[Anthropgrad] reminder: caepr seminar on Wednesday 5 September

[Katarina Ferro]

*Aboriginal Leadership in Health and Social Policy *

—Dr Mark Wenitong, President, Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association

*Abstract:* How do we determine, without polarising or politicising, 
what is best practice in social and health reform for Indigenous 
Australians?

European health and social policy has assumed the right to declare what 
is 'acceptable' practice for all of society. Even if, within this 
ideology, we were able to keep Indigenous kids safe tonight, how would 
we ensure they have something meaningful to live for tomorrow?

Indigenous Australians have been here a long time, yet continue to 
battle to have Indigenous knowledge systems acknowledged. The 
Anderson-Wild Report has laid out the rules of engagement with 
Aboriginal people by recommending that '…there needs to be a radical 
change in the way government and non-government organisations consult, 
engage with and support Aboriginal people.' This presents public health 
and social planners with a real challenge.

Dr Wenitong will argue that Indigenous culture, spirit, land and healing 
all fit into a social determinants framework, which must be addressed in 
order to improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people. Within 
this framework we must allow Indigenous people to take leadership, own 
and control policy decisions; and help to support and partner with 
Indigenous people and organsiations in promoting effective pathways and 
policies for positive change.

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: katarina.ferro.vcf
Type: text/x-vcard
Size: 348 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman.anu.edu.au/pipermail/anthropgrad/attachments/20070904/649fdf4b/katarina.ferro.vcf