NEWSLETTERISSUE NO. 5 / March 2011

LOgO aNd artwOrk by Michelle Smith and Kevin Murray

NEwSLEttEr dESIgN by Inprint Design

LIME wELcOME

Welcome to the fifth edition of the Leaders in Indigenous

Medical Education (LIME) Network Newsletter. The Newsletter is published three times per year (March, July and November) and includes the latest information about issues concerning Indigenous health and medical education. The Newsletter is designed as a resource for Indigenous and non-Indigenous medical educators, students, medical specialists, policy makers, nursing and allied health professionals and educators, community members and all those interested in improving Indigenous health outcomes.

INSIdE:

BACKGROUND

02NETWORK UPDATE

03TEACHING AND LEARNING

06

08

GRADUATES AND CLINICIANS

INFORMATION

LIMEcONNEctION Iv

10STUDENT INFORMATION

14PROJECTS OF INTEREST

13

NEWS 17

LIMENETWORK PROFILE:

Donald Whaleboat

18CONFERENCES AND EVENTS

2220PUBLICATIONS

AND RESOURCES

The Newsletter is a collaborative publication that encourages information sharing between LIME Network members. It aims to celebrate the many successes occurring in Indigenous health, while also contributing positively to areas in which improvement is necessary. If you have an article, a story, a picture or information about a publication or an event of interest we would love to hear from you via <lime-network@unimelb.edu.au>.

We hope you enjoy this edition of the LIME Network Newsletter and encourage your contributions for future publications.

YOU caN fINd OUt MOrE abOUt US ON OUr wEbSItE:www.limenetwork.net.au

ISSUE NO. 5 / March20112 LIMENEtwOrk NEWSLETTER

NEtwOrk UpdatE

cONNEctION cOMMIttEE

The fourth biennial LIME Connection will be held in Aotearoa/New Zealand from 29 November – 1 December 2011, including a pre-Connection caucus. This year’s Connection will focus on Medical Education for Indigenous Health: Building the Evidence Base. Planning is well under way for LIME Connection IV, with the Connection Committee now meeting every two months to develop the program, entertainment, awards process and overall organisation of the event. The LIME Team has also been developing the web pages for LIME Connection IV, as well as initial promotional material. Sponsorship has also been sought and we are receiving some great support for our student and community bursaries. Initial committee meetings have resulted in many new ideas and initiatives and we look forward to continuing the development of the Connection over the coming months. Please see the article on page 8 for further details.

rEgIONaL MEEtINg

Following the success of the NSW Regional Meeting held in October 2010, the LIME team, along with our colleagues from Flinders, Adelaide, Western Australia, Charles Darwin, and James Cook universities are currently planning the next regional meeting to be held in late March. The gathering will bring together representatives from Aboriginal Medical Services, universities and rural clinical schools, as well as community members and others involved in the teaching and learning of Indigenous health. The meeting will be held in Darwin and will focus on student placements,

community involvement in curriculum development and student recruitment and retention.

StEErINg cOMMIttEE

The annual LIME Steering Committee meeting will be held in Sydney in late March, bringing together representatives from a number of stakeholder organisations in order to set the future direction of the LIME Network Project. We look forward to a productive day focusing on the exciting development of the LIME Network.

tHE LIME NEtwOrk wEbSItE

The LIME Network Website is continuously being updated and you can find the latest information on conferences, events, workshops and job opportunities on our News and Events page. Our pages for Students, Projects of Interest, Newsletters, Indigenous Health Medical School Contacts (accessible to members only) and Resources provide comprehensive information for LIME members and those wanting to find out more about Indigenous medical and health education. If you have any suggestions about resources, projects of interest or news and events, please contact us via <lime-network@unimelb.edu.au> or on +61 3 8344 9160.

LIME prOJEct Staff UpdatE

Good luck Laura! In January, long-time LIME team member Laura Thompson moved on to a new position at the University of Melbourne with the McCaughey Centre and Onemda

VicHealth Koori Health Unit, as a Research Fellow for the Yarning up with Koori Kids research project. Laura worked with the LIME project for four years and contributed a huge amount of energy, enthusiasm and skill while undertaking her work. We wish Laura all the best in her new role.

New Research Assistant

We are currently recruiting for a Research Assistant to work with the LIME team. The new position will support the overall aims of the LIME Network Project through tasks including research, external communications and assistance with reporting.

tHE LIME NEtwOrk prOJEct tEaM

The Project Team includes Mr Shaun Ewen, Ms Odette Mazel, Ms Caitlin Ryan and Ms Erin Nicholls (currently on maternity leave). If you have any questions, queries or good ideas, please contact us at: <lime-network@unimelb.edu.au> or on +61 3 8344 9160. You can find out more about us on the LIME website.

Laura Thompson

ISSUE NO. 5 / March 20113LIMENEtwOrk NEWSLETTER

tEacHINg aNd LEarNINg

EdUcatINg fOr EQUItY: EXpLOrINg HOw HEaLtH prOfESSIONaL EdUcatION caN rEdUcE dISparItIES IN cHrONIc dISEaSE carE aNd IMprOvE OUtcOMES fOr INdIgENOUS pOpULatIONS

The Educating for Equity project is a research

collaboration between partners in Australia, Canada and New Zealand, funded by the International Collaborative Indigenous Health Research Partnership (ICIHRP). The study seeks to compare, build and share international research regarding educational interventions for health professionals as a vehicle to achieving more equitable care and improved chronic disease outcomes for Indigenous populations. It is led by Dr Rhys Jones at the University of Auckland, with Professor Helen Milroy (The University of Western Australia) and Dr Lindsay Crowshoe (University of Calgary) leading the Australian and Canadian components respectively. There are 26 named investigators, most of whom are Indigenous, who bring a wealth of collective expertise in Indigenous health education,

research, clinical practice and public health.

Indigenous people in Australia, New Zealand and Canada experience a greater burden of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and mental illness than non-Indigenous people. This is partly due to differences in the quality of health care received, including health professionals’ clinical decision making, communication and engagement with patients and families. One way to address these factors is through education of current and future health professionals, yet there is currently little known about how education can influence these ‘health professional factors’ or what approaches work best.

The Educating for Equity project will contribute to answering these questions using a variety of methods. It will map current educational curricula and

contexts, review the evidence relating to Indigenous health education and undertake research to determine which approaches to health professional education work best and why. This will inform the development of an Indigenous health education framework, educational interventions and an evaluation tool. A major focus of the project will be on ensuring that the insights gained are shared nationally and internationally, and that research findings are translated into practice. In doing so, the Educating for Equity team hope to make a substantial and enduring contribution to improving health outcomes for Indigenous people.

For more information please contact Dr Rhys Jones, E: <rg.jones@auckland.ac.nz>.

ISSUE NO. 5 / March20114 LIMENEtwOrk NEWSLETTER

MEdIcaL dEaNS–aIda INdIgENOUS HEaLtH rEvIEw prOJEct UpdatE

The first phase of the review of the implementation of the Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand Indigenous Health Curriculum Framework (IHCF) and the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association’s (AIDA) Healthy Futures Report (HFR) within Australian medical schools has recently been completed. This phase has concentrated on establishing governance for the review with initial meetings of the Steering Committee (SC) and Technical Reference Group (TRG). Both groups include representatives of key stakeholders including Medical Deans, AIDA and the LIME Network, and members have significantly contributed to establishing the methodology, structure and direction of the Review.

The data collection phase has recently begun with the pilot research being conducted within the University of Western Australia during mid January 2011. Research and data collection within all Australian medical schools will continue until June 2011. This phase will primarily involve focus groups with medical students and interviews with key staff members involved in implementing the IHCF and HFR. It has been agreed that no individual medical school will be identified within the final report of the Review.

Members of the LIME Network have made significant contributions in sharing their wealth of

experience and knowledge in the field of medical education, in these early stages of the review. Other significant consultations have been held with the Australian Medical Council, the Australian Medical Students Association and Health Workforce Australia.

The Review Project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. For more information on the Review please contact Joe Cavanagh on T: +61 2 9114 1682, +61 409 969 656 or E: <jcavanagh@medicaldeans.org.au>.

ON-LINE abOrIgINaL cULtUraL OrIENtatION prOgraM

A new on-line Aboriginal Cultural Orientation Program has been developed by the Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health.

This program is an introductory resource which does not seek to replicate the importance of local cultural training. The aim is to improve timely access to cultural orientation, either prior to or soon after commencing a job within an organisation that provides a health related service for Aboriginal people. The aim is also to provide a range of relevant information that may encourage people to develop or improve culturally secure service delivery.

The on-line Aboriginal Cultural Orientation Program attracts Continuous Professional Development (CPD) credit

points from the Royal College of Nursing, and other professional organisations offer CPD credits under their ‘Self Assessment Programs’ on completion of the program.

The free on-line Aboriginal Cultural Orientation Program can be accessed through the website of the Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health.

aNZaHpE rESEarcH graNtS

The Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) aims to encourage and foster research in the education of health professionals. It is hoped that these grants will allow the recipients to pursue educational research that is unlikely to be funded by other sources. The Research Grants offer support of between AU$1,000–$3,000, however, well-justified applications up to a maximum of AU$5,000 will be considered.

Research grants can be used to undertake a small project, to begin a project for which continuing support could then be sought from other sources or to progress an existing project through a defined activity such as the development or validation of instruments, funding research assistance or equipment necessary to begin a project. Research grants can also be used to fund an entire piece of research.

Applications must be received by 30th April 2011, and successful grants will be presented at the Annual ANZAHPE Conference in June/July.

ISSUE NO. 5 / March 20115LIMENEtwOrk NEWSLETTER

fLINdErS UNIvErSItY NEw cOHOrt Of INdIgENOUS MEdIcaL StUdENtS

The LIME Network congratulates Flinders University on the recent announcement that the Northern Territory Medical Program (NTMP) has this year accepted the one of the largest intakes of Indigenous medical students ever into a single Australian course. Under the leadership of the new Associate Dean Flinders NT, Professor Sarah Strasser, the NTMP is developing as a champion of Indigenous health and is expecting to go from strength to strength.

The development of the program has been undertaken with the CDAMS Indigenous Health Curriculum Framework principles in mind, including being informed by community knowledge and embracing strong Indigenous leadership. Those Indigenous staff who were key to the development of the program include LIME Network Members and their colleagues Ms Bilawara Lee, Ms Charisse Gallagher and Dr Della Yarnold in the Northern Territory and Ms Courtney Ryder with Ms Tarni Wilson in South Australia.

This media release from Flinders University provides further information on the program and its aims:

‘One of the largest single intakes of Indigenous medical students ever to course has been accepted into Flinders University’s new Northern Territory Medical Program (NTMP). The Flinders University cohort of 14 Indigenous students in first year medicine in 2011 – 10 based in the Northern Territory and four in South Australia – compares with the total of nine Indigenous students who graduated in medicine from all of Australia’s universities in 2009.

Dean of Flinders School of Medicine, Professor Paul Worley said a major aim of the NTMP was to train people from the Territory, in the Territory, to work in the Territory in the future. ‘Flinders recognises that training more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to become doctors and nurses and other health professionals is a critical part of the Closing the Gap initiative,’ Professor Worley said…

‘This will have a tangible effect on the number of medical graduates willing and able to work in the NT in the long-term, with numbers set to increase to a cohort of 40 students in the third and fourth years of the program… We also expect that as these high-achieving students graduate, young people in their communities will see them as mentors and role models,’ he said…

Professor Worley said the establishment of the NTMP was the result of a team effort across Flinders School of Medicine in both SA and the NT.…It is the first time Territorians have been able to undertake their entire medical studies in the Northern Territory. In another first, Flinders in partnership with Charles Darwin University is also offering a six-year double degree for school leavers wishing to study medicine…’

For further information, please visit the Flinders University website.

Graduates from the Flinders University 2010 Pre-Medical Program. Photo Charisse Gallagher

ISSUE NO. 5 / March20116 LIMENEtwOrk NEWSLETTER

gradUatES aNd cLINIcIaNS INfOrMatION

tHE Ubc LEarNINg cIrcLE

Over the last twenty years there has been significant

improvement in the health of Aboriginal people in Canada in particular domains, such as overall mortality rates and gains in life expectancy. Despite these improvements, the health status of Aboriginal peoples in British Columbia remains markedly worse than the health status of the rest of the population of Canada.

Health education is a powerful tool in the fight for greater understanding of and improvements for Aboriginal health. Due to the remote nature of many First Nations communities, access to education is often difficult at best. The concept for the Learning Circle began with an informal dialogue between Joe Gallagher, Rose Adams, and Dr Evan Adams at the November 2006 Health Director’s Conference, where video conferencing software was being used by Health Canada to record the event. As a result of that discussion, University of British Colombia (UBC)’s Division of Aboriginal People’s Health was inspired to continue this dialogue with communities by utilising videoconference technology. We quickly saw the potential to share knowledge of all facets of Aboriginal health to support personal and professional development.

The UBC Learning Circle is a partnership between the University of British Columbia’s Division of Aboriginal People’s Health, the First Nations Health Council, and First Nations and Inuit Health – BC Region. We provide educational and informational

opportunities to health care workers and professionals in First Nations communities. The knowledge comes from the sharing of successful health practices and interventions, speakers, researchers and other experts. Our community partnerships and weekly discussions strengthen the Learning Circle and continue to make it a valuable asset to Aboriginal health practices. Many of us at Aboriginal People’s Health and the Learning Circle are from remote communities ourselves, and know how difficult it is to be able to participate in lectures and additional training that originate in urban environments, and remain connected to new and innovative programs and research.

The Learning Circle runs every Wednesday from 10 to 11:30am local time with a facilitator and invited expert guests to discuss

topics relating to health and healing. Learning Circle users are able to register for sessions through a newly redesigned website, which was launched in September 2010. There has been fantastic feedback to date on the new user-friendly features of the website, such as event registration, comments and a Facebook page, which are aiding in the steady growth of Learning Circle participants. ‘I love the learning circle. It is great education and all the ones that school kids and elders have attended have been the talk for days later’, says one community member. Plans for increasing sessions and webcasting for the UBC Learning Circle are underway.

To learn more about the UBC Learning Circle, please visit the website.

Christine Westland & Janet Christie discuss the stigma around Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the importance of working with mothers with the UBC Learning Circle

ISSUE NO. 5 / March 20117LIMENEtwOrk NEWSLETTERFEATURE

bLUE carE INdIgENOUS ScHOLarSHIp

Blue Care has launched a scholarship to help build the number of Indigenous nursing staff in health and aged care. Indigenous Co-ordinator Norelle Watson said Blue Care’s Indigenous Endorsed Enrolled Nursing Scholarship is a new initiative under the organisation’s Indigenous Employment Program. ‘Our program aims to value and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees by offering them training, mentoring and development opportunities,’ Ms Watson said.

‘We are building our Indigenous workforce by creating long-term career pathways to improve access for effective and culturally appropriate health services to Indigenous people in our communities.’

The scholarship is available to Indigenous Blue Care employees who hold a Certificate lll in Aged Care, such as Blue Care Mundubbera Community Care Personal Carer Melanie Pope, who was awarded the Queensland Government’s Central Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award in July last year.

Beginning at Mundubbera Community Care as a trainee, Ms Pope said the program has supported her to advance her career to gain further skills and qualifications. ‘Through this program I am able to take the next step towards achieving my long term goal of becoming a registered nurse,’ Ms Pope said.

Ms Watson said Blue Care would continue to support employees who complete the course to further their qualifications with a bachelor degree.

Since the introduction of its Indigenous Employment Program in 2002, Blue Care has established cross-cultural training programs, mentoring, scholarships and career paths for more than 130 trainees and aims to recruit a further 130 Indigenous trainees and 35 part-time Indigenous employees, during the next two years. Blue Care currently employs more than 180 Indigenous staff in diverse areas of care, including nursing, allied health, respite care, disability support and personal care.

For more information please visit the Blue Care website.

aNZaHpE aNNUaL awardS The ANZAHPE Award is available each year in recognition of professional excellence or outstanding achievement for work carried out in Australasia and New Zealand. The Award may be presented for professional excellence in such areas as health professional education. Please refer to the Submission Criteria for more details.

ANZAHPE Honorary Membership is a prestigious category of membership intended to recognise exceptional, sustained contributions and loyalty to ANZAHPE over a long period of time. It is granted to those who have enhanced ANZAHPE by their special qualities, their continuing interest in the association and by the excellence of their reputation in their field of health professional education. Honorary membership provides all the privileges of ordinary membership without subscription. A citation is presented at the Annual Conference. Please refer to the Submission Criteria for more details.

Blue Care Personal Carer Melanie Pope attending to client Elizabeth (Betty) Gooda, an Elder from Eidsvold. Photo: Tony Phillips

ISSUE NO. 5 / March20118 LIMENEtwOrk NEWSLETTER

LIME cONNEctION Iv

The fourth biennial LIMEcONNEctION will be held in Aotearoa/ New Zealand from 29 November – 1 December 2011, including a pre-Connection caucus. This year’s Connection will focus on Medical Education for Indigenous Health: Building the Evidence Base. Specifically, the Connection will address leading approaches to the inclusion of Indigenous health into medical education and will showcase the growing body of evidence illustrating the effects of medical education on Indigenous health outcomes.

The Connection will provide an opportunity to discuss and critique current practices and explore emerging tools and techniques to drive improvement in outcomes for Indigenous health. The event aims to encourage information sharing, professional development, capacity-building and networking amongst peers.

Registrations will open shortly for LIME Connection IV! Please visit our website to find out more.

The LIME team was shocked and saddened by the news and images of the recent earthquake in Christchurch. Thankfully, our colleagues at the M ori Indigenous Health Institute are physically safe. The LIMEcONNEctION Iv will still be held from 29 November to 1 December 2011 and we will be in close contact with our colleagues in Christchurch before making a decision about where to hold the event. It is our expectation to honour and support the engagement of the University of Otago Faculty of Medicine to host the Connection in 2011.

Keynote speakers include experts in Indigenous health and medical education from Australia, New Zealand and further afield. The target audience includes Indigenous and non-Indigenous medical educators, Indigenous health specialists, medical specialists, policy makers, students and community members.

The LIMEcONNEctION seeks to support collaboration between medical schools and to build linkages with those from other health disciplines. The conference also hosts the LIMElight Awards, which acknowledge and celebrate the many current successes in Indigenous medical education.

LIMEcONNEctION Iv is being hosted by The University of Otago, and is held under the auspices of Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand, the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) and Te Ohu Rata O Aotearoa (Te ORA) M ori Medical Practitioners Association of Aotearoa.

We will be regularly updating LIME Connection IV information via the LIME Connection website and newsletters in the coming months.

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Call for Papers Now Open

LIME Network invites you to participate in the LIMEcONNEctION Iv.

We are now seeking abstracts for oral and poster presentations that highlight Indigenous medical education and health initiatives. The LIME Connection Abstracts Committee will consider project case studies, research and discussion papers that provide an opportunity for participants to discuss and share the unique challenges and opportunities faced in the teaching and learning of Indigenous health in medical education.

Abstracts relating to the conference topics of interest are sought. Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Recruitment, retention and support of Indigenous students in medical programs • Teaching and learning - curriculum design and implementation, assessment and evaluation. • Partnerships, placements and community engagement • Clinical and vocation training • Cultural competency and safety.

In addition to the broad topics listed above, abstracts about research and projects across all areas of Indigenous medical education are welcome. We encourage submissions from a wide spectrum of those involved in Indigenous medical education including medical researchers and educators, masters and PhD students, Indigenous health and community workers, and medical students.

Please visit the LIME Connection Website to download the Abstracts Submission Form and view the Guidelines.The call for papers closes on 27 May 2011.

LIME Connection IV Medical Student and Community Bursaries

To ensure the participation of Indigenous medical students and community members with a strong interest in Indigenous health in LIME Connection IV, we will be offering a number of student and community bursaries.

Bursary places will be offered to 20 Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and M ori medical students (in total) and 10 Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and M ori community members (in total)

The bursaries are primarily funded through the contributions of Australian and New Zealand medical schools and will cover the costs of flights, accommodation and conference registration.

Bursary applications are now open; please visit the Bursaries page on our website for more information.

Application close on 17 June 2011.

LIME Connection III Bursary Recipients. Photo: Fotoholics MUPC

ISSUE NO. 5 / March201110 LIMENEtwOrk NEWSLETTER

StUdENt INfOrMatION

INtrOdUcINg tHE NrHSN INdIgENOUS HEaLtH pOrtfOLIO

2011 is set to be an eventful year for two busy students who represent the National Rural Health Student Network (NRHSN) and sit on the NRHSN council as the elected representatives of the Indigenous Health Portfolio. Annalyse Ellis-Crane is a final year medical student at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney, and a member of ROUNDS, her rural health club. Justin Cain-Bloxsome is a third year student, studying Exercise Science at The University of Wollongong and is also a member of his rural health club, SHARP.

The NRHSN is a student-led volunteer organisation funded by the Department of Health and Ageing. It brings together students from twenty-nine rural health clubs from Universities around Australia. Annalyse has been involved with the NRHSN since her first year of Medicine and is an SRC member of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) and a LIME Network member. Justin has been an active member of SHARP, serving as their Indigenous liaison officer since 2009. He is a member of Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) and would like to see more students join IAHA this year. He is also a strong advocate for the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) school-mentoring program. They are both passionate about rural health, particularly equitable access to services, addressing health workforce shortages for rural Australia and increasing the

Indigenous student membership of the NRHSN.

In collaboration with the NRHSN, this enthusiastic team have several exciting projects planned for 2011, including attendance at the National Rural Leadership Development seminar in South Australia and the launch of the NRHSN Indigenous elective database for medical, nursing and allied health students. You are most welcome to contact them should you have a spot at your health service or know of a business willing to take a student for an elective term in the future. Justin and Annalyse welcome any input from your organisation about how they can best serve Indigenous and rural Australia and are willing to collaborate on any projects relevant to the portfolio.

Justin and Annalyse have a fabulous working relationship and it is likely that the strength of their relationship stems from the

fact that their mothers are both Gamilaroi women from the NSW country town of Moree. It is not unusual to hear their grandparents speak of tales of each family from many years ago. Annalyse’s 90-year-old pop can clearly rattle off stories about Justin’s pop ‘Killer Cain’ from the 1950s, and her mother can recall Justin’s uncle, an avid cyclist, powering through the streets of Moree in the 1960s.

If you would like more information about the NRHSN or these students please do not hesitate to contact them, E: <indigenous_health@nrhsn.org.au>.

For more information visit the NRHSN website.

INdIgENOUS MEdIcaL gradUatE prOfILE: rOSIE rOSS

My name is Rosie Ross and I may be considered as a late bloomer. I was born in Kempsey but grew up in the Hawkesbury district of NSW. I originally trained as a registered nurse and, when I graduated with a high distinction and was awarded ‘Nurse of the Year’, a couple of the doctors asked me if I had considered medicine. However, marriage, supporting my husband’s career moves and nurturing three children took precedence. When my youngest daughter started school I went on to study complementary medicine, practice as a naturopath in Hobart and own and manage three health food stores.

I was 33 years old when I suddenly discovered I had a starring role in a life I never imagined existed. A

National Rural Health Student Network’s Indigenous Health Portfolio Representatives, Annalyse Crane & Justin Cain-Bloxsome

ISSUE NO. 5 / March 201111LIMENEtwOrk NEWSLETTER

stranger knocked on my door and announced I was adopted out at birth. The man from the Link Up agency also revealed that I am Aboriginal and have another family complete with parents, brothers and sisters, aunties and uncles!

The year 2003 was another turning point in my life. I had been consulting as a naturopath for several years and had an excellent professional relationship with two doctors in Hobart; they often referred their patients to me and one day one of the GP’s suggested ‘Rosie, why don’t you do medicine’? I replied, ‘I’m too old’. ‘No, you’re not’.

Medicine is what I have always wanted to do, but, firstly, I did not think I had the brains (I left high school in year 11 to support my family when my father lost his job) or the opportunity because I was focused on raising my family. And, as I reflected upon my life, I thought ‘I don’t want to look back on my life with regret and always wish I had done medicine’. So I went back to school for two years and sat in the classroom with the 16 and 17 year olds, completing my HSC in 2004; the same year that my youngest daughter was in year 11 at the same high school.

I applied to three universities and was invited by the University of NSW to attend their Indigenous Pre-med program. The Pre-med program was a month long intensive introduction to medicine delivered by medical lecturers. I feel that the Pre-med program was invaluable, providing me with an experiential advantage because prior to starting the degree I

was given an overview of what is involved in studying medicine. Importantly, the Pre-med course fostered personal connections with University staff and as a student I felt very supported during my six years of study; an important aspect that greatly assisted me to complete my medical degree.

Studying medicine has been an incredible journey. I delivered my first baby in 4th year- in scrubs and gum boots because the mum insisted on having her baby under the shower; I’ve flown with the Royal Flying Doctor Service and got stranded overnight in Tibooburra due to a huge red dust storm that blotted out the sky; I’ve worked with children in the shanty town of Khayelitsha in South Africa where over 1.5 million Xhosa people live in small shacks made of corrugated iron, plastic and wood.

Has living my dream been challenging? Absolutely. Were there times I wanted to give up? Absolutely. The beginning of 4th year was an extremely challenging time. Within six weeks my beloved mum died, my 26-year marriage ended and I took up a rural clinical placement which meant a major move to north coast NSW. I was emotionally overwhelmed and under-resourced and I went to my head of school and I wasn’t quite sure what the outcome would be. Half of me wanted to find out my options for deferring and having a break from my studies and the other half seriously thought about quitting. The head of Rural Clinical School was incredibly supportive. We discussed my options and she encouraged me to hang in there and I DID! Has finishing my degree

and becoming a doctor been worth it? Absolutely!

One of my life mottos is ‘squeeze the juice out of life’. Becoming a doctor is my way of trying to do my little bit to contribute to the world in a positive way. As a newly graduated doctor, I am excited as I begin the next chapter as a rural intern in Coffs Harbour with plans to become a GP. I continue to be actively engaged in inspiring and mentoring Aboriginal students, a tradition of mentoring that has supported me in achieving my dream of becoming a doctor.

Newly graduated doctor, Rosie Ross

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ScHOLarSHIp INfOrMatION

Marilyn Godley Scholarship and SWAN Bursary for Australian Indigenous Students

Applications Close 31 March 2011

The Marilyn Godley Scholarship, valued at $4,000, and the SWAN Bursary valued at $2000, will be offered to female Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students, who normally reside in Victoria and are enrolled at a Victorian University in 2011 in an undergraduate degree. These awards are intended to assist students meet the costs of studying for an undergraduate degree.

Further information and application forms are available on the Australian Federation of University Women website.

ANZAHPE Annual Awards – Students

Applications close 30 April 2011

The ANZAHPE Undergraduate Student Prize (AU$500) is awarded to an undergraduate student in any of the health care professions, including graduate entry health professional courses. Students are invited to apply for the Award by submitting an item of personal

work for a project conducted in the area of education. Projects can include research conducted, critical reviews, educational materials developed (videos, CDs, websites, models, etc.) or an essay pertaining to education in the health professions.

The ANZAHPE Postgraduate Student Prize (AU$750) is awarded to a student in a postgraduate health professional course whose course work relates to education in their area of health care. Students are invited to apply for the Award by submitting a description of their research/course work.

Recipients of the ANZAHPE Student Prize will be invited to present their work at the ANZAHPE conference and may be eligible for financial assistance towards travel and registration costs. Please refer to the Submission Criteria for more details.

LIME Connection IV Medical Student and Community Bursaries

Applications close 17 June 2011

With the support of Australian and New Zealand medical schools, the LIME Network is offering a number of bursaries to ensure the participation of Indigenous medical students and community members with a strong interest in Indigenous

health in LIME Connection IV. Bursaries will cover the costs of flights, accommodation and conference registration.

Please see page 8 for further details, or visit the Bursaries page on our website.

WA Office of Aboriginal Health Scholarships

Applications close 30 June 2011

The Office of Aboriginal Health Scholarship program was formed in 1998 as a result of concerns about the low numbers of Aboriginal students enrolled in health-related fields. Applications are accepted from Aboriginal students enrolled for full-time study in the coming year who have been a Western Australian resident for at least the past two years.

Eligible courses include accredited health services undergraduate university courses (e.g. Medicine, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology etc.) or accredited health services courses offered by TAFE or another registered training organisation. The full scholarship amount per annum is $6,000. Half scholarships of $3,000 are also available.

ISSUE NO. 5 / March 201113LIMENEtwOrk NEWSLETTER

LIME NEtwOrk prOfILE

dONaLd wHaLEbOat INdIgENOUS HEaLtH acadEMIc, ScHOOL Of MEdIcINE aNd dENtIStrY, JaMES cOOk UNIvErSItY

Break-dancing isn’t the average hobby, but it’s one that Donald Whaleboat enjoyed during his high school years. ‘Too much break-dancing some might say… I’m feeling it now!’ Donald said. Now 44, Donald prefers cycling, gardening and restoring old pieces of timber furniture – a more serene choice of hobbies for the newly appointed Indigenous health academic.

Donald joined the School of Medicine and Dentistry at James Cook University in late 2010 in a position that combines elements

of student support with curriculum development. The School has a focus on rural, remote and tropical health and a special interest in the health of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders.

‘What lured me to the School of Medicine and Dentistry was the opportunity to contribute to, and make a difference to, the sad state of my people’s health through influencing the training of our future health care workforce,’ Donald said.

Donald worked for Queensland Health for a number of years in various positions including Indigenous Health Worker, Health Promotion Officer, Policy and Planning Officer, and he was involved in workforce development. Originally from the Torres Strait islands of Mer and Erub, Donald moved to Townsville when his parents and their siblings left the islands in search of work. He made his life there and now resides in West End with his wife Anna and their 9 year old son. While growing up, Donald moved between Townsville and Brisbane often to be able to see other family members, so changing schools and environments was not unusual for him. He completed one term at Thursday Island State School and returned to Townsville to study Indigenous culture.

‘Later my parents enrolled me at the Black Community School which was established by the late Uncle Koiki Eddie Mabo in South Townsville. The co-education school taught Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture alongside the state education curriculum,’ Donald said.

Donald pursued his interest in Indigenous health while working full time in the 1990s. He studied a Bachelor of Indigenous Health, followed by a Masters in Public Health, which he completed in 2008. With a successful career, happy family, and good health Donald is a role model for other Indigenous people in the local community. ‘I feel comfortable with this role and I think you need to be a model to self and your family before the community can see you in that light,’ he said. The importance of family instilled in Donald’s younger years is strongly present in him now. Donald says, ‘My wife Anna is Greek Cypriot and fills my world with love, and yes food. That’s why I have to exercise twice as hard.’ Perhaps a return to break-dancing is on the cards?

Donald can be contacted by E: <donald.whaleboat@jcu.edu.au> or T: +61 7 4781 5126.

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prOJEctS Of INtErESt

One of the LIME Network’s aims is to share information

about projects that are relevant to Network members. The following are initiatives that are being driven by LIME Network members.

grIffItH UNIvErSItY aNd EdUcatION QUEENSLaNd

Community partnership to increase the aspirations and confidence of local Indigenous schoolchildren to take steps towards a career in medicine and dentistry

This project, with recently granted funding from Education Queensland, involves developing close relationships with local schools, community representatives, Indigenous medical and dental students (current and past), Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association/ Indigenous Dentists’ Association of Australia, Elders and parents/carers to assist Indigenous school pupils to aspire to and realise the realistic potential for a career in Medicine and Dentistry. Indigenous students attending local high schools take part in interactive school-based activities and an activity day at the Centre for Medicine and Oral Health at Griffith University, enabling the seed to be sown as early as possible in their educational journey.

During the first six months of this project, an Indigenous outreach worker has been employed to visit schools and promote the real potential of a career in Medicine and Dentistry. In addition, the project has run a very successful activities day and plans to hold four further such days.

The inaugural activity day saw high

levels of student engagement in activities, which included treatment of a simulated shark attack victim, making plaster casts of arms, CPR and undertaking mock dental check-ups at dental chairs equipped with phantom heads. All the activities were conducted by the school students dressed in full scrubs and each station was coordinated by volunteer staff and students. Current Indigenous Dental and Medical students David Baker and Karen Taylor gave excellent and frank presentations in the form of a staged interview about their journeys so far and answered many questions from the attending school pupils. The combination of ‘real life’ examples of successful Indigenous students in Medicine and Dentistry with practical hands-on experience of medical scenarios and using medical and dental equipment will undoubtedly have generated a positive effect and help to breakdown the barriers to careers in Medicine and Dentistry.

For further information please contact Dr Louise Alldridge, E: <l.alldridge@griffith.edu.au>.

tHE wHarErata grOUp – NEw INtErNatIONaL INdIgENOUS NEtwOrk

The Wharer t Group is an international network of Indigenous leaders working in mental health and addictions who share a vision of the near future in which Indigenous peoples sustain their optimal health and wellbeing. The Wharer t Group contributes to that vision through strategic use of Indigenous leadership, influence and knowledge on mental health and addictions systems. The Group first met in 2009 as an Indigenous exchange of the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership, under the direction of Sir Mason Durie from New Zealand.

Wharer t is a M ori word, and one translation is house of wisdom and understanding, shelter and protection. The Wharer t logo is representative of Indigenous leadership; the M ori word for the posts that hold up a meeting house is pou, and there are similar words for house posts in many Indigenous cultures. Pou translates to support, sustenance, elevate, establish, and

High school students taking part in project activities. Photo Nirvikar Chandan Ram

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additionally is used to describe the person who is strength of group, who leads discussion.

The Wharer t Declaration, written in 2009, documents a framework to achieve the group’s vision of healthy Indigenous individuals, families and communities through Indigenous leadership. It advocates for culturally competent mental health and addictions services, effective partnership with mainstream and Indigenous providers, and support for the development of Indigenous leaders in mental health. The Declaration also touches on the unique strengths and challenges of leadership from our Indigenous perspectives.

The Wharer t Group has grown in size and visibility in the mental health and broader health fields, with members in New Zealand, Australia, Pacific Islands, the United States and Canada. While currently focused on mental health, Indigenous leaders from the wider health sector have also shown support and interest.

The Wharer t Group website has an Online Library with over 300 articles, research and tools on the topics of mental health and addictions, leadership and community development. This is a unique collection with the majority authored by Indigenous people.

For more information on activities and contact information, please visit the Wharer t Group website.

LIvE StrONg: cLOSINg tHE gap ON cHrONIc dISEaSE prOgraM

Live Strong is the latest of the half hour documentary style programs in the Rural Health Education Foundation’s (RHEF) Strong Series. It is presented by Daniel Browning of ABC Radio National’s Awaye! and includes Dr Alex Brown – Head, Centre for Indigenous Vascular and Diabetes Research for the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Alice Springs, NT; Dr Sally Goold – Chairperson and Executive Director, Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses, Qld; Ms Deanne Minniecon – Senior Health Promotion Officer (Indigenous Health), Queensland Health, QLD; and Dr Mark Wenitong – Senior Medical Officer, Apunipima Cape York Health Council, Cairns Qld.

The program emphasises the need for a comprehensive approach to the prevention, treatment and management of chronic disease. It also looks at Indigenous concepts of health and explores how these might shape more effective intervention programs.

The program showcases some particular projects that are making a difference:

• The Family Wellbeing Program at Yarrabah in Queensland is a successful community program that aims to build and strengthen the social and emotional wellbeing of individuals, their families and communities. It emphasises the fact that emotional and social wellbeing is significantly implicated with physical health.

• The Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Outreach Program, run by the

Dharah Gibinj Aboriginal Medical Service in Casino NSW, has been specifically designed to address some lifestyle factors, such as poor nutrition and lack of physical exercise, that contribute to the development of chronic illness.

• The Improved Primary Health Care Initiative at Mossman Gorge Aboriginal Community in Queensland is a team approach that aims to improve people’s understanding of the impact of diabetes on their health and encourages them to participate in the self management of their chronic condition.

The program will be shown on SBS TV One on Friday 1 April 2011 at 2.30pm. Copies of the DVD can also be ordered through the Rural Health Education Foundation.

For more information visit the RHEF website or contact the Foundation, E: <rhef@rhef.com.au> or T: +61 2 6232 5480.

Keely Naden, the Indigenous Community Engagement Coordinator, linking members of the Mossman Gorge Aboriginal Community with health care professionals in the Chronic Disease Team as part of the Apunipima Cape York Health Council program to promote the self-management of diabetes

Photo courtesy Rural Health Education Foundation

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tE Ora’S NEw MENtOrINg SErvIcE

Te Whatu is Te ORA’s new mentoring service aimed at providing practical support and encouraging more M ori medical practitioners to undertake or complete vocational training.

M ori doctors are less likely than non-M ori to select or complete specialist training. In recognition of this issue, the Ministry of Health and Te ORA have initiated a mentoring service aimed at shifting this pattern by providing focused one-on-one support and encouragement to M ori doctors.

‘Te Whatu’ refers to the ‘eye’, an analogy to being focused and determined. Te Whatu provides M ori medical practitioners with an opportunity to have a senior M ori medical practitioner as a mentor. The service is about huatanga M ori, providing encouragement, sharing experiences and developing insights. While each mentoring relationship will focus on individual needs, support themes will generally cover:

• motivation

• advocacy

• wh naungatanga and familiarity

• networking and collaboration opportunities

• critical advice

• study tips

• vocational training and career planning advice

• a confidential ear on personal and/or professional challenges

• Te Reo M ori and Tikanga M ori support

• cultural safety support

• peer support.

Te Whatu mentees will likely be experienced medical practitioners who are yet to select or complete specialist training and medical practitioners in the early stage of their career. Te Whatu mentors are experienced medical practitioners. All of our mentors have the opportunity to undertake ‘mentor training’ designed to support them in their significant role.

The Te Whatu program is free for all participating mentees, and resources will be provided to the mentors to make the service possible and acknowledge their commitment.

Are you interested in participating in Te Whatu?

If you are interested in finding out more about Te Whatu and/or participating in the program as mentee or mentor we would be very excited to hear from you. Email or call Te ORA and we will send you an information pack and talk with you further about Te Whatu. Contact details are E: <teora@teora.maori.nz> or T: 0800 483 672.

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NEwS

MEdIcaL ScHOOL wELcOMES LargESt INdIgENOUS INtakE

The ABC’s Bridget Brennan reports that Darwin’s new medical school, run by Flinders University, has this month welcomes one the largest ever Indigenous medical student intakes to a single course in Australia.

cLOSINg tHE gap – prIME MINIStEr’S rEpOrt 2011 rELEaSEd

The third annual report from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs on the state of Aboriginal Australia covers the target and progress being made towards Aboriginal health, education and employment.

NEw dvc rOLE fOr UNIvErSItY Of SYdNEY

In response to an external Review of Indigenous Education at the University of Sydney completed in August 2009, a new position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services) will soon commence.

The important new position is ‘responsible for finalising the integrated Indigenous Participation, Engagement, Education and Research Strategy which is part of the University’s Strategic Plan 2011–15. From 2012 onwards the new DVC will be responsible for leading the implementation of a comprehensive Indigenous Strategy.’

EarLY SUccESSES IN EffOrtS tO ‘cLOSE tHE gap’

Warren Snowdon, the Minister for Indigenous Health, has announced that ‘a new report on the Australian Government’s multi-million dollar commitment to tackling chronic disease in Indigenous communities shows positive progress is being made.’ The Indigenous Chronic Disease Package Annual Progress Report 2009–10 illustrates progress of the close the gap initiative, and achievements of close the gap projects to date.

NatIONaL wOrkfOrcE LaUNcHEd tO tackLE INdIgENOUS SMOkINg aNd IMprOvE HEaLtH

The Minster for Indigenous Health Warren Snowdon, relayed in a media release in early December that a new national workforce has been launched to assist in the reduction of smoking, improvement of nutrition and increase of physical activity in Indigenous communities. The new workforce will have 82 varying positions.

tHE LOwItJa INStItUtE NEwSLEttEr NOw avaILabLE

The second edition (December 2010) of the Lowitja Institute’s newsletter, Wangka Pulka, is now available via the Lowitja Institute website. The latest issue introduces the recently announced Board of Directors, provides an update on developments across the Institute’s three research programs, reviews the latest activities in Research Communications and delivers a round-up of national policy news in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector.

fIrSt tOrrES StraIt ISLaNdEr pHd at UNIvErSItY Of QUEENSLaNd

Dr Noritta Morseu-Diop has become the first Torres Strait Islander to earn a PhD from University of Queensland, James O’Loan of The Courier Mail reports. Dr Morseu-Diop is ‘the fifth Torres Strait Islander in history to receive a PhD from an Australian University. Her PhD thesis findings aim to create a more effective and humane criminal justice system in Queensland, which is currently blighted by an over-representation of Indigenous people.’

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cONfErENcES aNd EvENtS

LIME cONNEctION Iv

Aotearoa/ New Zealand 29 November – 1 December 2011

LIME Connection IV will provide an opportunity to discuss and critique current practices and explore emerging tools and techniques to drive improvement in outcomes for Indigenous health. LIME Connection provides an opportunity for professional development, networking, capacity-building and advocacy to take place.

LIME Connection seeks to encourage and support collaboration within and between medical schools and to build linkages with those from other health disciplines. The conference also hosts the LIMElight Awards, which acknowledge and celebrate the many current successes in Indigenous medical education.

Please see page 8 of this newsletter for further information.

IMprOvINg SOcIaL dEtErMINaNtS Of INdIgENOUS HEaLtH

Darwin, NT, 29–30 March 2011

The conference will address issues of integrating services to provide a holistic approach to health; will promote discussion around the origins of poor health; and will develop strategies to work toward closing the Indigenous health gap. The conference will acknowledge that ‘it is important to work beyond the health sector to close the gap in health and address the multiple social determinants that community and individuals face.’

aUStraLIaN HEaLtH prOMOtION aSSOcIatION 20tH NatIONaL cONfErENcE

Cairns, Qld, 10–13 April 2011

This conference will focus on determinants of health, with a particular emphasis on social determinants of health. Delegates will also explore methods for strengthening positive action to address social determinants and related health issues.

SOcIaL ScIENcE pErSpEctIvES ON tHE 2008 NatIONaL aNd abOrIgINaL tOrrES StraIt ISLaNdEr SOcIaL SUrvEY

Canberra, ACT, 11-12 April 2011

The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2011 conference will aim to ‘initiate a conversation between stakeholders and academics about data and the research required to enhance the social science evidence base around Indigenous wellbeing and socioeconomic disadvantage.’ Focus topics for the two day event include: child development, crime and justice, culture, the customary economy, demography, education, employment, fertility, health, housing, income and financial stress, mobility, poverty, social exclusion, substance abuse and wellbeing.

3rd abOrIgINaL HEaLtH rESEarcH cONfErENcE: rESEarcH fOr a bEttEr fUtUrE

Sydney, NSW, 5–6 May 2011

This conference will highlight new findings from studies conducted in partnership with Aboriginal communities. The theme for the event will be Strong Research, Best Outcomes, and delegates will hear from leading Australian and international speakers. Meaningful collaboration and its implications for Aboriginal research, policy and practice, and capacity building will be a focus of the conference.

StrENgtHS-baSEd apprOacH tO INdIgENOUS MENtaL HEaLtH SHOrt cOUrSE

Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT, 18–20 May

During this 3-day course Associate Professor Tricia Nagel presents the strengths-based approach to mental health and co-morbidity developed through the 5-year NT Australian Integrated Mental Health Initiative research program. It brings together biomedical and sociological frameworks and presents practical strategies to enhance cross-cultural partnership, engagement with services and connections within communities.

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rOYaL aUStraLIaN aNd NEw ZEaLaNd cOLLEgE Of pSYcHIatrIStS (raNZcp) 2011 cONgrESS

Darwin, NT, 29 May–2 June 2011

The RANZCP Close Relations Congress will present prominent speakers and current developments in Australasian and world psychiatry generally, as well as focusing on emergent issues relevant to the North of Australia such as Indigenous mental health and psychiatric issues in the near Asian Region. In addition, the Congress will have a focus on the increasing empowerment of mental health consumers and carers in respect to mental health.

rOYaL aUStraLIaN aNd NEw ZEaLaNd cOLLEgE Of ObStEtrIcIaNS aNd gYNaEcOLOgIStS (raNZcOg) 2011 INdIgENOUS wOMEN’S HEaLtH MEEtINg

Cairns, Qld, 3–5 June 2011

Following the success of the inaugural Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) Indigenous Women’s Health Meeting in 2008, a second meeting, titled Nurturing, Providing, Gathering, for Better Health, will be held from 3 to 5

June 2011 at the Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns, Queensland. This meeting will aim to enhance and develop on themes of the 2008 meeting, and will cover topics such as: improving health services delivery, reproductive and sexual health, chronic disease, youth health, prevention and treatment of cancers, preconception and pregnancy, mental health wellbeing, working with communities.

cSaNZ INdIgENOUS cardIOvaScULar HEaLtH cONfErENcE

Alice Springs, NT, 17–18 June 2011

The second Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) Indigenous Cardiovascular Health Conference will combine political, social and medical expertise to address the significant life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Australia and New Zealand.

This conference will have as its focus inequities in cardiovascular health care and outcomes among the Indigenous peoples of Australia and New Zealand. Sessions will cover a range of issues relevant to Indigenous cardiovascular health, including determinants of cardiovascular disease and improving access to cardiovascular health care.

rUraL HEaLtH wESt abOrIgINaL HEaLtH cONfErENcE

Perth, WA, 2–3 July 2011

Titled Strong Now, Stronger Future – Changing in the Right Direction, this conference reflects the importance of developing strong commitments to improve the health and well-being for Aboriginal people in rural and remote Australia. The conference is aimed at Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff working together in frontline, policy, research, management and clinical positions, the conference is open to all health professionals with a strong interest and passion in Aboriginal health.

crOSS-cULtUraL HEaLtH carE cONfErENcE: cOLLabOratIvE aNd MULtIdIScIpLINarY INtErvENtIONS

Oahu, Hawaii, 7–8 October 2011

The 2011 Cross-Cultural Health Care Conference will provide ‘an overview of critical issues facing healthcare professionals who work with diverse patient populations. Additionally, the conference provides a forum to discuss the evidence base regarding cross-cultural healthcare training and treatment interventions. Taking a multidisciplinary perspective, the focus is on how cultural factors can and have been incorporated into the training of healthcare professionals and how culture can potentially influence treatment.’

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pUbLIcatIONS aNd rESOUrcES

Following are some recent publications and resources of interest. For more publications visit the LIME Network Resources Database.

Introduction to Indigenous Health: A Resource Kit to Support the Practice Team Working in General Practice 2010, General Practice Victoria.

The Introduction to Indigenous health module is a resource kit to support staff working in general practice. The resource kit aims to give a brief overview of the context of Indigenous health in Australia including the Closing the Gap strategy launched in 2009. It identifies ways to promote use of the Medicare Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Checks in ways that are culturally safe and competent and provides health staff with resources, skills and strategies to prevent and manage chronic disease in partnership with Indigenous people and communities across Australia.

Health Disparities Education 2010, Journal of General Internal Medicine, vol. 25, supp. 2.

This edition of the Journal of General Internal Medicine comprises 27 articles focusing on education related to health disparities.

Building Multisectoral Partnerships for Population Health and Health Equity, S. Fawcett, J. Schultz, J. Watson-Thompson, M. Fox. & R. Bremby, 2010, Preventing Chronic Disease, vol. 7(6).

Poor performance in achieving population health goals is well-noted — approximately 10% of public health measures tracked are met. Less well-understood is how to create conditions that produce these goals. This article examines some of the factors that contribute to this poor performance, such as lack of shared responsibility for outcomes, lack of cooperation and collaboration, and limited understanding of what works. It also considers challenges to engaging stakeholders at multiple ecologic levels in building collaborative partnerships for population health.

Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training: Policy v. Accountability – Failure in Reality, B. Westwood & G. Westwood 2010, Australian Health Review, vol. 34(4), pp. 423–9.

This paper presents results of a study into Cultural Awareness Training (CAT) in New South Wales and specifically South West Sydney Area Health Service (SWSAHS), with the aim of improving long-term health gains. The evidence demonstrates poor definition and coordination of CAT with a lack of clear policy direction and accountability for improving cultural awareness at government level. In SWSAHS staff attendance at training is poor and training is fragmented across the Area. The paper proposes actions to improve Aboriginal cultural awareness for health professionals including incorporating Aboriginal CAT into broader based Cross Cultural Training (CCT).

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Indigenous Health Checks; A Failed Policy in need of Scrutiny, L. Russell 2010, Menzies Centre for Health Policy.

Health assessment or health check items under which Medicare will reimburse for preventive health services to Indigenous patients, were introduced beginning in 1999. It is important to note that, in comparison to other MBS preventive services, these items were well reimbursed, generally offering a GP between $175 and $200. Nevertheless, the uptake of these items, especially if considered in light of the acknowledged need, has been shamefully low.

Walk Together, Learn Together, Work Together – A Practical Guide for the Training of Aboriginal Mental Health Professionals in New South Wales 2010, Aboriginal Mental Health Worker Training Program.

This Practical Guide is a resource designed especially for the Aboriginal Mental Health Worker Training Program. The Aboriginal Mental Health Worker Training Program is a workplace-based training program under the broader NSW Aboriginal Mental Health Workforce Program. NSW Health has allocated specific funding for employing, training and educating additional Aboriginal Mental Health Workers within mental health services.

Efficient Funding: A Path to Improving Aboriginal Healthcare in Australia? J. E. Lloyd & M. J. Wise 2010, Australian Health Review, vol. 34(4), pp.430–4.

Framework for Measuring Wellbeing: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 2010, Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Support Strategies That Graduate Indigenous Nurses: A Dreaming Journey, L. Stuart, A. Nielsen & V. Horner 2010, Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, vol. 13(3), pp.95 –100.

This article outlines the University of Southern Queensland’s recruitment, retention and graduation strategies for Indigenous students in the Department of Nursing and Midwifery.

Review of Indigenous Male Health, N. Thomson, R. Midford, O. Debuyst & A. MacRae 2010, HealthInfoNet.

HealthInfoNet New Collections Section

The HealthInfoNet collections include a searchable bibliography of over 17,000 publications and a searchable database of health promotion resources. You can now also receive instant updates from HealthInfoNet on Indigenous health via email or Twitter: whenever new material is added to the HealthInfoNet’s electronic journal—the HealthBulletin—it will come directly to you. Join from the HealthInfoNet home page under the ‘subscribe’ section in the right hand column, or join Twitter to receive HealthBulletin updates.

Aboriginal People’s Health Newsletter, February 2010

The second edition of the University of British Columbia’s Aboriginal People’s Health Newsletter has been published recently. The newsletter provides information regarding the work undertaken within the Faculty of Medicine to support and develop Aboriginal health programs, curriculum, research and advocacy. The publication also highlights current research and partnership initiatives.

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cONtact dEtaILS

If you would like more information of LIME Network activities, would like to become a member, or have something you would like to contribute to the next Newsletter, please visit our website: www.limenetwork.net.au or email us at lime-network@unimelb.edu.au or give us a call: +61 3 8344 9160. Also please contact us if you would like to be sent a hard copy of the Newsletter.

backgrOUNdGroup is made up of members from each medical school in Australia and New Zealand.

For a list of committee members and organisations please see our Organisation Chart.

The LIME Network is a Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand Project hosted by the Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit within the Melbourne School of Population Health at the University of Melbourne. It was developed as a stand alone project in 2008 and stemmed from the Indigenous Health Project which began in 2002.

Prior to the development of the LIME Network Project, major outcomes of the Indigenous Health Project included the Indigenous Health Curriculum Framework and the Critical Reflection Tool (CRT), which remain important resources for the current Project. The Framework was developed as a flexible guideline that could be used to contribute to the meaningful learning experiences

of students and staff around Indigenous health, and the CRT is an internal quality review process aimed at supporting medical schools to continue to provide quality Indigenous health curriculum and Indigenous student support initiatives.

Other outcomes of the project included the endorsement of the Indigenous Health Curriculum Framework by all Deans of medicine and its inclusion as part of the accreditation guidelines of the Australian Medical Council (AMC); and the facilitation of Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA) / Medical Deans Agreement for Collaboration, through which AIDA completed an audit of medical schools to assess their Indigenous medical recruitment and retention approaches. Importantly, a preliminary network of Indigenous and non-Indigenous medical educators was established to lead and encourage curriculum implementation – this became the LIME Network.

The Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME)

Network aims to be a dynamic network dedicated to ensuring the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning of Indigenous health in medical education, as well as best practice in the recruitment and retention of Indigenous medical students. We seek to do this through establishing a continuing national presence that encourages and supports collaboration within and between medical schools and colleges in Australia and New Zealand and by building linkages with the community and other health science sectors.

The LIME Network consists of a range of participants from key medical education and Indigenous health groups. LIME has a Steering Committee which sets strategic and policy directions and a Reference Group which provides advice and support in implementing LIME initiatives. Members of the Steering Committee are drawn from a number of key stakeholder organisations and the Reference