Year of the Aboriginal Health Worker

The Year of the Aboriginal Health Worker (YAHW) runs from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012. YAHW is a joint initiative between the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory(AMSANT) and the Senior Aboriginal Health Workers Network in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is also supported by the Northern Territory Department of Health.

The Year of the Aboriginal Health Worker is for all Aboriginal Health Workers in the Northern Territory, whether working in the Aboriginal community controlled health sector, or in the government sector.

The motto of the Year of the Aboriginal Health Worker is simple:

Closing the Gap through caring for our people

Themes

The themes of the year are:

• a recognition of the profession of Aboriginal Health Workers, and the fundamentally important role they play in improving the health of our people

• equity in the treatment of Aboriginal Health Workers in housing and benefits that accrue to other health professions, such as nurses and GPs

• the commitment and resources to grow the profession to build on the successes we have in Aboriginal Comprehensive Primary Health Care

• a recognition of the vital role our Aboriginal Health Workers have in Closing the Gap in Aboriginal health outcomes.

Events

A number of events, meeting and activities will be held throughout the year. They include:

• launching of an Aboriginal Health Worker Hall of Fame, to include past Aboriginal Health Workers and long-serving Aboriginal Health Workers;

• an NT Aboriginal Health Worker Conference;

• a formal dinner following the Aboriginal Health Worker Conference;

• NT Aboriginal Health Worker Awards and related events;

• assisting and supporting Aboriginal community controlled health services to organise information sessions to high schools, attend career expos, etc within their communities;

• promoting good news stories through various sources of media;

• documenting regional activities held as well as short histories of Aboriginal Health Workers to create resources;

• monthly communiqués will be prepared to campaign around the Year of the Aboriginal Health Worker and upcoming events; and

• concluding the Year of the Aboriginal Health Worker with this profession leading the Darwin May Day March in 2012. Employers of Aboriginal Health Workers will be encouraged to release their Aboriginal Health Workers for the march.

Patrons

Two of the Northern Territory’s longest serving Aboriginal Health Workers are honoured as co-patrons for the Year of the Aboriginal Health Worker. They are Jack Little^[1] and Kathy Abbott.^[2] The patrons were announced at the YAHW launch by Paula Arnol, whose comments are included below:

These leaders are an inspiration to new members of the Aboriginal Health Worker profession, and it is a great honour to have them as patrons for this important year.

Jack Little

Jack Little was first recruited as an Aboriginal Health Worker by the legendary Dr John Hargreaves. In turn, Jack has become one of the true legends of Aboriginal primary health care in the Northern Territory. He was a key health leader in the establishment of the Katherine West Health Board late last century.

Kathy Abbott

Kathy Abbott is an Arrernte woman who was a trailblazer in Aboriginal health in Central Australia, being recruited by Trevor Cutter in the early 1970s.

She was one of Central Australian Aboriginal Congress’ first Aboriginal Health Workers, and went on to become a leading educator of new Aboriginal Health Workers through the Health Department. Kathy remains active as one of the Territory’s most senior Aboriginal Health Workers.

Launch

The Year of the Aboriginal Health Worker was officially launched in Katherine on 1 September 2011. It was held at Katherine Showgrounds and was a great success, with over 150 people attending, including at least 40 Aboriginal Health Workers. For the Aboriginal Health Workers and those who work with them and depend on them, the event was a moving celebration of history – and also showed a clear way forward for the profession.

Welcomes to Country were delivered by Jawoyn leader Lisa Mumbin and Wardaman leader May Rosas. Other speakers included AMSANT Board Members, Danila Dilba’s CEO Paula Arnol, and AMSANT’s CEO John Paterson.

But the highlights came from Aboriginal Health Workers themselves. These included two wonderful speeches from Gwenda Gless and Leitisha Jackson.^[3]

Patrick Ah Kit, Wurli Aboriginal Health Worker and member of the National Aboriginal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Advisory Council, spoke on behalf of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aboriginal Health Worker Association, and Shaun Tatipata spoke about the forthcoming scheme national registration for Aboriginal Health Workers.

Messages of support were also read out from Indigenous Health Minister Warren Snowdon,^[4] NT Health Minister Kon Vatskalis, Minister Malarndirri McCarthy and National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (NACCHO) CEO Donna Ah Chee.

References

1. Speech by Jack Little, 1 September 2011 Available on AMSANT website
2. Speech by Kathy Abbott, 1 September 2011 Available on AMSANT website
3. Speech by Leitisha Jackson, 1 September 2011 Available on AMSANT website
4. Press release by Warren Snowdon, Indigenous Health Minister, 1 September 2011 Available on Australian Government website