PAHA Newsletter
Issue #02 | June 2023
Chair Report
Richard Ansey
Welcome to the second edition of our PAHA Newsletter!
What an exciting time we have had since we last chatted, the team recently attended the Lowitja International Conference in Cairns. The focus of the Conference was around Data, Data Sovereignty, Aboriginal Health amongst other topics. I was fortunate enough with my fellow brother Ashley Councillor from Wirraka Maya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation to present an amazing project we are working on called Our Story Our Way
Recently the PAHPF Men’s Health committee together with mob from around the Pilbara spent a great day out in Hedland. We yarned, fished (without much luck) and had a great bbq feed. We are now planning our next trip out so keep an eye out on our social media page for updates.
Today we will see the opening of Mawarnkarra’s Mens Shed which is a great space our local men to come together and I’m very happy that have Men’s house where we can Meet and Greet, Share Cultural values with our elders and young people. Where our local men can come gather together, talk Men’s Health, Evironment Health, Mental Heath and other issues.
The second half of this year is going to be jam packed with activity for PAHA as we continue to grow stronger and work hard at improving health outcomes for our Mob across the Pilbara, we hope you enjoy this update from all of us.
Till next time!
Chair Report
Richard Ansey
Welcome to the second edition of our PAHA Newsletter!
What an exciting time we have had since we last chatted, the team recently attended the Lowitja International Conference in Cairns. The focus of the Conference was around Data, Data Sovereignty, Aboriginal Health amongst other topics. I was fortunate enough with my fellow brother Ashley Councillor from Wirraka Maya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation to present an amazing project we are working on called Our Story Our Way
Recently the PAHPF Men’s Health committee together with mob from around the Pilbara spent a great day out in Hedland. We yarned, fished (without much luck) and had a great bbq feed. We are now planning our next trip out so keep an eye out on our social media page for updates.
Today we will see the opening of Mawarnkarra’s Mens Shed which is a great space our local men to come together and I’m very happy that have Men’s house where we can Meet and Greet, Share Cultural values with our elders and young people. Where our local men can come gather together, talk Men’s Health, Evironment Health, Mental Heath and other issues.
The second half of this year is going to be jam packed with activity for PAHA as we continue to grow stronger and work hard at improving health outcomes for our Mob across the Pilbara, we hope you enjoy this update from all of us.
Till next time!
CEO Report
Chris Pickett
Time seems to speed by these days. I don’t know whether it’s a factor of my age or that you just get lost in the mountain of work we do to deliver good health outcomes for our communities. Probably a bit of both.
I wasn’t sure whether I should tell you this as you might think I am having too much fun at this job but yesterday I went fishing on company time with a bunch of men from across the Pilbara. Organised through the Pilbara Aboriginal Health Planning Forum’s Mens Health Committee this was our first go at some on country yarnings for men. We had guys from Newman, Roebourne and Hedland together for about 6 hours fishing (dismally), smashing some snags and burgers off the BBQ and just generally having a chin wag about how things are going with them. This was a test run for what we hope will become a regular occurrence and develop into some overnight or longer camps in our magnificent countryside where we can talk about a range of things affecting their lives and if wanted connect men to services that they often avoid and encourage them to do a bit of self-care. It was a little smaller than we had planned but hope that the word will spread and we get some larger groups together in the future. Fellas it was an honour to be with you for those hours and learn a little more about you. While this was a Mens day out it would have been impossible without the organisation of food and gear by PAHA’s Jodie and Kesi. Thanks Ladies it was much appreciated.
A big event for us since the last Newsletter was the advice from the Commonwealth that PAHA had been awarded a contract to run the Australian Nurse Family Partnership Program together with our member services. This fantastic program is a nurse-led home visiting program that supports women pregnant with an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child to help them become the best mum possible. ANFPP mums are offered support and guidance during early pregnancy and for two years on into their baby’s infancy and toddlerhood. We can’t wait to start this major upstream project.
Good News
Australian Nurses Family Program Partnership
The Pilbara Aboriginal Health Alliance (PAHA) are thrilled to announce that we are the proud recipients of a new Grant Agreement from the Commonwealth Department of Health, to deliver the Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program (ANFPP). The ANFPP aims to improve maternal and child health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families by assisting women to engage in good preventive health practices; supporting parents to improve their child’s health and development; and assisting parents to develop a vision for their own futures, including continuing education and finding work.
PAHA and member AMS’s Mawarnkarra Health Service, Wirraka Maya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation and Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service will partner to deliver this program in Newman and Jigalong, Port Hedland and Roebourne and surrounds.
PAHA acknowledge and appreciate the support of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care. The program is a part of the Australian Government’s commitment to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with particular focus on maternal health and early childhood development.
Member Highlights
Member Highlights
Phyllis Simmons
Board Member
Phyllis has been a Director of MHS since 2011 , and has diligently carried out the actions of the Board and represented Mawarnkarra at meetings with external stakeholders. Phyllis is a Yamatji Aboriginal woman who has spent the majority of her adult life in the Pilbara.
Selina Stewart
Board Member
My name is Selina Stewart and I come from the Binikurra people. I was born in Carnarvon and have lived in the Pilbara for most of my life. I am a member of the YMAC Board and Wirraka Maya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation.
Chris Pickett
PAHA CEO
Chris has worked in the not-for-profit primary health care sector for over 20 years with 15 of these in the Pilbara as CEO of the Pilbara Division of General Practice, Pilbara Health Network, Kimberley Pilbara Medicare Local, Regional Adviser for Rural Health West and most recently as CEO of the Pilbara Aboriginal Health Alliance – a position he describes as the most rewarding of his career.
Events
LOWITJA CONFERENCE 2023
PAHA were pleased to be able to present and showcase the Pilbara and the work we are doing on Our Story Our Way to an International Audience. And wow – what a response, standing room only during the presentation given by our Chair Richard Ansey and fellow Director Ashley Councillor. Our Story Our Way will empower our Pilbara Community through Data Ownership, Self-Deterimination, Sovereignty and done in a culturally appropriate way.
Inaugural Men’s Health on Country Yarn
Whilst the fish weren’t on the bite the mob that gathered to try their luck still had a fantastic day out, which is the first of many planned. Joined by blokes from Roebourne, Newman and Desert mob it provided a great opportunity for Men to have a yarn about the things that are important to them and challenges they face walking in two worlds. Keep an eye out on our socials as the team are busy planning the next day out.
2023 ACHWA State Conference
What an amazing turn out by the Pilbara Mob at the 2023 ACHWA State Conference.
With representatives from PAHA, Puntukurnu (PAMS), Mawarnkarra (MHS) and Wirraka Maya (WMHSAC) we certainly made our presence known as you can see from the photo quite a large contingent travelled to Perth. Our Directors and Staff certainly made our presence felt. This event highlights the amazing work done by ACCHO’s across the state and was a great networking opportunity. Chris our CEO provided attendees an update on PAHA’s vision and how we work in partnership with the Pilbara AMS around advocacy for improving health outcomes for Community in the Region.