Bringing-Them-Home-Report-Web

The Yorgum Aboriginal Family Counselling Service in Perth was established in1994 with World Vision funding. The service works with an average of 12 individuals,four families and five groups each week, attempting to cover the gamut of issues fromgrief and loss, Aboriginal identity and relationships to family violence, sexual assault andracism victimisation. The counsellors are all Aboriginal women. Since funding supportsonly the co-ordinator’s position, Yorgum charges a fee for its services of an amountnegotiated with each client.The State Health Department itself employs some senior Aboriginal people ascommunity liaison workers (not trained as health workers) to assist community membersto access regional offices of the Health Department.Between 27 and 35 Aboriginal patients spend time each month as in-patients of theState’s psychiatric hospital (Graylands). The majority of these patients are from rural andremote areas, predominantly the north-west. In evidence to the Inquiry the Government’sAboriginal Health Division noted that the treatment approach at Graylands is not‘culturally appropriate’ and that many patients simply should not be in this hospital.It is just that there are no other institutions set up to be able to deal with these people effectivelyand people just seem to think that locking them away is the way to deal with them, and it is not(Marion Kickett evidence).In 1994 an Aboriginal Mental Health Service was established at Graylands. It wasrecently relaunched as the Aboriginal Psychiatric Service. This Service provides inpatientsupport, operates a cultural activities centre at the Hospital and aims to providesupport to patients and their families on discharge. Staff will accept referrals. Forexample they are available to visit prisoners in need of support for mental health relatedissues.An Aboriginal organisation has recently won a contract to provide cross-culturaltraining for the health industry, including both government and non-government services(Marion Kickett evidence). The Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University inPerth offers health worker training to Indigenous people. The program was first offered in1993. Most students are employed in the health field and take their qualification on a‘block-release’ basis (four 2-week intensive teaching blocks each year). Qualificationsoffered are a Certificate in Aboriginal Health (1 year), an Associate Degree in AboriginalHealth (2 years) and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Indigenous Community Health (3years). Degree students can specialise in counselling and mental health.Northern TerritoryThe Inquiry is grateful to the NT Government for the detailed material supplied onthis subject. Although its Indigenous population is similar to that of WA and well underthose of Queensland and NSW, the Territory has committed considerably greaterresources to the provision of mental health services and shown considerable innovation.Sadly resources remain insufficient and there is evidence of funding reductions in recentyears.