Indigenous Health MedTalk

On the show today we chat with Anthony and Uncle Will Paulson. We talked about Anthony's journey from apprentice butcher to now working as a leader and manager in Cultural Education. We also get to hear Uncle Will share his story from growing up on a mission to getting a medical condition that changed his life. We yarn about the connected nature of police justice and health and how resilience, good choices, work ethic and role modelling can help you find your way in life.   Bio's: Anthony Paulson is a proud Aboriginal man and his people are Worimi, Bundjalung and Mununjali people. Anthony is a saltwater man from the Mid North Coast of NSW in Taree. Anthony joined the NSW Police in his early 20’s and served in regional and remote locations.  Anthony has experience working in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) setting and extensive experience working with community in both government and non-government roles in rural and remote locations within NSW. Anthony thoroughly enjoys working with different stakeholders and learning from different communities and his Elders. In 2017, Anthony joined GP Synergy as the Manager of the Aboriginal Cultural Education Unit and enjoys the diversity the role brings.   William Paulson his people are Worimi, Bundjalung and Mununjali people, worked with local government for 14 years, NSW Police as Liaison officer for 15 years.  During that time he has occupied many local committees and community work in a voluntary capacity.

On the show today we chat with Professor Marlene Drysdale, Dr Kali Hayward and Henry Neill who share their knowledge and expertise in helping GP registrars, or Doctors in training, learn the best ways to interact with their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. They also share information on how to be a good ally.     

On the show today we chat with Les Collins who shares his journey from growing up in Cherbourg to being a member of the Brisbane chapter of the Black Panthers. And who, through his advocacy, helped shape the legal system, housing and health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, nationally.   Mr Les Collins – Chair of the Board Aboriginal & Islander Health Training Advisory Committee (Kab-bai Committee) Les Collins is one of the pioneers to address Indigenous health inequalities in Queensland. He helped develop a number of community controlled Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health services across Queensland. For 20 years, Les was the Queensland representative for the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (formerly National Aboriginal & Islander Health Organisation) and was a member of the National Aboriginal Health Strategy Working Party which produced the National Aboriginal Health Strategy (NAHS) 1989. For many years the NAHS was the official policy and action framework for addressing Indigenous health throughout Australia which led to many improvements in services for Indigenous people. Among these initiatives was Australia’s first Indigenous Health Curriculum for General Practice which Les helped develop. Les was also heavily involved in establishing and managing a range of organisations that addressed the needs and aspirations of Indigenous communities in Queensland. Les is also an Advisor to the Institute for Urban indigenous Health and a singer-songwriter/entertainer who has put two of Oodgeroo Noonuccal’s poems to music and written a song about the 2008 Apology to the Stolen Generations which can be viewed on Youtube.   Watch 'Great Moments' by Les Collins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RjXyQ3hnus  

On todays episode, Dr Danielle Arabena yarns to Arly Mehan, The Love Warrior Celebrant and Death Doula, about her PhD in EcoAcoustics. We also delve into how Arly helps others use ceremony as a profound way of connecting to Kin in the seen and the unseen.   Arly is a Birrbay and Dunghutti ceremony creatress living and working on Country near Guruk, what is now known as Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia.  Arly is currently working within the wedding and funeral industries in an educaring approach to contribute to decolonising, bringing meaning and authentically honour sacred life moents. Arly speaks about both the seen and unseen, the human and the beyond-human with the same respect. Currently studying a PhD, Arly attends to this work because of kin and cultural responsibilities, disrupting mainstream narratives about Koala conservation. Arly collaborates with sound agency and Country agency to ngarra (listen, learn, remember and know) with Country and encourages others to translate sounds to calls for action. Connect with Arly here: https://thelovewarriorcelebrant.com.au/    

On the show today we chat with Dr Tatum Bond, a Ngan'gi woman and emergency specialist about her journey into medicine, her love of remote and rural medicine, camping and her dogs. We also have a chat her important work with the Royal Flying Doctors servicing remote Queensland communities.    Tatum is a proud Indigenous FACEM, whose heritage hails from the Ngajanji tribe, the rainforest people from the southern Atherton Tablelands. Tatum grew up in Tannum Sands in Central Queensland but has always felt at home in Cairns. She recently fellowed in Emergency Medicine and splits her time between the Cairns Base Hospital and a retrieval position with the RFDS based in Cairns. She has always felt a strong need to give back to community, and hopes that her voice can help to Close the Gap. She is the 7th identified Indigenous FACEM in Australia and the first in Queensland. In her spare time she loves going camping with her 2 dogs, putting her feet in the sand and the water and connecting to country.   Donate to the Flying Doctor | Royal Flying Doctor Service   Connect with Tatum: Tatum.bond@health.qld.gov.au  

::TRIGGER WARNING:: - A very powerful edition of our podcast, but also needs to be listened to with care. It contains strong themes and discussion of violence. On the show today we have our first international guest, Melissa Skeet. A Diné (Navajo) woman, derby and trail skater and passionate advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women and children. Besides our mutual love of skating, we talk about how both of our countries have incredibly high percentages of Indigenous women being murdered, experienced sexual and family violence and how the systems have failed them and sadly, how families were denied a voice. In 2021 in Australia there was a senate motion put forward for an enquiry launched by two Aboriginal senators, Dorinda Cox and Lidia Thorpe who are both family members of murdered Indigenous women. The senate report is due out in June this year. Bio: Melissa Skeet is an Ultra Trail Skater of the Dine’ Tribe from the Navajo Nation, raised at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, U.S. and living in Montana, U.S. Melissa had her first taste of roller skating when she was invited by a roller derby athlete in Flagstaff, AZ who played for the High Altitude Roller Derby team to try out which she did and became a roller derby athlete for 4 in a half years. Melissa started Trail Skating when she skated alongside the beautiful Grand Tetons in Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming, U.S. The beauty of trail skating started a passion for Melissa as she feels more connected with the earth and mother nature. Melissa started to become even more disturbed of the continuous epidemic of Indigenous People who had been taken and many were murdered. It wasn’t until she saw that the criminal justice system was continuously failing the victims and their families. Melissa then decided to take on one of the biggest challenges of her life of skating 300 miles across the Navajo Nation in Arizona, U.S. to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Children, Elderly, 2-Spirit, Trans Relatives. Melissa completed 192 miles out of 300 miles with her amazing friend/Pacer Daisy Purdy and boyfriend Nate Zahn. Melissa realized during this skate that this was about bringing awareness to an epidemic that continues to be silenced and was set out to give a voice to all Indigenous families that we will keep fighting together. Melissa recently roller skated 40 miles in the rain for 8.5 hours in Washington, U.S. for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, 2-Spirit, Trans Relatives (MMIWG2ST). This was a challenging skate due to the constant rain but nothing was going to stop Melissa. The skating awareness will continue for this month of May to continue to bring a Voice to the victims and their families who have been silenced. No more stolen sisters. For more information to sign-up and donate: Melissa’s Instagram: @skeet_fighter https://www.nativehope.org/ https://www.nativewomenswilderness.org/mmiw https://www.wenatchiwear.com/store/Skate-for-MMIWG2ST-Tank-top-Preorder-p463078552 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-25/first-nation-missing-murdered-women-senate-inquiry/100650852

On the show today Dr Danielle Arabena is joined by her family, her sister Professor Kerry Arabena founder of the First 1000 Days Australia and her daughters Dr Kayla Arabena-Byrnes, a medical doctor and artist and Amy Arabena-Byrnes a Torres Strait Islander health worker and first year midwifery student. They discuss their family legacy, resilience, their different journeys into health.

On the show today Dr Danielle Arabena yarns with Dwayne Bannon-Harrison who comes to share his ideology of bringing back the warrior, to change the narrative, shift the mindset and help men regain their connection, healing and growth. He leads the way for change through a positive outlook and through the teachings of his Grandfather and his elders. Dwayne is a Yuin- Ngarrugu Descendant with connections to the Yorta-Yorta, Dja Dja Warrup, Watchabolic & Gunai language groups. Through 10 years of dedication helping Indigenous males regain connection, healing & growth he believes the concept of Bring Back The Warrior is giving humility & a much needed voice to first nations males. He also is the founding director of Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Co founder of Mirritya Mundya Indigenous Twist along with being an integral member of the NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council. Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness Workshops: https://ngaranaboriginalculture.com/about-us Bring Back The Warrior Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/bring-back-the-warrior/id1521640681 Ethical native food providers https://indigiearth.com.au/ https://www.indigigrow.com.au/ Verified Indigenous business database: https://supplynation.org.au/

Dr Danielle Arabena yarns with Dr Claudia Collins who works as a senior medical officer and lead clinician at Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health on Minjerribah, Stradbroke Island. Having grown up in Far North Queensland, Claudia shares how her journey with med school and her work as a doctor sparked her passion with Indigenous and rural health. Claudia also shares some of the simple yet powerful teachings from community elders. Claudia is currently working as Senior Medical Officer and Lead Clinician at Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health - serving the communities connected to Minjerribah (NSI), and the bayside communities around Capalaba and Wynnum. She is also a current Training Advisor for the Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway, navigating career pathways for rural primary care registrars across the state of Queensland. She has been living in Brisbane since 2018, but working within the Indigenous Health sector in regional and rural QLD since 2013 – as both an ACRRM registrar and fellowed Rural Generalist. She is a passionate advocate for Indigenous Health: particularly with regards to providing culturally appropriate gold-standard care, and working towards health equality for our First Nations People. She has had cultural mentors during her career that have been instrumental in challenging and fostering her understanding of the landscape and challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, particularly in relation to health, and continues to be mentored as she progresses through her career. Starting her medical career in Central Queensland at Rockhampton Hospital, Claudia has worked then worked as a registrar in Longreach, and then as a senior Registrar and fellowed GP for Nhulundu Health Service in Gladstone (5yrs), and then as a locum GP for Bidgerdii Health Service in Gladstone, and Gidgee Healing in Mount Isa. When first moving to Brisbane, she came for an opportunity to work for the IUIH network at Moreton ATSICHS in their Caboolture and Deception Bay clinics, before making the move to Senior GP and then Senior Medical Officer at Yulu Burri Ba. Nhulundu Health Service was instrumental in fostering her passion for working within the ACCHO sector, and she had strong cultural mentors who helped to shape her viewpoints and drive for providing quality care to First Nations People, whom she also now considers as friends. She was accepted by Community and had fostered strong links which improved service delivery and outcomes for clients interacting with both the AMS and the local public hospital. Claudia grew up in far north Queensland and graduated from James Cook University School of Medicine – which has a strong curriculum emphasis on Rural Remote Indigenous and Tropical Health. She completed all of her SOM placements and rotations with these foundations – spending a considerable amount of time during her university years in Mount Isa. She holds fellowship with ACRRM and has an advanced skill in Indigenous Health (previously also an AST in Obstetrics). She is an alumni of the Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway, and a former Queensland Rural Health Scholarship Scheme (QHRSS) holder. Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health: https://www.ybb.com.au/ Contact Dr Claudia Collins: Claudia.Collins@ybb.com.au Resources mentioned: 'Binan Goonj' By Anne-Katrin Eckermann, Toni Dowd, Ena Chong, Roy Gray, Lynette Nixon · 2010

On the show today Dr Danielle Arabena yarns with Dr Casey Kalsi, an Indigenous GP who shares her journey of resilience after a significant motor vehicle accident put her on the path to her true calling. Along the way Casey experiences the highs and lows but shows she has the inner strength to keep going. There is something in her journey that we can all learn and grow from. Dr Casey Kalsi grew up in Brisbane and graduated medicine at the University of Queensland. Her diverse cultural background being Greek and Aboriginal allows her to relate well with people of all cultures and Dr Kalsi has a special interest in working with her mob to close the gap. Dr Kalsi was a school teacher before becoming a Doctor and believes education and health go hand in hand.

Dr Danielle Arabena yarns with Jamie Marloo Thomas and Sara Jones, the Co-Creators & Directors of Wayapa Wuurrk. Wayapa is an internationally accredited and trademarked earth and mindfulness connection practice based on Indigenous wisdom, the very first of its kind. They chat about ways we can all reconnect to our innate wisdom and the great Mother by living in a mindful, sustainable and earth healing way. Wayapa Wuurrk Jamie is a proud GunaiKurnai man and Maara descendant and Sara is a Canadian Welsh Australian. In 2014, Jamie, and Sara, created Wayapa Wuurrk® (which translates to Connect to Earth), an internationally-accredited and trademarked Earth Mindfulness Connection Practice. Based on Indigenous wisdom of living in harmony with the environment, Wayapa combines ancient earth mindfulness, storytelling and embodiment meditation to create Earth Mind Body Spirit Well-being. Jamie & Sara have shared Wayapa with thousands of people in Australia and around the world. They have also trained over 130 Wayapa Practitioners to help them deliver Wayapa Workshops to a wide variety of audiences including child care centres and schools, government departments, corporate organisations, the prison system, community groups and the health care sector. Jamie is a regular speaker at conferences and events and has also recently become a published co-author with Sara, contributing a chapter in “Silver Linings”, a book about uplifting stories coming out of the global COVID-19 pandemic and “Being Fine, the other F Word” a book about mens mental health. Jamie and Sara are passionate about helping people tap into their ancestral knowledge to create purpose, belonging and intergenerational well-being for a healthier, more connected planet. https://wayapa.com/ https://wayapa.com/workshops/ https://wayapa.com/online-course/

Dr Danielle Arabena yarns with Professor Peter O'Mara about his journey into medicine, his work as the president of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA), his connection with spirituality and his special relationship with the Ngangkari. They also discuss the impact of racism on the health and well being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, how they experience in-health care and how this can cause potential barriers to accessing healthcare. Professor Peter O'Mara was President of the Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association (AIDA) from 2009-2013. Peter was elected Chair of RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in 2016 and is a Wiradjuri man from NSW. Peter did not take the conventional road to medicine and had established a career in the Hunter Valley coal mines before becoming a doctor and completed his medical degree from the University of Newcastle in 1999. He became a Fellow of the RACGP in 2003 and obtained his Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice/Graduate Diploma in Rural General Practice in 2007. In 2008 Peter pursued his other passion - making good doctors - and took on the position of Associate Professor of Indigenous medical education and head of the discipline of Indigenous Health at the University of Newcastle. He then took the position of Professor in August 2020.

On the show today we chat with Gamilaroi woman, Tracy Hardy, a dietitian, nutritionist and founder of Wattleseed Nutrition. Tracy talks about food insecurity amongst Indigenous communities, traditional food sovereignty and ways of nourishing our Aboriginal and Torres strait islander peoples with supportive nutrition. WE also learn that Joseph Banks was our first bio pirate - learn about this and so much more on todays episode. Bio: Tracy is a Gamilaroi woman, an Accredited Practising Dietitian/Nutritionist and founder of Wattleseed Nutrition, Health and Wellbeing. Wattleseed Nutrition is a 100% Aboriginal owned and operated business based on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Tracy is also an accredited Wayapa® practitioner. Wayapa® is an earth connection practice that is based on ancient Indigenous wisdom that focuses on taking care of the Earth as the starting point for creating Earth Mind Body Spirit well-being. Tracy is one of the very few dietitians who identifies as a First Nations Person of Australia. She takes a personalised, holistic and, culturally-centred approach to food, food environments, meal patterns, eating habits, health and wellbeing She truly believes in the strength and healing power of understanding and sustaining our connections to traditional foods, lands, and cultural practices. Tracy believes through sharing knowledge we foster understanding and grow stronger in self, mind, body and spirit wellbeing. https://www.wattleseednutrition.com/ Instagram: @wattleseednutrition Books mentioned: 'Dark Emu' by Bruce Pasoe Christmas edition of The Yarn with Tracy's recipes: https://29ftl72q3eoaxe6vbjy8gh1a-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Yarn-Oct-Dec-2020.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3PcPj5pILw7NoaQjOgqS0Hq1T6_WkFviSXHGpa6NihhTFrZJaLma7l6so

On the show today we chat with, Danique Hanson a yoga teacher, social media influencer and Lululemon Ambassador. Danique talks about how covid lockdown and world events saw her confronting her white privilege while actively educating herself on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, racial barriers of access in the Wellness industry and using her social media platform to speak out against racial injustice. Bio: Danique is a Yoga Teacher, Fitness Instructor, Influencer and a passionate Ally who continues to use her social media platform and influence in the Wellness Industry to highlight racial injustice and amplify the First Nations voices. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarship: She is running Yoga Teacher Training with Elements studio in 2021 and they’re offering a Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarship More info: https://elements-studio.com.au/yoga-teacher-training/ Fill out the application for the 200hr Teacher Training and send an email to esther@elements-studio.com.au to let us know you are interested in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarship. Or if you're interested in attending Yoga classes, Elements Studio are also offering a discounted membership price for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community - please email Esther to arrange this as well. Danique’s website https://www.daniquehanson.com Danique’s Instagram @daniquehanson_ Books mentioned: 'Me and White Supremacy' by Layla Saad & 'Dark Emu' by Bruce Pasoe Must follow instagrams: @ABCINDIGENOUS @LOLAAOLIVIA @IAM_DEADLY_FELICIAFOXX @DARTHEM123 @COFFINBIRTH @_ENTERTHEDRAGON_ @NUNGALACREATIVE @ALLIRA.POTTER @CLOTHINGTHEGAP @LIFEOFRUBII @TAYLAH_GRAY_ @BALALUKE

On the show today we talk to Jame Telfer, a proud First nations woman and founder of essential oil wellness brand, Earth Blended. Diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome at 18, Jame was told she was infertile, at the age of 20 she gave birth to her first of four children. Jame's story through the births of her children starts with trauma of an emergency caesarian through to a empowering and healing VBAC birth on Country. Along this journey Jame comes to realise how this birth is healing for not only her but the women of her lineage. Bio: Jame Telfer is a proud Gumbaynggirr Nyami (woman), mother of three and founder of essential oil brand, Earth Blended. Jame wants to share her offerings in the wellness space through traditional and alternative options for her mob’s wellbeing. Jame is reclaiming a space that her ancestors created, through a mix of traditional and alternative essential oil blends. https://earthblended.com/ Instagram: @earth.blended

On the show today we're talking to Angela Coe, a First Nations midwife, about her desires to decolonise maternal healthcare. Angela Coe is a Wiradjuri woman and First Nations midwife in the Sydney area. She has worked extensively as an Aboriginal primary healthcare worker, an Aboriginal child protection caseworker and a midwife. Angela has helped guide countless Indigenous women through their birth journey. Instagram: @Birthingourway Mentioned articles: Sister Cherisse Buzzacott: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/18/i-said-im-in-labour-but-no-one-listened-i-had-to-be-my-own-midwife-my-own-voice Growing Deadly Families: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/932880/Growing-Deadly-Families-Strategy.pdf Cassie Nest: https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2020/05/05/mob-mob-midwives-making-difference-our-mums-and-bubs

On the show today we chat with Associate professor Kelvin Kong. Kelvin is an ENT surgeon, a fellow of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons and is passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Bio: Dr Kelvin Kong, from the University of Newcastle's (UON) School of Medicine and Public Health, is an otolaryngology, head and neck surgeon and a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). He explains that hearing loss, often caused by Otitis Media (middle ear disease), significantly contributes to poor educational outcomes for children and higher unemployment rates in adults as a result. Determined to change the statistics, Dr Kong has dedicated his career to early intervention. Little Mike Ear Health Rap for Kids: https://vimeo.com/104575738 Otitis Media Guidelines App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.otitismediaguidelines.guidelines&hl=en https://apps.apple.com/au/app/otitis-media-guidelines/id1498170123 Book references: Courageous conversations about race – Glen E Singleton White fragility - Why it’s so hard for white people to talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo

On the show today we chat with José Fernandez, a Colombian registrar working at Toowoomba’s Carbal Medical centre. José shares his experiences with discovering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, working in Indigenous health, palliative care and universal spirituality.

On the show today we chat with Dr Ryan Dashwood, a fellow of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. who talks about the importance the emergency department can have in the care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.   Bio: Dr Dashwood is a fellow of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. Dr Dashwood joined UWS School of Medicine, as a Lecturer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and is also involved in medical student support.   Dr Dashwood started his career in Medicine with a Bachelor of Science, Double Major in Biotechnology and Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of New South Wales. From 2001 until 2005 he worked as a Trainee Scientist at the Children’s Hospital Westmead and the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick in Cytogentics moving into a the Hospital Scientist role from 2005 until 2007. In 2005 he completed a Graduate Certificate of Health Science (Indigenous Community Health) and then in 2006 attended the University of Sydney Medical Program, graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.

Today on the show we are joined by Kylie Fox, a non-Indigenous woman who has transitioned from the harsh corporate world of communications and marketing to writing passionately about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and well being. Bio: “I am a writer passionate about delivering engaging content on holistic health, wellness, mindfulness and eco-friendly sustainable living. I love working with clients who aim to inspire, educate or create positive change. I was given an incredible opportunity by General Practice Training Queensland to research and write a series Indigenous Health In-Practice Guides for GP Registrars delving into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander holistic wellbeing and health, culture, spirituality, traditional lore, kinship and connection to and caring for country. My journey into one of the oldest living cultures on earth has sparked a heartfelt passion to continue contributing to and working within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing and health.”