Awards winners
Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the inaugural 2007 National Excellence Awards in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. These awards highlight excellence, innovation and leadership in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector.
The winners in the six award categories are:
To view a profile click on the name of interest
Mary Martin
- Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Matthew Cooke
- Young Leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Bernadette Shields
- Individual Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (Kimberley Satellite Dialysis Service)
- Individual Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service (Youth Diversion Program)
- Excellence and Innovation in Community Health Outcomes
Maari Ma (Lower Western Sector Agreement)
- Working Together – Partnering for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
Winner profiles
Mary Martin - Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
An astute and effective networker, Mary’s influence has been as profound as the pride she has in her heritage. She has modelled, championed and strategically influenced the development of doctors, nurses, allied health care professionals, resources and policy. Her work has resulted in significant improvements in cultural understanding and practice by hundreds of health professionals across Australia. This has been achieved through her membership of the boards of key agencies, along with her education and training resource development and training roles. A feature of her approach has been to lead by example in implementing grassroots education and training programs. These have helped to develop enhanced understanding of the health and cultural needs of Indigenous Australians and practice by doctors and other health care professionals. Queenslander Mary is a champion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights, with her family and community always being her driving force. She has been involved in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health since 1976.
Matthew Cooke - Young Leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Queenslander Matt is currently the Secretary and Public Officer of the Bailai Aboriginal Corporation for Land and Culture, Secretary for the Gehgre Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation and Chief Executive Officer of the Nhulundu Wooribah Indigenous Health Organisation. While still in high school, Matthew was recognised by his family and elders as a young person with the potential to make a major contribution to his community. They encouraged and mentored him. Matt was elected to the Board of Directors of the Aboriginal Health Service where he put in many hours voluntarily to help develop the business plan. Appointed CEO after a successful six-month trial, Matt has overseen the senior business management of the Aboriginal Health Service and Community Aged Care Package Services; been responsible for strategic planning and HR management; and developed and implemented funding proposals, policy and procedures. Matt has been instrumental in building partnerships and negotiating funding from government and non-government sources. For example, he was involved in the successful grant from the Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund which supports improved health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Bernadette Shields - Individual Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Bernadette has never been afraid to tackle the hard issues in Aboriginal health – among them leprosy, sexually transmitted disease, AIDS and substance abuse. Following her early work with people with leprosy, she played a prominent role in establishing mobile outreach clinics for ‘long grass’ people in Darwin. Her concern about the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases coincided with the emerging threat of AIDS to Aboriginal communities. With courage and determination, Bernadette traveled extensively to spread the word about prevention. It was not easy to talk about this sensitive project and Bernadette enlisted the support of her colleagues, elders and community leaders to break the taboos which could have left many uninformed in the face of the AIDS threat. Another hard issue was substance abuse – also a difficult topic to talk about and one with the potential to divide communities. Bernadette’s famous ‘story board’ on alcohol is seen as a great success in educating communities about substance abuse.
Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service - Individual Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
This groundbreaking service has become a model for other organisations around the country and is a showcase of what can be achieved in the delivery of Aboriginal health care. The Kimberley region has one of the highest rates of end stage renal failure in the world. Bringing people home to their own land, or as close as possible, and reuniting families is important in providing the best possible health care. The Kimberley Satellite Dialysis Service has consistently delivered an innovative, culturally appropriate service, a high standard of clinical care – and a vastly improved quality of life to its more than 40 patients. Staffing is unique. Aboriginal health workers work alongside registered nurses to deliver clinical care for their own people, each being responsible for their own patients. Drivers bring patients to and from dialysis. A social worker is attached to the service, as is a GP. A nephrologist visits from Perth approximately monthly. In addition, the service, via the BRAMS, has taken on a role in the delivery of care to peritoneal dialysis patients around the region. Being attached to BRAMS also facilitates the delivery of primary health services to these patients, thus enabling holistic care.
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service - Excellence and Innovation in Community Health Outcomes
This involves not only providing medical care, but also a range of programs promoting good health and healthy lifestyles for Aboriginal people. Winnunga Nimmityjah’s Youth Diversion Program tackles disproportionate rates of alcohol and other drug use among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The program combines formal education, training and employment with a focus on personal development and links to established referral support networks. Partners in this program include the ACT Government, Department of Education, Science and Training and the Police Citizens Youth Club. The program engages young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women in education and training and subsequent employment options to reduce substance misuse and contact with the criminal justice system. The aim is to achieve both prevention and after care for those at risk of substance misuse criminal justice problems. Helping young people to train and get steady jobs helps to build stable and resilient families and communities, which are then better equipped to cope with current and future substance use issues.
Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation - Working Together – Partnering for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Based in Broken Hill, NSW, Maari Ma’s focus on Aboriginal health is underpinned by unique working relationships with the Greater Western Area Health Service, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, The University of Sydney-Department of Rural Health and Community Working Parties. Maari Ma exists for the Aboriginal people it represents and serves to improve health and wellbeing. The Lower Western Sector Agreement Program is one of the innovative programs Maari Ma has in place. This program, now in its 10th year, has been an essential part of improving Aboriginal health in western NSW, collaboratively managing mainstream services and Aboriginal community-controlled health services. Initiatives have meant increased numbers of Aboriginal people employed across the region, senior positions created in Aboriginal health coordination, specific university-based training for Aboriginal health workers relevant to the needs in their communities, and local interaction between Aboriginal community working parties and health services.
