Success Stories in Indigenous Health

This 19-page publication from Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) describes fifteen projects, clinics, and scholarship programmes that are designed to close the healthcare gap between the 3 percent population of Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders and the remaining 97 percent of the Australian public. The work of these organisations supports ANTaR's action plan, including delivering healthy lifestyle programmes and removing barriers to obtaining healthy food, which can cost up to 180 percent more in remote areas. Among individual sections with their organisation titles and some communication-related strategies are the following:

• Apunipima Cape York Health Council - The Council's Family Well Being programme works to help people identify their strengths, so that they are then challenged to determine the changes they want to make in their lives and with their families. The programmes intend to foster empowerment and control to aid in addressing the social determinants – or underlying causes - of health and well-being for Indigenous Australians.
• Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Services - The Mums and Babies Programme provides a welcoming clinical environment that invites in indigenous women early in their pregnancies, building trust that supports talking about issues such as smoking, alcohol, and healthy eating.
• Jalaris Aboriginal Corporation - This organisation started with a low-cost food and clothing store, followed by a commercial kitchen in a Drop-In Centre to provide mothers and children with healthy meals. Through building relationships with families, it can encourage healthy eating and school attendance among formerly truant children.
• Yarra Valley Community Health Service - Through involving community elders in decisions, this programme started working on nutritional issues in schools and then developed a programme in which women met regularly to cook dinner to take home to their families. This was followed by a shopping/cooking and budgeting skills programme, and then a community gardening programme to improve nutrition for families and children and educate women for ongoing behaviour changes in family nutrition.
• Murdi Paaki Regional Housing Corporation - The Healthy Housing Worker programme gives education and skills training, as well as tools to local community members to upgrade housing and sanitation, called "health hardware" by programme advocates because of resulting improvements in health indicators.
• Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service and the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH) - Research among aboriginal drug users resulted in a community guide: "I Want to be Heard", which describes issues of racism and drug abuse, recommendations, emergency treatment, and contact details for available services.
• Mt Theo - Yuendumu Substance Misuse Aboriginal Corporation - Local Warlpiri Elders decided to put an end to petrol or gasoline sniffing by sending abusers to the Jaru Pirrjirdi (strong voices) programme, where elders provide cultural healing and coordinate outdoor activities such as gardening and traditional hunting.
• Blackout Violence - To launch this violence prevention programme, players from 85 rugby league teams took to the field at the 2004 NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout wearing purple armbands to show their opposition to family violence and sexual assault against women. 2,000 Blackout Violence kits were handed out to players and spectators throughout the four-day carnival, containing information on how to prevent violence and where to get help. A training manual has been developed to support Indigenous communities address violence in all its forms – domestic violence, community violence and other forms of violence, such as bullying.
• Yorgum Aboriginal Family Counselling Service - In 1991, a group of Aboriginal women’s refuge workers came together and established an Aboriginal Counselling Course, resulting in this counselling service addressing Aboriginal needs. An additional programme offers family tracing and support and reunions for Aboriginal people separated from their family though past government policies
• Nunkawarrin Yunti Aboriginal Health Service - This gambling awareness programme launched "Risky Business" – a 14-track CD – of innovative song writing and recording program, involving more than 100 young people in Adelaide and regional centres across South Australia.
• Marie Stopes International Australia - Youth ‘snake charmers’- also known as peer sellers – increase awareness amongst indigenous young people about the dangers of unprotected sex and buy condoms in the colours of the Aboriginal flag at a subsidised price for sale to peers, keeping any profits that they make from their sales. The project planning began with a conversation with community Elders.
• Educare: Gnibi College, Southern Cross University - We Al-li, a programme in healing from trauma, is delivered as a series of activities, workshops, and recreation, which promote spiritual, cultural, physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing for individuals, families, and social groups at this indigenous university. Gnibi runs a Certificate Level 4 of Indigenous Therapies; an undergraduate degree in Trauma and Healing; and a Masters level degree in Indigenous Studies (Wellbeing), and post-graduate studies.
• Shalom Gamarada Ngiyani Yana Scholarship Program: University of New South Wales - The university scholarship programme is funded by the proceeds of Shalom Gamarada Ngiyani Yana, an annual sale and auction of work by acclaimed Aboriginal artists. The scholarship is also supported by private donors and corporate sponsors.