Workshops
29th March & 1st April, 2010

The Commonwealth Government reforms will ultimately lead to change and these changes will become entrenched for the next century so should we focus on and respond only the priority areas for Indigenous Australians or is it a requisite that we ensure that Indigenous needs and entitlements are inclusive in all facets of the reform implementation? What legacy will we leave our children – the current status quo of poor health outcomes and continuing barriers or do we become proactive and make the difference that we argue for now? This choice ultimately lies with us all.

The work shop will look at:

• How to make Indigenous health everybody’s business in the reform process without creating the misconception that it is mainstreaming by stealth
• Reviewing the health reform agenda: how do the three health reform reports, the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission Report, the National Primary Health Care Strategy and the Preventative Health Taskforce Report , recommendations work to close the gap
• How to make these recommendations work with your priorities and outcomes for health
• Addressing the gaps; what else do we need to improve models for service delivery – or will the existing models of service provision be sufficient?
• Reshaping health care - what role is there for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in shaping services to be inclusive?
• Working in partnership across government departments, communities and service providers to make a difference

About your workshop leader:

From this workshop you will take away tools and mechanisms for healing, which are essential to create culturally appropriate Indigenous programs and service delivery. The tools for healing look at reconnecting spirit, identity and culture to empower indigenous individuals.

This workshop will be beneficial for government agencies and mainstream service delivery providers who strive to create more culturally appropriate modes of care, as it provides an understanding of the significance of healing and how it can be used in conjunction with other programs. It will also be beneficial for community controlled organizations to further the techniques for healing.

About Red Dust Healing:

Tom Powell, Director, Red Dust Healing

Red Dust Healing is a Men and Women family healing program based on a cultural belief that we are all one people, one mob who do not own but belong to the land. Originally written and designed by Tom Powell a Wiradjuri man from Central NSW and further developed with Randal Ross a Bindal, Juru and Erub descendant from Queensland.

Red Dust Healing is a group program for Indigenous Men, Women and families. The program examines the intergenerational effects of colonialism on the mental, physical and spiritual well being of Indigenous families and encourages individuals to confront and deal with the problems, hurt and issues relevant to their own lives.

Red Dust Healing is written from an Indigenous perspective for Indigenous Men, Women and their families. The program is targeted at the heart and not the head and that is why it works.

“When the dust is settled on our lives, all we get to keep and take with us is our dignity, our integrity and the love and respect we shared with people.”