Social Determinants of Indigenous Health
Coordinating Holistic Policy & Services to Increase Life Expectancy
How to implement culturally appropriate tools for improved social, emotional & mental wellbeing
Pre-Conference Workshop A
Tuesday 27th March, 2012
9:00am – 4:00pm
From this workshop you will take away tools and mechanisms for healing, with a focus on mental health, which are essential to create culturally appropriate Indigenous programs and service delivery. The tools for healing look at reconnecting identity and culture to empower indigenous individuals.
The program introduces participants to visual holistic tools that provide understanding and then empowers individuals to make better choices in their lives. Though the program comes from an Aboriginal perspective it is not just about Indigenous people. It is for all people irrespective of cultural backgrounds.
This workshop will be beneficial for government agencies and mainstream service delivery providers who strive to create more culturally appropriate modes of care. It will be beneficial for community controlled organisations to further the techniques for healing.
This workshop you will cover:
- How to create more culturally appropriate modes of care
- Mechanisms for healing with a focus on mental health
- Tools for reconnecting identity and culture to empower indigenous individuals
Past reviews from our 2010 HealthCare Red Dust Healing workshop:
‘‘Stunning content – excellent speaker!!’’
Rosalie Howard, SEWB Co-ordinator
Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corp.
About your workshop leader:
Red Dust Healing, NSW
Red Dust Healing is a specific cultural healing program originally designed by Warramunga man, Tom Powell and further developed in partnership with Randal Ross. Based on ancient and traditional philosophy, Red Dust Healing is a therapeutic and transformative group program that has been delivered in New South Wales and Queensland. This workshop gave participants a snapshot of the program, which examines the intergenerational effects of colonialism on the mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing of Indigenous families; and encouraged men and women to confront and deal with the problems, hurt and anger in their lives. A key focus of the program relates to rebuilding and healing families and communities through restoring Indigenous men’s identity, responsibilities and relationships.
Building organisational capacity for sustainable service delivery
Post-Conference Workshop B
Friday 30th March, 2012
9:00am – 4:00pm
Historically Indigenous peoples have often not been a part of
the conversation regarding the delivery of health services to
their communities. Expectations of reliability, accountability and outcomes are higher for Aboriginal organisations than others, and many organisations are set up to fail.
Sarah will lead a workshop discussing ideas that work, strategies for the future and what community control means in the true sense.
During this session you will explore:
- How do organisations keep progressing?
- Common pitfalls and challenges in community service delivery
- How to embed a culture of accountability and commitment at all levels
- Strategies for engaging with other organisations and agencies to gain buy in and share resources
- The value and strength of community-led service design and development by investing in capacity building
- Ways of promoting leadership for strong governance
About your workshop leader:
Urapuntja Health Service, NT
Sarah Doherty has been the CEO of the Urapuntja Health Service Aboriginal Corporation for four years. Sarah has a broad nursing background and a Master’s degree in Public Health. Recently as project leader on an important research project ‘Historical Influences on Contemporary Social Indicators At Utopia’, she hopes to raise the profile of the social determinants of health, as priorities in addressing the health gap between indigenous and non indigenous peoples of the world.
Sarah has worked in indigenous health for the past 12 years both here and overseas and believes that the gaps in wealth create the gaps in health.
Indigenous people have never been either politically or practically a part of the conversation regarding the delivery of health services to their communities.
Expectations of reliability, accountability and outcomes are higher for Aboriginal organisations than others, and many organisations are set up to fail.
Sarah Doherty CEO of Urapuntja Health Service will lead a workshop discussing ideas that work, strategies for the future and what community control means in the true scene.
