VACCHO SPRING 2013

VACCHOs Education and Training Unit (ETU) winner of the Private RTO Award 2013 Wurreker Awards.

news Spring 2013

Carol Williams and Tammy Chatfield with the 2013 Wurreker Award

Training. In October, the

performance in their chosen areas

Training Unit (ETU) is very

Victorian Aboriginal Education

of knowledge and expertise. They

recognition and nominations at

(VAEAI), in partnership with

VACCHO’s Education and proud to announce our

Association Incorporated

the recent Wurreker Awards.

the Victorian Department of

The ETU was nominated in two of the Wurreker Award categories.

Tammy Chatfield was shortlisted as Trainer/Educator of the Year, and again this year we have been successful in winning the Private RTO of the Year Award (first in 2009, 2012 and 2013).

Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) celebrated the 10th Anniversary Awards in a significant ceremony at the Northcote Town Hall, Melbourne.

also recognise and celebrate training providers and community organisations who have made a positive and significant contribution towards the education and training of Koori individuals and communities.

The event was attended by 230 people, including nominees, invited guests, and the Hon. Peter Hall, Minister for Higher

The Awards are held annually

Education and Skills and the

to celebrate the success

Teaching Profession. The awards

of the Koori community in

acknowledge individuals who

Vocational Education and

have demonstrated exceptional

Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc. VACCHO is the peak body for Aboriginal Health in Victoria.

Vibrant, healthy, self-determining Aboriginal communities

Tammy Chatfield was shortlisted as Trainer/Educator of the Year.

New courses coming soon in 2014 (applying for scope) • Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (AoD) • Diploma of Counselling Congratulations to Jason Saunders. Awarded a Certificate III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care and is now the Practice Manager at Winda Mara Aboriginal Cooperative. His current position has allowed him to undertake study in Certificate IV in Frontline Management.

• Aged Care • Home and Community Care • Disability

For more information training@vaccho.com.au

Contents 02 VACCHOs Education and Training Unit (ETU) winner of the Private RTO Award 2013 Wurreker Awards.

04 Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association open new building 06 Australasian HIV/AIDS & Sexual health conference 08 Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) celebrate their new building 10 Latest results from the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 11 Around the Traps 2

VACCHO NEWS Autumn 2013

About Education and Training Unit Overview • Aboriginal owned and controlled • Three-time Wurreker Award Winner (Private RTO of the Year) • Growing student enrolments in diverse programs • Operating for over 10 years

Commercial activity • Cultural Safety Training • Mental Health Frst Aid – varieties • Customised short courses

Qualifications on Scope

Who we support in the workforce

BSB40507 - Certificate IV in Business Administration

• Aboriginal Health Workers (AHW) in both Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO) and mainstream settings

BSB40807 - Certificate IV in Frontline Management BSB41007 - Certificate IV in Human Resources BSB51107 - Diploma of Management CHC40512 - Certificate IV in Mental Health HLT33212 - Certificate III in Aboriginal and-or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care HLT42312 - Certificate IV in Population Health HLT43907 - Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (Practice) HLT44007 - Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health (Community Care)

• Koori Maternity Services • Social and Emotional Well Being Workers • Improving Care for Aboriginal Patients (ICAP) Workers – Aboriginal Health Liaison Officers and Koori Maternity Health Liaison Officers • In Home Support Workers • Outreach Workers • Tobacco Action Workers • Healthy Lifestyle Workers Registered Training Organisation No: 20739

HLT52012 - Diploma of Practice Management TAE40110 - Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

VACCHO NEWS Spring 2013

3

Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association open new building

In October this year, the Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association (LEAHA) community celebrated the opening of their new building.

A number of VACCHO staff were very happy to attend and witness this significant occasion with members of the Lakes Entrance community. Special guests who spoke at the opening included the Chair of NACCHO Justin Mohammed, Chair of LEAHA Darryl Andy, Members of the Board, Aunty Lana Gordon, Aunty Phyllis Andy, and a Member of Parliament, Darren Chester. LEAHA Executive Officer Paula Morgan acknowledged the Gunnai Kurnai Traditional Owners, and she congratulated the hard work and commitment of the Board and all who took part in making the LEAHA vision become a reality.

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VACCHO NEWS Spring 2013

LEAHA began in 2004 as an Elders Group within the Lakes Entrance Aboriginal community. LEAHA directly influenced Gippsland Lakes Community Health (GLCH) to improve access to health services. From this unique partnership, Aunty Phyllis alerted the then newly appointed CEO of GLCH for the need of more culturally appropriate health services for her community.

“Our people were very shy of using the service and they would only come if there was a chronic illness they needed to deal with, but if there were other illnesses or ailments they would go unnoticed” said Aunty Phyllis.

Not knowing exactly where it would lead the GLCH Board embraced the development of specific health services and responded to Aunty Phyllis

and the needs of the Lakes Entrance community.

AHW, Allied Health Practitioners and Care

LEAHA grew a sizable membership and became

Coordinator. And extended hours program

an Incorporated Association. The Association

to improve clinic capacity to meet after

is now in a position to represent the Aboriginal community of Lakes Entrance in various consortia and networks including the Regional Aboriginal Justice Action Group, Yoowinna Wurnalung Healing Service, Djilay Ngalu Healthy for Life, Local Indigenous Network and the Gippsland Lakes

hours and weekend demand •

E-health video conferencing program capacity for GP, clinical staff and client to link with specialists for secondary consultations.

Community Health Board. LEAHA was successful in gaining funds to continue the Elders Community Connections Program and will be building on their Closing the Gap men’s health programs.

The new building which is located on the grounds of Gippsland Lakes Community Health has completely changed the landscape in the precinct. The Spirit Poles, the custom built Fire-Pit and Water Hole that surround the new building were designed to declare the joint commitment of LEAHA and GLCH to closing the health gap between mainstream community and the original owners of the land.

LEAHA has an impressive range of health care services now accessible to the Lakes Entrance local community including: •

A warm and welcoming reception and waiting rooms

•

GP/Clinic nurse and AHW consulting rooms

•

Dedicated office space for staff

•

Clinical space students training and education

•

Increased capacity for e-health such as conducting secondary consults with external specialists

•

Aboriginal Men’s and Youth GP clinic Healthy for life clinical data indicates low level of access to clinical services by Aboriginal men and youth

•

EO Paula Morgan remains confident that “what goes on inside this building, the support of the Aboriginal people of Lakes Entrance, both physically and socially, the provision of health services that meet these needs – that is the true achievement of the commitment and passion for the Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association”.

Together LEAHA and GLCH are committed to creating a practical and effective framework for strengthening reconciliation in the Lakes Entrance community. The LEAHA Board and staff are now equipped and excited to be improving and delivering accessible health and community

Aboriginal Chronic Disease Continuing Care

services to the people of Lakes Entrance and

Clinic - additional sessions held with GP,

surrounding district.

VACCHO NEWS Spring 2013

5

Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference During October the VACCHO

Sexual Health Team travelled with Aboriginal Health

Worker, Amy Russell from

Lakes Entrance Aboriginal

Health Association (LEAHA),

to Darwin for the Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference.

The Conference is an important forum for the Aboriginal health sector to share experiences, gain new knowledge and build relationships with other Aboriginal sexual health workers from ACCHOs and mainstream health services.

This year was important for the VACCHO ‘Sexy Health’ team as they were able to showcase the hard work of the team and our membership with the oral and poster presentations and through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sexual health promotion

HIV

exhibition. Peter Waples-Crowe, VACCHO Sexual Health Team Leader, and Kat Byron, VACCHO Sexual Health Project Officer, presented on HIV in Aboriginal people who inject drugs, and the strategies VACCHO Members are using to prevent blood borne viruses, such as HIV and Hepatitis C and other drug related harms.

These messages echoed the words that James Ward, Aboriginal convener of the Australasian HIV/ AIDS Conference, said during the plenary sessions about the rising rates of HIV in Aboriginal community members who inject drugs.

Every year the Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference launches the Annual Surveillance Reports for Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually transmitted Infections in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Aboriginal community members who inject drugs, to help reduce needle sharing and prevent HIV being transmitted through unsafe injecting.

New HIV diagnoses in Aboriginal people remain at similar rates to non-Indigenous people. However, a higher proportion of diagnoses in the Aboriginal population are due to sharing injecting equipment (13%), than in the non-Indigenous population (2%).

This clearly demonstrated the need for increased access to sterile injecting equipment for 6

VACCHO NEWS Spring 2013

Andrew Bamblett, VACCHO Sexual Health Project Officer, and Peter co-presented the

More about HIV issues from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective can be found in the HIV Australia issue (left) launched at the conference which focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HIV, sexual health and sexuality.

You can read it here http:// www.afao.org.au/library/topic/ living-with-hiv/HIVA-11-3_ Updated_251113.pdf

Sexual Health and Diversity Enterprise (SHADE) project, in which VACCHO and Family Planning Victoria have been able to support ACCHOs to run sexual health events that celebrate diverse sexuality in their communities.

Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) Sexual Health Team, Sandra Gregson and Kim Dick, presented on how VAHS cares for Aboriginal people living with HIV and some of the improvements VAHS has made to increase screening of Hepatitis B. In partnership with St Vincent’s hospital, VAHS is leading the way in the model of care they use to successfully demonstrate the great outcomes for Aboriginal community members in Melbourne.

The highlight of the conference was the GOANNA symposium, where Andrew spoke alongside other Aboriginal researchers in the first presentation of sexual health knowledge, risk behaviours and health service access of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

is coming to Melbourne in July

AIDS2014 is the International AIDS Conference that is held in a different city around the world every two years and is expected to attract 14,000 people including First Nations people from communities around the world. Globally, Indigenous people are over represented in people living with HIV/AIDS.

VACCHO Members are invited to come up with ideas and have input to the Global Village, a gathering place for Indigenous people and other populations, and the Indigenous Pre-Conference which will be

held in Sydney, to showcase our way of caring for Aboriginal people living with HIV, HIV and STI prevention and Needle and Syringe Program delivery. Scholarships and abstracts are now open at http://www.aids2014.org/ VACCHOs Sexual Health Team will keep you updated via the VACCHO newsletter and on the VACCHO facebook and twitter. If you would like your service to become involved in AIDS2014, please email Peter peterw@vaccho.com.au or Kat katb@vaccho.com.au VACCHO NEWS Spring 2013

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Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) celebrate their new health service

Mallee Distict Aboriginal Services recently opened their impressive new building located on the Orange Avenue site in Mildura on October 31 this year. The community of northwest Victoria is now home to a $4million brand new facility that boasts a whole new suite of rooms for staff and community to access as a ‘one-stop shop’ for Koori health.

The opening was quite the event that attracted around 500 people of all ages from the community and plenty of staff from other health services. MDAS CEO Rudolph Kirby, Aunty Lottie Williams, Mildura Mayor Glenn Milne, Member for Mallee Andrew Broad and Health Programs Manager Belinda Stevens from VACCHO were just some of the guest speakers who gave their congratulatory speeches on achieving the state-of-the art health facilities.

After the official opening and unveiling of the plaque, people were invited to tour the new health service followed by a healthy lunch, art and craft stalls, a basketball Shoot-out, sports games, and entertainment by the Kutcha Edwards Trio and local musicians Billy Brims and Cuz n Sam. 8

VACCHO NEWS Spring 2013

The new facility, adjacent to the existing Community and Family Services building, includes medical consulting rooms, rooms for allied health and Aboriginal Health Workers to conduct confidential business, counselling rooms, training and meeting rooms and separate office spaces. A representation of the ‘three rivers’ and communities served by MDAS decorates the corridor walls. The move will enable MDAS to consolidate administrative and service delivery functions and provide an opportunity to integrate health and community services. This will not only help to achieve better efficiencies, but also support a more holistic approach to service delivery.

The building is unrecognisable as a former tyre business. From the decorative panels on the external walls to the modern skylights streaming light to the ground floor, the building has had a complete make-over and is set to become the envy of many mainstream service providers and a recognisable landmark in Mildura. The Board and management of MDAS can be justifiably proud of how far the service has advanced over recent years and can look forward to a bright and productive future.

VACCHO NEWS Spring 2013

9

Latest results from the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey Jennifer Browne Public Health Nutritionist from VACCHO recently attended the briefing session at the Australian Bureau of Statistics on the latest results from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey. The Australian Health Survey (AHS) includes a nationally representative sample of around 13,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As part of the Australian Health Survey, the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (AATSIHS) commenced in May 2012 collecting information from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in nonremote and remote areas, including discrete communities.

in non-remote areas were living with three or more conditions) • The most commonly reported conditions were eye/vision problems and asthma • 70% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are overweight or obese compared to 61% of other Australians • Aboriginal people were 3.3 times as likely to report having diabetes (15% reported being told by a doctor they had diabetes/high sugar levels) • 43% of Aboriginal people had adequate fruit consumption (two serves/day) and only 8% had adequate vegetable consumption (5 serves/day)

• The proportion of people who have never smoked has increased from 30% in 2002 to 37% in 2012/13

More detailed data will be released in June 2014. This will include results from an additional 3000 people. In addition, results of a separate biomedical survey will be released in September 2014, as well as the results of the new National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey.

• Aboriginal people were 1.2 times more likely to be living with three or more long term health conditions (35% of Aboriginal people

For more information go to the ABS website: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: First Results, Australia, 2012-13.

Here are some of the key findings: • The gap in life expectancy is 10.6 years for males and 9.5 years for females

Help support Shannan Wright fundraise towards the Kokoda Trek – 96km across seven days

I am a proud Gunditjmara woman currently living in the Western suburbs of Melbourne, currently 10

working at VACCHO. My love and passion for culture and my people is my strength and it motivates me every day. I see and hear the negativity and issues that we face and I want to make positive changes in my community. Participating in the Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP) is a great opportunity to challenge

VACCHO NEWS Spring 2013

myself and further my personal development and leadership skills. I am very proud to be in this program and meet other inspiring leaders to create stronger networks across Australia. The Kokoda Leadership Trek is a key component of the IYLP. This is an opportunity for myself and other young leaders to trek the Kokoda Track in

Papua New Guinea and complete the fifth of six training blocks delivered over the two year program. Please help and support me on my journey!

If you would like to show your support and make a donation please contact Shannan at: shannanw@vaccho. com.au

Around the traps

Aunty Melva Johnson recognised as a Life Governor to Echuca Regional Health Photos by Jade Johnson

John Patten and VACCHO staff at Bunjilaka

Poleesha Pearl, Jason B. King, Christine Ingram and The Chad at the October Members meeting

VACCHOs staff celebrate 10+ consecutive years of service to the organisation

Ride to Work Day

SEWB Statewide Gathering, Phillip Island

Aboriginal Health Worker workshop

Co-Operative, Gunditjmara Aboriginal Co-operative, Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service, Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative and Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative.

An Aboriginal Health Worker (AHW) workshop was held in Portland on Thursday 28 November. The workshop provided an opportunity for AHWs to get together and discuss professional concerns and to hear how other services operate.

The forum attracted 35 participants, including AHW’s, Nurses and Practice Managers from Winda Mara Aboriginal

VACCHO staff Tammy Chatfield, Kelsey Wykes, Corina Pesich and Dree Ballardin spoke at the forum about Cert III and IV qualifications for AHWs and what’s on scope for next year, APHRA Registration, NATSIHWA Membership, Clinical InfoNet and data collection. Mavis Egan and Anne Munzel from Njernda

Aboriginal Corporation explained how they run their clinic, describing the roles of their staff and the programs they offer.

The feedback received was fantastic and every participant thought the workshop was useful. This wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of Annie Bertram, Kelsey Wykes and Janice Huggers in organising this workshop. We would like to send a big thank you to Dhauwurd Wurrung for supplying the venue and everyone else who was involved.

Launch of the Accreditation DVD

What is this DVD about?

This Accreditation DVD is about ACCHSs in NSW and Victoria

yarning about their accreditation journey and what this means to their Service. Although this DVD only covers the clinical and whole-of-organisational accreditation, additional accreditation frameworks may apply depending on the service delivery of the organisation. This DVD gives you a good introduction as to

what accreditation is, what’s involved and what support there is to assist you. We also hope that this could be used as an orientation tool for accreditation in your service.

For ACCHOs in Victoria seeking more information please contact VACCHO on 03 9411 9411 or enquiries@vaccho.com.au VACCHO NEWS Spring 2013

11

VACCHO Board of Directors Jason B. King: Chairperson Joanne Badke: Vice Chairperson

17-23 Sackville Street Collingwood VIC 3066

Marcus Clarke: Executive Member

P 03 9411 9411 F 03 9411 9599

Andrew Gardiner: Executive Member Rudolf Kirby: Executive Member Kevin Williams: Executive Member Daphne Yarram: Executive Member

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VACCHO Members • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Aboriginal Community Elders Services Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative Budja Budja Aboriginal Co-operative Cummeragunja Housing & Development Aboriginal Corporation Dandenong & District Aborigines Co-operative Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service Gippsland & East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative Gunditjmara Aboriginal Co-operative Healesville Indigenous Community Services Association Kirrae Health Services Inc. Lake Tyers Health & Children’s Service Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association Melbourne Aboriginal Youth Sport & Recreation Co-operative

E enquiries@vaccho.org.au

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If you would like to give us story ideas or comment on our newsletter please contact our Communications Officer Taloi Havini on 03 9411 9411 or on taloih@vaccho.com.au.

• Mallee District Aboriginal Services • Kerang Aboriginal Community Centre • Swan Hill & District Aboriginal Co-operative • Moogji Aboriginal Council East Gippsland Inc. • Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation • Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-operative • Ngwala Willumbong Cooperative • Njernda Aboriginal Corporation • Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation • Central Gippsland Aboriginal Health Services • Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd • Victorian Aboriginal Health Service • Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative • Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation

VACCHO News Spring 2013