Conference Papers
Session H3.1. Maternal and early childhood health
1. Roz Walker: Starting on Track: Addressing maternal and child health outcomes in the Western Desert
The importance of prevention and early intervention in addressing maternal and child health outcomes and enhancing life chances for all children is now a widely held policy mantra. Importantly, evidence from the Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS) confirms considerable vulnerabilities in the early beginnings for Aboriginal children, often magnified by location and poor access to early years and maternal health programs and services. The actual extent of the impact of these and other issues for Aboriginal early child development and school readiness was highlighted by the results of two Telethon Institute for Child Health Research (TICHR) studies using the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) with Martu communities in the East Pilbara in 2007 and 2008. A further community based study by TICHR, in partnership with BHP BIO, the Department of Education and Training (DET) and Aboriginal independent schools is being undertaken over five years to collect AEDI and other relevant information for 4, 5, and 6 year old children in this area. The study involves government and non government agencies (including World Vision Australia and YMCA), local Aboriginal Medical Services, Aboriginal mothers groups, community councils, and Martu health and education officers working together to identify community-led, culturally relevant initiatives to address a suite of maternal and child health issues in an holistic manner. This participatory based study provides all stakeholders with common language and community level data/information to understand the factors influencing early childhood development and maternal health; and to ensure the range of programs and initiatives being implemented are aligned and supporting each other in a concentrated approach to addressing the issues underlying children’s developmental vulnerabilities as identified by the WAACHS findings and recommendations.
Author bio: Associate Professor Roz Walker has over 25 years experience as a researcher and educator working with Aboriginal communities, building local capacity within both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organisations. Roz is currently working as a senior researcher with the Centre for Research Excellence in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing at the Telethon Institute of Child Health Research in Western Australia (TICHR). She has extensive experience in qualitative research, evaluation and community development in Aboriginal community contexts with an interest in empowering, decolonising methodologies and research ethics and principles and a special interest in translating research into policy and practice. Roz lead the TICHR/BHPBIO ‘Starting on Track: implementation of the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) study in 2007 and the AEDI Indigenous Adaptation trial across the Pilbara in 2008. She is currently doing research in maternal health and early child development with Martu communities in the Western Desert funded by BHP Billiton Iron Ore.
2. Sally Crawshaw, , Therese Puruntatameri and Shelley Wills: ‘Sam Our Way’ – Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People to improve Social & Emotional Well Being
Sam Our Way is a three year program in partnership between Australian Red Cross and beyondblue youth ’the national depression initiative, and is currently delivered in 14 communities across WA, South Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland. The program goal is to decrease social and emotional vulnerabilities of targeted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people aged between 16 and 26, with a particular focus on: • Risks associated with depression and aiety; • Vione; • Alcohol and other substance mis-use; • Sexual hlth. ‘Sam Our Way’ utilises a community development framework, supporting the development of initiatives identified by local people, with a strong focus on capacity building and skills development at a local and individual level. The program targets vulnerable young people through prevention, education and capacity building of local organisations (particularly training and mentoring). It also aims to • support health promotion skills and resources of community-based organisations • strengthen community networks that look after youth social and emotional wbeing; • involve young people in decisions that affect them (in the program and the community generally). Red Cross is committed to building long-term and respectful partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and SAM Our Way is key in the achievement of that goal. Red Cross does not compete with community-led-or-managed services, or seek to replace them, and this presentation will demonstrate how we aim to work with communities to drive and lead their own solutions.
Author bio: Sally Crawshaw has worked for Red Cross for the past 18 months in a number of different roles. In her current role she has responsibility for the SAM Our Way program nationally. With a strong history in the fields of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander and Community Development, Sally also holds a Master of Social Development and a Bachelor of Arts in Aboriginal Studies and Sociology.
Therese Puruntatameri comes from Pirlangimpi on Melville Island in the Tiwi islands. Therese works as a coordinator in the Australian Red Cross Communities for Children program. Therese studied an associate diploma in teaching and business at Bachelor College in the Northern Territory and has worked for the Department of Education for over 25 years both on the Tiwi Islands and across rural and remote NT communities.
Shelley Wills is the Coordinator of the SAM Our Way program in the Tiwi Islands for the Australian Red Cross. With over ten years experience in the fields of mental health and drug and alcohol, Shelley has worked in urban and remote settings around Australian and the UK. Most recently Shelley has moved to the Northern Territory to pursue her interest in remote youth mental health issues and has formed strong community links with the communities of the Tiwi Islands.