Issue 3

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