Winnunga News. Tribute to Mary. CEO Update. Inside this issue. Winnunga is located at 63 Boolimba Crescent Narrabundah ACT 2604

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Maximilian Gaines
5 years ago
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It is a sign of the continuing success and growth of Winnunga that the number of clients utilising the services we provide continues to grow as are the range of services we provide.

1 Winnunga News JULY 2015 CEO Update Inside this issue Doctor Profiles 2-3 Ice Forum 4 Staff Profile 4 Victim Support 5 Public Seminar 5 Constituationl Recognition 6 NAIDOC at Winnunga 7 Capital Funds 7 Midwifery Team 8 NAIDOC Photos 9 Winnunga Nimmityjah has received with gratitude a grant of $1.3 million from the ACT Government for an extension and upgrades to the health centre. It is a sign of the continuing success and growth of Winnunga that the number of clients utilising the services we provide continues to grow as are the range of services we provide. It is pleasing that Minister for Health Simon Corbell has recognised that the success and growth of Winnunga has led to a shortage of space and that he has agreed to fund an extension. Many members of the community have approached Winnunga expressing concern about the future of Boomanulla Oval. Winnunga shares the view that Boomanulla is of great Ms Julie Tongs OAM, CEO Winnunga Nimmityjah AHS importance to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and that it is important that it be maintained as an Aboriginal managed facility. Tribute to Mary As a consequence the Winnunga Board has agreed that Winnunga should respond to an invitation in the May Bulletin of the interim Boomanulla Advisory Group and express an interest, as a successful Aboriginal community controlled and managed organisation, in being involved in the future management of Boomanulla Oval. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my condolences to all of Mary Buckskin s family and friends at her sad passing. Mary was one of my best friends and not only have I lost someone that I loved and respected but we have all lost one of Australia s greatest champions of Aboriginal healthcare. Winnunga is located at 63 Boolimba Crescent Narrabundah ACT 2604 Alternatively you could give us a call on (02) or fax us on (02) Mary Buckskin, who has so sadly passed away at the age of fifty seven, was one of the most loved, experienced and respected members of the Aboriginal health network in Australia. Mary worked for over thirty years in Aboriginal health originally as a health professional having gained qualifications as a registered nurse and midwife and with Diplomas in Nursing and Community Services. Mary worked in Aboriginal organisations variously as a clinic nurse, community health nurse, policy officer and as an Aboriginal Hospital liaison officer and clinical educator. Mary has over the last ten years made a nationally significant contribution to Aboriginal health and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community as an administrator and in leadership positions as Chair of the Winnunga Nimmityjah Board, CEO of the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia, a board member of Nunkuwarrin Yunti Aboriginal Health Service and of Aboriginal Elders and Community Care Services Inc (Adelaide). Mary will be remembered for her selfless devotion to the health needs of her people and her passionate advocacy for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Page 2 Welcome to our new GPs Dr Nadeem Siddiqui Executive Director of Clinical Services Following a two year international search, Dr Nadeem was appointed Executive Director of Clinical Services in

Nadeem has an interest in both clinical practice and health management, and he and his wife have three young children.

2 Page 2 Welcome to our new GPs Dr Nadeem Siddiqui Executive Director of Clinical Services Following a two year international search, Dr Nadeem was appointed Executive Director of Clinical Services in September Nadeem studied medicine at Cambridge University, and was previously working in Qatar developing primary health care services. Nadeem has an interest in both clinical practice and health management, and he and his wife have three young children. Dr Alexandra Lord Alex grew up in Canberra and moved to Sydney to study Medicine at Uni of NSW. She graduated 35 years ago and has been working in General Practice, Women s Health and has had experience working with people affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. It has taken her having 4 kids and 40 years for her to return to live in Canberra and it is wonderful to be back here. Winnunga AHS is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday

Welcome to our new GPs Page 3 Dr Saidul Islam Saidul finished his MBBS in Bangladesh in 1996 and he use to work in Rehabilitation Medicine before started working for rural Government hospital in 2001.

He then moved to Gosford and worked in different specialities there from January 2004 until moving to Canberra this year.

3 Welcome to our new GPs Page 3 Dr Saidul Islam Saidul finished his MBBS in Bangladesh in 1996 and he use to work in Rehabilitation Medicine before started working for rural Government hospital in Saidul came to Sydney in mid 2001 & finished his MMED (Geriatrics) in March 2003 followed by working at a War Memorial Hospital in Waverley in mid August. He then moved to Gosford and worked in different specialities there from January 2004 until moving to Canberra this year. His main interest is Geriatric Medicine and Rehabilitation but over the years he also trained in Addiction Medicine and Hepatitis. Saidul has also done a short course in Pain Management in 2002 at the RNSH under University of Sydney. Dr Orla Teahan will commence in later July. Dr Robinah Zia Robinah grew up in the UK and obtained her Medical Degree from Liverpool University. Before she fully immersed herself into General Practice, she also worked as a Forensic Medical Examiner with various Police Departments around the country. Her bio will appear in the August Newsletter. Robinah s last GP position in Australia was in Western Sydney and she has recently moved to Canberra to join Winnunga. She is aiming to specialize in Diabetes and perhaps Dermatology and hepatitis in the near future. Robinah is married with one grown up son and she plan s to do some travelling around Australia when she get the chance. Boomanulla is a Wiradjuri word meaning Speed and lightning

Page 4 Ice Forum Alcohol and drug abuse remain issues of major concern within the community including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

4 Page 4 Ice Forum Alcohol and drug abuse remain issues of major concern within the community including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In recent years a drug that is having an exceedingly destructive impact on users and their families is ICE. Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service will be holding a community forum about ways to combat ICE within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Canberra on Tuesday 18th August The forum will provide an opportunity for the community to obtain information about ICE and its effects, services available, how to respond to a person they believe may be using ICE and how we work to tackle ICE addiction in the local community. Attendees will hear from community members, health professionals and clients. Anyone who has an interest in learning more about ICE use whether they are someone who uses the drug or a friend or family member with concerns about a friend or loved one is encouraged to attend. When: Tuesday 18th August 2015 Where: Winnunga Aboriginal Health Service, 63 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah. Time: 10.00am to 2.00pm (lunch provided from pm) Staff Profile Name: Jodie Longford Position: Practice Manager Who is your favourite singer? Garth Brooks What do you do on the weekends? Shopping, spend time with family and friends What is your favourite food? Thai or Chinese food What is your pet hate? Cruelty to animals If you could invite any two people to dinner, who would they be and why? Pete and Manu so they can cook for me What do you like most about working at Winnunga? Working with the Aboriginal Community and the staff at Winnunga are all great Winnunga AHS provides outreach services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at Bimberi Youth Justice Centre and the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

Page 5 Have you been harmed by a violent crime in the ACT? Many people have experienced being a victim of violence. It can be hard to recover from being harmed.

You don t need to report a crime to police to be eligible for our services.

5 Page 5 Have you been harmed by a violent crime in the ACT? Many people have experienced being a victim of violence. It can be hard to recover from being harmed. Victim Support ACT provide free services to people who have suffered a violent crime. Our services are completely confidential. You don t need to report a crime to police to be eligible for our services. Victim Support ACT can give you support including: Information and advocacy for your rights as a victim of crime Court support or advice about court processes Assistance to make an application for the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme Give Victim Support ACT a call for a confidential talk about how we might be able to help you. Our services are free to anyone who has experienced being a victim of crime in the ACT. Free call: Public Seminar-Services and Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in the ACT-How Do We Rate The Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis at the University of Canberra is conducting a public seminar on 16 July 2015 on service delivery for the ACT Indigenous community. Public Seminar-Service s and Support for Aboriginal and Torres The seminar will feature presentations by ACT Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Ms Yvette Berry MLA and Winnunga Nimmityjah CEO Ms Julie Tongs OAM. Strait Islander People in the ACT-How Do We Rate The Minister will discuss some of the key service delivery areas for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and broader issues of reform, as well as the themes of the ACT ATSI Agreement. Julie Tongs will speak about the role and importance of Aboriginal and Torrs Strait Islander community controlled organisations. She will also discuss the continuing need to strive for better outcomes and the need to explore new ways to address the needs of the most disadvantaged and at risk members of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. The seminar is open to the public, is free and will be held at to 1.30 pm on 16 July 2015 at the Theo Notaras multicultural Centre, North Building.180 London Circuit, Civic. Winnunga AHS runs a Women s group every Thursday in the art room from 10.30am to 2.30pm. Call for more details.

6 Page 6 Constitutional Recognition in the ACT of Aboriginal Peoples The ACT Government and the ACT Elected Body are to be commended for the proposal to explicitly recognise the distinct cultural rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ACT Human Rights Act. Under the proposal, an Australian first, the right to maintain, control, protect and develop cultural heritage and distinctive spiritual practices, languages and knowledge and kinship ties are guaranteed. The new provision will also provide that material and economic relationships with the land and waters are recognised and valued. The amendment to the Human Rights Act will be of not only potentially real practical significance but is symbolically powerful. Of equal or greater symbolic significance would be the recognition of Aboriginal peoples in the ACT Self Government Act, which is in effect the ACT Constitution. The recognition of Aboriginal peoples in the preamble of constitutive documents is proceeding in the States across Australia and is, of course, currently under active consideration nationally. Typically the preamble has been amended to acknowledge and respect the Aboriginal peoples of a particular jurisdiction as the First Peoples and Nations of the place. It is usual to also recognise that the colonisation which occurred subsequent to European settlement occurred without consultation, agreement or proper recognition of the rights of the traditional owners. Winnunga Nimmityjah would strongly support the recognition of Aboriginal people in the ACT Self Government Act and recommends to the ACT Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs that she consider inviting the ACT Elected Body to consult with the ACT community on the proposal, advise the government on a preferred form of amendment to the Self Government Act and present the government with options for an amendment to present to the Commonwealth for inclusion in the Act. Winnunga would also welcome an opportunity for the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to be informed of and consulted about proposals which are apparently being raised and actively considered at private meetings between some Aboriginal leaders and which have also involved the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. If you would like to receive the Winnunga newsletter please newsletter@winnunga.org.au and you will be added to the monthly mailing list

NAIDOC at Winnunga Winnunga celebrated NAIDOC on 8 July with a family and community day. The day was a great success, with food, music and activities for the kids.

Works Funding for Winnunga At the Winnunga NAIDOC event on 8 July 2015, the Minister for Health Mr Simon Corbell announced Winnunga had been successful in securing

This is greatly welcomed as over the years Winnunga has outgrown its current premises.

7 NAIDOC at Winnunga Winnunga celebrated NAIDOC on 8 July with a family and community day. The day was a great success, with food, music and activities for the kids. The ACT Minister for Health, Simon Corbell, attended the event, and there was a special performance by the Last Kinection Photo Photo Minister Announces Capital Works Funding for Winnunga At the Winnunga NAIDOC event on 8 July 2015, the Minister for Health Mr Simon Corbell announced Winnunga had been successful in securing $1.3million capital works project funding to extend Winnunga s existing premises. This is greatly welcomed as over the years Winnunga has outgrown its current premises. The funding will go towards building of new clinic rooms, expanding current waiting room areas, and replacing the existing heating/air conditioning to the building. This injection of capital works funding will ensure the physical space required to accommodate the on average 140 clients Winnunga sees daily can be met more comfortably.

Page 8 Services at Winnunga Aboriginal Midwifery Access Program (AMAP) The midwifery team at Winnunga provides a range of services to pregnant women and up to 6 weeks following birth.

8 Page 8 Services at Winnunga Aboriginal Midwifery Access Program (AMAP) The midwifery team at Winnunga provides a range of services to pregnant women and up to 6 weeks following birth. We employ two midwives and an Aboriginal Access Worker, and have a shared care arrangement with The Canberra Hospital. The midwifery team accompany pregnant women to hospital visits and often attend the birth. During the team provided care to 280 women. Antenatal care was given to 118 women and there were 74 births recorded. Of the babies born, 84% had a normal birth weight. We have implemented early pregnancy classes which focus on education around pregnancy and antenatal care, and empower women to make informed decisions regarding their pregnancy and birth, leading to improved outcomes. Winnunga continues to take on high risk pregnancies which differs from any other model of community care available in Canberra. Taking on high risk clients allows us to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team at The Canberra Hospital, often involving specialist departments such as obstetrics, endocrine and the Fetal Medicine Unit. Our midwives are now trained in pap smears, which we are hoping will continue to increase women undergoing their routine pap smear tests. Gynaecologist Dr Steve Adair provides clinic appointments at Winnunga for women who requite gynaecology services. For more information on our Aboriginal Midwifery Access Program call Photos from Winnunga s NAIDOC Community and Family Day held on 8 July 2015

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions Who is ANMAC? The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) is the independent accrediting authority for the nursing and midwifery professions under the