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

In Safe Hands – Local Aboriginal Health Workers
Chana Orloff, Senior Project Officer at the Shepparton
Campus of the University of Melbourne‘s‘ Rural Health
Academic Centre, has developed a publication that
recognises the work and contributions of local Aboriginal
Health Workers in the Shepparton region.
Work on the publication began in June and the book was
launched at Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative‘s‘
Medical Centre on Wednesday 28 November 2012 by the
CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled
Health Organisation, Ms Jill Gallagher.
The Publication features 14 biographies of people working
in Aboriginal Health; documenting personal and
professional rewards as well as the challenges they face.
The publication capitalises on other opportunities by
providing University Of Melbourne information, useful
websites and career information about the Health Sector
to inspire young Indigenous students and even people
contemplating a career change. To formally recognise
these dedicated health workers and their unique
professional work were things that drove Chana to
produce the publication.
Aboriginal health works see firsthand the
impacting factors affecting Aboriginal people‘s health.
They have extensive cultural and psychological
knowledge that is essential in the efforts to improve
Aboriginal health. ‗I have an immense amount of
admiration for these people because they‘re making a
difference to help close the health gaps in Indigenous
health and that‘s challenging work‘ says Chana.
Artwork
‗Hands of Culture‘ the artwork featured in the publication
was painted in 2010 by Brett Wilson who is an Aboriginal
artist of Yorta Yorta descent. Brett‘s work has been
exhibited at the Koorie Heritage Trust, and his pieces
grace both public and private collections.
Above: Copy of the book at the launch
Left: Taken at Rumbalara Medical Centre - L-R Professor Bill Adam,
Deputy Chair of RHAC, Ms Felicia Dean, CEO of Rumbalara Aboriginal
Cooperative Chana Orloff, Senior Project Officer RHAC, Ms Jill
Gallagher, CEO of Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health
Organisation (VACCHO) and Rev. Dr Helen Malcolm, Deputy Director of
Medical Student Education, RHAC
Medical Quotes:
―The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We
can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There
are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The
poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality.
There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.‖
― Mother Teresa, A Simple Path: Mother Teresa
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