Distinguished Speaker Seminar Series

Join us on Wednesday,  11 March at 5.30pm-6.30pm, for the Research School of Population Health’s Distinguished Speaker Seminar on Understanding the health and living conditions of the Sámi people of Sweden.

The Sámi are a unique Indigenous people who have lived in the Arctic region for thousands of years. Surprisingly, Sweden lacks the data necessary to understand the state of health and social well-being of its only Indigenous population. Associate Professor Per Axelsson aims to establish a comprehensive understanding of the present health and living conditions for the entire adult population in Jokkmokk municipality, a traditional Sámi area.

Associate Professor Per Axelsson’s insights into Sámi culture will be of interest to anyone engaged with the challenges facing Indigenous people around the world, with a focus on collecting data to measure and improve healthcare. Refreshments will be served after the talk.

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Ambassador update

We welcome Nathan Schrieber from Yarrabah, Qld to our ambassador program. Mayi Kuwayu ambassadors are community leaders who have been selected to promote the Study and encourage people to participate in it.

Nathan belongs to the Gurugulu Clan of the Gunggandji people and is a language teacher at Yarrabah State School. Nathan’s words for his connection to culture can be translated as:

“My culture is sacred to me, from a long time ago to the present day and forever into the future”.

Please visit our website mkstudy.com.au for more beautiful photos, or contact us if you would like ambassador posters for your workplace.

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Keeping a Strait face and other community news

Community researcher Nadine Hunt visited the ANU office in February, swapping humid Cairns for what was an unseasonably muggy week in Canberra.

“It is always a great opportunity to visit and spend a week in the Mayi Kuwayu office,” Nadine said. “Being able to connect with the team and use their knowledge in planning the year ahead is invaluable.”

Nadine will be heading to Thursday Island in coming weeks to train new MK recruit Elsie Seriat. As well as being an MK ambassador, Elsie will now work on a casual basis as a community researcher in the Torres Strait, where she is a well-known advocate for health, fitness and maintaining a strong connection to island culture.

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Carbal takes control

Earlier this month, Ray Lovett and Roxy Jones travelled to Toowoomba in Queensland to deliver a community data analysis course with one of our partner sites, Carbal Medical Services. The two-day workshop is an introduction to data analysis basics using Excel, and seeks to empower communities to use their own local data to improve health and wellbeing of their community members. By being able to use their own data, communities can advocate for funding and services. The workshop was really successful, and as always we received some really valuable feedback from those who took part!

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences of autism

The first report into autism in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities was launched by Linda Burney MP last week, with MK’s Mikala Sedgwick speaking as both the report’s co-author, and a mum. The report provides a vital starting point for understanding the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander autistic children and those who care for them. Mikala says the launch was a great success and hopes it will be a stepping stone towards further research.

You can listen to her interview here.

Below: Mikala Sedgwick at the launch of the We Look After Our Own Mob report in Sydney.

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Steps in the right direction

On February 13, keen runners and walkers from the Mayi Kuwayu team joined the Indigenous Marathon Foundation’s Close the Gap fun run for a 5km loop of Lake Burley Griffin. The run is an annual event held to coincide with the tabling of the Closing the Gap Report in Parliament, bringing together sports people, Deadly Runners, politicians and the general running public. It was great to see so many people from the ANU enjoying an early morning run and showing their support for a wonderful charity initiative.

Below: IMF supporter Dr Katie Thurber gets ready for a cruise around the lake.

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Hats off to a fabulous response

Meanwhile, back in the office we are continuing to respond to all those who have completed a survey, received our second mail-out pack and want to claim their thank-you merchandise. We are officially out of water bottles and ask people to opt for a t-shirt, tote bag or cap instead, as modelled here by survey participant Hope Williamson. We are getting lots of lovely correspondence and positive feedback from a huge community of interested and engaged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who very clearly want to be part of making #ourculturescount. Please keep those surveys coming!

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And last but not least…

Strengths-based research takes the stage

The Department of General Practice at Monash University introduced their Year 4 medical students to the Mayi Kuwayu Study during a lecture on Chronic Disease and Social Determinants of Health. GP lecturers Dr Liz Sturgiss and Dr Alyssa Vass said the Study was a great way to connect students to an understanding of culture, positivity and strengths-based research. Dr Sturgiss reports that the students were very receptive to hearing more about our work, and have been encouraged to follow the Study’s progress.

Medical students at Monash University get the MK update.