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Child Health Forum

Maari Ma Health, in partnership with the Child and Family Health Centre-Broken Hill invited staff from non government and government sectors of child education, welfare, justice and health to participate in a child health forum held on Thursday, 1 May 2008. The forum was a chance for all people in the region working with Aboriginal children and their families to gather information about the latest research is in this area and discuss the strategies that are being implemented at a national level.

A key speakers was Associate Professor Dr Garth Alperstein from the University of Notre Dame in Sydney. Dr Alperstein has extensive experience and expertise in program development and population health, especially in the paediatric context. Anther key participant at the forum was expert in social and health policy Mr Robert Griew. Mr Griew’s public service background spans both health and community service, he has been involved in governments increasing their participation in Aboriginal Health, rural and remote service delivery and implementing funding reform in health and community services.

The forum was an opportunity to;

• Review evidence-based research on strategies and programs to improve child health and social outcomes.
• Discuss the application of these evidence-based strategies to the far west environment.
• Bring together colleagues who are facing similar challenges to further improve the health and well-being of Aboriginal children and reduce the unacceptable gap in most outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children.
• Strengthen partnerships, as well as identify new opportunities for service providers of children and families to meet current social, demographical and cultural challenges.
• Improve collaborative efforts with all organisations, departments, agencies and the community to better address all the determinants of health.
• Discuss further collaboration, and begin to plan the way forward.

The process for moving forward will include establishment of a Multisectoral Management Group to finalise an overall Child Development and Well-being Strategy, drive the implementation of the overall strategy and support local efforts to implement specific strategies.