Conference Papers
Session H.3.3. Tobacco, Alcohol and other drugs
1. Roxanne Brown and Ray Lovett: 'Can I have a Walan Girri' the development of an Indigenous lead model of service development and delivery for problematic alcohol and other drug use in the ACT
In 2007 Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service (Winnunga) in the ACT commissioned the development of a case management and care planning model to assist clients experiencing problematic alcohol and other drug use. This model was to be comprehensive and based on the philosophy of moving from crisis management to integrated comprehensive planned care and service provision. This approach acknowledges the often complex physical, emotional, social and political environment in which the person who might receive care lives. It also acknowledges that to better assist people experiencing problems due to alcohol or other drug use, more than the substances themselves need to be assessed, and that this needs to be done in a structured way where staff and clients can work towards achievable goals. The development of "Walan Girri" (Wiradjuri language for "Strong Future") was driven by the Social Health Team at Winnunga with support from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the Australian National University. This paper presents the methods used in assisting an Aboriginal community controlled health organisation in developing a structured case management and care planning instrument and the process of connecting policies and procedures to day-to-day work within a busy service. While the development and implementation has taken some time some success has already been shown with clients seeking out Winnunga Social Health Team staff and asking "Can I have a Walan Girri?"
Author bio:
Author bio: Ray is a Wongaibon man from far west NSW. Professionally his career has spanned a number of settings, including Aboriginal health services (both in the community and government sectors), at the policy and clinical levels in both nursing and public health. He has also worked in the private sector on business improvement, evaluation and health service planning and health service standards auditing. His qualifications include a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, a Bachelor of Nursing, A Bachelor of Health Science, a Masters in Applied Epidemiology and he is currently undertaking his PhD looking into the management of risky alcohol consumption in urban Indigenous populations. He is based in Canberra at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at The Australian National University. Ray is also a research fellow at AIATSIS where he is looking at models of health care provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples incarcerated. In 2001 Ray was a semi-finalist in the young Australian of The Year (NSW division) and in 2007 was a finalist in the young leader category of the inaugural National Excellence Awards in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
2. Julie Tongs: Winnunga’s Holistic Approach to Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Use
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service is a community controlled primary health care service operated by the Aboriginal community of the ACT. It has been providing culturally safe and holistic health services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community of the ACT and region for the past 23 years. Aboriginal Medical Services are unique in the holistic care they provide. For example Winnunga uses an assessment tool to develop a case management plan for each client. This system is akin to a one stop shop which addresses a client’s medical and social and emotional needs as opposed to mainstream medical services which separately address these conditions. Included in Winnunga’s large Social Health Team of Aboriginal Health Workers are four workers who specialize in alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. They receive referrals through the Winnunga Doctors, other members of the Social Health Team, self referrals, opportunistic occasions through the various Winnunga programs and during Winnunga’s weekly visits to the ACT prison, the Alexander Maconochie Centre. The services that these Aboriginal Health Workers may provide include outreach in the home or schools or work places, individual support and counseling with constant follow-up, and court support associated with criminal justice services.
Author bio: For over twenty (20) years Julie Tongs, a Wiradjuri woman, has excelled in advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Prior to taking up the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service in the ACT, in 1997, Julie was the Aboriginal Liaison Officer at the Woden Valley Hospital, Canberra where she worked towards achieving greater understanding of the Aboriginal culture and the needs of Aboriginal patients while hospitalized. She did this effectively through her coordination role between patients and hospital professionals, and in the aftercare which she arranged when patents were discharged. Julie came into this position after working in the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health as Assistant Advisor to the Honourable Robert Tickner MP. She worked untiringly advising the Minister on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs at the national level. Another area of working at the national level was in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. These areas of work and advocacy have equipped Julie to excel in her role as Winnunga CEO over the last 14 years. This has enabled her to appreciate the needs of the Winnunga community to the extent that she has developed a health service which has been directed by community needs, which is holistic and aimed at closing the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people’s health. Julie is renowned for her advocacy in caring for the health and welfare of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the ACT and region.
3. Joanne and Ronaldo: Indigenous Business and injecting drug use
Recent research and reports on the needs of Indigenous people who inject drugs suggest that access to and provision of services could better meet the culture and lifestyle of Indigenous clients. This presentation brings a personal perspective to this research as two Indigenous people discuss their knowledge and experience of services for people who inject drugs. Joanne and Ronaldo’s work with The Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL) shows the importance of increasing quality services for Indigenous people who inject drugs including recognising and embracing the unique cultural and social aspects of their lives as Indigenous Australians. The Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL) is the national peak organisation representing the state and territory drug user organisations and issues of national significance for people who use of have used illicit drugs.
Author bio: Joanne grew up around Redfern NSW and is currently working with the Australian Injecting & Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL) in the capacity of peer representative. Joanne gives the peer/lived experience with specific relevance to women’s issues, family context and prisons.
Ronaldo has an interest in contemporary/Indigenous dance. He has managed his own dance company and travelled internationally in that capacity. He resides currently in the Waterloo/Redfern area of Sydney and gives a unique perspective in regards to ATSI culture, family and living in that environment on a day-to day basis.