RHAC Newsletter: Healthy Bites - School of Rural Health - University ...

Prof’s Word: ―In safe hands‖
On the 28th
November I
spoke at the
launch of ―In Safe
Hands‖, authored
by Chana Orloff
and sponsored
by the RHAC.
The book consists of a series of small
biographies of local aboriginal health
workers. The book is beautifully
produced. But its importance lies in its
contents, wonderful stories of people
who travelled a difficult road to a
difficult, but rewarding, career. Many
worked in less skilled jobs until they
realised they could aspire to
professional qualifications: And then
had the courage and perseverance to
achieve those qualifications.
The rewards of contributing back to
their community through their work, is
complicated by the stresses of day to
day exposure to illness in their families.
They are exceptional people.
One impact of their stories is the
sense of awe it engenders in those
of us with more privileged
backgrounds. But the most
important impact of their stories is
that they provide role models for
others.
It is hoped the stories will help
provide goals and pathways for
the young in the indigenous
community: And help them seek
to maximise their potential for
educational achievement and the
contribution they can make to
their communities.
Promoting the education of the
young in the aboriginal
community is a key component of
the RHAC, and the University of
Melbourne as a whole. The major
purpose of the RHAC is to train
medical, and other health workers.
The number of Indigenous students
we have trained is embarrassingly
low, and is something we wish to
address.
To this end the RHAC was involved in
the early days of the Academy of
Health Sport and Education in
Shepparton, which seeks to help
aboriginal students through
secondary study and set them on
the path to tertiary study.
The RHAC is currently involved, ably
lead by Peter Ferguson, in the
delivering the Masters of Health in
Social Sciences to indigenous
students in Shepparton. These
activities, together with the broader
University program of Murrup Barak,
which facilitates tertiary study for
aboriginal students, are evidence of
our intent. However we would like to
do more in partnership with other
educational providers, and the
community.
We should look to the future.
~Bill Adam
Acting Head of RHAC
Shepp Show Health Checks...
UoM medical students and staff from RHAC and Lister House ran a Health Checks
and Information stand and the popular Teddy Bears‘ Hospital at the Shepparton
Show on 12 th and 13 th October.
We offered BP checks, diabetes risk assessments, screening tests for macular degeneration
and a wide range of information pamphlets on hypertension, smoking,
alcohol, mental health problems etc.
Alerting people if their blood pressure was high or they were at risk of diabetes and
suggesting they see their GP, providing information about different health issues or
just providing a listening ear to the
elderly or those with specific concerns were all worthwhile activities, rewarded by
free entry to the Show!
~ Helen Malcolm, DDMSE, Shepparton
ERC student, Michael O’Malley, helping out at the health checks and information stand at the Shepparton Show 13 th October
2012. (Photo taken by Namit Sharma.)
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