Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia

Our CEO, Tanya McGregor, had the privilege of attending the AMSANT Gala Dinner, celebrating their achievement of 30 years of community-controlled health. “It was great to attend the AMSANT Gala Dinner with the AHCSA Chairperson Wilhelmine Lieberwirth to celebrate with the sector. Listening to leaders such as Pat Anderson, Donnella Mills, Rob McFee and John Patterson, I am reminded that it takes strong leaders in self determination to drive sustainable change,” says Tanya. Congratulations to AMSANT and its members on this incredible milestone!

Have a look at this lot of students! They have been on a meaningful adventure. We are making incredible progress in the field of social and emotional wellbeing and are passionate about the importance of looking after ourselves as First Nations health workers. Our Certificate IV students in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care class have been busy. Their latest mission was to better understand the principles of wellbeing - social and emotional - and how to best deliver and make this work in a practical sense. You should have seen how involved the students were. This is real change. The students are the next generation of people who can create a better future for our peoples with real, concrete principles behind them. A highlight from a training block this month was an excursion to Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service Ltd. in Murray Bridge, where the students learnt about some of the services and programs that are delivered. More importantly, how to affect change and how crucial it is to look after ourselves to help us help others. The training block included a yarn with Rob Gerrie about the Culture Care Connect program, the SafeTALK training with Grant “Snowy” Day and learning about the services that are being implemented in our service areas. It was not just a classroom experience. Throughout the week the students connected with the outdoors, participated in mindfulness activities, art, family trees had long yarns about self care. The pictures tell a story.

Recently, Riverland Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (ADAC) staff and five members of the Men’s Social & Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) group participated in a Suicide alertness SafeTALK workshop at Berri. The training was delivered by AHCSA’s Grant ‘Snowy’ Day and Anne Evans from StandBy - Support after Suicide in partnership with NACCHO and LivingWorks Australia. This was a great opportunity for ADAC staff and members of the Men’s group to become alert to the dangers of suicide, identify someone at risk of suicide and, importantly, connect people having thoughts with intervention resources. Thanks to Sammy Mitchell & Aunty Di Wilson for co-ordinating the training.

Elder Care Support workers from regional and rural SA Community Controlled Organisations recently joined together for a two-day training course at AHCSA. It was a valuable opportunity to meet other Elder Care Support coordinators and connectors - to share, listen and learn from each other. The session focussed on advocacy and building an Elders inclusive community. By linking services with local knowledge, Elder Care Support workers help First Nations Elders, their families and carers to access the right aged care services to meet their physical and cultural needs. #aboriginalhealth #aboriginalworkforce #southaustralia #healthworkers #sahealthy

#gatherround created the opportunity for North Melbourne FC President and Community Hubs Australia CEO Sonja Hood to speak to our staff about her dual roles, and lessons as a woman working in a historically man’s world. She is pictured here with our senior staff Saumya Silva and Isabella Johnson.

Wonderful staff celebration last week to recognise a 15-year service milestone for Chris Rektsinis, our Eye Health Project Officer. Staff also took the opportunity to welcome our new CEO, Tanya McGregor (who is pictured here with Chris and Executive Officer Mandy Green). Congratulations again Chris.

Students of AHCSA’s first cohort of the First Nations Health Worker Traineeship in Australia were overjoyed to attend a program launch today with the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy. Launched on behalf of NACCHO Australia the First Nations Health Worker Traineeship will provide up to 500 First Nations people to study to become either an Aboriginal Health Worker or an Aboriginal Health Practitioner by 2027. AHCSA is the first community controlled organisation to start delivering the program. Training will be delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Registered Training Organisations (ACCHRTOs) across Australia, with trainees ideally employed by Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) while they study. Representatives from the Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisations across the nation and members of the Aboriginal community came together at the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia offices on Kaurna Country, Adelaide to see this 500-place nation-wide initiative be undertaken. Pictured L-R: AHCSA RTO Manager James Bisset; Minister the Hon. Malarndirri McCarthy; NACCHO Deputy CEO Dr. Dawn Casey PSM; AHCSA Chairperson Wilhelmine Lieberwirth; AHCSA GM of Programs Isabella Johnson; AHCSA Acting CEO Patrick Moriarty.

WA ACCO RTO’S hanging out with Minister McCarthy Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia at the launch of the 500 First Nations Trainesships Program on Kaurna Country. Such an incredible program.