Sherry Holzaphel, ED, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Adj Prof Jackie Hanson, Chief Executive

Wunya,

(Meaning ‘welcome/hello’ in local Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi language)

Happy NAIDOC Week 2023 (2-9 July)!

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories, and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

The theme this year ‘For our Elders’ highlights and echoes the important role our Elders have in their families and community, they are the foundations of our past, present and continue to pave the way for many future generations. Elders are the backbone of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and have battled through highs and lows, experiencing trauma, and contributing to historical wins to ensure equality and fairness is achieved for their people. Their strength and resilience have paved the way for the survival of the longest living culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They are the wealth of knowledge, they are our teachers, listeners, our guides and leaders, and supporters.

We would like to acknowledge all the Elders who have walked beside us in our health equity journey. Their leadership, lived experience, storytelling, voice, wise knowledge, and teachings have driven our hospital and health service to achieve a health equity strategy that is reflective of the community’s voices, playing a very important role in our co-design journey.

Metro North Health is hosting a special luncheon today for our Elders to give thanks for their continued support and valued contribution to our hospital and health services.

A key priority to achieving health equity is ensuring the continued commitment and dedication to co-design with our valuable Elders and community. We can all continue to learn and improve from Elders and share in their wisdom.

This week there are many NAIDOC events and celebrations happening around Brisbane and we encourage staff to attend celebrations, whether in your local facility or community. This is the perfect time to celebrate a rich and diverse culture in unity, continue to engage and build relationships with the Aboriginal and Torrs Strait Islander peoples and celebrate and thank our Elders.

Key Metro North Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services will be attending the following four local community events this year as a stallholder to provide opportunistic screening, health promotion, engagement, and co-design activities to the local community.

Saturday 1 July – Buranga Widjung Justice Group – Community flag raising ceremony
Caboolture Snakes Rugby League Club, Centenary Lakes Park, Stringfellow Road, Caboolture – 10.00am to 2.00pm

Tuesday 4 July – Northside NAIDOC Community Day
Koobara Kindegarten, 421 Beams Road, Zillmere – 10.00am to 3.00pm

Friday 7 July – Musgrave Park NAIDOC Family Fun Day
Musgrave Park, 91 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane – 9.00am to 5.00pm

Saturday 22 July – Mindle Bygul NAIDOC Community Event
APEX Park, 47 Captain Cook Parade, Deception Bay – 9.00am to 3.00pm

It’s great to see so many activities and events happening across the facilities to celebrate NAIDOC and supporting our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers and staff. If you would like to join in and participate in your local Metro North Health event you can find details of activities below:

• 3-7 July range of staff activities through the week across RBWH Mental Health G,H and I Wards
• Tuesday 4 July 2023, 10.00am – 10.30am, STARS Level 7 tearoom, cake celebration (staff event)
• Wednesday 5 July, 11:00am – 1:30pm, Caboolture Hospital chapel for flag raising and Coming of the Light ceremony, then move to the Main Entrance for a BBQ Lunch
• Thursday 6 July 2023, 9.00am – 11.00am, Cultural activities, Elders stories and food trucks, Restricted Car Park – West Block, Redcliffe Hospital
• Friday 7 July, 1:00pm, Woodford Correctional Centre afternoon tea (Woodford Correction staff only)
• Friday 7 July, 10am, Morning tea at Kilcoy Hospital (staff event)

Regards,

Jackie and Sherry.