39THE KOORI MAIL, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017. The Voice of Indigenous Australia

Health

ABORIGINAL smoking rates havedropped significantly over the past20 years, but the gap with non-Indigenous people hasn’t budged,and those in remote communitiescan’t shake the habit.

The latest report by the Australian Bureau ofStatistics showed the proportion of Indigenouspeople aged 18 and over who smoke fell by 22%over the 20-year period to 2014-15. And theproportion of Aboriginal teenagers aged 15 to 17who smoke also decreased from 30% to 17%.

Menzies School of Health Research professorDavid Thomas, who worked with the ABS, sayseach year more Indigenous people are quitting andfewer children are taking up the habit.

QuittersThe proportion of successful quitters rose from

from 24% in 2002 to 36% in 2014-15.Prof Thomas chalks that up to government

funding for anti-smoking initiatives since 2008,tobacco control policies, better access to supportservices and changing social norms.

But although Indigenous smoking rates arefalling, they are not improving at the same rate asthe wider community, so the gap is unchanged.

Prof Thomas said the successes were alsosignificantly greater in urban areas.

“In remote communities, where there has beenno significant improvement in smoking prevalenceor successful quitting, the report demonstrates thatincreasing numbers of smokers are trying to quitbut are not succeeding,” he said.

“More support is needed in remote communitiesto help smokers.” – AAP

NINETEEN more health workers havegraduated from adiploma coursedesigned for Aboriginal

medical service (AMS) staff. Many ofthe graduates were recognised at general practice trainingorganisation GP Synergy’s recentcelebration and awards night inDubbo, central-western NSW.

Jaime Keed, of Dubbo AMS,undertook the course to expand herskills as a practice manager.

“I’ve been able to network with stafffrom other AMSs, with differentexperiences and resources, so thecourse has given me a deeper

understanding of how successfulAMSs can operate,” she said.

“It has also provided me with theknowledge to implement aspects ofthe course into my workplace.”

GP Synergy chief executive JohnOldfield said the diploma was firstoffered in 2015.

“Opportunities”“The course seeks to improve

healthcare service delivery for localAboriginal communities, as well asincrease opportunities for doctorstraining to be GPs to undertakeAboriginal health training in acommunity setting,” he said.

“By encouraging and supporting

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderhealth professionals we’re playing apart in closing the gap between healthoutcomes for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.”

Dubbo AMS and CoonambleAboriginal Health Service chiefexecutive Tim Horan had three staffcomplete the course this year.

“The diploma is an opportunity forour staff to access best practicetraining in the delivery of culturallyappropriate health care,” he said.

This year’s graduates include stafffrom Aboriginal community controlledhealth services at Coffs Harbour,Campbelltown, Coomealla, Forster,Lismore, Tamworth and Wollongong.

THE launch ofAustralia’s firstAboriginalvolunteers hospital-based program is set to providemuch-needed

support to Indigenous mothersand families in Western Australia.

The Aboriginal VolunteerProgram aims to create aculturally supportive environmentfor Aboriginal patients at KingEdward Memorial Hospital(KEMH) in Perth.

In 2015-16, 19,531 womenattended KEMH as inpatients, ofwhom 1407 were Indigenous.

Aboriginal senior healthpromotion officer Janinne Gliddonsaid Aboriginal women who useKEMH often have special healthneeds. “Many women come fromregional and very remote areas.Some can stay for weeks ormonths at a time, and this can be a lonely, isolating and scarytime,” she said.

“The goal is that Aboriginal

patients at our hospital will feelmore supported in a culturallyappropriate way, which we hopecontributes to optimum health

outcomes for mum and baby.”Aboriginal women experience

disproportionally high health risksincluding increased risk of stillborn

babies, low birthweight babies andpreterm birth.

In WA alone, nearly 3000babies are born preterm each year

– about 1 in 12 pregnancies endspreterm. Rates of preterm birthamong Aboriginal Australians anddisadvantaged communities areabout double.

Women and Infants ResearchFoundation’s (WIRF) DebPortughes said the launch of theprogram represented a majormilestone.

“The program will focus ondeveloping and implementingAboriginal volunteers at KEMHthrough the already establishedWIRF Volunteer Program whichcurrently coordinates more than100 volunteers across a range ofdepartments and servicesincluding social work,physiotherapy, perinatal lossservice and nurseries,” she said.

“These volunteers will focussolely on Aboriginal patients atKEMH and will be an invaluableasset as they will be at thefrontline of patient interaction andable to provide feedback onvarious aspects of health care andthe volunteer program itself.”

Perth volunteers program is a firstWA

Deb Portughes, Glenice Smith, Jenni Curtis, Lisa Morrison, Anne O’Malley and Janinne Gliddon atthe launch of the new Aboriginal volunteer program. Picture: Mal Bruce

Ratesdown,but gapsame

Some of the health worker graduates from the latest GP Synergy diploma course.

More graduate from Aboriginalhealth worker diploma courseNSW

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