abstracts and bios cover_final.indd - LIME Network

Keynote Presenters and Discussants:Thursday 3 DecemberNgangkari Traditional HealersMr Andy Tjilari, Mr Toby Ginger, Mr Rupert PeterAndy, Toby and Rupert were born in the busharound 1940, in the far northwest cornerof South Australia, near where the bordersof South Australia, Western Australia andthe Northern Territory meet. They lived atraditional life with their families until theestablishment of the first Mission in the areain Ernabella SA. Andy was one of the firstchildren to attend Ernabella School.Andy, Toby and Rupert began to learn the skills of the ngangkari (traditional healer) as young children in thebush. Their grandfathers gave them sacred tools and special powers, and trained them over many years.Andy, Toby and Rupert continue this tradition today with their own grandchildren.Rupert, Andy, and more recently Toby, work for NPY Women’s Council (NPYWC) Ngangkari Project, funded byCountry Health SA. NPYWC’s region covers 350,000 square kilometres of the remote tri-State cross-borderarea. Anangu and Yarnangu (Aboriginal people) living on the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjaralands share strong cultural and family affiliations. NPYWC began as an advocacy organisation but is now alsoa major provider of human services in the region.Andy, Rupert and Toby provide ngangkari treatments to anangu (Indigenous people) in remote communitiesin this region, as well as those in hospitals, jails, nursing homes and hostels in regional centres. Their workis highly valued and the service is in great demand. The ngangkari believe that better health outcomes forIndigenous people can be achieved by ngangkari and western medicine working together and to this end theyare committed to educating health workers about traditional healing practices. Andy, Toby and Rupert areaccomplished public speakers who are authorised to speak publicly about traditional anangu culture andngangkari practices. They have travelled across Australia and overseas addressing forums about the valueof traditional healing and medicines, and also meet regularly with staff of Central Australian health services.They have received many accolades, the most recent being the Mark Sheldon Prize for 2009 awarded by theRoyal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry (RANZCP), and the 2009 Dr Margaret Tobin Award forexcellence in the provision of mental health services to those most in need.In 2000 a group of over 50 ngangkari in Central Australia met and decided they would tell their stories as anattempt to educate non-Indigenous health workers about the importance and value of ngangkari, with the aimof encouraging greater collaboration and understanding within the mainstream health system. NPY Women’sCouncil has published a book of their stories called “Ngangkari Work Anangu Way”. A new edition of this bookis planned for 2010.22