IISSUE
03 This issue Birthday Wishes P.1 Child Health Checks P.2
Visiting Specialists Dates:
Anxiety and Worries P.3 Webster Pak Notice/ Men's Shed P.4 Bringing Them Home P.5 Specialists Explained P.6 Child Immunisations P.7 Breakaways Bolt P.8 Upcoming Events/New Employees P.9
DOCTORS:
13th – 17th - August Dr McDonald
Happy ‘60th’ Birthday Robin Walker!
27th – 31st August Dr Martin
SPECIALISTS:
Let’s
13th – 14th August
celebrate
Psychologist 27th – 31st August Dentist
all the wonderful things that make you so special — not just on your special day, but on every day of the year!
U mo o n a T j u t a g ku H e a l t h S e rvi ce A b o ri g i n a l C o rp o ra t i o n ICN 7460 Lot 8 Umoona Road Po Box 166 Coober Pedy SA 5723 Ph.: 08 8672 5255 Fax:08 8672 3349 www.uths.com.au
A wise old man once said don’t look back, look forward!
Happy Birthday from All staff at UTHSAC Page 1
An ancient saying goes: “A journey begins with a single step� UTHS has over the past 2
and that the percentage was
Torres Strait Islander
years tried to find out how
high. It was also important to
health
healthy the community is. In
find out how healthy the rest of
2010-2011 financial year a
the community was. In order
Public Health Masters degree
to find this out, the health
student did an audit of the
service has made it one of its
burden of chronic disease in
goals to increase the number of
our community for those 30
health checks for all members
years old and over. She found
of the community. We have
out that 57% of our clients in
been targeting children and
this age group have at least
adults alike so that should we
one chronic (long term)
find any signs of a long term
disease such as high blood
illness steps could be put in
pressure, diabetes, heart
place to prevent the full-blown
disease.
development of chronic disease.
While it was very well to find out who had these diseases
checks have tripled from 2010-2011 financial year to 2011-2012. This shows the commitment of our health workers to their community. This is just the beginning. We have taken 2 steps so to speak towards finding out how healthy our community is as well as putting things in place to stop long term or chronic disease from developing in thoe who are currently
The number of Aboriginal and
healthy.
Page 2
Anxiety and Worries> Sometimes people struggle
7.1% of men and 12% of
with anxiety and worries.
women affected.
Most people feel anxious and worried from time to time when faced with certain situations like exams, speaking in public or going for a job interview.
In Aboriginal Culture it is harder to diagnose anxiety with factors such as nonAboriginal clinicians’ language getting in the way; an underestimation of anxiety and
Sometimes anxiety is good
emotional distress facing
as it helps you get focussed
Aboriginal people and the
and be alert. But people with
significantly high level of life
an anxiety disorder feel
events and stressors that
worried or anxious most of
Aboriginal people face.
the time
on weekends and you feel really anxious please call Rural and Remote Ph 131465 or Crisis Care on 131611 or call at the local Hospital or visit a Doctor. Tina Doulgeris works for
Management of anxiety may
Medicare locals and can be
Some of the signs of an
include: the use of a traditional
anxiety disorder are ( for 6
healer; talking to a specialist
months or more most days )
mental health clinician;
to have feelings of lots of
excluding physical conditions
worries and anxiety; finding
that may make things seem like
it difficult to stay calm
an anxiety disorder; relaxation
during anxious moments; and
and breathing exercises;
Sometimes fears are normal
finding it hard to carry out
graded exposure and
and important (like the fear
everyday tasks due to
medication.
that gets you out of the way
anxiety.
psychiatrist Dr Nigel Cord Udy
you need to have 3 or more
who visits every 3 months and
of the following: Feeling
a female Psychiatrist Dr
restless or on edge; feeling
Adriana Lattanzio every 3
tired easily; having difficulty
months. Each can be accessed
concentrating; feeling
through a referral from the
irritable; having muscle
Doctor; Mr Chris Connelly also
tension; and having trouble
visits monthly as does
sleeping( restless sleep)
psychologist Alan Burns. Both
anxiety disorders effect 9.7% of the population with
Dora Mushongera and myself are mental health trained clinicians on 86723466.
of a train) but sometimes UTHSAC has links with a male
To have an anxiety disorder
. In Western populations
contacted on 86723013 or
worries, stressors, anxieties keep on going and people lose sleep and find it hard to function. At this time it could be good to talk to a counsellor, a friend or family member.
George Laslett
can be contacted through
Manager of Programmes and
Cynthia Avila or myself.
Policies, AASW Social
If no counsellor is available and
Worker
Page 3
Notice to Webster Pack Clients! Webster Pack deliveries will only be done on Tuesdays. Unfortunately if no one of legal age is home to accept the delivery we are unable to leave your tablets. It the becomes your responsibility to come to Umoona Health and collect your Webster pack at your convenience. Thank You for Understanding.
UTHSAC Men's Shed—Now Operating! The Men’s shed at the back of Drug and Alcohol has been completed. In this shed is a microwave, fridge, freezer, stove and kitchen area for men to get together and have a great feed. We’ve also got pool table, balls, cues; we’re setting up a TV, couches and have plenty of tables to yarn around. The shed will be open for Men’s
activities Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am. If you want to yarn, paint, play pool or just have some time out and watch a favourite DVD, come down and see us. If you are interested in any kind of training like basic computer; reading, writing and numeracy; or getting your L’s this can be arranged also.
More than anything we want to hear what you want to do; so please phone your ideas to robin Walker 86723466 or Patrick Larkins 86725056 or George Laslett 86723466 It’s just good to get together with mates and enjoy life.
We have put in for funding for a veranda area and extra craft supplies.
Page 4
Bringing Them Home - Who
are the stolen
generations?
The term “stolen generations” refers to the large numbers of Indigenous children removed from their families and communities through much of the twentieth century, many in ways which could only be described as stolen or kidnapped. The Bringing Them Home Report uses “forcible removal policies” to identify the authority under which children were removed illegally or through “compulsion, duress or undue influence”.
Link People with SA Link-up Services Link Up services provide support, guidance and assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people forcibly separated from their families and communities as a result of past governments’ laws, policies and practices, to trace and reunite with their families, including: • searching for and locating relevant records and files relating to the clients or their families • obtaining information on behalf of clients
• providing general emotional support and guidance • referring clients to professional counsellors, if needed, and managing reunions (including the pre-reunion, reunion and postreunion phases) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been successful in tracing and locating living relatives from whom they were separated.
Contact details for SA Link-Up Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc. 182-190 Wakefield Street Adelaide SA 5000 Tel: (08) 8223 5217 Fax: (08) 8223 6086
Useful websites Stolen Generations Alliance www.sgalliance.org.au
What my role is BTH counsellors provide a support service for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been affected, either directly or indirectly, by the removal and separation of children from their families, and those going through the reunion process. Counselling Services to the Community, clients & staff Outreach services to support Aboriginal people and groups unable to access services within the communities, Prisons, Hospitals etc Support and encourage people to recover from negatives impacts on their lives. Provide and assist to individuals/ family’s affected by or a result of forced separation of family members (Stolen Generation) To provide Advocacy and support for people those are assessing our services, I do referrals when our services cannot provide the appropriate services.
National Sorry Day Committee www.journeyofhealing.com AIATSIS www.aiatsis.gov.au BTH www.hreoc.gov.au/bth National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au National Library – Bringing Them Home online www.nla.gov.au
Page 5
Visiting Specialists
- Explained!
future”. AUDIOLOGIST
Hello to all our UTHS clients, your Clinic have had quite a few visits from various specialists recently. At times we may have 2 or 3 visiting specialists at any given time and you may have been referred to see all of them. We do not wish to confuse or distress you, our aim is to be able to provide the service that people in the city can easily access to you here in Coober Pedy without the added burden of having to travel far. Unfortunately, sometimes it just happens that the various visits from these specialists occur on the same days/week. The following lists of Specialists are just a few that visit UTHS Clinic regularly OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST An occupational therapist (OT) is trained in the practice of occupational therapy. The role of an occupational therapist is to work with a client to help them achieve a fulfilled and satisfied state in life through the use of "purposeful activity or interventions designed to achieve functional outcomes which promote health, prevent injury or disability and which develop, improve, sustain or restore the highest possible level of independence." For example: “To be safer at home and be able to physically do what a person wants to do. To look at lifestyle behaviours that can affect a person’s health now and in the
This is commonly know as the ‘Ear Doctor’ An audiologist specializing in identifying, diagnosing, treating and monitoring disorders of the ear. Audiologists are trained to diagnose, manage and/or treat hearing or balance problems. They dispense hearing aids and recommend and map cochlear implants. They counsel families through a new diagnosis of hearing loss in infants, and help teach coping and compensation skills to late-deafened adults. They also help design and implement personal and industrial hearing safety programs, newborn hearing screening programs, school hearing screening programs, and provide special fitting ear plugs and other hearing protection devices to help prevent hearing loss. PODIATRIST More often known to us as the ‘Foot Doctor’, Podiatrists diagnose and treat both common and more rare skin and nail pathologies of the feet. Podiatrists play an important role in maintaining the mobility of many elderly and disabled people, and others. This is achieved through the ongoing monitoring of foot health, in particular those with circulation problems and diabetes. ENDOCRINOLOGIST Endocrinologists diagnose diseases affecting glands including the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, ovaries, testes and pancreas. They recognize and treat hormone problems by helping to restore the balance of hormones. They take care of many conditions including
diabetes, thyroid disease, and osteoporosis and growth disorders. For Example a client with Diabetes may be experiencing trouble with their Hba1c (blood) results being high regularly, The Endocrinologist can there for give medication and or methods for that patient to start bringing their levels down. DIETITIAN Dieticians supervise the preparation and service of food, develop modified diets, participate in research, and educate individuals and groups on good nutritional habits. The goals of dieticians are to provide medical nutritional intervention, and to obtain, safely prepare, serve and advise on flavoursome, attractive, and nutritious food for patients, groups and communities. Dietary modification to address medical issues involving dietary intake is a major part of dietetics (the study of nutrition as it relates to health). For example, the Dietician can help you map out a diet plan that will help you be on the pathway on healthy eating. Now that we have given you a bit more of understanding on just some of Specialists that you may have to see regularly, we really would like you to take advantage of these opportunities and make the most of it as here at UTHS we cannot express how important it is for you to attend your appointment(s) so that you can go about your lifestyle in a healthy way.
Dannielle Harrison Outreach Worker Page 6
Protect your Baby Immunise NOW! Immunisation protects
pregnancy. When
children against serious
these antibodies wear
childhood infections.
off, the baby is at risk
Routine childhood
of serious infection.
immunisations protect
That’s why it’s so
against diphtheria,
important to
tetanus, whooping cough
immunise your new
(pertussis), polio,
born baby now, so
pneumococcal disease,
that they are
meningococcal C
protected against
disease, hepatitis B,
these infections.
Haemophilus influenzae
All parents must
type b (Hib), rotavirus,
provide a school
chickenpox, measles,
entry immunisation
mumps and rubella
certificate when they
(German measles).
enrol their child in
In the first months of
primary school. This
life, a baby is protected
is a document that
from some infectious
the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register once your child has completed their fouryear-old vaccine schedule. Speak to your Child Health Nurse Janine Le Bois or Trish Turner and they can get the information for you.
shows your child’s
diseases by antibodies transferred from mother
immunisation status.
to baby during
It is automatically provided to you from
Immunisation clinic is held every Wednesday afternoon.
Page 7
More Aboriginal Involvement in the BREAKAWAYS BOLT. In previous years much of
with a great tailwind out of the
the plan of UTHSAC inspired
the involvement of Aboriginal
Breakaways but from the Dog
COBRA ride to not only get
people in Coober Pedy in
Fence into Coober Pedy a stiff
involved in the BREAKAWAY
regard to the Breakaway Bolt
Southerly headwind.
BOLT but for that to be the
Kyle Aitken, COBRA rider
beginnings of the permanent
from Oodnadatta paced himself
bike club.
and after the 22km mark
At the end of the race the
began to cycle down the
riders lay on the ground
leaders one by one passing
gasping for air, muscles
early leader COBRA Josh
beginning to seize up but
Britton just near the finish line
proud that they had made it
in 2hours and 5 minutes.
and getting a baseline time to
Old Tjilpi COBRA George
beat in 2013.
Laslett finished in 4th place
Well done also to all the
followed by Trevor Hannes
UTHSAC volunteers who also
from Oodnadatta. Stalwart and
helped on the support
COBRA originator Patrick
stations. We were well
Larkins finished a further
represented and should feel
This year 10 Aboriginal
30minutes later but it was a
very proud of helping the
young people and 5 Adult
family affair with the Larkins
BOLT gain a record
COBRA riders competed in
family involved. COBRA
involvement.
the bike riding and walking
Andrew Dingaman
aspect of the BOLT.
and son Elijah
A COBRA rider took out the
battled on against
Ist, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th
the walpa pulka to
Male position and Laura
finish in 8th.
was in a voluntary capacity. UTHSAC provided bus drivers, support vehicles and crew as well as people operating refreshment stations. Following the COBRA ride to st
Oodnadatta 31 May to 2
nd
June 2012 where 10 Adults and 10 youth with a support crew of 10people rode the 200km of dirt over 3 days, there has now been greater enthusiasm for the BOLT.
Larkins took 3rd place for the female riders in the 35 km ride back into Coober Pedy. It was a difficult day
Windy, Gusty breezes made it exhausting work but it had always been
Page 8
Upcoming Events 
Breakaways Bolt Presentations - August 25th
Issue 03
New Employees to UTHSAC
Jacob O’Toole, is the research officer for a 6 week program called talking About the Smokes, you will see him around in the community taking surveys and gathering data for this research initiative.
Stacey Mibus has started as the new Medical Receptionist, and will be the point of Contact for your appointments and queries related to medical.
Page 9