2018 Aboriginal Cancer Network Forum

The Aboriginal Cancer Network Forum aims to bring together health professionals working to support Aboriginal people affected by cancer.

It is a platform to display all the great work happening across NSW, share information and identify priorities towards reducing the burden of cancer.

Jump to:

• Highlights from the Forum
• Forum Program
• Workshops

Working together: highlights from the 2018 Forum

More than 80 people attended this year’s Forum, bringing together health professionals working to support Aboriginal people affected by cancer, as well as members of the NSW Aboriginal community.

It showcased the great work happening across NSW, sharing information and identifying priorities towards reducing the burden of cancer within Aboriginal communities.

The Forum focused on the following themes:

• Addressing barriers to access cancer services
• Building capacity in cancer services
• Cultural safety
• Caring for patients and carers

Keynote speaker Dr Lisa Whop from Menzies School of Health Research, highlighted the importance of more effectively engaging the Aboriginal community with cancer screening programs.

• Her presentation is now available to watch on the Cancer Institute NSW Facebook page

Hunter New England’s Director of Cancer Services A/Prof Anthony Proietto promoted the district’s cancer services partnership approach.

The Forum also enabled the many unsung heroes that work tirelessly across LHDs to share information and identify priorities towards reducing the burden of cancer.

Forum Program
 

Tuesday 20 March
8.30am	Registration (Tea and coffee on arrival)
9.00am	Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country
9.30am	Cancer Institute NSW Welcome
9.45am	Creating a positive team culture Facilitated by Dean Widders
10.15 – 10.45am	Morning tea
10.45am	Improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Dr Lisa Whop, Menzies School of Health Research
11.15am	Story Telling Facilitated by Dean Widders
11:45am	Initiatives to improve the cancer system for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Facilitated by Dean Widders
12.45 – 1.15am	Lunch
1.15pm	Building capacity in our services Associate Professor Anthony Proietto, Rose Wadwell and Susan Mulyk, Hunter New England LHD
1.45pm	Story Telling Facilitated by Dean Widders
2.00pm	Café Round Table Facilitated by Dean Widders
3.40 – 4.00pm	Afternoon Tea
4.00pm	National Bowel Screening Pilot Jenny Brands, Menzies School of Health Research
4.15pm	Optimal Care Pathway Barbara Daveson, Cancer Australia
4.30pm	Bush Medicine Clarence Slockee
4.45pm	Wrap up – Day 1
5.00 – 6.00pm	Networking function Drinks and canapes provided
Wednesday 21 March
8.30am	Registration (Tea and coffee on arrival)
9.00am	Acknowledgement of Country
9.05am	Workshop – It’s not shame, it’s a part of life: Encouraging your patients to do a bowel screening test Facilitated by Jenny Brands and Boden Tighe, Menzies School of Health Research
11.15 – 11.30pm	Morning tea
11:30am - 12.45am	Men’s Business Indigenous War Cry Workshop Facilitated by Dean Widders	Women’s Business Waminda Model of Care Facilitated by Kristine Falzon
12.30pm	Wrap up – Day 2
12.45pm	Close of Forum Lunch provided

Workshops

It’s not shame, it’s a part of life: Encouraging your patients to do a bowel screening test 

Workshop Aim:

This workshop covers what you need to know to encourage and support your patients aged between 50 and 74 to do a bowel screening test.

The workshop includes information and practical sessions about bowel cancer and bowel screening; the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program; who should screen; and effective techniques for talking about screening with your patients. 

Indigenous War Cry Workshop

Workshop Aim:

To introduce participants to various mediums of cultural expression used by Aboriginal people including dance, music, art and symbolism.

Additionally, the workshop provides an underlying message of working as a team to achieve a common goal. 

Workshop Overview:

The Indigenous War Cry, recently led by NRL Superstar Greg Inglis during the NRL All Stars match, is a cultural expression of pride, history, and resilience for Indigenous Australians.

This workshop will enable participants to explore the symbolism used within the dance, interpret the Dreaming stories associated with the war cry and actively participate in contemporary form of Indigenous artistic expression.

Key to the success of the War Cry are underlying principles of effective communication, working coherently as a team, and striving toward a common goal. Participants can take these key principles back into their workplace and use them as a foundation for delivering an effective service to Aboriginal people.