URAPUNTJA HEALTH SERVICE ABORIGINAL CORPORATION 2015/2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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1 URAPUNTJA HEALTH SERVICE ABORIGINAL CORPORATION 2015/2016 ANNUAL REPORT

2 Credit cover image Artist Polly Nala The images in this artwork embody traditional ritual knowledge of the Alywarre community. It was created with the consent of the custodians of the community. Dealing with any part of the images for any purpose that has not been authorised by the custodians is a serious breach of the customary laws of the Utopia community, and may also breach the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). For enquiries about permitted reproduction of these images, contact Polly Nala, Utopia Homelands. Chairman s Foreword....3 Table of CEO contents Report....4 About Urapuntja.5 Our Performance...6 Our Programs.8

3 Chairman s Foreword Welcome to the Annual Report for 2015/2016. This year we have been focussed on updating our strategic plan. As a board we have clear accountability to our funders for sound financial management, probity and good governance, but our key accountability lies with our members and the people of the Alywarre region. This year we are proud to say that we exceeded the goals we set 5 years ago and our service is achieving all and more than hoped for. We have seen the commencement of construction of accommodation to expand the number of staff we can house on site, new Social and Emotional Wellbeing programs as well as our Men s and Women s Shed and our Baby Basket Program. We are proud of what we have achieved in the last 39 years and we are excited to celebrate our 40 year anniversary next year. We are determined to safeguard our service and maintain our community controlled, community driven programs to improve wellness across our region. Our health service is a part of us, it s a part of our identity Albert Bailey Chairman Urapuntja Health Service Aboriginal Corporation Board of Directors Albert Bailey (Chairman) Antarraginya Harold Nelson Arlparra Cowboy Loy Aniltye Stevie Loy Mosquito Bore George Club Tomahawk Fred Jones Atheleye Lucky Morton Rocket Range May Bailey Antarringya Margaret Loy Mosquito Bore Lena Pula - Ngwarlalenama

4 CEO Report I am delighted to report that Urapuntja Health Service has significantly increased services in the 2015/16 year, with 93.7% of the people in our 16 outstation communities accessing our services. With increased access we are improving wellness across our footprint which is demonstrated by our performance against National Key Performance Indicators exceeding targets in most areas. Its with excitement that I report that we have had another successful year attracting new funding for much needed and community identified programs these include the Wellbeing for Our Mob social and emotional wellbeing program as well as our Baby Basket Program. We have also successful obtained capital works and service improvement grants for clinic buildings at Apungalindum and 3 Bores and to provide much needed new accommodation for staff and upgrades to existing accommodation which will aid in recruitment and retention of quality staff to our area. This year has also seen the completion of our Wellbeing Shed, a unique area for men and women to meet, attend focussed programs and to celebrate culture. We have met all of our reporting obligations all funders, achieved an unqualified audit and received congratulations from ORIC (Office of Registrar of Indigenous Corporations) for our strong governance. Our Board continue to strive for excellence and I thank them for their continued support and direction in ensuring that we are a strong and focussed health service with the community at heart. The year ahead is a busy one with the celebration of 40 years of incorporation. We hope you will join us for the celebration of an amazing past and an exciting future. Linda Keating Chief Executive Officer URAPUNTJA STRATEGIC GOALS Be a leader in remote health nationally and internationally Engage and partner with our community to improve health outcomes Educate and retain a suitable skilled and culturally sensitive workforce Continue to improve through evidence based practice Build a financially sustainable service

5 About Urapuntja Urapuntja Health Service Aboriginal Corporation is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, that has been successfully running since 1977, we are the 2nd Aboriginal organisation of this type to be registered with ORIC (ICN 2). We provide services to a population of about 1000 permanent residents who live in 16 homeland communities, we are a unique health service to all other health services in NT in that we deliver an outreach service to all 16 outstation communities every week and our primary clinic is not in the middle of the community. Urapuntja has been delivering core primary health care services to the community for almost 40 years. The authority of the health board and community members determine how the service works and to this day health statistics at Utopia are better than most communities in the Northern Territory (McDermott et al. 1998; Moore 2011; Rickards et al n.d.; Togni, Rickards, Brown 2011). Community involvement has been critical to everything that the ACCHOs are and do. The strength of community involvement confirms for clients that they are safe places where the experience of Aboriginality is understood and where special needs are recognised and looked after. Board members provide one critical link with the community, ensuring that the organisation responds to the needs and hopes of the community. At Urapuntja Health Service senior people from each of the outstations constitute the board of management. This provides a very direct representation of community spirit and leadership. The Urapuntja Board is a representative board based on clan structures rather than through the election of people from the membership. Our Communities Arlparra 3 Bores Amengernternenh Aniltye Antarringinya Arnkawenyerr Atheleye Camel Camp Irrutja Kurrajong Bore Mosquito Bore Mulga Bore Apungalindum Soakage Bore Soapy Bore ABOUT OUR REGION There are 607 people in the Urapuntja Health Service footprint There are 213 children under the age of 15 years in the region 93.7% of our population accessed our service this year 313 clients have a chronic disease

6 Our Performance Urapuntja Health Service collects both the nkpi s (National Key Performance Indicators) and the NT AHKPI s (Northern Territory Aboriginal Health Key Performance Indicators). Our comparative average in the Northern Territory is at or above other service providers and the improvement of the quality of or data contributing to these performance indicators is a continuing focus for our team. The data presented shows a steady rise in patient episodes of care as well as a corresponding rise in the service providing comprehensive primary health care through preventative health checks and chronic disease management. Episodes of Health Care 4 Year Comparison of OSR Data / / / /2016 NT AHKPI 1.1a Proporation of episodes of health care over the previous 12 months by resident status and sex 20% 18% 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% 0-4 years years Female/Resident years Female/Visitor 45-64yrs Male/Resident 65+ years Male/Visitor

7 3 Year Comparison Item 715 Health Checks Year Comparison Completed Item 721 GP Management Plans Medicare Income 6 year comparison $250, $200, $150, $100, $50, $

8 Wellbeing for our Mob Wellbeing for our Mob is focused on a collaborative approach to addressing gaps within the health, education, justice, physical activity, creative arts and social emotional wellbeing needs in Utopia. There is commitment to examine a Model of Holistic Care across these areas with the community and amongst the key service providers. Our intent is to build a framework that holds us accountable to a holistic, community driven collaborative service delivery approach. Earlier this year we ran 2 successful Mental Health First Aid courses Youth and Teen. Clinic and High School staff as well as a group of high school students were led by AJ Williams through the fundamentals of mental health and how to safely provide support. Feedback from participants was overwhelming positive and we plan to hold more sessions in the future. Healing Centre The Board of Directors prioritised the construction of a community healing centre with medicare income generated by the service. The multi purpose site has a Women s Shed and a Men s Shed, purpose fitted to cater for nutrition, education and large community gatherings.

9 Securing a stronger future for Urapuntja - Capital Works Urapuntja Health Service secured funding for the upgrade of existing accommodation facilities as well as the construction of 3 new houses. The upgrades will continue into the 2016/2017 financial year. The improvement to housing facilities has been long awaited and should improve the services ability to retain long term staff.

10 Baby Box Program Funded through the SCFC program Urapuntja Health Service has commenced the Baby Box Program. This initiative focuses on Indigenous women who are expecting a baby and/or have recently given birth. The program aims to engage Indigenous women with the health service by encouraging early and frequent clinic attendance and midwife contact during the antenatal period and postnatal check-ups. Engagement is facilitated by the delivery of three Baby Boxes to mothers. The baskets are delivered in the first trimester, immediately prior to or around the time of birth and post birth. The program also attempts to improve knowledge about issues that affect the growing baby such as healthy choices around smoking, alcohol and diet. Through enhanced engagement, the hypothesised impact of the Baby Basket program is better maternal health, reduced complications during and after pregnancy, an increased proportion of normal weight babies, and thriving infants. Ultimately, a healthy start to life should help reduce the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Baby Box 1 at confirmation of pregnancy total of 14 Baby Box 2 New Mother and New Baby Box total of 8 Baby Box 3 6 Months of Age Box total of 1 The baby boxes provide practical items along with appropriate health promotion material accompanying each of the boxes. This provides a point of practical reference for nurses when discussing care needs throughout pregnancy stressing the importance of self-care and nutrition throughout pregnancy and once newborn has arrived. The baby boxes are actually providing some practical tools to assist in achieving good self care, including hygiene and nutrition, including the purchase orders to access healthy tucker. Our conversations in the region are showing a high level of support from the community. Meetings with community female Elders in relation to the health services Women s Shed and Baby Boxes highlighted full support. Pregnant women and babies are a high priority for community members. Would like to see increase in activity through the baby boxes and women s shed activities which support pregnant women and Mothers of the Utopia area. In order to capitalise on the success of this program, we plan to increase the number of boxes delivered to pregnant women throughout pregnancy and on return home from 3 to 5 boxes in This will ensure the foetus has the right nutrients for brain development at crucial stages of their development. New Playground Playgrounds support socialisation and interaction, stimulate children s imagination, brain development and provide opportunities for healthy activity which has many health benefits including reducing obesity. CAYLUS the regions SCfC facilitating partner provided $5000 towards the $25,000 playground with Urapuntja Health Service funding the balance, this has now added a bright and stimulating playground for the enjoyment of our clients.

11 Teen and Family Health Festival 8th and 9th June Urapuntja Health Service co-ordinated and hosted a 2 day Family and Teen health festival on the 8th and 9th of June, with the key focus being families together for ''Healthy Utopia Mob, Brighter Futures''. This day saw 5 local organisations (NT Government Schools, Barkly Shire Council, Aged Care, Arid Edge and UHSA C) and 10 visiting services ( RFDS Mental Health, Dietician, Baker IDI, NDIA, ITECH, CAYLUS, Contact Inc and NTG Remote Sexual Health, Dental Truck and Trachoma Team) work together for a successful 2 day event. On the 8th of June the clinic had 131 patient contacts and 9th of June 141 patient contacts,70 health assessments (715) completed, 62 patients attended the dental truck for treatment in addition to the health promotion rotations detailed below. Health promotion stations included: Mental Health RFDS - Emotional Resilience activity 89 children from primary schools attended this activity. Trachoma Team - Glitter bug hand and face hygiene activity 140 children attended this activity in small groups over 2 days. Dietician + Arid Edge Gardens - Sugar story and Tucker bag food preparation and flour drum open fire cooking activity 140 children attended this activity in small groups over 2 days. Physical Activity station 140 children attended this activity in small groups over 2 days. Remote Sexual Health - Education and empowerment session covering self-respect, healthy relationships, menstruation, age of consent, safe sex and where to access help or advice (High school girls) 23 children from high school attended this activity. Further to these stations fun free time activity stations included face painting, photo booth station and high school girls photo exhibition display hairdressing station run by 8 high school girls as part of self-respect and emotional resilience all 140 children during free time accessed these stations. Catering was provided on the day to community, in addition to the tucker bag one pot Chow-Mein meals cooked and eaten and subsequently available for purchase as a tucker bag containing all ingredients at the local Alparra store by the children a BBQ was provided 50kgs of meat + salad to accompany and 8 crates of fruit + bottled water. A range of incentive attendance prizes (majority hygiene packs) were donated by local businesses and drawn out on the day.

12 Sharing our story Urapuntja Health Service has embarked on a new communications strategy to share the great things our service is doing. Our new Website Facebook TWITTER Urapuntja Health Service Aboriginal

13 Thank you to our partners and sponsors for 2015/2016

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