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Session H9: Health and the criminal justice system

1. J. Guthrie: From Broome to Berrima: Building Australia-wide research capacity in Indigenous offender health and health care delivery

Full paper | Audio | Video | Slideshow pdf 278KB

Abstract

Australia has one of the highest incarceration rates of Indigenous people in the OECD which impacts profoundly on Indigenous communities. Further, offender populations endure a greater health burden compared with the general community. Despite these factors there has been relatively little investment in Indigenous offender health research which may explain the poor health outcomes for this population group. In 2008 the NHMRC awarded a capacity building grant to develop research capacity in Indigenous offender health across a range of areas including: the impact of incarceration on Indigenous communities, juvenile offender health, blood borne viruses, mental health, drug and alcohol use, models of care for Indigenous prisoners, and developing prison health indicators. This grant provides for the development of much needed capacity in offender health research and will enable a team of Indigenous researchers to undertake a range of research initiatives. It will also allow an Australia-wide network to be established for sharing knowledge in this field. Outcomes will include better Indigenous offender health services, improved health and wellbeing for this marginalised population, and enhanced communication regarding research and health programmes. The presentation describes the various aspects of the capacity building grant, aims of the five year programme of work, and progress to date.

Author bio

Jill Guthrie is a descendant of the Wiradjuri people of western NSW, and has lived in Canberra ACT for over twenty years.  In March 2009 she was appointed as a Research Fellow at AIATSIS.  Her PhD, undertaken through the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales is titled A phenomenological exploration of the experiences of families of Indigenous children hospitalised in the Australian Capital Territory.  Jill is a graduate of the Master of Applied Epidemiology (MAE) Program at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH) at the Australian National University (ANU).  Following graduation from the MAE Program, Jill worked as an academic member of the MAE staff and continues to work in the programShe has an adjunct appointment with the ANU and is supervising Masters and PhD students enrolled at NCEPH as well as being involved in other research projects.

2. J. Tong & N. Poroch: Beyond the Winnunga holistic health care prison model

Full paper | Audio | Video | Slideshow pdf 365KB

Abstract

The Winnunga Holistic Health Care prison Model was developed over a year long study into the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people incarcerated in Canberra’s new Alexander Maconochie Centre which opened in March 2009. It also takes into consideration the needs of the prisoners’ families. Winnunga Nimityjah Aboriginal Health Service in Narrabundah, Canberra is a community controlled Aboriginal Medical Service. The Winnunga Medical Director and Aboriginal Health Workers have been visiting Aboriginal prisoners in Goulburn and Cooma prisons for the last ten years. The Winnunga model is based on this practical experience and on data gained from interviews with:22 male and female ex-prisoners; 17 family members of prisoners and ex-prisoners; 39 representatives of health and justice support organisations; and Australian and overseas literature about aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Indigenous prison health.

The Winnunga Holistic Health Care Prison Model addresses incarceration, release from prison and breaking the cycle of incarceration. The Model’s premise is that post-release needs should be addressed as a priority on entry into prison. The focus of imprisonment is release into an environment that is better than the safety and familiarity of prison, and the drug culture associated with the cycle of incarceration. The opening of the Alexander Maconochie Centre provides an opportunity to revisit the respondents in the prison health study and to assess the needs of the Aboriginal prisoners in this Centre from its inception.

Author bios:

Julie is a Wiradjuri woman born in Leeton NSW and grew up in a small country town called Whitton. Julie moved to the ACT region 39 years ago. Julie’s long history of community service and involvement in the ACT has provided her with a strong knowledge and understanding of the issues impacting on Aboriginal people in the ACT and region. As well as this, Julie has and continues to, represent the ACT and Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service on many local and national steering committees and has been a Director of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) for 12 years.  In this way Julie has gained a vast amount of knowledge and experience at a national representative and strategic planning level.  Julie has been involved with Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service for some 17 years.  Julie was elected by the community as a Director on the Board of Directors 17 years ago and was appointed the CEO 12 years ago.  At the time of her appointment, Winnunga Nimmityjah AHS was a small health service with 5 staff and an annual budget of $241,000.  Julie is an accomplished strategic planner and has an enviable capacity for implementing visions and plans.  This is seen in how Julie has managed and steered Winnunga to what it is today, being a holistic comprehensive health service of 63 staff with an annual operating budget of $6.5 million.  As part of her role, Julie manages and oversees more than 40 contracts for funding with state, federal and non-government agencies.  Julie continues to be a driving force for change in Aboriginal health and politics at a local and national level.

Nerelle Poroch completed a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages (1996), a Master of Arts (1980)and Doctor of Philosophy (2001) at the University of Canberra. Over the last six years Nerelle has been involved in research regarding Indigenous youth and their communication with Centrelink, an holistic model of prison health care for Indigenous prisoners in the  ACT, and resilience in Indigenous children.

3. S. Kelty & T.Hart: The Shed

Full paper | Audio | Video | Slideshow pdf 1.1MB

Abstract

The Shed is a non-judgmental drop in centre for men. Every Wednesday morning Probation and Parole provide an outreach-reporting centre at The Shed. A registered nurse from the Access and Assessment Mental Health Team at Blacktown Hospital provides mental health and risk assessments at this outreach service. Broadly, the area health service aims to engage the Aboriginal community in mainstream mental health services; more specifically the personal aim of mental health staff is to look at the interaction between mental health and offending behaviours. The Shed provides Aboriginal men and the mental health staff a culturally safe environment in which to identify and address mental health needs. The main difficulties the men experience relate to anxiety, depression, psychosis, violence, racism, imprisonment, and drug and alcohol addictions. The results of this outreach service can be seen in the increased number of Aboriginal people linking into our area health service and in the improved communication between Aboriginal community organizations and mainstream mental health services. This highlights a definite need for mental health staff to integrate culture into the clinical context of our work.

During this presentation the important role that ‘The Shed’, mental health services and corrective services play in supporting Aboriginal people stay mentally well and out of prison, will be highlighted. A case study of an Aboriginal man who is supported by the service will be used.

Author bios

Sandra Kelty is a hospital trained general and mental health nurse completing her training in 1980. Sandra has completed a number of post grad courses including a Dip Aboriginal Family and Community Counselling (UNE), Grad Dip CHS & Forensic Nursing (UWS), Masters of Social Health(Macquarie Uni), Masters of Indigenous Health (UOW) and Masters of Forensic Mental Health (JCU). Sandra is currently studying a Master of Indigenous Studies (Wellbeing) (SCU). Sandra is employed by Sydney West Area Health Service in the role of The Clinical Leader Aboriginal Mental Health. Sandra’s principle role as the Clinical Leader is to contribute to the development of an Aboriginal Mental Health Workforce and provide advice to the Directors of Mental Health on the management of social issues affecting Aboriginal people.

Teddy Hart is a Murawria / Gunda-Ah / Mayo Aboriginal man from Brewarrina NSW. Ted has a wealth of knowledge and experience in working with Aboriginal men. For the past 4 years Ted has been employed by The University of Western Sydney at ‘The Shed’ as an Aboriginal Cultural Consultant. Ted works closely with Sandra supporting her in her role as The Clinical Lead in Aboriginal Mental Health as well as other mental health clinicians employed within Sydney West Area Health Service. Ted has developed a close working relationship with staff from local and district courts as well as The Circle Sentencing Courts and Probation and Parole, providing cultural input and support to all employees and those who use their services. Ted offers on going support to anyone from the Aboriginal community in regards to their legal and emotional well-being needs. Ted has a particular passion for supporting men who are experiencing difficulties around imprisonment, homelessness, drug and alcohol issues, domestic and family violence as well as supporting families who have a family member/s in prison.