AHCSA News | September 2012

AHCSA NAIDOC Open Day

Pregnant Aboriginal Women Are Stickin’ It Up The Smokes

AHCSA NAIDOC Open Day

NewsA H C S A

Mary-Anne Williams, Rohanee Cox and Frank (Deadly Dan) Parkes with the campaign banner for ‘Stickin’ It Up The Smokes’ at the Port Augusta Youth Centre

From the CEO 1

ABS Conducting Largest Survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

3

Hearing Women’s Birthing Stories 4

Pregnant Aboriginal Women Are Stickin’ It Up The Smokes 5

AMIC Workers Win Award 7

AMIC Trainees and Practitioners Gather at West Beach 7

SA Tour of Body Armour A Big Success! 8

AHW Training Promotes Awareness and Support of People with Cancer

9

Cancer Care Coordinators Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

10

AHCSA Celebrates NAIDOC with Inaugural Open Day: Adding a Culture of Health

11

Port Augusta Celebrates NAIDOC Week 13

Understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Skills and Training

15

Partnership has the Right Ingredients for Aboriginal Health 18

SA Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach 19

VACCHO Celebrates a Milestone 20

COBRA Ride 200 Kilometres for Aboriginal Health 21

AHCSA Members and Council Representatives 23

Welcome to the latest edition of AHCSA News.

Two exciting events have taken place for AHCSA recently. One was the development, publication

and launch of the ‘Stickin’ It Up The Smokes’ Campaign on Friday 25 May, which encourages Aboriginal women to become smoke free during pregnancy and deliver babies who have a healthy start to life. It was a wonderful night with great attendance. Mary-Anne Williams, Andrea Murphy and Damien Shen worked hard over many months to produce a resource that young Aboriginal women would use. AHCSA thanks the beautiful young women featured in the campaign materials. Mary-Anne organised a framed photograph of each of them as a thank you for their participation and this was presented to the women at the launch.

The other exciting event was the inaugural AHCSA Open Day in NAIDOC week on Wednesday 4 July 2012. The AHCSA Open Day Planning Committee did a wonderful job of planning and coordinating the event which produced a great turn out, great music and entertainment, as well as delicious healthy food. It was encouraging to see so many community people and partner organisations visiting AHCSA and having a look through the building to see our programs. The ‘clinic’ in the training room, which gave people the opportunity to get their blood pressure and blood sugar levels checked, was very popular. The Trachoma Team checked over people’s eyes and quite a few referrals were made to optometrists for general eye checks; and the ‘painting room’ proved to be a huge hit with visitors given the opportunity to leave their mark at AHCSA. Thank you to everyone involved for your hard work and commitment to making the day a success. We will have to follow up with another great event next year.

On a less happy note, two programs are being downsized due to less funding: the Trachoma Elimination Team and the E-Health Team. I would like to thank both teams for their hard work and commitment. The programs will continue for another year.

AHCSA Council of Members and staff continue to work on the development of the AHCSA Strategic Directions with a planned launch at the AHCSA AGM in December. It has been an interesting process for us this time as we decided to develop the document ourselves without an external consultant. The document will be 100% developed and owned by AHCSA Council of Members and staff so it

Contents From the CEO

Cover photo: Over 100 people immortalised their hand prints for the NAIDOC

open day art activity mural.

AHCSA News is published three times per year. Editorial and photographic

contributions are welcomed at any time from AHCSA members and associated

government departments and agencies. Please send your contributions to:

Aboriginal Health Council of SA Inc.

9 King William Road, Unley SA 5061 (PO Box 981, Unley SA 5061)

Tel: (08) 8273 7200 Fax: (08) 8273 7299

Email: ahcsa@ahcsa.org.au Website: www.ahcsa.org.au

Coordinated by Amanda Mitchell, AHCSA.

Edited and designed by Dreamtime Public Relations

Tel: (08) 8463 1904 Fax: (08) 8311 5211

Email: info@dreamtimepr.com Website: www.dreamtimepr.com

This newsletter is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process, either

in whole or part, without the prior written approval of AHCSA.

Enquiries should be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer.

Please note that the views expressed may not always be those of AHCSA.

This newsletter may contain photographs of people who have passed away.

Whilst every care is taken to ensure that the information contained in this

newsletter is accurate, errors and omissions can occur. We apologise for any

error/omission and ask that you report these to Amanda Mitchell for correction

in future editions.

Email: amanda.mitchell@ahcsa.org.au

will demonstrate transparency and accountability. This is an exciting time for AHCSA as it is our third Strategic Directions document since we became an Aboriginal community controlled organisation and reflects our growth as the peak body for Aboriginal health in South Australia.

Congratulations to Nunyara Wellbeing Centre which became an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service in their own right on 1 July 2012. Whilst they have been an incorporated body for many years, 1 July marked the end of their auspicing arrangement with Country Health SA Local Health Network. We would like to thank everyone who supported Nunyara Wellbeing Centre with the final transition arrangements; your time and dedication is appreciated by both the Nunyara Wellbeing Centre Board and the AHCSA Council of Members.

AHCSA wishes to acknowledge and pay our respect to people who have passed since our last newsletter, especially family of our Council of Members and Member Services.

Thank you for reading this edition and our next newsletter will be out in December.

Mary BuckskinChief Executive Officer

AHCSA News September 2012 21 AHCSA News September 2012

Eunice Aston

Roxanne Miller Jessica Reid and Emily Jaworek Deborah Fuschtei

Hearing Women’s Birthing StoriesAfter four years of consultation and preparation, the first Aboriginal Families Study interviews with women began in February this year. Since then, the study team has been sitting down with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women all across South Australia, listening to them talk about the care they received during pregnancy and afterwards with a new baby.

Women participating in the project are asked to meet one of the interviewers and complete a questionnaire. Many women have appreciated the chance to give feedback on the care they received, knowing it will be used to improve services for families of Aboriginal babies.

Women who complete a questionnaire are given a $50 gift voucher as a ‘thank you’ for telling us their pregnancy and birthing stories.

Deborah Fuschtei and Jessica Reid have recently set up an Aboriginal Families Study office in Port Augusta, and Eunice Aston has begun work in Murray Bridge and will be travelling to the Riverland and Mount Gambier to talk with women in those communities. The interviewers covering the Adelaide region are Donna Weetra and Emily Jaworek and across in Port Lincoln, Roxanne Miller heads to Ceduna and west coast communities on a regular basis.

If you, or someone you know, has given birth to an Aboriginal baby in South Australia in the last nine months or is currently pregnant with an Aboriginal baby, we would love to talk to you about possibly taking part in the project.

Call Donna Weetra, Fieldwork Coordinator on Freecall 1800 772 19; send Donna an SMS text on 0424 110 717 or talk to the Aboriginal Families Study research interviewer working in your community.

ABS Conducting Largest Survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has commenced the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health survey as part of the wider Australian Health Survey.

The survey will involve approximately 1 in 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in both remote and non-remote areas of Australia.

It will expand on previous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health surveys conducted by the ABS by collecting new information about what people eat and drink, how active people are as well as biomedical measures.

The new biomedical measures will reveal new insights into heart and kidney disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions by examining health risk factors such as cholesterol, glucose and sodium levels. Importantly, this will provide some information about the level of undiagnosed conditions such as diabetes.

The survey will be able to compare these biomedical risk factors with aspects of our lifestyle for those who are healthy and those who are not.

While the biomedical component of the survey is voluntary, survey champion Cathy Freeman encourages people to get involved as: “you will be helping your family, your community, and future generations to live longer healthier lives’.

The new components of the survey have been made possible through additional funding from the Department of Health and Ageing and the National Heart Foundation of Australia.

The survey will be conducted over 2012-13 across the country in cities and remote communities to create evidence to measure progress in improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and contributing to ‘Closing the Gap’ in life expectancy.

The first survey results will be released in September 2013 and will be used by a wide range of Aboriginal organisations, health researchers, public health advocates, government, clinicians and community health organisations.

AHCSA News September 2012 43 AHCSA News September 2012

Aunty Josie Agius and singers, comedians, dancers and musicians from Kurruru performing arts.

But perhaps the biggest celebrities on stage that night were AHCSA’s ‘Stickin’ It Up The Smokes’ ambassadors including recent mothers’ Josellyn Cleaver, Leilamarie Stuart-Likouresis, Renee Coulthard, Cindy Shen, Karisma Newchurch, Leanne Kerr and Zoe Saunders. Kristy Coleman, another ambassador, was unable to fly from her home town of Port Lincoln as she was nearing the full term of her pregnancy.

‘Stickin’ It Up The Smokes’ is the only campaign in Australia that is specifically targeted at decreasing smoking rates among pregnant Aboriginal women. It forms part of AHCSA’s maternal health tackling smoking project, which encourages young Aboriginal women to give up smoking during pregnancy.

Speaking at the launch, AHCSA Chairperson Yvonne Buza observed that quitting smoking can be really hard for pregnant Aboriginal women.

“With all the social, economic and environmental stresses in our lives as Aboriginal women, sometimes quitting smoking is the last thing on our mind,” said Yvonne.

“This is why over 57% of Aboriginal women smoke during their pregnancies in South Australia, resulting in too many Aboriginal bubs being born with health issues.

“Tonight we recognise that smoking during pregnancy is a serious business, and it’s about time we celebrated the achievements of some of our women who’ve been stickin’ it up the smokes during pregnancy.

“These women prove that it is possible to have fun, be cool, stay strong and be supported by family and friends to stay smoke free for the better health of our children.

“By ‘Stickin’ It Up The Smokes’ with AHCSA’s campaign, each of these ambassadors have been courageous enough to share their stories about smoking during pregnancy with all South Australian pregnant women.

“These women and their bubs are testimony to the fact

that a smoke free pregnancy gives our bubs a solid foundation from which to grow.”

Ambassador Josellyn Cleaver, a Boandik/Thursday Island woman living in Adelaide, said that she regretted smoking through her previous three pregnancies, and so decided to quit for her fourth baby.

“The hard part of quitting was the habit of having a cigarette in hand, being around people constantly smoking. But every day it got easier - temptation flew out the window,” Josellyn said.

“I feel fantastic now. I have more energy, my skin’s glowing and I don’t smell like cigarettes. I’m a non-smoker!”

For more information about AHCSA’s ‘Stickin’ It Up The Smokes’ maternal health campaign, call Mary-Anne Williams on (08) 8273 7200 or mary-anne.williams@ahcsa.org.au

You can also find the campaign on Facebook – just search for ‘Stickin’ it up the Smokes’ and ‘like’ the page to help promote the strength of Aboriginal women who don’t smoke during pregnancy.

On 25 March 2012, the South Australian Aboriginal community united to celebrate the launch of the ‘Stickin’ It Up The Smokes’ campaign at Nunga Night which was sponsored by AHCSA.

The campaign encourages Aboriginal women to become smoke free during their pregnancy and so deliver babies who have a healthy start to life.

Nunga Night included dance, song, and comedy. Comedians Kevin Kropinyeri and Nancy Bates were MCs for the evening, and were joined on stage by Elder

Pregnant Aboriginal Women Are Stickin’ It Up The Smokes Kristy Coleman, Josellyn Cleaver and Leilamarie Stuart-Likouresis

Renee Coulthard, Josellyn Cleaver and Leilamarie Stuart-Likouresis

Kevin Kropinyeri and Ellie Lovegrove Kevin Kropinyeri with Aunty Josie Aguis, Mary-Anne Williams, Mary Buckskin and Yvonne Buza (from AHCSA), and Kevin

Josellyn and baby, Nancy Bates talking to Lielamarie, and Leanne Kerr and baby

Allan Sumner, Robert Taylor and Jamie Goldsmith

AHCSA News September 2012 65 AHCSA News September 2012

AMIC Trainees and Practitioners Gather at West BeachIn May, Aboriginal Maternal Infant Care (AMIC) trainees and practitioners from around SA gathered at the West Shores Resort for two days of networking and knowledge sharing.

It was a great opportunity to bring everyone together and help each another in supporting pregnant Aboriginal women and their families. As this remains a relatively new workforce, it is important to support each another. The trainees continue to undertake Cert lV PHC (AMIC) with AHCSA as the Registered Training Organisation.

SA Tour of Body Armour A Big Success!In July this year, Hepatitis SA and AHCSA collaborated on a project which brought Australia’s premier Aboriginal Theatre Company, ILBIJERRI, to SA to tour their acclaimed theatre production of ‘Body Armour’, after staging two successful tours of the play ‘Chopped Liver’ throughout SA in 2007 and 2009.

By the end of the tour, almost 600 South Australians had seen ‘Body Armour’ including almost 500 secondary school students. Up to 50% of these students identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

Students were asked to complete a questionnaire after the performance and, of the 78 respondents, over 92% stated that they enjoyed it but more importantly over 89% stated that their knowledge of hepatitis C had increased. Also, over 91% of students stated that their confidence in preventing themselves from acquiring hepatitis C through body art had increased.

Now that the tour has finished, Hepatitis SA and AHCSA are looking to strengthen the partnerships between the regional schools and the local AHCSA member organisations. As part of this, Hepatitis SA and AHCSA will revisit participating schools and work alongside AHCSA member organisations to deliver a series of hepatitis C and other blood borne virus health education workshops to students, focusing on body piercing and tattooing.

Whilst the majority of hepatitis C transmissions occur through sharing injecting equipment, the popularity of body art among young people and the potential for transmission of blood borne viruses via piercing and tattooing means educating young people about hepatitis C and assisting them to become ‘blood aware’ is extremely valuable in attempting to reduce new infections.

Hepatitis SA and AHCSA would like to thank Ilbijerri Theatre Company for their outstanding work in delivering these important health promotion messages, and for a fantastic performance. Thanks also to the schools who participated in the tour and to the STI and BBV Section of SA Health for funding this exciting project.

AMIC Workers Win AwardAt the Service Excellence Awards in August 2012, AMIC workers from the Women’s and Children’s Health Network won an award in the category of ‘Excellence in improving the health of Aboriginal children, young people and women.

Present to accept the award were Deb Bland and Tanya Angie. Sherrelle Khan and Virginia Stuart were unable to attend.

The judging panel recognised the AMIC workers’ approach to their clients. Their successful efforts to foster a sense of connection with those clients has resulted in a high level of acceptance and demand for the service by Aboriginal women.

Aboriginal Family Birthing Program staff from across SA gather at West Shores Resort

Deb Bland and Tanya Angie accepting the WCHN Service Excellence Award in the category of ‘Excellence in improving the health of Aboriginal children, young people and women’ on behalf of the AMIC workers

‘Body Armour’ addresses the highly topical issue of hepatitis C/blood borne virus transmission and body art/modification, especially body piercing and tattooing which continues to grow as a phenomenon within youth culture. ‘Body Armour’ also looks at other forms of hepatitis C transmission including ‘blood sisters’ and injecting drug use. The play specifically targets Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people but the messages are universal and, therefore, accessible and important for all youth.

In the lead up to World Hepatitis Day on July 28, Hepatitis SA and AHCSA were excited to invite a number of SA schools to participate in the tour. Performances of ‘Body Armour’ were staged at the schools, for students and where appropriate, local communities.

The tour took place in regional centres including Port Augusta, Ceduna, Port Lincoln and Maitland, as well as metropolitan schools including Kaurna Plains, Warriappendi School, Le Fevre and Christies Beach High Schools. These schools were approached because of their links to Aboriginal communities as well as the high proportion of Aboriginal students and commitment to health promotion and reconciliation. The response, therefore, was extremely positive!

The Cast (left to right) – Maurial Spearim, Uraine Mastrosavas and Leroy Parsons

The Crew (left to right) – Bec Cooen (Tour Manager, Ilbijerri), John McKiernan (AHCSA) and Dan Hales (Hepatitis SA)

AHCSA News September 2012 87 AHCSA News September 2012

AHW Training Promotes Awareness and Support of People with CancerA new training unit called ‘Provide information and support around cancer’ has been developed in a partnership between AHCSA, Cancer Australia through CanNET SA (Cancer Service Networks National Program), and with support from key agencies including Cancer Council SA.

The urgent need for cancer education opportunities for Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) was highlighted in recommendations from the Perko Ngurratti Healing Messages Cancer Forum held in September 2006 and also from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Companion Document to the Statewide Cancer Control Plan 2011-2015.

CanNET SA (SA Health) approached AHCSA to develop the training and resources for AHWs to help improve access to clinically effective cancer services of high quality for community people throughout Australia. Cancer Australia, in partnership with all states and territories, developed CanNET to better link regional and metropolitan cancer services.

The data shows that there is still a great imbalance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by cancer with ‘mortality rates estimated to be up to 50% higher for some forms of cancer than seen for non-Aboriginal people.’ (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Control Research Project Authors: Miller, J., Knott, V., Wilson, C., Cunningham, J., Condon, J., Roder D., et al. (July 2010) page 5, www.canceraustralia.gov.au).

In April 2012, the training was piloted at AHCSA with support from Cancer Council SA and SA Health. Sharon Clarke, a Senior Project Officer with the Aboriginal Well Women’s Screening Program, was part of the training as was Josie Owens, one of the Aboriginal Cancer Care Coordinators from the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Seven women and three men participated, all being experienced AHWs employed in both Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and SA Health agencies. Both ‘women’s business’ and ‘men’s business’ was raised as part of the training – and the group divided into gender groups in accordance with cultural protocols.

The training approach developed for the pilot asked the learners to:

• Brainstorm prior knowledge of each new topic.

• Research information (using the internet and other resources) to plug the gaps in their own knowledge.

• Review mainstream guidelines for counselling approaches and re-author them to take into account cultural considerations.

• Review existing resources for cultural appropriateness.

• Discuss findings and arrive at a class consensus.

• Share stories from their communities.

• Role-play their skills and knowledge in class.

Assessments were designed to:

• Provide effective feedback to learners.

• Actively involve students in their own learning.

• Adjust teaching to take into account the results of the assessment.

• Recognise the influence of assessment on learners’ motivation and self-esteem – both critical in successful learning.

• Allow learners to assess themselves and to understand how to improve.

Students visited:

• Radiotherapy Unit and the Chemotherapy Day Centre at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

• Cancer Council SA to view the Cancer Council Helpline and other resources.

They heard first hand of the care required from Palliative Care Council of SA speakers. A Kaurna Elder also spoke about his experiences as a cancer survivor. This was a highlight of the training as it gave participants an understanding of the depths of despair and discomfort experienced by cancer patients – and the level of emotional support needed when working with cancer patients and their families.

A session was devoted to the use of Communicare to record and manage the care of Aboriginal cancer patients. While most of the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in SA have Communicare, many of which are linked across communities, SA Health services do not. The training in ‘information systems’ is in response to recommendations in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Control Research Project (2010): to improve the ‘under identification’ of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status in data registries; to close data gaps through data linkages; to monitor variance of Aboriginal cancer-related incidence and survival between urban and remote communities; and to assess effects of early diagnosis initiatives. (Recommendations 1, 2 & 3)

Input from pilot group participants was well informed and spirited. The group managed itself and needed little direction. This was not only due to the quality of participants but also to the issues under discussion. Everybody had a story about cancer and everyone felt strongly about developing ways to support cancer patients and their families. It was recommended that future training should provide opportunities for Aboriginal trainers to take the lead.

The next training program, held in September 2012, was based on lessons learnt from the pilot including that the training took place over 10 days to allow for:

• The opportunity to workshop counselling approaches for AHWs to take back to the communities to use with cancer patients and their families.

• Comprehensive individual assessment for learners.

• Greater knowledge of cancer facilities.

• Access to practitioners from BreastScreen SA.

• More detailed information about palliative care including a site visit to a palliative care service or hospice.

• Further opportunities to hear Aboriginal survivors of cancer share their experiences.

• The opportunity to involve AHWs in delivering the training.

For details about the unit or dates for future training please contact Graham Williams at AHCSA on email Graham.Williams@ahcsa.org.au or Carmel McNamara at Cancer Council SA on email cmcnamara@cancersa.org.au

Cancer Care Coordinators Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HealthTwo Cancer Care Coordinators are available to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people being treated for cancer and their family/carers. Josie Owens and Carolyn Selby are based at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) and can also assist those being treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The role was recommended by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Companion Document to the Statewide Cancer Control Plan (2011-2015) and Cancer Care Pathway developed by The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee of the SA Cancer Clinical Network.

Josie and Carolyn started as Cancer Care Coordinators Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in October 2011. The positions have been refunded until June 2013 and they can now fully implement the roles. Both are Registered Nurses and worked at the RAH previously.

Josie and Carolyn can help by:

• Ensuring access to care that is well coordinated throughout the cancer journey.

• Coordinating care between surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

• Facilitating continuity of care between the person with cancer, individual health care professionals and health care teams across different settings that might include metropolitan Adelaide, country SA and interstate.

• Supporting the person with cancer by assisting with clinical and supportive care needs that may arise and when necessary refer them to appropriate services.

• Establishing and maintaining reciprocal professional relationships with Aboriginal organisations and Health Workers, Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers and Aboriginal Patient Pathway Officers.

• Supporting cancer services staff to provide culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with cancer.

Josie and Carolyn are located in Cancer Services and work closely with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team as well as nurses and doctors in Cancer Services. They can be contacted by mobile: Josie Owens: 0417 190 302; Carolyn Selby: 0409 854 611.

AHCSA News September 2012 109 AHCSA News September 2012

AHCSA Celebrates NAIDOC with Inaugural Open Day: Adding a Culture of HealthOn Wednesday 4 July, AHCSA held its first open day, welcoming family, friends and partners to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2012 - Spirit of the Tent embassy: 40 years on.

Over 100 people went on the tour of AHCSA, from the training room where they stopped for a blood sugar and blood pressure check, to the meeting room where they marked their visit with a hand print.

The formal proceedings began under the marquee to the side of the building, where Robert Taylor welcomed everyone to country with the story of the Yidaki and its relationship to Kaurna land and people.

AHCSA Chairperson Yvonne Buza welcomed everyone to AHCSA and reflected on what had been achieved during the 40 years of the Tent Embassy.

“In 1972, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy became a powerful symbol of unity,” said Yvonne.

“Its founders instilled pride, advanced equity and educated the country about the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“1972 also saw major Aboriginal organisations, state and federal governments, and a number of church groups all supporting the formation of the National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NADOC). At the same time, the second Sunday in July became a day of remembrance for Aboriginal people and their heritage.

“In 1984, NADOC asked that National Aborigines Day be made a national public holiday to help celebrate and recognise the rich cultural history that makes Australia unique. While this hasn’t happened, other groups have since echoed the call.

“In 1991, with a growing awareness of the distinct cultural histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, NADOC was expanded to recognise Torres Strait Islander

people and culture. The committee became known as the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) and this new name has become the title of the whole week, not just the day.”

Yvonne acknowledged how every year, NAIDOC week presents an opportunity for all of us, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, to join together and recognise the valuable contribution that Aboriginal people make to Australia’s national identity. She also spoke of the special difference AHCSA had made to this year’s local NAIDOC celebrations.

“This year, by holding an event here at AHCSA, we are adding the culture of health to NAIDOC’s annual celebration of Aboriginal communities,” said Yvonne.

“We are doing this by opening up our doors and inviting you to see what we do and how we do it here at AHCSA, and in doing so we share with you our identity and expertise as South Australia’s Aboriginal community controlled peak body.

“Everything that we do here at AHCSA is driven by the notion of self-determination which recognises the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to improve their own health outcomes. Self-determination can be achieved in many ways including through the employment of Aboriginal people as Aboriginal Health Workers, who work with other Aboriginal people to help improve their health knowledge and outcomes.

“Aboriginal Health Workers link Aboriginal communities to health care services, advocate for the cultural, spiritual and physical wellbeing of Aboriginal clients, families and communities, and give Aboriginal people knowledge, support and respect to help them look after their own health.”

To celebrate this important role, Yvonne announced the inaugural NAIDOC Week AHCSA Awards which will commence in 2013. “These awards will recognise the vital achievements of individual Aboriginal Health Workers and others working in AHCSA’s member services. Keep an eye out for official requests for award nominations next year,” Yvonne said.

There were many people to thank for their contribution to the open day including:

• Rohanee Cox, Olympic basketballer, who signed mini basketballs and promoted the ‘Give Up Smokes For Good’ Campaign.

• Damien Shen from Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia whose social marketing campaign ‘Give Up Smokes For Good’ proudly sponsored Rohanee’s visit.

• Teri Whiting from the SA Shorts Board who introduced the Black Shorts films.

• Allan Sumner and Ellie Lovegrove who performed.

• John McKiernan and Jimmy Dotty Palmer who offered painting workshops for staff and visitors.

This event would not have been possible without sponsorship from the National NAIDOC committee and without the hard work of the AHCSA open day organising committee, comprising of Alison Hambour, Andrea Murphy, Ann Newchurch, Carmen Dadleh, John McKiernan and Robert Dann. A big thank you to these committee members, and also to staff who contributed on the day with preparation, cooking and cleaning.

Open Day Art ActivityJimmy Dotty Palmer, local Aboriginal artist originally from Coober Pedy, and John McKiernan, AHCSA Blood Borne Virus Coordinator, set up a painting activity for the open day. Over 100 people immortalised their hand prints for the mural. Jimmy then took the mural home to add some finishing touches (see photo). Health promotion through the arts is a key way of engaging communities and giving people an opportunity to express themselves while participating in an education activity. Thanks to Jimmy for his artistic directions; a great day was had by all.

AHCSA News September 2012 1211 AHCSA News September 2012

Two super heroes visited Port Augusta for NAIDOC week, one being Rohanee Cox and the other was Deadly Dan, the Smoke-free man. They were the main attractions to encourage people to join in the fun and activities for Flinders Terrace Health Centre NAIDOC Open Day on Thursday 5 July.

Basketball hoops of various sizes were set up on the forecourt and Rohanee soon had local young people playing half-court basketball. She joined in, along with Deadly Dan and some local basketball legends. Deadly Dan showed signs of overheating at times, even though it was a fairly cool day – must have been his muscles burning too much energy.

Rohanee posed for photos with the public and these were printed on site and autographed by her. Singlets designed especially for the day were also handed out. Other attractions included drum beating, kids’ activities, painting and a free barbecue.

Born in Broome, Western Australia, Rohanee is a highly talented basketball player representing Australia. She has toured South America, Russia, USA, New Zealand, Europe and Asia with the Opals and was a member of the Australian team that won silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Rohanee won the female sportsperson of the year at the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Deadlys and in 2010 she won the NAIDOC National sportsperson of the year. She played five seasons with the Townsville Fire and took the 2010/11 season off to have a baby. Rohanee has signed up with the West Coast Waves WNBL team for 2011/12 season.

Apart from her career in basketball, Rohanee is a smoke-free ambassador for the state-wide ‘Give up smokes for good’ campaign, and her visit was sponsored by the program. Rohanee highlighted the importance of not taking up smoking to the young people present if they want to achieve their potential in sport.

Port Augusta Celebrates NAIDOC Week

Deadly Dan, who bears a resemblance to Frank Parkes of the Aboriginal Family Wellness program, did a great job of entertaining the crowd and promoting the smoke-free message.

In the afternoon, Rohanee attended the Port Augusta Youth Centre where she ran a brief coaching clinic and gave an inspiring talk to a large group of young people about her journey from being a country girl in Broome to becoming an elite international sportsperson. There are many talented young sportspeople in Port Augusta and no doubt Rohanee inspired many of the crowd to emulate her achievements.

Other NAIDOC Week Events at Port Augusta

NAIDOC Week is a significant occasion in Port Augusta and there were a large number of events held over the week to celebrate it. The spirit of the tent embassy and what it stood for was a major theme of the week. This was reflected at many of the NAIDOC Week events, especially at the cultural day at Pika Wiya Health Service on the Monday and during the march on the Friday. Banners, signs and placards were displayed highlighting demands for sovereignty, land rights and to right the injustices which came with European colonisation including dispossession and the stolen generations.

Following lowering of the flags ceremony in Gladstone Square, everyone marched from Gladstone Square, then against normal traffic direction along the main street of the Port Augusta business centre, and then on to the Youth Centre.

The NAIDOC organising committee wanted this year’s march to be noisy to attract the attention of the public. Umeewarra Media played music during the march and escorting police sounded their sirens from time to time. The Tackling Smoking program contributed 400 whistles and programs for all who marched (pictured), and there was a constant tweeting of whistles for the duration of the march. Comments from onlookers and business people were very favourable, saying the march had a festive air about it which celebrated the spirit of NAIDOC, Aboriginal cultures and reconciliation.

At the Port Augusta Youth Centre, the community enjoyed a family fun day which featured stalls, a big slippery dip, other kids’ activities, bush tucker and kangaroo.

Deadly Dan works the crowd Proudly marching to the sound of whistles celebrating NAIDOC Rohanee talks to the Port Augusta youth about her journey Mary-Anne Williams, Rohanee Cox and Frank (Deadly Dan) Parkes

AHCSA News September 2012 1413 AHCSA News September 2012

Understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers Skills and TrainingIn July 2012, Darrien Bromley, the National Coordinator of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Registered Training Organisation National Network (ATSIHRTONN) presented at the Rural Health West Aboriginal Health Conference in Perth about ‘Understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers Skills and Training’.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Association (NATSIHWA) was established in 2009 following the Australian Government’s announcement of funding to strengthen the workforce as part of its ‘Closing the Gap’ initiatives (http://www.natsihwa.org.au/).

NATSIHWA define an AHW as an Aboriginal person who is in possession of a minimum qualification within the fields of primary health care work or clinical practice with broad ranging tasks including:

• Treatment of disease or injuries; maintaining health records and statistics.

• Acting as communicator and interpreter on behalf of clients and other health workers.

• Taking part in case management and follow up, either independently or with other health care providers.

• Providing health education to individual clients and health staff.

• Providing cultural education to people outside the cultural community.

• Providing life skills education, counselling and referral for crisis problem cases in the community they serve.

• Providing input to the planning, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all health programs in the community.

• Carrying out administrative duties including budgeting and correspondence.

In reality, the tasks are often much greater as noted in a Medical Journal of Australia article by Melvina Mitchell and Lynette Hussey, both ENs and AHWs. (Mitchell and Hussey 2006, The Aboriginal Health Worker, Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 184, no. 10, pp 529-530.)

meets the requirements of the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA): http://www.asqa.gov.au.

Therefore, a qualification issued by an Aboriginal community controlled health RTO is equal to, if not better than, a mainstream training provider. As Aboriginal community controlled health RTOs are industry and community driven, they are more aligned to the needs of employers and communities where AHWs work.

The Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (CS&HISC) describes AHWs as a ‘Career that Matters’. They deal with patients, clients, and visitors to hospitals and health clinics, and assist in arranging, coordinating and providing health care in Aboriginal community health clinics.

CS&HISC’s role is to actively support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of high quality training and workforce development products and services including training packages.

The training is independently reviewed and must meet ASQA qualification standards.

The Standards for VET Accredited Courses are a legislative instrument made by the Federal Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations under subsection 188(1) of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (the Act). The RTOs that deliver the training must also meet the VET Quality Framework which comprises:

• Standards for National VET Regulator (NVR) Registered Training Organisations

• Fit and Proper Person Requirements

• Financial Viability Risk Assessment Requirements

• Data Provision Requirements

• Australian Qualifications Framework

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Registered Training Organisations

The majority of AHW training is offered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) who run RTOs which provide culturally competent training, often close to or in the communities where students live and work.

Their existence strengthens the capacity of Aboriginal communities for self-reliance and self-determination. All RTOs provide industry driven and responsive training to meet the needs of the Aboriginal health workforce as well as specialist complementary training including Quality Use of Medicines and Ear & Hearing Health.

Through the RTOs, AHW students undertake nationally accredited training in primary health care including Cert III and Cert IV.

At Cert IV, students choose from a Community Care (health promotion) or Clinical Practice stream. Some RTOs offer a Diploma and Advanced Diploma.

As a result of 25 years experience in delivering Aboriginal primary health care services and training for their own workforce, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) have consistently found that Aboriginal RTOs achieve better outcomes and provide more appropriate support structures. The reasons for this are:

• Direct relationships with ACCHSs.

• Respect the principles of community control by using these relationships to ground their work in an understanding of the needs of both communities and the Aboriginal health industry.

• Understand education and training needs in Aboriginal health within their specific jurisdictions as well as at a national level.

Darrien has worked in Aboriginal health for the past 15 years and prior to that in TAFE Aboriginal Education and the South Australian Department of Aboriginal Affairs. He has qualifications in management, community services, training and education, employment services and administration, and is currently studying a Masters of Public Health at Deakin University.

When Darrien refers to Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs), he also acknowledges and includes Torres Strait Islander Health Workers who provide much needed health services to their communities.

Darrien covered the essential role that AHWs perform in addressing the health inequalities of Aboriginal people. He also spoke about the limited understanding that other health professionals and health service staff have about AHW skills and training, and the impact of this on AHWs confidence, productivity, and ultimately recruitment and retention.

This limited understanding can lead to AHWs being given too much or too little responsibility, and the lack of a consistent role and position description also impacts their training.

Acknowledgement of the importance of AHWs role, skills and training is, however, growing with the introduction of AHW registration as health professionals with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA http://www.ahpra.gov.au) as of 1 July 2012.

Quality of Training

A significant motivation for establishing ATSIHRTONN in 2006 was to facilitate the quality and relevance of training provided by network members. As such all ATSIHRTONN members are required, as part of becoming a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), to produce high quality graduates through the delivery of quality training which

AHCSA News September 2012 1615 AHCSA News September 2012

• Committed and have the skills to design, implement and continuously improve culturally grounded student support mechanisms that facilitate peer support and learning, improve retention, strengthen confidence and extend learning strategies.

For Aboriginal RTOs, training isn’t just about statistics, it’s about meeting a community and industry driven need for more qualified AHWs.

One very important aspect of an Aboriginal community controlled RTO that other RTOs struggle to achieve is Cultural Safety: “An environment that is safe for people: where there is no assault, challenge or denial of their identity, of who they are and what they need. It’s about shared respect, shared meaning, shared knowledge and experience, of learning, living and working together with dignity and truly listening.” (http://www.culturalsafetytraining.com.au/home8/what-is-cultural-safety).

What are the Skills AHWs Need and Possess?

As a result of completing Cert III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care, an AHW will be competent in:

• Communication

• Advocacy

• Undertaking basic health checks

• Planning and implementing basic health care

• Providing information about social and emotional support

• Identifying health issues, needs and strategies

• Basic health screening, promotion and education

• Applying first aid

• Complying with infection control policies and procedures

• Workplace health and safety

• Providing information and support on environmental health issues

In addition to these core units, there are 21 elective units.

When a student has completed Cert IV Community Care, they will have the following skills:

• Working effectively in the alcohol and other drugs sector

• Establishing and monitoring a case plan

• Working within a relevant legal and ethical framework

• Working effectively in mental health

• Advocating for the rights and needs of community members

• Assessing and supporting client’s social and emotional well being

• Addressing social determinants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health

• Delivering health promotion programs for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities

The Cert IV Practice Stream provides skills including:

• Using business technology

• Working within a relevant legal and ethical framework

• Advocating for the rights and needs of community members

• Assessing client’s physical well being

• Assessing and support client’s social and emotional well being

• Planning and implementing health care in a primary health care context

• Monitoring health care

• Delivering primary health care programs for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities

• Working with medicines

• Providing nutrition guidance for specific health care

In addition to the Cert IV core units, there are over 50 electives in areas such as nutrition, alcohol and other drugs, family violence, service delivery and case management, health promotion, research, education and training, and oral health. There are also electives which are specific to the Practice stream which include applying fluoride varnish, performing blood collection, and identifying and responding to clinical risks associated with pathology specimen collection.

Training and Up-skilling for Aboriginal Health Practitioner Registration

To become registered as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner, an AHW must possess the Cert IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice and lodge an application form with the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board.

Registration is a formal and legal process. Once registered, an Aboriginal Health Practitioner is legally obliged to meet standards of practice and maintenance of registration.

At the same time that Aboriginal Health Practitioner registration is being implemented, so too is Chinese Medicine, Medical Radiation, and Occupational Therapy. When grouped among these other professions, it’s an indication of the level of professionalism that is being placed on Aboriginal Health Practitioners.

If you would like further information about this article, telephone ATSIHRTONN on (08) 8273 7200 or visit www.atsihrtonn.com.au.

Partnership has the Right Ingredients for Aboriginal HealthSouth Australia’s first Aboriginal community cookbook will be just one of the outcomes of a Department of Health and Ageing grant focused on improving Aboriginal health.

The grant, awarded to Tauondi College along with project partners AHCSA and SA Health, will be used to provide nutrition, hospitality, fitness and horticulture training to Aboriginal people throughout the state.

Tauondi College’s ‘Live Longer! Mobile Training Van’ will provide training at 21 Aboriginal communities. Graduates will demonstrate their new skills by preparing nutritious food using the van’s kitchen and sharing it with other community members.

The communities to be invited to take part in the mobile training project include:

“As the single largest Aboriginal community controlled provider of vocational education and training for Aboriginal people in South Australia, Tauondi has been delivering training in Aboriginal communities for 39 years – both informal learning activities and vocationally-based accredited education,” Mr Milera said.

“The ‘Live Longer! Mobile Training Van’ project will enable us to get to more communities and provide better training facilities. Using the van, we will continue to base training on community-identified needs.”

AHCSA Chief Executive Officer Mary Buckskin said, once graduates had completed work experience, they would be encouraged to link in with their local Aboriginal community controlled health service to receive ongoing health checks, healthy lifestyle advice and support.

“AHCSA and the recent course graduates will also work together to create a cookbook celebrating the considerable culinary skills of Aboriginal people around the state,” she said.

“Training graduates will compete to have their recipe included in the cookbook. They will be invited to submit a recipe that is healthy, practical and uses ingredients they can get hold of locally. A nutritionist will help select recipes that can be used in communities to help people to make healthier choices when preparing meals for their families. We are hoping to get a good spread of traditional and contemporary recipes so we can all feel proud of how our people are making nutrition a priority.”

SA Health will use its involvement in the partnership to further promote the key messages of the ‘Give up smokes for good’ campaign including the importance of making homes and cars smoke free.

The campaign strives to make Aboriginal people aware of the specific harms of smoking, both to themselves and to others, in an effort to reduce worryingly-high Aboriginal smoking rates, which currently sit at around 50%.

‘Give up smokes for good’ is funded through South Australia’s commitment to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes and uses powerful images of 12 campaign ambassadors to convey quit smoking messages.

Look out for posters advertising the van’s tour dates which will be on display at relevant services from July 2012.

The project was officially launched at Tauondi College in August 2012.

For further information about the training van project call Tadashi Nakamura, Tauondi College, on (08) 8240 0300 or tnakamura@tauondi.sa.edu.au

• Metropolitan, Western, Northern and Southern Adelaide

• Raukkan

• Murray Bridge

• Meningie (Camp Coorong)

• Mt Gambier

• Ceduna

• Koonibba

• Scotdesco

• Yalata

• Oak Valley

• Point Pearce

• Port Augusta

• Port Lincoln

• Whyalla

• Berri (Gerard)

• Nepabunna

• Coober Pedy

• Oodnadatta

Tauondi College Council Chair Professor Peter Buckskin and Executive Director Doug Milera congratulated the grant writers on receiving funding through the Local Community Campaigns to Promote Better Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program for an initiative with numerous community benefits.

AHCSA News September 2012 1817 AHCSA News September 2012

Aboriginal Health Worker, Debra Miller from Ceduna attending a PEPA placement at Central Adelaide Palliative Care Service with Rosemary Wanganeen, Amanda Oakes and Mary Davie

Components of the project are:

• Supervised clinical placements which provide opportunities to health practitioners and care workers from all settings to undertake a placement in a specialist palliative care setting. It is appropriate for Aboriginal Health Workers to attend placements in pairs. Financial support is available to assist you to undertake this education program including contribution towards backfill (payable to your employer) and travel (for rural and remote applicants).

• Community Outreach Program workshops.

• Post placement support.

The program is underpinned by the principle of Cultural Respect in that interventions and services should ‘not unwittingly compromise the cultural rights, practices, values and expectations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’.

PEPA placements are available for:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers.

• Indigenous liaison officers.

• Indigenous community workers.

Do you care for people in your community who are unwell and not going to get better; people who are getting ready to ‘finish up’?

The Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) is an integral part of a national strategy to improve the standard of palliative care for all local communities across Australia.

A PEPA learning experience will help you develop your communication skills to explore your patient’s perception of his or her illness and plan for their care accordingly. You will gain a clear understanding of the principles of good palliative care, identify the needs of your patients with life limiting or terminal illnesses, and understand your role in managing common problems faced by palliative care patients.

PEPA 2011-2014 continues to focus on Indigenous primary health care providers and various disciplines.

SA Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach

VACCHO Celebrates a MilestoneThe Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) celebrated a significant milestone in its 16 year history with the opening of their new centre in Sackville Street Collingwood on Tuesday 24 July 2012.

The new premises at Sackville Street not only accommodates all current staff and volunteers but also allows for growth, offers spacious and modern facilities which include training rooms, and car parking for visitors and the entire VACCHO fleet.

The event was well attended by many including VIP guests Aunty Melva Johnson, Mr Paul Briggs, Mr Andrew Gardiner, Hon. Premier Ted Baillieu, Hon. Minister Jeanette Powell and Hon. Minister Richard Wynne.

The day marks an historic event for VACCHO, the VACCHO Members and the Victorian Aboriginal community and is the culmination of a lot of hard work by many over the 16 year journey. This day represents a tremendous effort by Ms Jill Gallagher, VACCHO CEO, and Ms Edel Conroy, Corporate Services Manager, to pull together all the efforts of so many to make this dream of a new centre of excellence for VACCHO a reality.

The official proceedings of the day included a heartwarming and enlightening welcome to country from Wurundjeri spokesperson Mr Bill Nicholson followed by an inspiring didgeridoo performance by Ray Young. VACCHO’s very first Chairperson Mr Paul Briggs delivered a memorable speech followed by the current Chairperson Mr Andrew Gardiner who also delivered an unforgettable speech. Next on the agenda was the Hon. Ted Baillieu who conveyed his praises and congratulations to all involved.

The official unveiling of the plaque was performed by Aunty Melva Johnson and the Hon. Ted Baillieu followed by a very passionate performance by VACCHO’s own singer songwriter Ms Illana Atkinson singing her own words to her own music.

• Male and female health workers are encouraged to apply.

• Applicants are welcome from all communities.

Testimonials received from Aboriginal Health Workers who have previously attended placements include:

• Improved Symptom management – “I am able to talk to our GP about the need for medication”.

• “It was good to see where our mob can go when they come down for appointments – I will be better able to assist a client or loved one as they go through their final stage of life.”

• “My mentor explained the roles and responsibilities within the palliative care team and the role of the team out in the community.”

Further information regarding the PEPA Program in South Australia is available at: http://www.pallcare.asn.au/info-resources/education-training/health-professionals/program-of-experience-in-the-palliative-approach-pepa or contact Janine Brett, email: jbrett@pallcare.asn.au or phone: (08) 82914156.

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The Coober Pedy Oodnadatta Bike Ride Adventure (COBRA) took to the streets and hills in the north from 31 May to 2 June this year on a 200 kilometre adventure across rough terrain on push bikes to promote harm minimisation, community engagement and getting to know other services.

Beginning as an idea by Patrick Larkins and Chris Warrior, two Police Officers in Coober Pedy, in January 2012, COBRA brings young and old, fathers and sons together. It is based around taking on a challenge, as life is full of life’s challenges and hoping that this will encourage others to participate and be rewarded with the best outcome - FINISHING!

By March, the men’s group started to meet regularly to begin planning and preparing sponsorship approaches. After countless meetings to cover logistics such as finance, food, camp, cooking, toilets, safety, media, bikes and repairs, transport, medical, program and back up personnel, they were ready to embark on their journey.

On the eve of the race, a bonding night was held with the Oodnadatta men meeting the leadership of Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation (UTHSAC) and other helpers including:

• David Laslett, photographer and videographer.

• Karen Ashford, SBS Reporter, who was coming on the first day of the journey and recording nine hours and editing for a national and later International News Clip.

• Dr Stewart Clement, Doctor of Sports Science, who would later speak at a World Conference on the COBRA concept.

• Russell Coulthard, Department of Sport and Recreation, who was seeking to gather knowledge for another

ride later in the year called the Tour Da Nunga in the Flinders Ranges.

• Richard Laslett, bus driver.

• Paul Elliott, AHCSA, who would tow a portable toilet, provide a generator, lap top, and data projector for drug and alcohol sessions.

• Greg Clemow, Uniting Care, who would tow the Junior Footy Club’s amazing Camper Trailer.

• Cynthia and Adelo Avila, who had stepped in at the last moment to fill the gap of nurse, cook and back up.

• George Laslett, Program Manager UTHSAC Drug and Alcohol, who led an activity where the back up team introduced themselves to the riders.

The adult riders included Patrick Larkins (SAPoL), Chris Warrior (SAPoL), Ben Foley (Families SA), George Laslett, Dilshan Perera (UTHSAC), Michael Leedle (Families SA), Craig Curry, Russell Coulthard (Department of Sport and Recreation), Andrew Dingaman (Aboriginal Family Support Services), Stephen Power, Anthony Smith (Dunjiba Community Council), Geoffrey Mack (Oodnadatta) and Kyle Larkins.

There were nine young riders ranging in age from 12 to 19 years: Josh, AJ, Patrick, Elijah, Frankie, Kimboy, Jamail, Anthony and Kyle.

Twelve brand new Apollo Summit’s and three new Apollo Evolution 26 inch bikes with a variety of frame sizes meant most riders had a first class ride across 200km of tough corrugations.

On the day of the ride, the Lions Club put on a barbecue and between live crosses to ABC News, meeting the sponsors and finding a porta-loo, everyone got into formation and smiled for the cameras.

Riders wondered “Will we get to the Dog Fence’; ‘the longest we’ve ridden is 25km together and we are expecting two days of 74km and one of 52km across corrugations”. Patrick encouraged with “we’ll just pace ourselves” and Chris added “we’ll ride at the pace of the slowest rider”, making riders feel safe.

COBRA Ride 200 Kilometres for Aboriginal Health

With the cheers of onlookers, COBRA headed out from the Coober Pedy Oval. 18 riders in matching sponsor covered white t-shirts followed by a nurse, photographers and the bus with more bikes at the rear.

What a spectacle, like a slithering white serpent, winding its way across the hard bitumen, soon to be replaced by its native munda (dirt).

Well-wishers tooted their horns at the Caltex but the town centre was disappointingly quiet. Down the main street and off into Seventeen Mile Road, then the ride straggled out along the bitumen part of Kempe Road to the rubbish dump where Patrick Larkins, now COBRA leader, addressed the riders. Last minute lessons on gears and hydration,

group photographs, and a motivational talk by CEO Priscilla Larkins, and the adrenaline was there for something momentous.

After 74 kilometres, the riders were tired but happy. A favourite moment was driving into Mt Barry with five young Aboriginal men ready for hot showers and sharing stories, seeing a pack of three dingoes and forging great friendships. Tony Williams, Mt Barry Station, true to his word, provided everyone with two t-bone steaks each. During the evening, some of the young men received informal drug and alcohol minimisation information and great relationships were developed.

The next day, after bacon and eggs, COBRA headed out in misty conditions to push onto Mt Barry Station where station owner Jackie Williams was waiting with drinks and chocolate cake. The station folk have great hearts and know how to cook! The track was now getting worse with endless corrugations. Russell said “at least with bikes, you can go to the side of the road and often go around the ruts” and riding often was a focus on finding that track through or around the corrugations.

Mining convoys proved hazardous, as often they travelled in each other’s dust, making it difficult to see anyone else in the blurred conditions.

Hugs and congratulations abounded as they pushed on. Again regrouping at the Oodnadatta Racecourse, COBRA rode slowly, steadily and triumphantly into Oodnadatta to the sound of car horns, claps and cheers.

The trip covered 200 kilometres over 3 days - 60 or 70 kilometres each and stages of 12-15 kilometres. One rider commented, “It backs up how in life the most difficult things or biggest challenges can be overcome in bite size chunks with others helping each other.”

There at the end was Lyn Breuer with driver Garry to present 30 certificates of achievement to riders and back up crew. Priscilla Larkins, CEO UTHSAC was also there, on her birthday, to congratulate the riders.

COBRA would like to thank Lyn Breuer for helping to secure funding and resources, Craig Rigney from SA Health Closing the Gap, and Minister John Hill SA Health who provided the necessary resources. In addition, COBRA particularly wishes to acknowledge UTHSAC’s commitment to innovative and creative ways to deal with substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and primary health issues.

Karen Ashford’s SBS News 3.5 minute summary was shown across Australia (see www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DSDLZfSrS8FA and also local ABC www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-01/outback-cyclists-dirt-roads-ride/4046638?section=sa. A DVD is currently being developed.

Congratulations COBRA!

AHCSA News September 2012 2221 AHCSA News September 2012

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services

Nganampa Health Council

Umuwa Office Ph: (08) 8954 9040 Fax: (08) 8956 7850 Alice Springs Office 3 Wilkinson Street Alice Springs NT 0871 Ph: (08) 8952 5300 Fax: (08) 8952 2299 Postal Address: PO Box 2232 Alice Springs NT 0871 www.nganampahealth.com.au

Nunkuwarrin Yunti of SA Inc.

Ph: (08) 8406 1600 Fax: (08) 8232 0949 182 Wakefield Street Adelaide SA 5000 Postal Address: PO Box 7202, Hutt Street Adelaide SA 5000 www.nunku.org.au

Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service Inc.

Ph: (08) 8683 0162 Fax: (08) 8683 0126 19A Oxford Terrace Port Lincoln SA 5606 Postal Address: PO Box 1583 Port Lincoln SA 5606 www.plahs.org.au

Tullawon Health Service

Ph: Administration Office (Yalata) (08) 8625 6237 Fax: Administration Office (Yalata) (08) 8625 6268 Postal address: PMB 45, Ceduna SA 5690 www.tullawon.org.au

Umoona Tjutagku Health Service

Ph: (08) 8672 5255 Fax: (08) 8672 3349 Lot 8, Umoona Road Coober Pedy SA 5723 Postal Address: PO Box 166 Coober Pedy SA 5723 www.uths.org.au

Pangula Mannamurna Inc.

Ph: (08) 8724 7270 Fax: (08) 8724 7378 191 Commercial Street West Mount Gambier SA 5290 Postal Address: PO Box 942 Mount Gambier SA 5290 www.pangula.org.au

Ceduna Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service Aboriginal Corporation

Ph: (08) 8626 2600 Admin Ph: (08) 8626 2500 Clinic Fax: (08) 8625 2898 1 Eyre Highway, Ceduna SA 5690 Postal Address: PO Box 314, Ceduna SA 5690

Pika Wiya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation

Ph: (08) 8642-9904 Fax: (08) 8642-6621 40-46 Dartmouth Street Port Augusta SA 5700 Postal Address: PO Box 2021 Port Augusta SA 5700

Oak Valley Aboriginal Health Service

Maralinga Tjarutja Administration Office Ph: (08) 8670 4207 Fax: (08) 8670 4208 Email maratjar@maralinga.com.au Clinic (08) 86704207 43 McKenzie Street Ceduna SA 5690 www.wangkawilurrara.com/oakvalley

Nunyara Wellbeing Centre Inc.

Ph: (08) 8649 4366 Fax: (08) 8649 4185 17–27 Tully Street Whyalla Stuart SA 5608 Postal Address: PO Box 2253 Whyalla Norrie SA 5608 www.nunyara.org.au

Substance Misuse Services

Aboriginal Sobriety Group Inc.

Ph: (08) 8223 4204 Fax: (08) 8232 6685 Email: sobriety.asg@asg.org.au 182-190 Wakefield Street Adelaide SA 5000 Postal Address: PO Box 7306, Hutt Street Adelaide SA 5000 www.aboriginalsobrietygroup.org.au

Kalparrin Community Inc.

Ph: (08) 8532 4940 Fax: (08) 8532 5511 Karoonda Road Murray Bridge SA 5253 Postal Address: PO Box 319 Murray Bridge SA 5253 Website: www.kalparrin.com

AHCSA Full Council of Members

Executive Council

Yvonne Buza

AHCSA Chairperson Chairperson - Northern Aboriginal Health Advisory Committee

Les Kropinyeri

AHCSA Vice Chairperson Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service

Kathy Chisholm

AHCSA Secretary Riverland Aboriginal & Islander Health Advisory Group

Wilhelmine Lieberwirth

AHCSA Treasurer Nunyara Wellbeing Centre Inc.

Wayne Oldfield

AHCSA Executive Member Chairperson - Wakefield Aboriginal Health Advisory Committee

Polly Summer-Dodd

AHCSA Executive Member Aboriginal Sobriety Group Inc.

Laurie Rankine

AHCSA Executive Member Kalparrin Community

Fabian Peel

AHCSA Executive Member Chairperson - Tullawon Health Service

Lucy Evans

AHCSA Executive Member Chairperson - Mid North Aboriginal Health Advisory Committee

Non-Executive Members

John Singer

Director - Nganampa Health Council

Veronica Milera

Director - Pika Wiya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation

Gwen Owen

Chairperson – South East Aboriginal Health Advisory Committee

Vicki Holmes

CEO - Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc.

John Mungee

Oak Valley Health Service

Robin Walker

Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation

Arlene Burgoyne

Eyre Aboriginal Health Advisory Committee

Bill Wilson

Moorundie Aboriginal Health Advisory Committee

Fiona Wilson

Pangula Mannamurna Inc.

Leonard Miller

Ceduna/Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service Aboriginal Corporation

Mabel Lochowiak

Northern Aboriginal Health Advisory Committee

AHCSA Members