Minister vows to reduce suicide rate
In pointing out that Indigenous people are dying by suicide at twice the rate of other Australians, Minister for Indigenous Australians, Key Wyatt, vowed to use 'every tool at our disposal to have a substantial impact' on reducing the Indigenous suicide rate.
Minister Wyatt said "We know that there is a need to reach people in distress earlier to prevent the onset of suicidal behaviour. A focus on prevention and early intervention with a more integrated and compassionate mental health system is key."
The minister added that the National Agreement on Closing the Gap signed by governments last year created, for the first time, shared accountability, greater transparency and embedding working in partnership across all levels of government and the Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations. A commitment under target 14 of the agreement would lead to annual reporting from all jurisdictions on their progress to achieving eliminating the suicide rate among the Indigenous population all together, he said.
To view The Mandarin article in full click here.
$9m+ research funding for CAAC
The Australian Government is supporting nine Australian researchers with almost $62 million to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians by accelerating research knowledge and outcomes into health care and practice. Funded through the Government's Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), the 2020 Rapid Applied Research Translation (RART) Grant Opportunity is investing $216 million over 10 years and focuses on turning research findings into real health benefits that help Australian patients.
The University of NSW has been granted $9,967,326 for scaling up infection disease point-of-care testing for Indigenous people; The George Institute for Global Health has $2,410,958 for Implementing holistic burn care through a culturally safe integrated model; and the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation has received $9,760,245 for a research projected with the title Aboriginal prosperity through community driven translational research.
To view Minister Hunt's media release in full click here.
COVID-19's disproportionate impact on mob
New data shows Aboriginal people in NSW and the ACT have been heavily and disproportionately affected by COVID-19, amid concerns that even after two months of "surge" efforts in 30 Indigenous communities, vaccination rates will not be high enough to withstand further outbreaks.
10% of all COVID-19 cases in NSW and the ACT are Aboriginal and Islander people, meaning they have been affected at twice the rate of other Australians. In the past three months, there have been 7,000 cases, 700 hospitalisations, 80 people in ICU and 14 deaths among Aboriginal people, according to data from NACCHO.
To view the The Guardian article in full click here.
Door-to-door work by trusted local health workers to answer questions and counter vaccine hesitancy has been effective in raising rates. Photo: Dan Himbrechts, AAP. Image source: The Guardian.
Mary G asks KAMS CEO about COVID-19
Mary G has spoken with Vicki O'Donnell, Chair of the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia and CEO of Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS), asking the hard-hitting questions about COVID-19 and vaccination.
You can listen to the interview and read the interview transcript here.
Mary G. Image source: Mary G Foundation website.
Rising syphilis rates in remote WA
As syphilis cases continue to surge in WA, contact tracers say they are overwhelmed, with remote areas with high Indigenous populations of particular concern. Increased notifications associated with the outbreak of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) were first reported in the Kimberley region in 2014 and have spread throughout WA.
Health experts say while attention remains on COVID-19, syphilis rates are climbing without enough public awareness, especially among Indigenous populations where social stigma discourages people from getting tested. In the Kimberley, contact tracers are struggling to reach long lists of people who may have caught the STI. The infection can cause serious life-long health complications.
To view the ABC article in full click here.
Anne Clarke and Rosie Jack have been spreading the word throughout Kununurra that there's no shame in getting tested. Photo: Ted O'Connor, ABC News.
Close the Gap for Vision events
The University of Melbourne's Indigenous Eye Health is hosting the following two events over the next few weeks:
2021 Annual Update on the Implementation of The Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision report launch by Pat Anderson AO
with Professor Hugh Taylor AC - 11.00AM–11.45AM (AEDT) - Tuesday 16 November 2021. To register click here.
Sharing our Findings: Evaluating Regional Implementation of The Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision by Indigenous Eye Health - 12:00PM–1:00PM (AEDT) - Wednesday 24 November 2021. To register click here.
Image source: SBS News.
Benefits of community development
Leading economics firm, ACIL Allen, has undertaken a social and economic Impact Assessment of a national community development organisation delivering projects in First Nations' communities. It found the model has potential to deliver positive health, social and economic impacts for First Nations' people and significant cost savings for government.
ACIL Allen stated, "Community development activities have the potential to generate large amounts of cost savings for government, by reducing the reliance on government support, services and safeguards. This cost saving is significant, considering the cost of service provision for Indigenous Australians has historically been higher than non-Indigenous Australians."
The complete ACIL Allen impact statement on Community First Development can be found here and you can view the related media release here.
Economic security boost for two ACCHOs
The Andrews Labor Government is supporting self-determination and increasing financial autonomy for Aboriginal organisations by releasing full ownership of five more properties back to the community. Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams has announced that the latest group of properties owned by Aboriginal organisations have had their first mortgages removed as part of the First Mortgage and Community Infrastructure Program.
These properties include Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative's main office, which includes their health service, in North Geelong; and Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation's office plus two other properties housing their services in Heywood. The removal of these mortgages gives Aboriginal communities rightful control of their assets and brings the total number of properties with mortgages lifted under the program to 30.
To view the media release in full click here.
Image source: City of Greater Geelong website.
New process for job advertising
NACCHO have introduced a new system for the advertising of job adverts via the NACCHO website and you can find the sector job listings here.
Click here to go to the NACCHO website where you can complete a form with job vacancy details - it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.
Perinatal Mental Health Week
This year between the Monday 7 and Saturday 13 November, Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) is celebrating Perinatal Mental Health week. Since 2005 PANDA has been leading the perinatal mental health sector in promoting the week to help our community better understand perinatal mental illness, including signs to look for and where to go to seek support.
The theme for this year is "breaking down barriers". In the last 12 months, PANDA has seen:
- 51% increase in callers to PANDA's Helpline.
- 57% of callers are citing stressful life events as their reason for reaching out for help.
- More pregnant callers reaching out for help - 75% are either pregnant with their second or third child.
- Significant increase in the number of callers with babies under 1 month of age (12% in 2019-20 to 26% in 2020-21).
Many may think the statistics are alarming, PANDA sees the increase in demand as positive progress, as it means more families in Australia are no longer trying to manage alone. These families are breaking down barriers created by the stigma that surrounds perinatal mental illness to get the support they need. PANDA is incredibly proud of all the people who have reached out to us.
For more information click here.
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