Issue 1, February 2013 Welcome to the first edition of Campfire published electronically by the Environmental Health Directorate. This publication aims to promote the work that environmental health practitioners do in Aboriginal communities in WA. Campfire was selected as a name for the publication because it is an activity that draws people together. In bush settings, the campfire allows for the sharing of ideas and thoughts and those sharing the campfire have a common benefit. It also represents a managed activity that must be watched and tended to provide heat and protect the surrounding environment if it isn t properly managed, there is a risk of harm to people and the land. Contacts Matthew Lester Manager Aboriginal Environmental Health Phone: 9388 4819 Robert Mullane Senior Program Officer Phone: 9388 4935 If you are an environmental health practitioner and want to showcase something that you are proud of we encourage you to write an article for this publication. If you re not an environmental health practitioner but work with Aboriginal people to improve living conditions or community environments we would encourage you also to read the e-newsletter and contribute your own articles. Feel free to distribute this e-newsletter to allied health and other agencies that are interested in environmental health. We aim to produce an electronic newsletter three times per year. We look forward to your feedback and any news items you want to place on a statewide platform. The editorial staff can be contacted through David Jarman at: david.jarman@health.wa.gov.au or by phone on (08) 9388 4947 1
Yulga Jinna Community Contents Environmental Health at Kurrawang Aboriginal Community Environmental Health across the Ngaanyatjarra Lands Bega Garnbirringu Environmental Health Team East Kimberly Environmental Health Community Program Goldfields Dog Health Training - My Story Welcome Environmental Health Promotions Officer Georgina (Georgie) Kelly First Indigenous Environmental Health University Graduate for Western Australia Pilbara Meta Maya - Working in the Pilbara Page 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Training - Empower Education Style 11 Doing My Job Better A Training Resource for the Aboriginal Environmental Health Practitioner 12 Keeping in touch using Skype 13 Expressions of Interest -Training Workshop 14 2
Environmental Health at Kurrawang Aboriginal Community By Stanley Ashwin Environmental Health Practitioner at Kurrawang Aboriginal Christian Community Kurrawang Aboriginal Community is a Christian community and is drug and alcohol free. Kurrawang has a population of approximately 130 people and 32 houses, Facilities include an office, chapel, school and sporting facilities. I am fairly new to Environmental Health and have been learning on the job. I have successfully completed Certificate II in Environmental Health with Greg McKonkey of Empower Education. Dog Health Programs Community Awareness Municipal services such as road maintenance, dust abatement, storm water drainage, Plant Machinery operation and maintenance We have 4 staff including myself the Environmental Health Practitioner, Community Manager, Office Manager and Housing Officer. It is my duty to provide the Environmental Health Service which includes; Rubbish Collection And Disposal Waste Water Management Pest Control 3
Environmental Health across the Ngaanyatjarra Lands By Troy Hill, Environmental Health Coordinator, Ng Health Service Firstly I would like to thank Ngaanyatjarra Health Services for giving me an opportunity as the new recruited Environmental Health Coordinator. It has been a fantastic experience working out on the Lands and facing many new challenges. The Ngaanyatjarra Lands are increasingly being recognised for their strong cultural and natural values. Ngaanyatjarra people, Yarnangu, have cared for their country for thousands of years, and these social and cultural activities continue unbroken to the present day. Today the Ngaanyatjarra Health Service s Environmental Health Program employs: 1 x Coordinator 2 x Full time Field Support Officers 8 x Environmental Health Practitioners The Ngaanyatjarra Health Service is the only permanent health facility on the lands. There are no private facilities; the closest is over one thousand kilometres away. There is strong cultural support and commitment from the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku who assist with monitoring environmental health conditions for the local communities. The Ngaanyatjarra Health Service is aware that chronic lifestyle illness is rapidly escalating. The Health Service will have to face these demands and it needs to be adequately resourced. To do this it must be inventive and lateral in its thinking to improve people s health and to prevent any further deterioration. This can certainly be done with local support from our environmental health practitioners in the form of making a difference by delivering a well established environmental health program. I remain confident in being efficient with service delivery and employment. Resources are being positioned to provide positive outcomes. It is still early days for our committed team with plenty of positive results to be delivered. Left to right: Tristan Reid, Nicholas Lane, Thomas Reid, Milton Golding, Ronnie Green and Troy Hill 4
Bega Garnbirringu Environmental Health Team Kenan Bender trained as an Environmental Health Officer in Curtin University and has been employed by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder doing Aboriginal Environmental Health since 2004. Kenan works closely with Cody Winter and Joseph Dayton who are employed with Bega Garnbirringu Health Services in Kalgoorlie. All three enjoy the challenges and rewards of working to improve the standard of Aboriginal Environmental Health in the Eastern Goldfields Region. As part of this work, they report on the environmental health standards in Aboriginal communities and run school programs, pest control programs, dog health programs and various environmental health projects. Recently they have been working on a waste control project for Mt Margaret Community, run a dog desexing program for Tjuntjuntjara, Kurrawang and Ninga Mia communities and a revitalisation project for the temporary camping ground in Boulder. 5
East Kimberly Environmental Health Community Program By Marie Rosney, Environmental Health Coordinator, Kimberly WACHS The East Kimberley Environmental Health Community Program was introduced in December 2011 in collaborating with the Environmental Health team and the Department of Corrective Services Kununurra. Under the supervision and guidance of Kimberley Population Health Unit s Environmental Health Coordinator, Clayton Bell and Senior Environmental Health Field Support Officer, Tim Bond, the program enables those who are serving Community Service Orders to complete their hours in blocks rather than intermittently while repaying their debt to the community. Participants are involved in meaningful activities directly related to environmental health enabling new skills to be developed, which will assist with future employment and educational prospects. The program involves the transference of environmental health knowledge to communities through the practical skills learned by workers leading to improved health outcomes for communities. To date the program has supported 11 participants in clearing 617 community service hours with the Department of Corrective Services reporting an attendance and completion rate of 100%. The programs success has resulted in the part time employment of a community service worker with the Environmental Health team who is currently completing a TAFE Certificate in Horticulture. The team is currently in discussions with TAFE, Centrelink and the Department of Juvenile Justice in relation to future opportunities towards improved environmental health outcomes and community development. The Environmental Health Team with the Department of Corrective Services was recently nominated for a joint Western Australia Health Award as an example of programs, which successfully work in partnerships with organisations and individuals outside of the department Congratulations to Clayton and Tim and best wishes for the programs continued success. Clayton Bell and Tim Bond at work 6
Goldfields Dog Health Training - My Story By David Jarman, Environmental Health Directorate I recently assisted in organising a Dog Health Training Course in the Goldfields Region run by Professor Ian Robertson School of Veterinary Science Murdoch University. There were 18 participants who came from various organisations and communities within the Goldfields, Ngaanyatjarra Lands and the Pilbara regions. Attending and participating in this training event gave me a better appreciation for the environment in which the Environmental Health Practitioners live and work. The two day Dog Health course covered both theory and practical training. The course teaches the environmental health workers and officers about dog health and its potential to impact on human health. Some types of zoonotic diseases that spread between dogs and people are bacterial e.g. salmonella, viral e.g. rabies and parasitic e.g. scabies, mites or round and hookworm. Successful trainees become qualified to treat dogs in remote communities where no veterinary service operates by injection for chemical sterilisation and euthanasing sick or unwanted dogs and to apply topical treatments for parasites. While in Kalgoorlie I was able to see firsthand the varied environmental issues affecting remote communities and the impact these issues have. I also was able to see and appreciate the issues the local Environmental Health Practitioners faced during their day to day work. David practising his injection technique 7
Welcome Environmental Health Promotions Officer Georgina (Georgie) Kelly We take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to Georgina (Georgie) Kelly who takes up the role as Environmental Health Promotions Officer with Kimberley Population Health Unit based in Broome. Before joining KPHU, Georgie worked with the Shire of Broome for five years. In her new role, Georgie will work across Environmental Health and Health Promotions and will be responsible for the No Germs On Me hand hygiene program. We look forward to supporting and working with Georgie in her current role and wish her a happy association with Environmental Health and Health Promotions. Georgie s contact details are as follows if you would like to contact her regarding the No Germs on Me program. Georgina Kelly Georgina Kelly Environmental Health Promotions Officer Kimberley Population Health Unit Phone: (08) 9192 9760. G.Kelly@health.wa.gov.au 8
First Indigenous Environmental Health University Graduate for Western Australia Troy Hill is the first Aboriginal person from Western Australia to graduate at a tertiary level in environmental health. Troy started work as an environmental health worker in Meekatharra in 1995 with Yullela Aboriginal Corporation. He completed a Certificate 2 in Aboriginal Environmental Health with Pundulmurra College over two years (1995-1997). In 2001 he completed a Certificate 3 qualification. 2003 saw Troy move to Kalgoorlie and start work as a Field Support Officer with the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. While working for the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder he applied for the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education course in environmental health. Troy commenced his tertiary degree course in 2006 and graduated from Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education in June 2012. Troy is now employed by Ngaanyatjarra Health Services as their Environmental Health Coordinator. He is responsible for delivering services in the Ngaanyatjarra lands area of WA, comprising 11 communities in the Central Desert near the SA/NT border. Troy is the National WA Aboriginal representative on the Working Group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Environmental Health. Troy Hill Graduating 29
Pilbara Meta Maya - Working in the Pilbara By Gabrielle Campbell, Environmental Health Practitioner, Pilbara Meta Maya I joined the Pilbara Meta Maya Environmental Health team as a supervisor over six months ago. My team and I have been working together to engage with community on a number of different levels. We have been focusing on building sustainable programs, developing an environmental health workforce on community and working with community to ensure that they have access to safe and well functioning housing and an improved living environment. Since my appointment we have rolled out a number of dog health programs with Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC), conducted several community clean-ups and car removals. We routinely visit our 13 communities on the Pilbara to conduct basic environmental health tasks such as plumbing, pest control and animal management while synchronising health promotion with these tasks by providing community members with information on how to avoid plumbing problems, pest issues and dog overpopulation. Yandeyarra community is experiencing the benefits of having Environmental Health Worker, Michelle Coppin on community to address health concerns as they arise and to coordinate programs in her own community. Michelle is currently supervising the big job of removing cars from her community. Michelle Coppin (left) and Gabrielle Campbell (right) 10
Training - Empower Education Style Empower Education is run by Greg McConkey and is a private Registered Training Organisation specialising in providing training and consultancy services to Indigenous communities and their support agencies through Western Australia. Empower Education delivers the Certificate 2 course in Indigenous Environmental Health and provides support, training and advice to Aboriginal Environmental Health Practitioners and communities in the Midwest and Goldfields regions. This year saw 14 trainees complete the Certificate 2 course held in several locations around the Mid West, Goldfields and Perth. The trainees finished off the year with a revision and consolidation workshop in Perth recently. Following this, several graduates enjoyed a day of team building with a visit to the outdoor laser sports centre in the Swan Valley. Robert Mullane from the Environmental Health Directorate joined them for the day and learnt a thing or two about being targeted by such a slick team. Pictured are: (Standing left to right) : Tyrone Cook, Wade Lyndon, Abel Dickerson, Michelle Coppin, Robert Mullane (Health Department), Ronald Wheelock, Garth Comeagain, Chelsea Robinson, Richard George-Kennedy (Kneeling) Nicolette Pearce, Greg McConkey (Empower Education), Gabrielle Campbell(Pilbara Meta Maya) Unable to attend on the day, but still graduating: Brentley Williams, Gary Tucker, Robert Mongoo, Phillip Hill. 11
Doing My Job Better A Training Resource for the Aboriginal Environmental Health Practitioner Empower Education, with the support of the City of Greater Geraldton and the Environmental Health Directorate, have produced a training DVD entitled Doing My Job Better A Resource to Support the Aboriginal Environmental Health Practitioner. The resource is made up of four DVDs covering topics including pesticides, plumbing repairs in and around the home, dog handling and mosquito awareness. Our thanks to the following people and agencies that supported this resource:- Geoff Harcombe - Pesticide Safety, Department of Health Sharleen Jordon - CY O Connor Tafe Lauren Critchell - Shire of Mundaring Richard Douglas - Globe Australia Cindy Myers and staff - Path West Water Testing Laboratory Sue Harrington - Department of Health Garry Dunbar Plumbers Licensing Board Copies are available free of charge from the Environmental Health Directorate. Contact David Jarman (pictured below) on: 9388 4934 or by e-mail. David Jarman from the Directorate with a copy of the DVD 12
By Robert Mullane, Senior Program Officer, Department of Health Hi to everyone. Keeping in touch using Skype Welcome to 2013! Hope you have all enjoyed the break over Christmas and New Year. As we travel around the state many of you have commented that it would be good if free and easy video conferencing facilities were available to keep in touch with us here in Perth so that you could discuss the various issues that you are dealing with at the time. Well now you can!! - if you have access to a computer and the Internet. Now not only can you call me on the phone, but you can see me too! Yes, I know that might be too much for some however I m willing to that that risk and give it a go if it helps anyone!! Skype is pretty easy to use and it is a free service via the Internet. I have had Skype installed on my computer here in the office and have already had a couple of sessions with people in the Kimberley region. Me in the office. put those darts away!! If you would like to give it a go and see how it works for you, then I suggest you talk to your organisation or community and ask if you could use it. It is free to load on your or someone else s computer and it is free to call and meet with people. My Skype name is robert.mullane99 look me up on Skype!! If you need help with any of this please contact me and either I or someone else here will help you. Kind regards to you all Talking to Ruben David from Nindilingarri Cultural Health Service in Fitzroy Crossing 13
Expressions of Interest -Training Workshop Greg McConkey of Empower Education is seeking expressions of interest from possible participants to determine the viability of an AEH revision/consolidation workshop for early 2013. This workshop would focus on key aspects of AEH at a community level with a particular emphasis on practical skills. Although the workshop will draw from existing elements of the Cert II in IEH course there will be no direct connection to formal training and no assessments or certification will be involved. It would be of use to: existing AEHW s as a refresher course, newly appointed AEHW supervisors or co coordinators, Housing Officers Program Managers Venue: Aboriginal Alcohol and Drug Service, Royal Street East Perth Date: To be arranged, from March onwards Cost: To be determined, likely around $600 Travel/Accommodation/Meals: to be arranged and covered by the participant or their employer. Lunches on training days will be provided. Recommended accommodation, Flag Lodge, Rivervale. A free bus service to /from the training venue will be provided from this motel if numbers are sufficient. Tentative Program Day 1. Am Pest management for the AEH program Plus - Guest speakers prior to lunch: Pm Day 2. Am Pm Geoff Harcombe Manager Pesticide Safety Branch, Dept. of Health, Richard Douglas Globe Australia Taps and Tap Repair Household Drainage Basics Plus- Guest speakers prior to lunch: representative(s) from Aboriginal Environmental Health Programs representative from Plumbers Licensing Board Day 3: Tools, Resources, Suppliers for your AEH program Positive experiences, successful models. Group discussion Lunch and finish Expressions of interest or queries should be directed to: Greg McConkey: 0407 930 218 or gmcconke@bigpond.net.au 14