2014 forum

Aboriginal Mental Health &
Wellbeing and Workforce
Forum 2014
“Valuing the Aboriginal Workforce”
Opal Cove Resort, Coffs Harbour
5-6 March 2014
Hosted by Mid North Coast Local Health District
in partnership with
the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW

MNCLHD AMHWWF Report 2014 2
Contents Page
2014 AMHWWF FORUM OVERVIEW .......................................................................3
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS .....................................................................................4
PROGRAM ................................................................................................................5
EXHIBITORS .............................................................................................................8
EVALUATION ............................................................................................................9
Forum Score Ratings.............................................................................................9
Q1. Highlight of the Forum...................................................................................10
Q2. Something learnt that will be useful in your work...........................................11
Q3. Suggestions for improving the next Forum....................................................12
Committee Evaluation .........................................................................................14
RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................16
FORUM OVERVIEW SLIDESHOW .........................................................................17
PHOTOS..................................................................................................................19

2014 AMHWWF Forum Overview
Theme: Valuing the Aboriginal Workforce
5-6 March 2014
Opal Cove Resort
Coffs Harbour, NSW
Objectives of Forum
The NSW Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Forum brings the NSW Aboriginal
Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing Workforce, both government and
community controlled, together to:
 network and discuss mental health and social & emotional wellbeing matters, including
relevant policy and program developments
 undertake and contribute to our professional development
 receive and provide peer support with like-minded professionals
 share stories about successful initiatives and learn how they were implemented
 highlight effective partnerships at the community level
 contribute to service development in order to improve the mental health and social and
emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal people in NSW, and
 provide feedback to assist in planning future forums.
Partnership with AH&MRC
Participants were advised that this forum is a partnership between Mid North Coast Local
Health District (MNCLHD) and the Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of NSW
Social and Emotional Wellbeing Workforce Support Unit (AH&MRC WSU).
The AH&MRC WSU ran a staff development workshop on 4 March, which was open only to
Commonwealth funded SEWB workers. A separate registration form was to be completed by
those workers for the 4 March event.

Summary of Statistics
Registration March 5-6
Registrations received 293
Registrations at Forum 229
Aboriginal Identified registrations attended 147
Percentage of Aboriginal Identified persons in attendance 64%
Registration cancellations received 19
Exhibitors 4
AH&MRC Registrations 92
Registration
Registration was FREE for participants and presenters. NSW Health participants were required
to meet their own travel and accommodation costs.
Accommodation
Opal Cove Resort accommodation was fully booked out for the Forum, including all resort
rooms, villas and units. Commonwealth funded SEWB were able to be accommodated at Opal
Cove Resort. Many participants were required to find accommodation elsewhere.

Program
WEDNESDAY 5 March 2014
8:00am Registration in the Ocean View Foyer
SESSION ONE
Ballroom
M.C. Lynn Lelean
8:50am Forum Preview
Barry Hunter, Forum Convenor
9:00am Welcome to Country
Mr Barry Hoskins
9:10am Us Mob Dance Group
9:25am Welcome to Mid North Coast Local Health District
Warren Grimshaw AM, Chair MNCLHD Governing Board
9:35am Opening Address
The Hon Kevin Humphries MP, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Healthy Lifestyles,
Minister for Western NSW
10:20 Morning Tea
SESSION TWO
Ballroom
M.C Lynn Lelean
11:10 Keynote Address
Aunty Lorraine Peters, Managing Director Marumali Program
11:55am Keynote Address
Dr Robyn Shields, NSW Deputy Mental Health Commissioner
12:20pm Getting with the program! Skilling up the Aboriginal workforce in the use of e-wellbeing apps
and online technologies.
Liz Lewis, Assoc Prof James Bennett-Levy
1:10pm Lunch

SESSION THREE
Osprey Room Currawong Room Shearwater Room
Chair Donna Stanley Kristie Harrison Gay Foster
2:00pm “The fall and rise of clinical
supervision”
Gina O’Neill, Ann Baker
AMIHS (Aboriginal Maternal
Infant Health Service) how MH
affects mums and bubs
Kristen Ella, Eda Devoti
Pathways to psychiatry for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people
Nigel Beetson
2:30pm NSW Ministry of Health
Aboriginal Recruitment and
Retention (Multimedia)
Resource
Charles Davison, Wendy
Bryan-Clothier, Justin Noel
An insight to the role of an
Aboriginal Alcohol Other drug
Worker
Nathan Deaves, Wade
Longbottom
Waminda’s Dead, or deadly
Program
Willow Firth, Hayley
Longbottom
3:00pm Kempsey Healthy Eating
Activities and Lifestyles for
Indigenous Groups
Marilyn Dean, Jessica Morris
The Positives and Negatives
of Psychological Resilience
Marsat Ketchell
3:30pm Afternoon Tea
SESSION FOUR
Osprey Room Currawong Room Shearwater Room
Chair Darcy Budden Bron Rose Gina O’Neill
3:55pm MLHD MHDA Aboriginal
Mental Health Business Plan
Laura Ross
“Are they ready for the
workforce”
Faye McMillan, Stephanie Perrot
Update on the NSW
Aboriginal grief and loss
training project
Anthony Hillin
4:25pm Aboriginal Psychiatry
Mentoring Program
Donna Stanley
The NSW Aboriginal Mental
Health Worker Training
Program Evaluation –Findings
and Future Directions
Tom Brideson, Christine Flynn
Usin’ it or Losin’ it!
Colin Locke
4:50pm NEAMI National Aboriginal
Linkages program
Lee Willis
Learning from each other and
growing together
Cindi McCormick
Key Learnings in retaining
an Aboriginal Workforce in
the Community Managed
Mental Health Sector
Simone Montgomery, Craig
Parsons
5:20pm Close Day 1
Dinner at 7pm on the Ocean View Terrace

THURSDAY 6 March 2014
8.00am – 8.45am Yarning Time: network meetings (see separate flyer)
SESSION FIVE
Osprey Room Currawong Room Shearwater Room Opal Room
Chair Ivy Peters Alana Rossman Laura Ross Anthony Hillin
9:00am Traditional Circles in
Practice
Vanessa Edwidge,
Bahadur Bryson, Noleen
Hoskins
Supporting the
Aboriginal workforce to
address tobacco in their
communities –
showcasing the
Aboriginal Resistance
Tool Kit
Jasmine Sarin
A Model for the
Aboriginal Mental
Health and Drug &
Alcohol Workforce
Gay Foster, Tammy
Sampson
9:30am The Aboriginal Drug &
Alcohol Network
(ADAN) of NSW
Kristie Harrison, Rodney
Turner
Working through
incarceration with an
holistic approach to
reintegration for the
emotional wellbeing of
families
Lloyd Gibbs
Research…Pfft! A
dirty word? Or an
avenue to privilege
and action Aboriginal
voices
Chontel Gibson
Aboriginal grief
and loss training
program:
consultation
groups exploring
learning areas,
staff support and
resources
Anthony Hillin,
Megan Wynne-
Jones
10:00am Healing our Way: A
Kinchela Boys Home
Healing Centre
Manuel Ebsworth,
Michael Welsh, Jason
Pitt, Tiffany McComsey
Warangesda Cultural
Camp
Stephen Collins
10:30 Morning Tea
SESSION SIX
Ballroom
Chair Faye McMillan
11:00am Childhood Separation & Trauma: The Stolen Generation Effect on Kids’ Brains and Adult
Outcomes
Professor Tony Broe
11:30am Valuing Each Other & Working Together: The importance of Aboriginal Health Workers
working with mainstream services to provide culturally safe service delivery to clients at the
Awabakal Aboriginal Primary Healthcare Centre. What might get in the way and what helps.
Toni Manton, Lawrence Dadd, Stacey McMullen, Cyriac Matthew
12:00pm Supporting the Workforce
Lucy Abbott, Terry Smith
12:30 Lunch

SESSION SEVEN
Ballroom
Chair Lynn Lelean
1:45pm Forum Overview
Tom Brideson, Ann Baker
2:00pm Discussion & Questions
Peter Carter, A/Director NSW Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Office
2:20pm Evaluation
Barry Hunter
2:30pm Aboriginal Culture
Dhinawan
2:45pm Afternoon Tea
Exhibitors
 Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RHAMP)
 Your Health Link (MNCLHD)
 E-wellbeing apps and online technologies (Prof James Bennett-Levy)
 Tackling Smoking, Healthy Lifestyle (Galambila Aboriginal Health Service)
The Your Health Link display table with
Carolyn Guichard (right) and Joanne Lia

Evaluation
With a total of 228 registrations at the Forum, 77 evaluation forms were returned of which the
following information was obtained.
Forum Score Ratings
On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being very poorly and 5 being very well, please circle to indicate how
well the forum provided you with the opportunity to:
Indication of how well the forum
provided you with the opportunity
to:
Scale responses, 1 being very poorly
and 5 being very well
1 2 3 4 5 Nil
1) Network with colleagues
0% 2.7% 5.41% 21.62% 70.27% 0%
2) Discuss mental health and social &
emotional wellbeing policy and
program developments
0% 2.7% 8.11% 67.57% 18.92% 2.7%
3) Enhance your professional
development 0% 2.7% 8.11% 59.46% 29.73% 0%
4) Hear about successful initiatives
and learn how they were
implemented
0% 0% 0% 46% 29.7% 0%
5) Learn about effective partnerships
at the community level 0% 2.7% 21.62% 51.35% 24.32% 0%
6) Contribute to service development
0% 2.7% 24.32% 48.65% 24.32% 0%

Q1. Highlight of the Forum
Responses to, “What was the highlight of the Forum for you?”
Presentations / Keynote Speakers
 Aunty Lorraine Peeters
 Kinchela Boys Home Healing Centre
 WEAVE Project
 Waminda’s Dead, or Deadly Program
 Traditional Circles in Practice
 Dr Robyn Shields
 Marsat Ketchell
 Personal stories from presenters and keynote speakers, particularly Aunty Lorraine
Peeters, Noleen Hoskins, Dr Robyn Shields, NEAMI National Aboriginal Linkages
Program
 Hearing about a wonderful range of community programs
 Learning about a range of innovative programs`
Networking
 Great networking opportunity
 Getting to meet other Aboriginal Workers
 Due to me being a new-comer to working in these areas the networking
opportunities
 Meeting people face-to-face who I have been on teleconferences & emailing for a
year. First forum for me
 Networking & small group sessions
 Meeting new people (mob) & yarning & listening to people's stories
 Hearing people’s stories & different experiences
 Networking with other sides
 Networking with other trainees
 Meeting the Aboriginal Community MH trainees – inspiring
General
 Overall it was very informative
 My first forum. The highlight for me was everything

Q2. Something learnt that will be useful in your work
Responses to, “Write a sentence about something you have learned
that will be useful in your work?”
General
 All useful, thank you
 Too many to write down
 Increase in traineeships to grow and empower workforce which will increase our
opportunity to work effectively
Informative
 Research information/models of research & procedures relating to Aboriginal people
 Everything I have learnt at the forum can be used in my workplace in one way or
another
 The number of positive programs out there based on working from a relationship
perspective
 The forum has given me greater understanding and perspective on Aboriginal
MHSEWB to inform my policy work
 Understand better the need to build support mechanisms for isolated Aboriginal MH
Trainees
 Aunty Lorraine Peeters’ Marumali Program
 e-Wellbeing apps
 Learning about the way people do things & the programs I may be able to adapt my
own & to share with colleagues what is going on in the sector
 Emphasised importance of healing work throughout NSW & ensuring it is
highlighted
 Innovative programs
Inspiration
 Never ever give up, continue to evolve, gain qualifications and keep moving forward
 How "the mob" are getting a voice and developing skills. Nigel was inspiring - I hope
to get more staff to go back to school
 Going back to what I know spiritually first
 ‘Small steps’ lead to ‘huge leaps’
 The quality programs working in communities such as ‘Bush Circle’
Networking / Partnerships
 Taking time to listen to people about their ideas
 Networks is the main thing that will be most useful to my work, the ability to call for
advice around issues
 Networking with what is taking place across the area
 I have learned how partnerships are vital for our people's health
 Connections made in different areas to help my clients & their families
 There's a lot of good indigenous services there that I can link with
 Learning & knowing about other services out there to help our mob. Taking it back &
using it with my clients.

Q3. Suggestions for improving the next Forum
Responses to, “Please provide any suggestions for improving the next
Forum”
General/Venue
 The location was great and having the venue and accommodation in the one spot
facilitated maximum attendance at forum sessions as well as lots of networking
 Forum was very informative
 Possible more seating around the tea rooms for more opportunity to sit and yarn
 Excellent – keep the venue
 Keep venues away from town centres. This one worked well because of location –
everyone had to stay together
 Lovely venue and accommodation
 Seems best venue yet however filled very quickly and had to stay off-site
 Seating, tables, having everyone together for the dinner
 Dinner to be more organised
 Seating setup should include tables
Activities
 Provide an activity that could get the whole group moving – break the sitting &
listening cycle which could assist us with taking on more of the information
 More structured activities
 Balloon type activity on first day would be great
 The days were long and perhaps could benefit from being broken up with different
activities – games, drawing, exercise
Program
 Program details out earlier
 More information on the presentations in the program to help choose which
sessions to attend
 Longer timeframes for individual workshops
 Five minutes between each presentation so you don’t miss any of the speakers
 Half hour too short for questions and room changes. More proportion of time
needed where models are being showcased
 AH&MRC first day was fantastic but many of us were exhausted therefore struggled
with first day of Forum. Otherwise couldn’t improve on site and events
 Make sure keynote speakers are available for questions and discussion to use their
time slot fully. There was good chairing in every session – this is great
 Time for workers without management to discuss issues
 Take the opportunity to run the event for a longer period of time to include formal
training
 Writing paper for participants; tables to assist writing; time between sessions to
move from room to room; more structured networking time/activities
 Too many presenters at once – missed out on a lot
 Disappointing when two very popular workshops scheduled at the same time so you
have to miss one
 Opportunity to see all workshops. Was unable to attend some because of timetable.

 Not to have so many workshops on at once
 Breaks not as long; not being able to hear all the presentations
 Opportunity for DVD’s to be played out of session so people can see them in full
 Chairs – enforce times
 Would be good to start with an icebreaker and end with a debrief/relaxing activity
 Entertainment – a band
Program Content
 Perhaps sessions of issues relating to managing / being part of a team within NSW
Health services / organisation context
 It would be great to run ATSI Mental Health Conference around the early years
 Involvement of local elders was greatly valued and could have been greater; more
elders speaking
 More AMS inclusion
 Panel discussions with Minister and Elders
 Need more stories from teenage youth; their struggles and how we can help
 More involvement for trainees ie more trainee-specific forums

Committee Evaluation
With regard to the committee processes please tell us:
1) What was useful / good?
 Having a dedicated person as organiser/coordinator – that worked very well
 Regular meetings – assisted communication & planning; overall good sense of
preparation which assisted how the Forum progressed
 Clear process
 Information / pro formas etc from previous Forums
 Commitment of committee members to input regularly and provide advice
 Working together and sharing the load
 Good involvement from committee members and sharing of tasks
 Having a local sub-committee as well as the state committee to oversee things
 Venue – one place for all activities
 Aboriginal people stepping up to Chair sessions
2) What was not useful?
 Tight time frame for Committee responses toward the end as we drew closer to the
event e.g. with finalising program. However that often happens
 Holiday season interruptions to flow of planning work and creates false sense of
time available
 Limited use of Committee during the event
 Limited allocation of specific tasks for the Committee
 Not enough time spent prior to the event planning for the actual event
3) What requires improvement?
 Planning time and Committee meetings to commence sooner in the process
 Forum Program – consider making available earlier even if in draft format
 Clearer processes for managing the event and tasks
 Planning, clear documentation of process and tasks
 Reduce bottleneck of work by locking in indicative time lines working backwards
from the Forum date so that all predictable items do not become part of the
bottleneck of work. Allows last week to tidy up loose ends and allows for
unexpected issues that emerge
 Opportunity for all committee members to enjoy the forum as much as any other
participant – of course allowing for added responsibilities.
 Registration desk process to be streamlined
 More time allocated to preparing forum bags and name tags
 More information stalls
 Delegation

4) How do we make improvements?
 Include more detail and tasks in the forum documents
 ‘Nail all tasks to the ground’ – ensure each task is discussed and that all committee
members can feel comfortable all matters are taken care of
 Allocate tasks to Committee members prior to the event
 Trouble shooting unexpected things ie long break on day one, although
unavoidable, plan what to do if it happened again.
 Have a Committee meeting day on-site prior to the event in order that any untimely
or delayed issues are ‘ironed out’.
 More time for Committee members to get together for updates and day-to-day
planning during the event
 Commitment from all Committee members to assist the local organisers wherever
and however possible rather than leaving it all up to the local team
 Share the workload
5) With regard to the Forum please tell us: Were there any issues that emerged at the
Forum and if so, how could they be resolved?
 Not enough detail about the presentations and presenters in the program made it
hard to choose which session to attend
 Debriefing time for participants and presenters, as some presentations were very
touching and emotional (eg Kinchela Boys Home)
 As a committee member I didn’t get to see presentations I wanted to learn about as
I was working
 Registration desk – clarity to assist future Forums. Tasks need to be understood
and articulated regarding who should sit on the desk and when; how to minimise
congestion at the registration desk
 Complaints also about the “haves and have nots”. That is – the AH&MRC group
receiving T-Shirts and the NSW Health mob not receiving anything. Reports from
some people indicate it is setting up opposing workforces when we are trying to
bring people together. Possible solution- Provide funding for the NSW Health mob
to get T-Shirts.
 Several attendees reported to me that the cost of drinks and food at the restaurant
were excessive, especially where they had family members along to accompany
them for child-minding, support etc. Perhaps consider alternative sites that are
more affordable or closer to alternative eating places.
6) Any further comments or suggestions?
 It was a great forum. Very well organised.
 Overall the forum was great and successful.
 Had a great time in a great venue with great people – well done and thanks for the
time to reflect on it all and to provide comment. Thought the Committees worked
well.
 Many trainees were seen as not participating; not turning up or leaving early.
 Participants in foyer area, not in sessions or main room.
 Reiterate that forum presentations not be used for consulting with the workforce.

Recommendations
Overall
 Ministry of Health to continue to financially support the Forum, to be held annually
 Continue to have an LHD host and convenor, rotating each year to share responsibility
 Continue the partnership between the Ministry of Health MHDAO, the local LHD and the
AH&MRC
 LHDs/SHN should prioritise and financially support the involvement of Aboriginal
Trainees in the forum
Program
 Activities scheduled to break-up repetitive sitting in presentations
 Networking activity on first afternoon or incorporate yarning time for different networks
into the program
 Five minute gap between sessions
 Content – more information on presenters to help choose which session to attend
 Content – more youth and Elders
 Avoid the use of the Forum as a consultation opportunity, unless this is an adjunct to a
formal consultation process in accordance with agreed policy and protocols
Photos/Media
 Media contact – have a dedicated media spokesperson/s nominated in advance
 Photos - Incorporate permission/consent into registration
 Photos – Program activity for photo sessions including group photo
 Announce when photos are to be taken
Venue
 Ideally venue where accommodation and conference facilities are in one location –
maximises attendance and networking
 Venue located away from town centre helps everyone stay together
 Plenty of seating around tea and coffee areas for comfortable networking
Committee
 At least one committee meeting on-site prior to Forum
 Clear definition of roles
 Structured delegation of specific tasks
 Clear documentation including planning schedule/timeline, working back from event date,
with leeway for contingencies in the last two weeks
 Timeline to take into account holiday season with allowance for staff leave; not only
planning committee staff but also staff whom may be providing abstracts
 Program issued to presenters and participants about eight weeks prior to event, even if in
draft format
Certificates of Attendance
 Prior to the event offer certificates of attendance upon request - can be given to
participants at the Forum, subject to a method of verifying their actual attendance. Note
that they do not contribute any points towards Professional Development.

Forum Overview Slideshow
Slides from Forum Overview created and presented by Tom Brideson and Ann Baker:

Photos
Pictured at the forum from left to right are: Deputy Commissioner Mental Health
Commission of New South Wales Dr Robyn Shields AM, Committee member Ivy Peters,
Minister for Mental Health and Healthy Lifestyles Kevin Humphries, Uncle Barry Hoskins,
Committee member Tom Brideson and Governing Board Chair Warren Grimshaw AM.
Warren Grimshaw welcoming delegates and guests.

Minister for Mental Health and
Healthy Lifestyles Kevin Humphries,
speaking to forum audience.

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