MEES launches the 2012 National Indigenous Health Conference at Watermark Hotel in the Gold Coast

June 7, 2012 - PRLog -- MEES Australia in cooperation with the Eduarda Foundation launches the 2012 National Indigenous Health Conference to be held in the Gold Coast at Watermark Hotel & Spa on the 5th – 7th December, 2012.

The overwhelming response for the first round of Call for Papers clearly indicates the interests of organizations and individuals working in the field of Indigenous Health to improve the Indigenous people’s health throughout this nation. More than 70 % of the submitted papers are from community based organizations, wishing to share their successes in programs implemented within their communities / regions.

Within twelve weeks of first publishing the event, we've received dozens of papers from every state and territory and numbers are filling fast; hence, we encourage anyone who wishes to attend the conference to register as soon as possible. We have structured our registration in such a way that will save organization's money while at the same time providing a great forum for frank and open discussion. The quality of both papers and programs put forward to be included in the conference were astonishing and at present, we're updating the conference website with the speaker's profile. The second round of call for papers is now accepting submissions.

One of the featured speakers is Kimi Alcott (NSW), the Cultural Coordinator of Enough is Enough Anti Violence Movement Inc. Kimi was born in a small country town in NSW as a Wiradjuri woman in a home where alcohol was very dominant in the family with her father being physically abusive as well.  Kimi began a life of welfare kids and alcohol. Kim runs a program called, "Your Life Your Responsibility' and she’s also an Aboriginal Artist, utilises her artistic skills to develop her "Silent Anger" program for young people in detention. Kim will share her story and will be highlighting her resilience as she moved from Domestic Violence Victim - Survivor - Thriver and encourage others to move forward and follow her footsteps to a brighter future.

Debra Cottrell (Queensland), Chief Executive Officer of Carers Queensland will also be one of the featured guest speakers to highlight the important roles of Indigenous carers. Carers Queensland provides support, programs and services to unpaid family and friend carers, who provide support to people who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition or terminal illness, or who are frail. Debra is a member of the Queensland Carers Advisory Council, the Queensland National Disability Insurance Scheme Sub-Committee and the Access Brisbane Reference Group, and participates in various working groups to advance the rights of carers.

In addition to the featured speakers and after due deliberation, the following presenters and their respective papers had been accepted for presentation during the 2012 National Indigenous Health Conference:

Tracy Goodwin, Linda Williams, Jenny Hazelton (NSW) will jointly present their program called ‘Growing Our Own’. Western NSW LHD and TAFE Western have been working closely together to improve the health, employment and educational outcomes for Aboriginal peoples in Western NSW. The program improved employment opportunities and educational outcomes by ‘growing our own’ workers who remain in their communities and work to build capacity to Close the Gap from within.

Layla Scott and Mac Hayes (South Australia) Nanko-walun Porlar Nomawi team works from a social and emotional wellbeing framework with Aboriginal families throughout Ngarrindjeri country and highlights community connections & partnerships to ensure successful outcomes for Aboriginal families which reduces the stigma and shame associated with mental health and improved outcomes in ‘Closing the Gap.’  

Dr Yuriko Kishida, Paul Higginbotham, Lara Shur (Western Australia) will be jointly presenting the successes & challenges of their program entitled ‘Mobile Ear Clinics: Collaboration and Outcomes for Improving Ear Health of ATSI Communities’. The Telethon Speech & Hearing Centre is a not-for profit organisation that provides ongoing mobile ear health services to improve ATSI ear health in four regions in Western Australia.

Temaleti Matasia (Queensland) is the Support Officer for the Mapoon Women's Group. The Mapoon Women’s Group aims to empower women to be strong in mind, body and soul and to discuss & address community issues by seeking local solutions.

Gail O’Brien (NSW), Early Childhood Advisor of Brighter Futures Far North Coast. Brighter Futures is a non-government early intervention program providing case management for vulnerable families who are experiencing one or more significant difficulties as parents of young children. She runs the Parents as Teachers Program, Triple P and 123 Magic for Behaviour Modification strategies.

It is so pleasing to see both government and non-government organizations participating in choosing the agenda and as delegates as well. For after all, this conference is about sharing of information on successful Indigenous health programs existing and being implemented all over Australia and encouraging inter-agency networking either at a local, state and national level.

For more information or to register, please visit the event’s website: www.indigenoushealth.net