EDITORIAL: ISSUE 4, 2010
Dear Readers,
Hello and welcome to the July/August 2010, Vol
34 – No 4 issue of the Aboriginal & Islander Health
Worker Journal.
It’s great to see that Welcome To Country will
soon be part of Australia’s democracy. Motions
were simultaneously moved in the House of
Representatives and the Senate for all future
Federal Parliaments to be opened with a ‘Welcome
to Country’ by Traditional Indigenous Owners. A
joint statement was issued saying, “This Welcome
to Country ceremony would take place at the first
meeting of a new Parliament, after a Federal
election. A Welcome to Country recognises the
role of Australia’s First Peoples as custodians of
the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
These amendments now allow for the incorporation
of this ancient cultural tradition into Australia’s
democracy. As a long time-honoured Indigenous
tradition, it pre-dates the arrival of Europeans to
Australia and was used between different groups
of Australia’s First Peoples. It’s a simple act but
at its heart is respect.” Finally cemented into
the parliamentary process of this country. While
there have been many aired views that think this
is unnecessary, I for one, as an Aboriginal woman,
think it’s worthwhile for establishing basic
understanding. As with many motions that lead to
policies, it won’t put food on the table but it is a
beginning that will hopefully lead to better things
for our people if it truly comes from the heart.
OATSIH has funded the Australasian Society
for HIV Medicine to manage a one-year project
which aims to increase awareness, skills and
knowledge among healthcare providers working
with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
in the areas of STIs and BBVs. A strong primary
healthcare workforce is essential in reducing
rates of infection and to ensure providers have the
information they need to prevent, diagnose and
manage treatment effectively.
The Aboriginal Health & Medical Research
Council of NSW recently hosted the Living Better
Longer: AH&MRC Chronic Diseases Conference
2010 in Sydney. Two resources were launched at
the conference on two different occasions. The
booklet, Aboriginal Cancer Journeys: Our Stories
of Kinship, Hope and Survival, containing eight
fact sheets, was produced by the AH&MRC in
collaboration with Cancer Council NSW. It is a
very relevant and informative resource. The DVD,
Feel Good: Eat Healthy Tucker & Move More Every
Day, was produced by the AH&MRC with Diabetes
Australia NSW. Celebrity chef, Mark Olive (aka
“The Black Olive”) and other community members
who also appear in the DVD, attended the launch.
All photos taken for the Journal by Teleah and
Margaret Brown on pages 34–35 will be sent
to the AH&MRC for use and distribution. If you
would like to obtain a copy of any of the photos,
or information about these two great resources,
please phone Sallie Cairnduff on 02 9212 4777.
On the topic of resources, the Journal receives
so many innovative and useful ones. A number of
them are featured in this issue. We advise you to
investigate any that are relevant for your work.
The Cultural Respect & Communication Guide
(page 19) and Healthy Hearts, Healthy Life (page
25) are well worth a mention.
How good did the Redfern Street Community
Banner Program make us feel? Proud, to say the
least – what a success! There should be more
collaborations between city councils and AMSs
like this. Naomi Mayers, Jeff McMullen and Archie
Roach (pictured below) – three living legends
who tirelessly work for our community – attended
and enjoyed the celebrations at the launch of the
program. Tracey Duroux, along with Kyra and Matt,
did a great job encouraging all the participants
to bring out their creative abilities. My favourites
were “Underwater” (top left) by Yafalina and
Seraphina Close-Brown, “Turtles (Bing-ging)” by
Liam McDonnell and “Spirits” by Taneisha Kum-
Sing (shown below with her sister Kyra and their
Mum). Liam’s artwork appears in the background
below and on page 35.
“Gambling in a Remote Aboriginal Setting – the
Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” on page 10, is an
example of what can be done in a community to
tackle gambling and its effects. The employment
of an Indigenous Gambling Intervention Officer
can only enhance and benefit the community and
health services. The value of schemes like this
should be recognised and given more funding.
Congratulations to Darren Clinch on your first
published article on page 8. Like many others that
appear in this issue, it is a fantastic read.
National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day
is on 4 August – “Vaue my culture, Value me”
is the theme. Celebrate by organising an event.
Register at www.snaicc.asn.au/children
And finally, we have our first female Prime
Minister, Julia Gillard. Regardless of who you vote
for, it is a significant change for this country. The
swearing-in ceremony will be remembered for
having the two top leadership positions being held
by women. A first and a welcome sight.
Kevin 07 will always be remembered as being
the Prime Minister who gave the Apology to our
people. That meant a lot to many.
A wise, bipartisan, old man once said, “It doesn’t
matter who you vote for, a politician always gets
in.” And ain’t that the truth!
Until the next issue, Keep the Faith,
Kathy Malera Bandjalan
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