Thread by @WePublicHealth

Panel discussion up now: 'reframing Aboriginal health as the key to our future of health' with panel facilitated by Nicole McCartney, Chief Aboriginal Health Advisor at DOH Victoria. #GiantSteps22

Panelists incl Brad Brown, Director Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, Sheree Lowe Executive Director of Social & Wellbeing Centre of Excellence @VACCHO_org & Pat Turner AM CEO @NACCHOAustralia - #GiantSteps22

Question - why is it important to reframe health?
Brown - local people talk about their own issues & needs, as needs & #SDOH are different across communities. Co-producing is important - community is part of the process, which is part of self-determination also #GiantSteps22

Turner - firstly acknowledges the strain the health system is under and gives thanks to healthcare workers. Also commends Kedar, relating to many of issues raised #GiantSteps22

Turner - ACCHOs can offer the mainstream healthcare some answers, but "let's not gloss over the issues". No matter how good our ACCHOs may be, we cannot close the health gap without major structural reform & without closing the funding health gap - #GiantSteps22

Turner speaks of the $4.4 billion health gap, found in recent research by @NACCHOAustralia and @EquityEconLab #GiantSteps22
croakey.org/will-the-next-…

Looking at positives, Turner recounts the strengths of ACCHO model during COVID - early collaboration with government, co-design. They excelled at looking after their own, kept in contact with community & contact tracing a great strength #GiantSteps22

Lowe - collective important, as is advocacy for structural change. Their role is to address real challenges, racism in healthcare, inability to access safe and quality healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. #GiantSteps22

Lowe - "we've been having these conversations for a very long time," everyone needs a seat at the table to acknowledge. Now is the time for our stakeholders to come and listen and discuss how we can make that work - #GiantSteps22

Turner describes the different levels of ACCHO - at local community level, there are locally Aboriginal community controlled health service (ACCHO) of which a board oversees the health service #GiantSteps22

At state level, affiliates such as @VACCHO_org, support existing ACCHOs in their state/juridisction & liaise with state govt #GiantSteps22

At national level, @NACCHOAustralia exists and all 144 ACCHOs are members of that. The model is all about self-determination. The first one established in Redfern for Aboriginal control over their healthcare #GiantSteps22

Turner - The model of healthcare was innovative, with a focus on prevention & social justice #GiantSteps22

6 Dec 2018 PM met with Coalition of Peaks and acknowledged that closing the gap targets were not being met #GiantSteps22
coalitionofpeaks.org.au

In 2020, the National Agreement on Closing the Gap came into effect. Turner says the process is an example of self-determination. #GiantSteps22 closingthegap.gov.au/national-agree…

A question from audience - 'is there one thing that health services can do to ensure the Indigenous community feel safe and welcome in our services [if not ACCHO]?' Brown responds - understand, take time to listen. If you don't know the answer, be honest & find out #GiantSteps22

Brown - ACCHOs are a "home away from home" - they are cultural, we know their mob, their family #GiantSteps22

Lowe - says over the past 50 years, the movement of Aboriginal people have pushed change along, and that the progress and achievements have been substantial. If progress continues, our children/grandchildren will be having a different conversations #GiantSteps22

Lowe - "if you don't have a sense of place or safety about who you are, then there will continue to be a gap" #GiantSteps22

Turner - the National Agreement includes 4 priority reforms
1-shared decision making on all matters that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
2-building and strengthening Aboriginal community-controlled sector

Turner -
3- mainstream agencies to transform to become culturally safe - hospitals, corrections, etc etc
4- improvement of data-sharing and information #GiantSteps22

Final question - what is the one thing the audience can do to work with us?
Brown- working in health is our purpose, understand that and work with Aboriginal people. It's fine to ask questions- you won't learn if you don't ask questions. #giantsteps22

Lowe- lean into your ally ship, we need that & we need for people to understand that everyone has a role to play. We need our allies to be on the same page as us. Support and commitment. #GiantSteps22

Turner - cultural knowledge and respect when relating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. If you act in a racist way, you're not going to get anywhere. Turner also requests for more doctors to work in their sector #GiantSteps22