Improving and Integrating Urban Indigenous Health Services

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POWA information days – July 2025

Get paid while studying the Nationally Accredited BSB10120 Certificate I in Workplace Skills with Axiom College (RTO40489). This opportunity is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 16+ and not attending school.

This deadly program is all about supporting Mob in their career journey, providing an opportunity to learn and gain skills for the workplace.

  • Full-time traineeship (paid employment)
  • 20 weeks, 5 days per week
  • Work towards a nationally recognised qualification
  • All training provided
  • Connect with your community, work with Mob.

We are proud to offer safe space for Mob to try different career pathways in an empowering environment.

Find out more about POWA. 

Register for our workshops below to find out more. 

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News

National Diabetes Week

Did you know that diabetes in Australia is increasing? All types of diabetes are increasing.

  • Type 1 diabetes currently accounts for 9% of all diabetes in Australia
  • Type 2 diabetes currently accounts for 86.8% of all diabetes
  • Gestational diabetes 3.4%
  • Other diabetes is 0.8%

Source: https://map.ndss.com.au/ – accessed 14 September 2022.

Type 2 diabetes is increasing at the fastest rate. There are many people with silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes which may be damaging their bodies. An estimated two million Australians are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes and are already showing early signs of the condition.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the major consequences of colonisation and the modern lifestyle. The combination of easy availability of high energy (kilojoule) foods at cheap prices, combined with more sedentary work and less physical activity has led to an increase in type 2 diabetes.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

In type 1 diabetes, symptoms are often sudden and can be life-threatening so it is usually diagnosed within hours or days.

In type 2 diabetes, many people have no symptoms at all, while other signs can go unnoticed and might be seen as part of ‘getting older’. By the time symptoms are noticed, complications of diabetes may already be present.

Common symptoms include:

  • being more thirsty than usual
  • passing more urine
  • feeling tired and lethargic
  • always feeling hungry
  • having cuts that heal slowly
  • itching, skin infections
  • urinary tract or fungal infections
  • blurred vision
  • unexplained weight loss (type 1 or type 2 diabetes)
  • gradually putting on weight (type 2 diabetes)
  • mood swings
  • headaches
  • feeling dizzy
  • leg cramps.
How can I get tested for diabetes?

You get tested with a blood test ordered by your GP or nurse practitioner.

If you’re pregnant, gestational diabetes testing is part of your antenatal care. It is usually done in the second trimester between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant.

Diabetes is serious

Diabetes can be managed well, but there are potential complications for untreated diabetes.

Early diagnosis and optimal self-management and treatment have been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications.

We know diabetes:

  • is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults
  • is a leading cause of kidney failure and dialysis
  • increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke by up to four times
  • is a major cause of limb amputations
  • affects mental health as well as physical health. Depression, anxiety and distress occur in more than 30% of all people with diabetes.
How can I manage my diabetes?

Your healthcare team can prescribe a treatment suited to your condition. This may be a combination of healthy diet, regular physical activity and medication.

What are Diabetes Educators, and how can they help?

Did you know your local IUIH clinic has diabetes educators? A diabetes educator is a healthcare professional who specialises in supporting people living with diabetes. They will provide you with the advice and education you need to manage your diabetes with confidence.

A diabetes educator will advise you and support you in making lifestyle changes. They will also inform you about other health problems you may be at risk of because of your diabetes and let you know how you can prevent these problems.

Additionally, your diabetes educator will help you access subsidised products and services you may need to manage your diabetes through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). Above all, your diabetes educator will help you  reach your health goals.

Contact your local clinic to find out more.

Extra resources:

https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/atsi/resources/

https://www.ndss.com.au/

https://www.adea.com.au/about-cdes

Note: This information is of a general nature only and should not be substituted for medical advice or used to alter medical therapy. It does not replace consultations with qualified healthcare professionals to meet your individual medical needs.

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Events News

NAIDOC 2025 – Next generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy

50 years of NAIDOC week! NAIDOC is a special week for our Mob and Community. This year, NAIDOC is celebrated from 6-13 July. NAIDOC Week provides an opportunity to promote cultural awareness, enhance diversity and inclusion, and foster reconciliation. This time of year provides an opportunity for all Australians to learn and celebrate our culture. NAIDOC also reflects the struggle and hardship of our people who strived for a better future. It sets aside a time for us to reflect on the trailblazers that led the way for our Community and who continue to work towards a better future for the next generation.

This year’s theme is focussed on the Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. The theme highlights the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and our enduring connection to the land, and sea. In line with 50 years of NAIDOC, the theme for 2025 honours this milestone by elevating the voices of our people. This week, and every week we celebrate and are empowered by the achievements of the past and the bright future ahead.

IUIH’s work is all about working across generations, including nurturing the next generation to flourish and thrive, and to be the Elders of tomorrow. We do this by providing high quality, culturally safe health services and leaning into our vision for healthy and strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities.

IUIH is supporting events across the network for Community. Check them out:

Kalwun Gold Coast Community Day

Date: Wednesday, 9 July 2025
Time: 10:00am-1:00pm
Location: Gold Coast Sports Precinct, 296 Nerang Broadbeach Road, Carrara

Find out more.

Musgrave Park Family Fun Day

Date: Friday 11 July
Time: 9.00am-5.00pm
Location: Musgrave Park, South Brisbane

Find out more.

Moreton ATSICHS NAIDOC Family Fun Day

Date: Saturday 12 July
Time: 10:00am-2:00pm
Location: The Mill Waterpark, 12 Moreton Parade, Petrie

Find out more.

Pamela Mam Health Centre BBQ Brunch

Date: Thursday 17 July
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location: Pamela Mam Health Centre | 13 Church Street, Goodna

Find out more.

We’d love to see you there!

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News Research

In our own time and space

In our own time and space: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s thoughts on easier access to sexual health screening

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women playing ball at the Deadly Choices Netball Carnival in April 2025 were invited to yarn up about their experiences with sexual health screening and share what would make the process easier.

Sexual health screening has been an important way to protect each other, looking after our health and the health of our families. Key findings from our yarns were that:

  • Many community members were unaware that STI tests are not included in standard blood/urine tests during 715 health checks.
  • Around 70% of the women hadn’t had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) screen at their last 715.
  • All respondents agreed that STI screenings should be included as a standard part of health checks to ensure comprehensive care.

Unpacking traditional STI screening processes led to yarns that focused on exploring alternative screening options, such as mail-in STI tests and telehealth appointments. Women were clear that improving access to STI screening services is needed and provided preferences and suggestions:

  • Confidential Online Form: 63% of respondents wanted the ability to fill out a confidential online form and receive a referral to a place of their choice, such as a pathology provider.
  • Telehealth or Phone Appointments: This option was also popular, with many respondents appreciating the convenience and privacy of telehealth or phone appointments with their local clinic.
  • Other options: 6% of respondents wanted to see:
    • Client STI Questionnaire as part of a Health Check and
    • Referral via Mob Link to receive a referral form for testing at a place of their choice.

Overall, several respondents expressed that having multiple options available would be beneficial, with a preference for telehealth, phone, and online methods. They also valued the opportunity to have a conversation if needed. The feedback indicates a strong preference for flexible, confidential, and accessible screening options, with a significant emphasis on telehealth and online services.

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Yarnin’ Disability: April 2025

The NDIS Education Team is officially up and running — and coming to a clinic near you!

Our team will be available during dedicated drop-in consultation days to answer any NDIS-related questions and support you every step of the way — stress free.

Check out the list of education topics we will be covering over the next three months. We would love to see you there!

May

  • Drop-in consultation days across MATSICHS, Kalwun and YBB clinics.

June

  • “Supporting children with additional needs”
  • Drop-in consultation days across MATSICHS, Kalwun and YBB clinics

July

  • “No Shame in Disability”
  • “Self-advocacy in the NDIS”
  • Drop-in consultation days

You can find out more information about these events on Yarn It Up.

The IUIH Disability Services team is a registered NDIS provider, offering a wide range of supports across several clinics and in the community.

We provide speech and occupational therapy services, along with other allied health supports including:

  • dietetics
  • podiatry
  • exercise physiology
  • physiotherapy
  • social work.

Have a yarn with our team to find out how we can support you through these services. You can also self-refer by visiting the Yarn It Up page and completing the expression of interest below.

Below is a table of when our speech pathology and occupational therapy services will be available. 

Our IUIH Disability Services team were delighted to meet with community members at Brisbane Disability Connect Expo on the 21 and 22 March 2025.

It was a fantastic two days of connecting with other deadly service providers, showcasing the work we do, and sharing our passion for supporting Mob through the NDIS. We also brought along some fun and educational games that were a big hit with the crowd!

Check out some great moments from the Expo in the photos below.

Our deadly Disability Access Team have supported Mob across South East Queensland since 2018. We support our community from the point of receiving a referral, to obtaining an NDIS-approved plan and facilitating linkage to service provision. Our team work collaboratively with your healthcare providers to gather appropriate evidence of disability to support an application to the NDIS. 

Due to recent staffing changes, we would like to re-introduce you to our Disability Access Team.

Jodie Austin is our Project Lead –  Aged Care and Disability Reforms. I am a proud Dunghatti woman dedicated to supporting my community. I have been with IUIH for the past 7 and a half years. Prior to this, I lived in New South Wales, where I worked with an organisation selected to be part of the pilot trial site in Newcastle for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in 2014. In this role, I had the privilege of rolling out NDIS plans from a service provision perspective. My experience also includes working with state model disability funding across various programs before the introduction of the NDIS.​ As an accredited Case Manager trained in Disability and Aged Care, I bring both personal and professional insights into the challenges and opportunities within the disability sector. As a single mother of three teenage boys and having grown up with a sibling living with a disability, I have a deep understanding of the importance of comprehensive support systems. At IUIH, I have worked within multiple facets of the NDIS, including access and service delivery. I initially led the team within IUIH’s Disability Service Delivery as the Team Leader of Support Coordination. The successes of the IUIH Disability Access Team have highlighted the growth and impact of our disability services for our community.

Nigel Jones – Disability Access Officer. I have recently returned to IUIH, bringing with me years of lived experience and over five years of dedicated work within the NDIS space. Throughout my career, I have been committed to supporting individuals in achieving their goals and improving their overall quality of life.Most recently, I worked as a Psychosocial Recovery Coach, where I had the privilege of walking alongside people on their mental health journeys providing guidance, encouragement, and practical support as they worked towards recovery and greater independence. Before that, I held the role of Support Coordinator, where I developed a deep understanding of the NDIS and the importance of building strong, person-centred plans tailored to each individual’s needs.

My passion lies in empowering people to make informed choices, access the right services, and feel confident in their ability to lead meaningful, self-directed lives. I am excited to be back at IUIH, where I can continue this work in a culturally safe and supportive environment.

Mikayla Bourke – Disability Access Officer. I grew up in the small town of Goondiwindi (Bigambul Country) on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. Seven years ago, I moved to Brisbane, where I’ve had the opportunity to work in a variety of industries, including hospitality, insurance, and auditing. During my time working for a certifying body, I gained valuable experience in quality auditing, focusing on standards such as the NDIS, HSQF, ISO, and other regulatory frameworks. This experience deepened my understanding of compliance and continuous improvement processes. While these roles helped me develop a diverse skill set, I soon realised that my true passion lies in making a positive impact within the community. To further my commitment, I am currently studying a Cert IV in Child, Youth, and Family Intervention to deepen my knowledge and expand my expertise in this field. Alongside my professional journey, I am a dedicated advocate for organ donation and actively volunteer at events for DonateLife, where I work to raise awareness and encourage others to register as donors. When I’m not working or studying, I love spending time outdoors, whether it’s playing tennis, snorkelling, or camping. I’m deeply passionate about continuing to grow both personally and professionally, and I’m excited about the opportunities to contribute meaningfully to my community through IUIH.

Miria Kiddie – Disability Access Officer. I am a proud Maori woman from New Zealand. I enjoy going to the gym and I have a career focus to be a qualified personal trainer with a vision of helping elders and youth with movement and mobility. I am passionate about directing young people into healthier habits, including fitness. My career background has been in working with Indigenous youth for 10 years in a range of different roles, most recently working in the youth justice system for the last five years. I am new to IUIH and new to the NDIS space.

If you would like to get started with the NDIS, or know someone who would, contact: 

  • Phone 1800 317 378
  • If you already access other health services through our clinics, ask your healthcare provider to refer to us. 
  • Email us directly at Disability.Access@iuih.org.au

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Yarnin’ Disability: February 2025

We are excited to announce that IUIH Disability Services has expanded our allied health services across the region, ensuring that more participants can access the quality care and support they need, closer to home.

This expansion allows us to provide greater flexibility, more availability, and a wider range of services, including exercise physiology (EP), occupational therapy, speech pathology, social work and much more! We offer in-clinic and travel appointments which means we can come to your home, community and daycare/school.

Here are the updated service delivery days for each location:

Table of the new allied health availability.

You can refer into our service by completing an expression of interest on our Yarn It Up page.

Meet our deadly NDIS Education Team: Temika, Stuart, Medea and Jade. The team aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disabilities by increasing their knowledge and skills to exercise their rights within the NDIS framework and to educate the IUIH network in providing holistic health care services to Mob. The team will be out and about in the Moreton ATSICHS region within the next three months providing this education to Mob.

We will put up posters in the clinics with all the details, Moreton ATSICHS website updates, as well as social media posts and emails to our participants. Be sure to follow Moreton ATSICHS on Facebook and Instagram and check your emails. Watch this space!

We will also be coming to other regions in South East Queensland in the coming months.

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Yarnin’ Disability: Christmas 2024 edition

We celebrate this deadly day on 3 December each year to recognise the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities.

This includes our deadly Mob!

This year’s theme is Accessible Communication: connect, include and empower.

One of the ways we are doing that is by publishing this newsletter, which we started this year.

Can you believe that 270+ of our Old People took part in Seniors Games? Our Access team had an amazing time connecting with Community, showcasing how our Access team can help you get an NDIS plan in the fun setting of music, dancing, live radio coverage by Triple A and of course the deadly 10-pin bowling, hole in the wall, floor quoits and numbers board!

Congratulations to the Northside Koalas who the IUIH Shield!

IUIH has been awarded a grant from the NDIS Commission to help support, educate and upskill Mob and our staff about knowledge of the NDIS. The project is due to kick off in early 2025 with exciting workshops, presentations, consultations and a suite of deadly resources. Dates, times and locations of these events will be made available in the new year.

Being a client of ours, you would know how complex the NDIS is – we will be making it easier for Mob to gain access to and navigate the system and make use of all the deadly services that are available in your plan.

Disability Services team

Christmas holidays are fast approaching and the Disability Services team will still operate over this period. The team will be offline on public holidays [25th & 26th December & 1st January]. If you are in need of any support on the public holidays or out of hours, contact Mob Link on 1800 254 354 from 7am – 8pm.

During normal hours, you can also call the Disability teams on 1800 317 378 between 8.30am – 4pm.

Disability Access team

Until Monday 23 December
Normal hours

Tuesday 24 December – (Christmas Eve)
Normal hours

Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day)
Closed

Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day)
Closed

Friday 27 December
Normal hours

Monday 30 to Tuesday 31 December
Normal hours

Wednesday 1 January (New Year’s Day)
Closed

Thursday 2 January
Resume normal hours

In the new year, the Disability Services Allied Health team opens their capacity to support more Mob across South East Queensland. We will provide additional clinic and travel appointments on the North and South side of Brisbane.

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News

Whooping cough is on the rise

Queensland is currently experiencing a large spike in whooping cough cases. Pregnant women and bubs are most at risk.

IUIH’s Public Health Manager Rochelle Robinson said whooping cough (or pertussis) is particularly serious for bubs under six months old.

“Whooping cough is a highly contagious and very serious illness in bubs and can lead to hospitalisations and even deaths.

“The good news is that it can be prevented. That’s why it’s really important for pregnant women to get the vaccine – this action will reduce the risk of a bub being hospitalised with whooping cough by around 90 per cent,” Ms Robinson said.

Immunisation between weeks 20 and 32 of every pregnancy offers crucial protection in the critical early months of life before babies can be vaccinated themselves, and is provided free under the national immunisation program.

The whooping cough vaccine is also available for free for bubs aged 2, 4, 6, and 18 months, and 4 years old, and for kids aged 11-13 years as part of the free Queensland School Immunisation Program.

Anyone under 20 who missed a childhood whooping cough vaccine can also access one for free.

People over 18 who haven’t had the vaccine in the last 10 years should get a booster. This will protect others, including vulnerable bubs and pregnant mums from getting whooping cough.

Whooping cough is a cyclical disease which peaks every three to five years. During the last peak in 2019, there were 1,126 cases of whooping cough reported in Queensland between 1 January and 8 September. To compare, in 2024, there have been 8,440 cases in the same period in Queensland.

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Yarnin’ Disability: August 2024 edition

We had a great time meeting up with clients at NAIDOC events held across the Moreton Bay and West Moreton Regions. It was an incredible week of celebration. Our community came together to honour and celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The team hosted a disability information stall at each event and had engaging craft activities for all, including painting and stencils. 

It was heartwarming to see so many new faces and reconnect with familiar ones. The spirit of NAIDOC Week and the sense of community and unity was seen as we shared stories, laughter, and moments of reflection, strengthening the bonds within our community.

It’s a great reminder of the importance of staying connected and continuing the celebration of our shared history and culture throughout the year. Together, we can keep the fire burning – Blak, Loud and Proud.

Kindy kids and families celebrated NAIDOC Week at the Deadly Kindies Ball on Thursday, 25 July. We had a wonderful time connecting with the community and celebrating our jarjum at this fantastic event. It was a great opportunity to engage with families, share information about our services, and join in the festivities that honoured the achievements and growth of our youngest community members. We loved seeing everyone there and celebrating together! We look forward to next year’s event. Shout-out to our amazing Deadly Kindies team – thank you for including us in this deadly event!

We are thrilled to announce that our Disability Services Support Coordination team is expanding to Kalwun on the Gold Coast! This means we can provide essential support to our Gold Coast community. Our commitment to walking alongside Mob on their journey remains strong, and we look forward to fostering strong connections and delivering personalised, culturally-informed services in this vibrant new location. Stay tuned for more updates as we settle into Kalwun and begin this exciting journey together.

To refer into these services, please complete the expression of interest form.

We are delighted to welcome four new members to our team!

Julie Nicholson joins us as an NDIS Child and Family Therapy Assistant, bringing her passion for early childhood development and family support.

Sue Ellison steps in as our new Support Coordinator, ready to assist our clients to navigate their NDIS plans with her extensive experience.

Emily Veamatahau takes on the role of Team Leader – Support Coordination, where her leadership and expertise will guide our team to keep improving our services and support for clients. 

Finally, we are thrilled to have Max Jessop join us as a NDIS Occupational Therapist, providing valuable therapeutic services to our clients. Welcome, Julie, Sue, Emily, and Max! We are excited to have you on board and look forward to the incredible contributions you will make to our community.

The new NDIS child and family therapy assistant program in the Moreton Bay region has started. Under the guidance and support of our allied health professionals, Julie is eager to support jarjum and their families in achieving their goals through personalised, early intervention services, by focusing on each jarjum’s unique needs and strengths. We aim to foster their development and wellbeing, ensuring they have the best start in life. We look forward to working closely with families in the Moreton Bay community and making a positive impact together.

If you care for a jarjum under the age of nine with a disability, and you’re in the Moreton Bay area, please complete our expression of interest form.

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News

IUIH announces new RTO: EMPOWA Training

The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) is proud to announce that on 14 June, we received registration for our new Registered Training Organisation (RTO), EMPOWA Training (RTO code 46204). It is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled RTO.

IUIH CEO Adrian Carson said, “We established EMPOWA Training in response to a need for training and learning opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who want a pathway into the health and community workforce that is led by Community and based on Our Ways.”

Through accredited training and nationally recognised qualifications, EMPOWA Training will train Mob and grow the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce. These graduates will be essential to expand the range and capacity of culturally safe health and community care services needed to support the growing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in southeast Queensland.

EMPOWA Training broadens IUIH’s scope to provide training and education pathways for Community. It will provide culturally safe, wraparound support for learners and increase the skilled, qualified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce. This directly impacts the social determinants of health while building our workforce and supporting better health outcomes for Community.

Initially, EMPOWA Training will offer the HLT30121 Certificate III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care to a small cohort of network staff. Over time, we will offer eight courses in total across health, work-readiness, business and community services.

“We look forward to welcoming EMPOWA Training’s first learners in the coming months,” Mr Carson said.