide Prevention Day

2. share the resources with your community

light a candle near a window at 8pm in support

3. share how you’ve used the resources on social media with the hashtag #RUOKstrongertogether.

– Cycle Around the Globe

connect with IASP on Facebook or Twitter.

To find out more about these activities and other ways you can be involved in WSPD each year visit iasp.info/wspd2020/

#RUOKstronger together ruok.org.au/str ongertogether

To find out more visit ruok.org.au/strongertogether

Support and information about suicide prevention: Lifeline on 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (up to age 25) National Indigenous Critical Response Service on 1800 805 801 or visit thirrili.com.au/nicrs Information about mental health is available at Beyond Blue beyondblue.org.au Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services available at NACCHO Member Services and

headspace’s Yarn Safe headspace.org.au/yarn-safe

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Deadly reading and viewing WellMob In My Blood It Runs (2019) Director: Maya Newell

Dujuan is a ten-year-old childhealer, a good hunter and speaks three languages. As he shares his wisdom of history and the complex world around him we see his spark and intelligence.

Yet Dujuan is ‘failing’ in school and facing increasing scrutiny from welfare and the police.

As he travels perilously close to incarceration, his family fight to give him a strong Arrernte education alongside his western education lest he becomes another statistic. We walk with him as he grapples with these pressures, shares his truths and somewhere in-between finds space to dream, imagine and hope for his future self.

wellmob.org.au WellMob brings together online resources made by and for our mob including websites, apps, podcasts, videos, social media, online counselling and online programs with a focus on social and emotional wellbeing.

The website is designed for all frontline health and wellbeing workers, including: community health and wellbeing workers mental health workers family support education and youth services.

WellMob was developed by eMHPrac (e-mental health in practice) in collaboration with the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.

For more information visit inmyblooditruns.com

Community Portal aodknowledgecentre.ecu.edu.au/learn/ elders-and-community

Guwayu – For All Times (2020) Editor: Jeanine Leane Guwayu — For All Times is a collection of First Nations poems collected over the past 16 years, and is a radical literary intervention for its breadth of representation, temporal depth and diversity of language.

This fiercely uncensored collection features 61 poems from First Nations poets in 12 First Nations languages, and together they are an exquisite expression of living First Nations culture. Journey through a range of poetic forms from lyric, confessional, protest, narrative and song, showcasing new voices and established poets.

Guwayu is edited by Wiradjuri poet, Dr Jeanine Leane, produced by Red Room Poetry, a leading arts organisation committed to making poetry in meaningful ways.

For more information visit magabala.com 32

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The Community Portal on the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet Alcohol and Other Drugs Knowledge Centre has recently been updated to better meet the information needs of Elders and community members working to reduce harms from alcohol and other drug (AOD) use in their communities.

The portal has refreshed its content with a focus on strength-based resources, information on healing and trauma, and up front, factual information on mental health and addiction.

The collection of health promotion resources for each topic has a visual format which is easy to use and navigate.

The expanded content on the Community Portal includes more information on events, courses, funding and programs to support community members who may be seeking training, resources, or services to address AOD issues in their community.

EVENTS CALENDAR

Significant Events

QAIHC Member Events

September

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

2 September

Indigenous Literacy Day

7–11 September

Women’s Health Week

8 September

Anniversary of Neville Bonner’s Maiden Speech

10 September

R U OK? Day/ World Suicide Prevention Day

13 September

Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

October

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October

Mental Health Month

10–18 October

Queensland Mental Health Week

10 October

World Mental Health Day

13 November

World Kindness Day

14 November

World Diabetes Day

1 December

World AIDS Day

3 December

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

QAIHC has decided to postpone all events until further notice.

Keeping our Sector safe is our number one priority. We will be in contact about dates for QAIHC events when it is safe to do so.

We apologise for any inconvenience, if you have any questions please contact the Communication and Marketing Team at communications@ qaihc.com.au

References page 14 Food Security:

1. United Nations. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25.1 https://www.un.org/en/ universal-declaration-human-rights/(Accessed on 30/06/2020) 2. Brimblecombe, J., Bailie, R., van den Boogaard, C., Wood, B., Liberato, S. C., Ferguson, M., Coveney, J., Jaenke, R., & Ritchie, J. (2017). Feasibility of a novel participatory multi-sector continuous improvement approach to enhance food security in remote Indigenous Australian communities. SSM – population health, 3, 566–576.

page 16 COVID-19 testing:

1. The Department of Health. COVID-19. Australia: Epidemiology Report 21 (page 26). Available at: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/ publishing.nsf/Content/1D03BCB527F40C8 BCA258503000302EB/$File/covid_19_australia_ epidemiology_report_21_fortnightly_reporting_ period_ending_19_july_2020.pdf

page 21 Data Room:

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2019.

Cancer in Australia 2019. Cancer series no.119. Cat. no. CAN 123. Canberra: AIHW.

2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018.

Cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Cat. No. CAN 109. Canberra: AIHW. 3. The relative survival rate is a way of comparing the survival of people who have a specific disease with those who do not, over a certain period of time.

This is usually five years from the date of diagnosis or the start of treatment for those with the disease.

The relative survival rate shows whether the disease shortens life.

page 25 Optimal Oral Health:

1. National Oral Health Plan 2015–2024, page 55.

2. QAIHC (2020) Oral Health Care in Queensland, pages 27–40.

3. QAIHC (2020) Oral Health Care in Queensland

page 26-27 Murri Carnival Evaluation:

1. QMC 2019: 1–5 2019, Albany Creek Crushers J.R.L.F.C, South Pine Sports Complex, Cribb Road, Brendale, Queensland 4500.

2. The QMC promotes culture, connection and identity.

The event also focuses on improving health and wellbeing outcomes through healthy lifestyle messaging and is drug, smoke, alcohol, and sugar free.

3. HREC approval number 1800001180.

4. The Study was open to Aboriginal and Torres Islander people over 18 years of age involved in the 2019 QMC as a player, spectator or official.

Participation was voluntary and involved the completion of a paper-based or online survey.

Individual responses were not linked over the data collection time-points.

5. Pre-carnival participants included predominantly players and officials.

6. Officials and players must have an up-to-date 715 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Check to participate and be enrolled to vote. Young players need a 90% school attendance rate.

7. Incentives were offered at each data collection interval. Depending on the type of eligible participant (e.g. player or spectator), and stage of the QMC and Study, incentives ranged from discounted team registration fees, to Deadly Choices Merchandise and gift cards.

8. On-site participants excluded those who had completed the Pre-carnival survey and were predominantly spectators.

9. Gift cards were posted to participants who did not have an email address (n=2).

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QAIHC Board Members

Gail Wason Chairperson

Sue Andrews Deputy Chairperson

Stella TaylorJohnson South East Queensland Director

Gary White South West Queensland Director

Thalep Ahmat Central Queensland Director

Dallas Hure Far North Queensland Director

Dr Steve Hambleton Independent Director

QAIHC Members Members

Galangoor Duwalami Primary Healthcare Service

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Mackay Ltd Apunipima Cape York Health Council

Mamu Health Service Limited

Gidgee Healing

Mudth-Niyleta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation

Girudala Community Co-Operative Society Ltd

Mulungu Aboriginal Corporation Primary Health Care Service

Gladstone Region Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Service (GRAICCHS) T/A Nhulundu Health Service

North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health NPA Family & Community Services Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation

Bidgerdii Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service

Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement Co Ltd Goondir Health Services

Carbal Medical Services

Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Services

Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service Aboriginal Corporation

Wuchopperen Health Service

Charleville and Western Areas Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Community Health Limited Cherbourg Regional Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Service Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health

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Injilinji Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Children & Youth Services Kalwun Health Service Kambu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health

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Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health

Regional Members Institute for Urban Indigenous Health Northern Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Alliance

www.qaihc.com.au