COMMITTEE OF PRESIDENTS OF MEDICAL COLLEGES Indigenous Health Subcommittee National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Specialist Framework Project (CPMC NATSIMSFP)

Issue Date: January, 2013

CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter CPMC National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Specialist Framework Project is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

Artwork by Professor Helen Milroy Mudlark As each new day dawns, we have to choose which path we will walk, who we will walk with and how we will walk together. (Source: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Specialist Framework for Action and Report)

Page: 2 | CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 NATIONAL ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER MEDICAL SPECIALIST FRAMEWORK PROJECT Newsletter Issue Date: January, 2013

CPMC Indigenous In this issue: Project activities Health Subcommittee • Second round questionnaire survey • Guideline for collecting Indigenous Co-Chairs’ Messages status data within medical Colleges

We are pleased to present the second issue of Project highlights the CPMC National Aboriginal and Torres Strait • Project website Islander Medical Specialist Framework Project • Te ORA Scientific Conference, 2012 Newsletter. • Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors’ Congress (PRIDoC), 2012 This issue provides an update of the Project to College Presidents, Fellows, AIDA members Farewell and Welcome to Co-Chairs, and others interested in improving pathways of CPMC, AIHS Indigenous medical students and doors towards specialist training. Having recently taken over About Associate Professor Kelvin Kong, as Co-chairs of the CPMC Indigenous Health the first Indigenous Surgeon in Australia Subcommittee we welcome any feedback. Stories/News from medical specialist Dr Maria Tomasic Colleges Dr Tammy Kimpton • The Royal Australasian College of Physicians • The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners • Australian and College of Anaesthetists • The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists • Royal Australasian College of Surgeons • Australasian College for Emergency Contact Us Medicine Address: CPMC NATSIMSFP Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, College of Surgeons Gardens 250-290 Springs Street East Melbourne VIC 3002

Phone: +61 3 9276 7449 Facsimile +61 3 9249 127

CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 | Page: 3 Project Activities

Second round questionnaire survey A second round questionnaire survey was designed and distributed to all of the 15 Colleges in late June 2012 with the objective of obtaining more information from each College to complement the initial information gathered in February-April 2012.

ourteen Colleges Outreach Assistant Program Deans Australia and New (93.33%) participated in (MSOAP) or Urban Specialist Zealand (MDANZ). However, Fthe second round survey Outreach Assistant Program it appeared that the and the duration of response (USOAP) 15. Provision of meaning of the principles to the survey request varied Indigenous scholarships, of “vertical integration” from over 1 week to 3 months. and 16. Relationships with was still confusing and Indigenous community health unclear for the majority of There were altogether 35 posts. the Colleges in relation to open-ended questions curriculum development. drawn upon the framework The following is a summary of The majority of Colleges recommendations. These the findings: (12; 85.7%) indicated they questions were basically were in the process of focused on: 1. Identification 1. In relation to identifying either revising or developing of Indigenous status 2. the Indigenous status of Indigenous health content Indigenous health content in trainees and Fellows, an in their curriculum, but did curriculum 3. Critical reflection overwhelming majority of 13 not have a clear timeline. and cyclical quality review Colleges (92.9%), indicated Two Colleges affirmed they tool, 4. Project newsletter their willingness to use the had already developed 5. Indigenous employment questionnaire designed by Indigenous health content. opportunity 6. Medical student the project in enrolment outcome database 7. Enablers of trainees and renewal of In relation to the project’s or barriers to success fellowship memberships. role in assisting Colleges for Indigenous trainees/ One College considered to develop Indigenous graduates 8. Indigenous that it was a sensitive issue health content (e.g. learning specific online portal for and was undecided about its modules), the majority of training and pathways 9. use. Colleges identified that Community-based cross- a template/framework, cultural training in Indigenous 2. Eleven Colleges (78.6%) some expert guidance, issues 10. Knowledge about reported their awareness and facilitation in sharing the Australian Doctors’ of the Indigenous health information and resources Association’s pathways into curriculum frameworks for among Colleges would be specialist paper 11. Indigenous inclusion of Indigenous useful. knowledge initiatives for health content in basic leaderships 12. Partnership medical education prepared 3. Only 9 Colleges (64.3%) approach to Indigenous by the Committee of Deans reported being aware of health 13. Assessing cultural of Australian Medical the Critical Reflection Tool competency standards 14. Schools (CDAMS), currently (CRT) developed by the Links with Medical Specialist known as the Medical Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Page: 4 | CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 and at this stage only one Times, Koori Mail or linking 8. A majority of 12 College showed interest in with Indigenous employment Colleges (85.7%) indicated developing a Cyclical Quality organisations. 9 Colleges they did not have any Review Tool (CQRT) based (64.3%) suggested that Indigenous specific online upon the CRT. the project should develop portal for training and a framework or guideline pathways within their While acknowledging the to promote Indigenous Colleges. On the other hand merits of the CRT, the employment opportunity in 2 Colleges (14.3%) reported majority of the Colleges the Colleges. they had Indigenous-related indicated some reservations online portals. in its use, citing it as a 6. Eleven Colleges (78.6%) too long and complicated reported they were aware 9. In relation to community- tool. However, 7 Colleges of the medical student based cross-cultural training (50%) indicated that the outcome database, but there about Indigenous issues, project could assist them in were no comments about its a majority of 11 Colleges developing a CQRT. use in College activities. (78.6%) reported that they did not have such a 4. In relation to the project newsletter publications, all of the 14 Colleges (100%) expressed that they were willing to contribute to the “A majority of 12 Colleges (85.7%) newsletter by posting their indicated they did not have any news and stories. A majority Indigenous specific online portal of the Colleges suggested the inclusion of items such for training and pathways within as the profile of significant their Colleges” people working in the field of Indigenous health, updates on the project and its activities, success story of medical Colleges, evidence-based successful 7. Enablers and barriers program. However, they Indigenous health programs, to success for Indigenous agreed that provision of a and information on trainees/graduates entering training program would be seminars/workshops and a training program were useful to train their staff professional development considered. The majority of about appropriately handling opportunities. Colleges could not report Indigenous issues. On the on this issue as they did other hand, 3 Colleges 5. Eleven Colleges (78.6%) not have any experience of (21.4%) reported that they strongly affirmed that having Indigenous medical had either cross-cultural they believed in the Equal trainees. However, some or cultural competence Employment Opportunity of the Colleges perceived training, but did not mention principles; however they that financial and social if it was community-based. did not have any specific problems, requirement to policy or program to employ move interstate, lack of 10. More than half of the Indigenous people within appropriate role models, Colleges (8 out of 14- their Colleges. Some cultural appropriateness, 57.1%) reported that they recommended ideas about lack of information regarding did not have any knowledge attracting Indigenous training programs and of the AIDA’s Pathways into candidates were advertising training preparation were the Specialists paper, but did in appropriate media, such major barriers. want to obtain this once as the National Indigenous informed of it. Those who

CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 | Page: 5 were aware of it considered successful program delivery with relevant Indigenous that it was a useful and outcomes. NACCHO, organisation. document to guide Colleges’ ACCHO, AIDA and local understanding about the Indigenous health services One College warned about policy context, issues and were considered as the the dangers of a non- reform needed to increase relevant partners for the Aboriginal organisation the Indigenous medical Colleges. Similarly, one assessing standards of workforce. They also showed of the Colleges viewed cultural competency. interest in implementing the effective partnership recommendations contained required involvement With regard to a question in the paper, where of Indigenous people about a need to have applicable and possible. from initial planning to a standard cultural evaluation of the program competence curriculum, 11. A majority of 12 implementation. Important 9 Colleges (64.3%) Colleges (85.7%) reported factors identified as affecting agreed that there was that they did not have partnerships included long a need for it. One of the any program in the past term commitment, working Colleges suggested that a to implement Indigenous towards a similar vision, standard curriculum might Knowledge Initiatives for realistic consideration of the not address the specific leadership in their Colleges. time and resources available requirements for each However, they stated they to support the partnership, College. were very interested in and professional running such a program in development opportunities. 14. More than a half of the future. Colleges (57.1%) reported As for the current their links either with the

“It appears from the survey that although there is still a lack of targeted career pathways for Indigenous doctors in many Colleges, all of the Colleges considered the issue important. ”

Two Colleges (14.3%) relationships with Medical Specialist Outreach reported they had a Indigenous organisations, 9 Assistant Program (MSOAP) similar program such as Colleges (64.3%) reported or the Urban Specialist “meeting with Indigenous formal and informal Outreach Assistant Program leaders all over the country relationships with AIDA, (USOAP) or both. One of the under a congress every NACCHO and ACCHO. Colleges was unaware of year” or “having had an the programs. Indigenous Health Chapter- 13. In view of the possibility collaboration between the of the AMC assessing 15. Only 2 Colleges College and Indigenous the Colleges’ standards reported that they had organisation such as AIDA of cultural competency some form of Indigenous and NACCHO”. for Indigenous health as scholarship provisions. part of the accreditation 12. The majority of Colleges of Colleges, almost all Among those Colleges who commented on the of the Colleges (13 out reporting no scholarship partnership approach of 14) supported that the funding or provision, one to Indigenous health project produce a template of the Colleges is exploring considered partnerships for standard of cultural funding opportunities. as an essential factor for competence in collaboration Another College considered

Page: 6 | CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 that finance is not the barrier Fellows, trainees and IMGS to an indigenous doctor to provide assistance in pursuing specialist training. these areas.” However, 6 Colleges (42.9%) expressed that Conclusions they wanted to establish a It appears from the survey that scholarship for Indigenous although there is still a lack trainees. 7 Colleges (50%), of targeted career pathways suggested CPMC might for Indigenous doctors in be involved in establishing many Colleges, all of the scholarships. Colleges considered the issue important. Respondents to 16. Three Colleges the survey provided valuable (21.4%) reported that they information for effectively had already established implementing the framework relationships with recommendations, including Indigenous community the Indigenous status health posts to provide record, Indigenous content trainees placements in curricula, Indigenous whilst 6 Colleges (42.9%) employment and career indicated their willingness to development opportunity, establish such relationships. cultural competency and Other Colleges expressed cultural safety programs, different views including and partnership with the that the community health Indigenous health related placements needed partners such as the AIDA, funding; and that providing NACCHO and ACCHO. CPMC community placements through this important project would not necessarily supports all of the Colleges deliver more Indigenous through the implementation specialists. of the framework recommendations and hopes Ideas for the best strategy to promote Indigenous in providing trainees doctors’ career pathways and experience in Indigenous Indigenous medical specialist community health posts workforce. included that they should be mandatory; there should be provision for cultural mentoring and appropriate supervision; and that there should be accreditation of training sites and housing facilities.

One of the Colleges posited that we should make use of “existing training sites that currently have a higher proportion of Indigenous Australians as well as existing programs that provide an opportunity for

CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 | Page: 7 GUIDELINE FOR The standard Guideline for COLLECTING Indigenous status collecting INDIGENOUS question Indigenous STATUS DATA The guideline is based upon status data within WITHIN MEDICAL the standard national question Medical Colleges COLLEGES contained in the National best practice guidelines for As an early milestone, the collecting Indigenous status in project in consultation with Introduction health data sets. The guideline the AIDA, has recently states that inclusion of the developed and distributed a Under-identification of Indigenous status question in guideline questionnaire on Aboriginal and Torres Strait all data collections normalises identifying the Indigenous Islander people in many health the question and reinforces status of trainees and and education data collections its consistent use as standard Fellows in the medical remains a problem. practice (AIHW, 2009). specialist Colleges. he Committee of The following question should The questionnaire is Presidents of Medical be asked of all trainees and drawn upon the standard TColleges (CPMC), in fellows: questions developed by partnership with both the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ the Australian Bureau Are you of Aboriginal or Association (AIDA) and the of Statistics and the Torres Strait Islander origin? Australian Institute of National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Health and Welfare in No relation to identifying (NACCHO), is committed to Yes, Aboriginal Indigenous status and addressing this situation. This Yes, Torres Strait Islander is duly approved by the is evidenced by the CPMC’s Committee of Presidents of Indigenous Medical Specialist For persons of both Aboriginal Medical Colleges (CPMP). Project’s priority: and Torres Strait Islander origin, mark both ‘yes’ boxes. The questionnaire has given the variability of finally been distributed to national census data, Why is this important to you as the 15 specialist Colleges Colleges should collect the a trainee or fellow? to help collect the data Indigenous status data of from their trainees and its members. Trainees Fellows as soon as By answering the question, possible, if the information A systematic approach you are contributing to has not already been is required to ensure the the collection of accurate collected. standard Indigenous status information on participants of question is asked correctly the College’s training program. While using the and consistently of all trainees This information is important questionnaire, the project and fellows within the medical for the College to design and anticipates that the College context. Information implement an effective training questions contained in the collected and analysed will be program, including curriculum guideline should not be critical for improved planning, and learning materials altered by any College as support and service responses design and implementation, it is based on nationally at a range of levels including mentoring, and culturally agreed Indigenous status at the College, CPMC and appropriate medical practices questioning guideline. national policy level. that can provide you with the best possible training Following is a sample of opportunity. the guideline questionnaire.

Page: 8 | CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 Fellows By answering the questions, you are contributing to the collection of accurate information on participants of the College’s fellowship program. This information will assist the College in the planning and provision of appropriate and improved fellowship services, including appropriate continuing professional development curriculum and learning materials.

Privacy Your personal information collected by the College is subject to privacy laws and is strictly protected and used appropriately.

When to ask the question? When first registered with the College as a trainee, and when applying for a fellowship after or almost completing the training.

How to ask the question? • The question to be asked through the use of a form (online or otherwise)

CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 | Page: 9 Project highlights injury, child health and The mentoring process immunisations, and medical involved both clinical and non- Project website workforce development. clinical mentoring. CPMC National Aboriginal and In addition to the above, a Pacific Region Torres Strait Islander Medical report on Te Whatu, medical Specialist Framework Project Indigenous Doctors’ students mentoring service Congress Conference, has designed and developed that aimed at providing a project website which is now practical support and 2012 under construction through encouraging more Maori The 6th Pacific Region the CPMC office. Once the medical practitioners to Indigenous Doctors’ Congress website is fully constructed undertake or complete Conference (PRIDoC) was and finalised by February vocational training was organised by the Australian 2013, it will sit under the presented by the Project Office Indigenous Doctors’ CPMC website. of the mentoring program Association (AIDA) and held carried out under the auspices at Alice Springs from 3 to 6 The main objective of of the Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa. October 2012. the website is to provide It was reported that the information particularly mentoring project was a The theme of the conference to Indigenous medical was “Connectedness undergraduates and graduates acknowledging the bonds to help them in choosing a Indigenous peoples share, medical specialty in their and the significance of their professional career path and connections to land and to assist them to achieve their culture to our health and career aims. The website also wellbeing.” will report the progress of the various aspects of the CPMC Various scientific papers were project. presented at the conference, Ms Rhonda Thomson Te Whatu also one from the CPMC Te ORA Scientific (Mentoring) Coordinator (first from the National Aboriginal and right), Dr Netra Khadka ( middle) and Conference, 2012 Ms Terina Moke, CEO , Te ORA (left). Torres Strait Islander Medical The Te ORA Scientific Specialist Framework Project. Conference, 2012, was held in Ahipara, Kaitaia, Northland, one year pilot project with New Zealand from 31 August evaluation every six month. to 2 September 2012. Based on the 2 evaluations, it was found that peer mentoring The conference was organised was more effective than any by the Te Ohu Rata o other kind of mentoring, such Aotearoa, Maori Medical as mentoring from the senior Practitioners Association, and doctors. the theme of the conference was “What does it mean to be a Maori Doctor?”

At the 3-day conference, 14 scientific papers were presented in areas such as cardiovascular disease, psychiatric diseases, and family violence screening Dr Netra Khadka presenting a paper on the CPMC National Aboriginal and in general practice, sports Torres Strait Islander Medical Specialist Framework Project

Page: 10 | CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 Farewell and welcome to Co- Chairs, CPMC AIHS

Outgoing Co-Chairs:

Professor Geoffrey Metz Associate Professor Peter O’Mara

oth Professor Geoffrey Since the beginning of the Metz and Associate project, both Professor Metz BProfessor Peter and Associate Professor O’Mara jointly co-chaired the O’Mara helped shape the CPMC Indigenous Health project in relation to the Subcommittee for two years, implementation of the until October 2012. Framework Recommendations.

Professor Metz represented The project is thankful to both CPMC whilst Associate Professor Metz and Associate Professor O’Mara represented Professor O’Mara for the AIDA to the Subcommittee. contribution they made to the The new Co-Chairs project during their respective representing CPMC and AIDA tenure and the support to the are Dr Maria Tomasic and Dr Senior Project Officer. Tammy Kimpton respectively. The project wishes them all the best in their future endeavour in Indigenous health promotion.

CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 | Page: 11 Incoming Co-Chairs:

Dr Maria Tomasic Dr Tammy Kimpton

r Maria Tomasic is r Kimpton is the the President of the President of the DRoyal Australian DAustralian Indigenous and New Zealand College Doctors’ Association (AIDA). of Psychiatrists. She has a She is a Tasmanian Aboriginal broad experience in rural woman and currently works and remote psychiatry and in the upper Hunter Valley as forensic psychiatry, the latter a GP registrar. Her interest currently involving criminal and includes child health, addiction victim impact assessments medition, and emergency and a special interest in the medicine. area of Indigenous offenders. She also works at the Centre Dr Kimpton is passionate for Disability Health in South about education and wants Australia dealing with mental to see many Aboriginal and health problems in people with Torres Strait Islander people intellectual disability, autism working in the medical spectrum disorders and brain profession, especially to injury. She has been visiting promote optimal health for all psychiatrist to traditional Indigenous Australians. indigenous communities in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara The project welcomes both Yankunytjatjara Lands in Drs Tomasic and Kimpton on- central Australia since 2003. board and wishes all the best Her other roles include in guiding the project. examining overseas trained doctor’s for the Australian Medical College (AMC). She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Page: 12 | CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 About Associate been privileged in serving Professor Kelvin the rural community as part Kong, the first of secondments to peripheral hospitals. He is now practising Indigenous surgeon in Newcastle as a Surgeon in Australia specialised in Paediatric & Adult Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery (Ear, Nose & Throat Surgery).

He is part of a strong, medical family. His mother is a nurse and his father a GP. His sister Marlene is a General Practitioner and her twin Marilyn, is Australia’s first Aboriginal Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.

Being surrounded by health, he has always championed for the improvement of health and education, particularly pertaining to ATSI people. ssociate Prof. Kelvin Kong is the first Complementing his surgical AIndigenous surgeons training, he is kept grounded in Australia and the first by his family, who are the Aboriginal Fellow of the strength and inspiration to Royal Australasian College of him, remaining involved Surgeons (RACS), specializing in numerous projects and in Otolaryngology, Head and committees to help give back Neck Surgery. to the community. He is the current Chair of the RACS Kelvin hails from the Worimi Indigenous Health Committee people of Port Stephens, and also the member of CPMC north of Newcastle, NSW, Australian Indigenous Health Australia. He completed Subcommittee. He is also one his Bachelor of Medicine, of the working group members Bachelor of Surgery at the of the CPMC National University of NSW in 1999. He Aboriginal and Torres Strait embarked on his internship Islander Medical Specialist at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Framework Project who is Darlinghurst and pursued a actively involved in contributing surgical career, completing to the effort of increasing resident medical officer and Indigenous medical specialist registrar positions at various in Australia. urban and rural attachments. Along the way, his has also

CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 | Page: 13 Stories/News from the opportunity to meet The Royal Australian medical specialist with and learn from senior College of General Colleges Indigenous doctors. The RACP Practitioners congratulates Dr Davis and Dr Tamatea on this achievement. National guide to a preventive The Royal Australasian health assessment for College of Physicians Earlier this year, the RACP Aboriginal and Torres Strait RACP Scholarships for awarded similar scholarships Islander people Indigenous Doctors to support Aboriginal, Torres The review and updating of Strait Islander and Maori The Royal Australasian the first (2005) edition of the trainees, doctors and medical College of Physicians (RACP), National guide to a preventive students to attend the RACP’s through its Reconciliation health assessment for premier event, the RACP Action Plan, is committed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Future Directions in Health identifying opportunities that Islander people (‘National Congress 2012. The recipients support Aboriginal, Torres Guide’) was a joint initiative of these scholarships were Dr Strait Islander and Mãori of the National Aboriginal Mataroria Lyndon and Mr Paul doctors and medical students. Community Controlled Health Saunders. The RACP currently offers a Organisation (NACCHO) and variety of scholarships that The Royal Australian College This was the second year provide support for Indigenous of General Practitioners that the scholarships were trainees to undertake and (RACGP) National Faculty awarded, and the RACP complete the RACP’s training of Aboriginal and Torres intends to offer similar programs, and to attend Strait Islander Health. The scholarships to the RACP conferences for professional National Guide is a practical Future Directions in Health development. resource intended for all Congress 2013, which will be health professionals delivering held from 26-29 May 2013 Most recently, the RACP primary healthcare to at the Perth Convention & in conjunction with the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Exhibition Centre. Further Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Islander people. Its purpose information about these Association (AIDA) offered is to provide GPs and other scholarships will be made scholarships to support health professionals with an available on the RACP Aboriginal, Torres Strait accessible, user-friendly guide website. Islander and Mãori physician to best practice in preventive trainees to attend the 6th healthcare for Aboriginal and The RACP is in the process Pacific Region Indigenous Torres Strait Islander patients. of planning a project to review Doctors’ Congress Conference To download a copy of the scholarships it offers to (PRIDoC). AIDA proudly the National Guide to Indigenous trainees, doctors hosted PRIDoC at the Alice a preventative health and medical students. It Springs Convention Centre assessment for Aboriginal and is hoped that through this from 3-6 October 2012. Torres Strait Islander people, process, the RACP can please visit: www.racgp.org.au/ offer targeted and culturally The scholarships were aboriginalhealth/nationalguide appropriate initiatives that awarded to two Mãori Or for more information please best meet the needs and trainees from New Zealand, contact Nikola Merzliakov on preferences of Indigenous Dr Marty Davis and Dr Jade 03 8699 0313 or doctors, and to support them Tamatea. Both scholarships [email protected] into and through completion of recipients advised that the RACP’s physician training they found PRIDoC to be programs. a highly enjoyable and valuable experience, with

Page: 14 | CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 The RACGP Fellowship gown

The RACGP Council in partnership with The RACGP National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health is delighted to present to all RACGP members the newly designed RACGP ceremonial gown.

In October 2010, The RACGP National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health was invited to identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork to be incorporated into the RACGP ceremonial gown and to create a new accompanying sash for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors. This was a result of a successful convocation item at the 2010 RACGP Annual General Meeting.

Gilimbaa, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creative agency based in Brisbane were commissioned by the RACGP to develop the artwork for the sash and gown. For more information go to www.racgp.org.au or www.gilimbaa.com.au.

Australian and New In addition FAIMM organises Zealand College of dinners at high schools Anaesthetists which have a high number of indigenous boarders. Each The Flinders Adelaide dining table has doctors, Indigenous Medical Mentoring indigenous medical/dental (FAIMM) program students and indigenous The Flinders Adelaide boarding students. The Indigenous Medical Mentoring university students provide (FAIMM) program is a well mentorship and information established forum that about university and career organises informal gatherings options. between indigenous medical and dental students and a ANZCA’s Indigenous Health group of interested doctors Committee intends to establish three or four times a year. The similar groups in other meetings often include a meal, Australian cities. For more with a presentation from an information please contact invited speaker, or one of the Paul Cargill, Policy Officer, doctors in the group. Community Development, ANZCA on pcargill@anzca. edu.au or 03 8517 5393.

CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 | Page: 15 The Royal Australian College and their members membership data and in and New Zealand to Aboriginal and Torres the coming weeks will ask College of Psychiatrists Strait Islander mental health all Fellows and trainees to was evident. The RANZCP participate in a survey which Increasing the number of is already comparatively will ask if they are of Aboriginal Indigenous psychiatrists in successful in recruiting or Torres Strait Islander origin. Australia. Indigenous junior doctors to The Royal Australian and specialist training but it was Next year, the RANZCP will New Zealand College of clear that they were keen to celebrate its 50th Anniversary Psychiatrists (RANZCP) be involved in improving those and again offer sponsorships is committed to increasing numbers even more”. for up to four (4) Aboriginal the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Torres Strait Islander Dr Sean White was another medical students or junior graduates entering into, and 2012 sponsorship recipient. doctors to attend the 2013 successfully completing, “Attending the RANZCP RANZCP Annual Congress, psychiatry training. The Congress in Hobart provided which is being held in Sydney College’s 2012-2014 Strategic me with wider exposure to the from 26-30 May 2013. If you Plan contains this specific different fields of Psychiatry” would like more information goal as one of six strategic he said. “I met with the about this program, you are priorities. NSW rural support group invited to contact Ms Jessica for Psychiatry Registrars Spiers, Manager External An initiative introduced by the that consisted of doctors at Relations, via jessica.spiers@ College in 2012 is to sponsor different levels of training. The ranzcp.org or on three (3) to four (4) Aboriginal group invited me to dinner (03) 9601 4926. and Torres Strait Islander at one of Hobart’s waterside medical students or junior restaurants, where I was able doctors to attend the RANZCP to get a good insight about the Annual Congress, which in support provided for registrars 2012 was held in Hobart. and the training program.” Dr Sean White also said Our hope is that this that he “met with Australian experience will enable those Indigenous and Maori elders attending Congress to discover who work closely with mental that psychiatry offers doctors a health teams and psychiatrists. privileged place to understand It was good to see the College people holistically and to respect the grassroots hear their individual personal and community views of stories. It is also a flexible Psychiatrists.” and varied speciality in great demand and with enormous The RANZCP’s membership scope for research. In May currently includes two 2012 two medical students and Australian Indigenous two junior doctors received psychiatrists and four RANZCP sponsorship and Australian Indigenous trainees. attended the Congress in It is encouraging to note that Hobart. Dr Sean White, who attended the 2012 Congress, applied for “Attending the RANZCP and has been accepted into Congress was an enriching psychiatry training which he learning experience”, said will commence in 2013. Dana Slape, one of the initial four sponsorship winners. The RANZCP is also working “The commitment of the to improve its collection of

Page: 16 | CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 Australasian College for video. Each online resource Emergency Medicine will be assessed, reviewed and tagged for a specific user International Medical Graduate group and interest and will (IMG) Workshop – Monday align with ACEM curriculum. 29th and Tuesday 30th October 2012 Indigenous Health and As part of the Department of Cultural Competency: this Health and Ageing Funded project will seek to produce “Improving Australia’s high quality multimedia Emergency Department educational resources Medical Workforce” projects, including a podcast series as on Monday 29th and Tuesday well as forming a resource 30th 2012, the Australasian package in Indigenous Health College for Emergency and Cultural Competency with Medicine (ACEM) held the overall aim of enhancing a workshop designed to culturally appropriate analyse the educational knowledge and understanding needs of International Medical within this professional Graduates (IMGs) working development area. in emergency medicine in Australia. Mentoring: this project will develop and disseminate In addition to the participation various resources to support of IMGs, the College invited IMG Mentors with the overall involvement from ACEM aim of enhancing supervision Fellows and Trainees, and mentoring offered to education and cultural IMGs, further assisting their competency experts, integration into Australasian Aboriginal Liaison Officers Emergency Departments and (ALOs) and other relevant advancing their pathway to parties with a particular ACEM Fellowship. interest and professional background in three of ACEMs The participation, enthusiasm, National Project areas. These input and expertise shared in three sub projects that were the two-day IMG Workshop discussed in detail at the IMG proved to be a valuable means Workshop Include: of garnering interest and knowledge in these project Best of Web: this project will areas as they move forward. be a collation of interesting, relevant information specific If you have any questions to emergency medicine for or seek further information ACEM members that can on these ACEM project be accessed via the ACEM areas, please contact Holly website using a member’s Donaldson, ACEM Manager log in. The information will Continuing Professional be presented in an easy to Development (CPD), via holly. digest format with reviews, [email protected]. summaries, podcasts and

CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 | Page: 17 Royal Australasian Administration of the portal reflect, learn, and consider College of Surgeons is provided by the Royal culturally appropriate and Australasian College of sustainable approaches to Indigenous Health and Cultural Surgeons. the health care that is being Competency Online Portal delivered. The Rural Health and RACS Inaugural Indigenous Continuing Education Health Forum Annual Scientific As in past years, the (RHCE) program has funded Congress Indigenous Health Committee an initiative supporting the The Royal Australasian will hold its face to face development of an Aboriginal College of Surgeons (RACS) meeting at a local Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander is pleased to announce that organisation, to meet staff and Health and Cultural Learning this year’s Annual Scientific be informed of the work they portal designed for health Congress in in do. This year the meeting will specialists. The portal will May will host the College’s be hosted by the Hoani Waititi be known as nichelearning inaugural forum on Indigenous Marae. Hoani Waititi Marae is (Network for Cultural and Health. This realises one of the a recognised leader in Maori Health Education) and is the important aims of the College medium education and is product of the collaboration of Indigenous Health Policy, acknowledged internationally 14 specialist medical colleges “to promote and support the for its development of which provide training and inclusion of Indigenous people Indigenous education support to medical specialists, and Indigenous health topics programmes. It also enjoys the the National Aboriginal at College conferences. “ reputation of having created a Community Controlled Health number of successful alternate Organisation (NACCHO) and The inaugural program education, training, health, Australian Indigenous Doctors’ will provide cross-Tasman social and justice initiatives as Association Ltd (AIDA). perspectives on the models for New Zealand. Indigenous health experience. nichelearning will provide a It also aims to highlight what For further details on the central information point for the past may teach us as a Indigenous Health Forum educational resources for College as we progress our please visit the ASC website medical specialists who care engagement in Indigenous http://asc.surgeons.org/ , or for Aboriginal and Torres Strait health. We are very honoured contact the RACS Indigenous Islander communities and that keynote addresses Health Committee Secretariat patients. It aims to ensure will be given by highly at: that these health and cultural respected Indigenous and [email protected] learning resources meet the non-Indigenous academics aims and standards of the and medical practitioners, A/Prof. Kelvin Kong, Chair Committee of Presidents of including, Dame Ann Salmond, RACS Indigenous Health Medical Colleges (CPMC) Sir Mason Durie and Dr Jacob Committee National Aboriginal and Jacob, The scientific program Torres Strait Islander Medical will open with an official Maori Specialist Framework. The welcome by First Nation portal also seeks to encourage representatives. a multi-disciplinary approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait It is envisaged that future Islander health care through forums will give voice to the easier access to learning substantial work already activities, engagement with being done by surgeons other professionals and the in Aboriginal, Torres Strait formation of networks and Islander and Maori health. It communities of practice. will provide an opportunity to

Page: 18 | CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 INDIGENOUS HEALTH FORUM Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

Annual Scientific Congress SkyCity / Crown Plaza, Auckland, NZ

Wednesday 8 May 2013 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Australia - Lessons from the Past. Keynote speaker to be confirmed

New Zealand - The Journey So Far Dame Anne Salmond Anne Salmond is the Distinguished Professor of Maori Studies and Anthropology at the . Her collaboration with elders of the Te Whaanau-a- Apanui and Ngati Porou Maori tribes over many years led to three books about Maori life. In 1995 she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire for Services to New Zealand History.

The View Ahead From Alice Springs Dr Ollapalli Jacob Jacob (Alice Springs) Jacob Jacob is a general surgeon at Alice Springs hospital and senior lecturer at Flinders University. His current clinical and research areas of interest are Trauma, acute pancreatitis and delivery of surgical services to indigenous people across barriers of distance and culture. Dr Jacob is the Director of Surgery Alice Springs Hospital.

New Zealand- The View Ahead Sir Mason Durie (Palmerston North) Mason Durie is a member of the Rangitane and Ngati Kauwhata (Maori) tribes. He is a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry and has been actively engaged in mental health research and policy for more than two decades and in 1993 established a Maori Health Research Centre that has provided national leadership in outcomes research and research into mental health service delivery. Professor Durie recently retired as the Professor of Maori Research and Development and Deputy Vice- Chancellor at Massey University

CPMC NATSIMSFP Newsletter | January 2013 | Page: 19 Contents of this newsletter may be reproduced without permission from the project providing the project newsletter and its issue date are clearly shown and where relevant, authors/ contributors are cited.

Highlights and stories contained in this newsletter are those of individual authors or organisations/colleges and do not necessarily represent official views or statement of the project

Please contribute to this newsletter by posting a feature story or milestone relating to the Indigenous medical specialists training program and/or Indigenous health development to Dr Netra Khadka at [email protected] on or before 31 May 2013 to publish it in the next newsletter due out in July 2013.

©This newsletter is developed and published by Dr Netra Khadka on behalf of the CPMC Australian Indigenous Health Subcommittee National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Specialist Framework Project (CPMC NATSIMSFP), January 2013, Melbourne.