Aboriginal Health – It’s Time to Reset ABOUT THE ARTWORK Created by Sonny Green from the Kamilaroi people. ‘The main idea that I wanted to work on is how important it is for influential people in the Aboriginal health sector to come together and discuss issues that require attention and to strategise a way forward. The symbols in this artwork work together in unison to tell a story about the strength of the voices coming together to the ‘Meeting Ground’ (The Aboriginal Health Summit) to enhance the wellbeing of Aboriginal people everywhere. The Emu egg is symbolic of growth, this is reflected by the work done in the past leading to new ideas, where things haven’t worked, we’ve pushed on to find other ways to move forward. The idea of a flower as the main symbol of this art work initially was derived from the NSW state emblem, the Waratah. I liked the idea of different layers/ levels which is similar to all the people working from ground level to government moving towards a better tomorrow for Aboriginal people and to finally close the gap.’ Welcome message Opening presenters Elizabeth Scott Koff Monaghan Secretary of Chair Aboriginal NSW Health Health & Medical Research Council of NSW I am proud to be co-hosting the 5th National It is a pleasure to be here today and I welcome Uncle Raymond The Muggera Dancers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health everyone to the 5th National Aboriginal and Davison Summit with NSW Health’s longstanding Torres Strait Islander Health Summit. Ray is a Gadigal man, Director of All the songs and dances come partner, the Aboriginal Health and Medical It has been a worthwhile partnership with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal from the Yugembeh language Research Council of NSW. These events NSW Health who have always advocated for Lands Council and recently group of the Minjungbal and are a commitment of the National Aboriginal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s retired Aboriginal Health Worker Mununjali clan groups from and Torres Strait Islander Health Standing health and wellbeing. from Aboriginal Medical Services the northern rivers of NSW Committee, and aim to progress conversations Redfern. and QLD. about how all stakeholders, including The theme for this summit is “Aboriginal Health For more than 30 years Ray In 2015 Darren Compton and government, the community-controlled health – It’s Time to Reset”. Similar to resetting the worked for the Aboriginal Jacqui Cornforth founded sector, researchers and other non-government technology that we work with everyday lets Medical Service Redfern. As one Muggera Dancers, a family organisations, can work together to improve refresh, lets start again. of the founding health workers group who prides itself on Aboriginal health. Your presence is your commitment to also he was instrumental in the its cultural knowledge and growth and development of the professionalism. The members With the theme ‘Aboriginal Health – It’s Time agreeing to reset and start again. to Reset’ we acknowledge that we need new service – a service dedicated to for Muggera come from a long ways of working to achieve meaningful change What does reset mean to you: the health and well-being of the line of cultural leaders, song local Aboriginal community. men, world-class dancers in the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and • Innovation / new ideas? and didgeridoo players with a Torres Strait Islander people. Aboriginal and Ray worked in collaboration • Collaborations? formidable respect for culture. Torres Strait Islander people must be leading with the community, boards, conversations about health and wellbeing, and • Commitment to listening to our people? and management and fellow All members of Muggera have health service providers to been performing and sharing this requires government agencies to make • Consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait give the Aboriginal community their culture for many years space for this to happen. Islander people? of the heart of Sydney a and have been guided by their Together with the Aboriginal Health and For me this resetting looks like developing new culturally appropriate and Elders over many decades. Medical Research Council of NSW, we have health agendas that encompass all of these professional health service. Ray Muggera has ongoing support developed a program that privileges Aboriginal elements. advocates for social justice, from Elders, Aboriginal and community development and Torres Strait Islander families and voices to progress strategic conversations We all need to be accountable in ensuring about participation, engagement, co-design empowerment, equity and communities to share culture, that true change takes place for Aboriginal equality for all. establish the Muggera Dance and wellness. and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health and As an Aboriginal Health Worker group and set a new standard On behalf of NSW Health I would like to thank wellbeing. Ray promoted and accredited for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural performance everyone attending for their contributions On behalf of the AH&MRC Board of Directors fundamental qualities, capacities and engagement in Australia. to improving the health and wellbeing of and myself, we believe that all persons within and capabilities to be delivered Australia’s first peoples, and for committing to this room, together we can make positive by all people involved in the working in partnership to deliver meaningful change that will deliver sustainable health health and well-being of the health outcomes. outcomes for our people. Aboriginal community. 2 3 Program Facilitator Professor Kerry Arabena After lunch session Opening 13:00 – 13:30 Keynote address Ms Janine Mohamed, CEO, Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 9.00 – 9.10 Welcome to Country Nurses and Midwives Uncle Raymond Davison, Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council 13:30 – 15:00 Panel discussion: How do we reset? 9:10 – 9:20 Cultural performance The Muggera Dancers Aboriginal community led ways to wellness and health 9.20 – 9:30 Ms Janine Mohamed, CEO, Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Opening of the Summit Nurses and Midwives Ms Elizabeth Koff, Secretary of NSW Health Professor Juanita Sherwood, Acting Pro-Vice Chancellor, Mr Scott Monaghan, Chair, Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Indigenous Strategy and Resources, University of Sydney Council of NSW Dr Kelvin Kong, Ear Nose and Throat Surgeon, Morning session Hunter New England Local Health District 9:30 – 9:40 Opening address Mr Darryl Wright, CEO, Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation The Hon. Bradley Hazzard, NSW Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research Ms Amanda Larkin, CEO, South West Sydney Local Health District 9:40 – 9:50 Opening address Mr Nathan Jones, Director, Aboriginal Health, South West Sydney Local Health District The Hon. Ken Wyatt, Federal Minister for Indigenous Health and Aged Care 9:50 – 10:20 Keynote address 15:00 – 15:30 Afternoon tea Mr Stan Grant, Indigenous Affairs Editor for the ABC and special advisor to the Prime Minister on Indigenous constitutional recognition Afternoon session 15:30 – 15:50 Closing the Gap Refresh 10:20 – 10:40 Morning tea Professor Ian Anderson AO, Deputy Secretary for Indigenous Affairs, Prime Minister and Cabinet Before lunch session 15:50 – 17:00 Where to from here? 10:40 – 12:00 Presentations and panel discussion: Professor Kerry Arabena and Dr Jeff McMullen AM Why do we need to reset? Facilitated discussion Dr Gregory Phillips, Executive Officer, ABSTARR Consulting Evening session Professor Maggie Walter, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Aboriginal Research and Leadership University of Tasmania 17:00 – 19:00 Entertainment and canapés Microwave Jenny performance Mr Jason Ardler, Head of NSW Aboriginal Affairs Ms Patricia Turner AM, CEO, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Mr Scott Monaghan, Chair, Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of NSW 12:00 – 13:00 Ministers depart. Lunch 4 5 Presenters The Hon. The Hon. Mr Stan Grant Professor Dr Gregory Phillips Professor Bradley Hazzard Ken Wyatt AM Kerry Arabena Maggie Walter Brad Hazzard is a senior Minister Ken Wyatt was elected in 2010 Stan Grant is the Indigenous Professor Kerry Arabena is With 25 years of experience Maggie Walter (PhD) is in the NSW Government and in as the Federal Member for Affairs Editor for the Australian Chair for Indigenous Health and in leading change, medical palawa, descending from 2017 was appointed as Minister Hasluck, making history as the Broadcasting Corporation Director of the Indigenous Health anthropologist, Gregory Phillips the Pairrebenne people of for Health and Minister for first Indigenous Member of the and special advisor to the Equity Unit at The University of is from the Waanyi and Jaru North Eastern Tasmania and Medical Research. House of Representatives. In Prime Minister on Indigenous Melbourne. A descendent of the Aboriginal Australian peoples a member of the larger Briggs He oversees record investment September 2013 Ken became constitutional recognition. Meriam people from the Torres and comes from Cloncurry and Johnson Tasmanian Aboriginal in Health infrastructure and the first Member for Hasluck His appointment to the role of Strait, she has a Doctorate in Mount Isa. family. re-elected for a second term. Human Ecology and a degree in services which has resulted in a special advisor to the Prime He developed an accredited She holds the dual roles of Social Work. hospital building boom across In 2015 Ken again made history Minister in 2016 came soon after Indigenous health curriculum Professor of Sociology and the state and the funding of as the first Indigenous member he made a speech on racism Professor Arabena is the for medical schools in Australia Pro Vice-Chancellor, Aboriginal thousands of new frontline of the Federal Executive after that went viral and then reduced Executive Director and Lead and New Zealand; founded the Research and Leadership at the positions. being sworn in as the Assistant the Prime Minister to tears Investigator on the First 1000 Leaders in Indigenous Medical University of Tasmania.