A timeline / history of Aboriginal Health Workers
& Aboriginal community workers 1870 – 2007
by Kathy Abbott and Rosie Elliott
This unique timeline story telling machine poster was launched by the NT Minister for Health Dr Chris Burns on 19 April 2007.
Marion Scrymgour MLA and Rosie Elliott with the timeline poster
It records and celebrates the achievements of generations of NT Aboriginal health workers and community workers. We hope you enjoy the memories and understanding this timeline brings you and that you can use it to educate others about the events described. Perhaps you have space on your centre’s walls to display it and show the achievements of so many people working in partnership across the NT.
The timeline authors began this history in 1996 whilst Kathy
Abbott was president of the former Central Australian & Barkly Aboriginal
Health Workers Association and Rosie Elliott was working with the committee.
Our aim was to build up our community and workforce capacity through people
in telling their own stories and retrieve a history that been largely unrecognised.
Above all, we wanted to honour those who have crossed so many cultural boundaries
and understand how the past carries into the future.The validation process
for these entries is according to the memories of those we contacted who
walked that particular part of the timeline and according to our understanding
of their words. When you enter the line, you will find errors and omissions,
pride and joy, tears, quiet reflection, laughter and love. The final timeline
has been vetted by key people who remembered some of these times.
We apologise for any inconvenience or disrespect to family members who may
get upset that we did not consult them in regards to deceased family members
named on the timeline, but others from their time have contributed their
own fond memories and their treasured experiences working alongside them
in the Aboriginal workforce. We also know there will be many things we have
left out and there will be some errors. So, please ring or email us and
tell us your story so we can do a second edition. We will keep a continually
updated version of the timeline on-line here at www.aihwj.com.au
One thousand copies were distributed free to NT health services, schools,
councils, women’s centres, children services, educational organizations
and policy makers.
Kathy and Rosie thank Dr Dayalan Devanesen and Esther-Rose Seaton AHW for
their assistance in developing this line, and to all the other contributors.
We also thank the Centre for Remote Health and Cooperative Research Centre
for Aboriginal Health for their assistance in printing and to the NT Department
of Health and Community Services (the excellent Kids Tracks newsletter/former
Office of Children and families staff) for their support.
For those educational agencies wishing to use the timeline in their regular
work, please contact us to discuss conditions of use.
Email or ring us and tell us your stories so we can grow this timeline to
make it a really splendid and unique community history.
To download a low res PDF of this poster click
here. The poster is large, and you will need to use the magnify tool
in Acrobat or your PDF viewer in order to navigate the whole poster. Please
do not print this poster out from the PDF. You can order the poster, details
are following.
To order:
The poster is 1040 cm x 440 cm on 200gsm paper, full colour, varnish finish.
Copies available
Laminated $60 (includes postage)
Non-laminated $50 (includes)
Contact:
Kathy Abbott
PO Box 3267 Alice Springs NT 0871
Tel: (08) 8952 7367
Rosie Elliott
63 Best St North Fitzroy VIC 3068
Email: blre99@bigpond.com
Tel Hm (08) 9489 0838 Tel Wk (08) 9489 8044