2009 AIDA Workshops
Members' Workshop
Healing the Healers Workshop
Friday 2 October 2009
With this year’s Symposium focus on Healing, an over-whelming number of ninety-two members registered for this workshop. It was fortunate to have two members of the National Healing Foundation Development Team, Mr Gregory Phillips (co-chair) and Professor Helen Milroy (member) facilitate this session.
Helen provided the historical context including the historical trauma suffered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples since colonization. Feelings of powerlessness, worthlessness, hostility, loss of identity, racism and discrimination and most of all, cultural and spiritual dislocation were some of the realities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The participants were taken on a journey of positive pathways to healing and recovery. Helen spoke of the Dance of Life which is “when we enable a person to restore all of the dimensions of their life, then we have achieved a great deal. When all of the dimensions are in balance, within the universe, we can break free of our shackles and truly dance through life; and to see an Australasia fit for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities”.
Gregory spoke of “Understanding trauma and stress in our communities, and understanding how to identify one’s own needs and keep oneself well at work”. The effects of trauma such as depression, anxiety, psychological disorders require a number of ways to restore life and spirit.
Helen presented information around self care in health services, such as personal, professional, Indigenous issues, burnout and staying sane. High levels of work stress can lead to physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. This adds to another layer of Indigenous realities for an Aboriginal doctor who may be encounter systemic racism, compassion fatigue and satisfaction, all at the same time.
Invited speaker, Indigenous Psychologist, Mr Darrel Henry, whose grand-mother’s country is inland from Wiluna in Western Australia, the Wunmulla people, embraced the healing theme with his experiences with families suffering pain and trauma. Darrell works closely with Indigenous families across Western Australia.
Participants were encouraged to share their individual stories to reduce stress levels.
In closing, Helen encouraged participants to develop strategies of defining strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; to create a plan around levels of support including the role of AIDA.
There was an overall positive support for regular workshops like this one at future AIDA Symposiums.
Graduate Workshop
Writing for Publication Workshop
Sunday 4 October 2009
The 2009 Graduate workshop focussed on the theme of Writing for Publication. The workshop was facilitated by Dr Ruth Armstrong and Dr Tanya Grassi, Deputy Editors at the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) and provided the opportunity to assist graduates to broaden their skill base in writing about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
The program covered the following aspects:
- Why Indigenous Doctors should write for publication?
- The process of ‘getting past the editor’ of an academic journal;
- Getting your message across;
- Writing an article.
Feedback from the graduates was all positive with many commenting on that the presentation 'demystified the process and increased confidence to submit papers'.
In May each year, the MJA publishes an annual issue specifically dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. This and other wider range of health, medical and social policy publications provide the opportunity for our doctors and medical students to write about and to influence Indigenous health discussions, debates and solutions in this country.
Student Workshop
Stress Management and Relaxation Workshop
Sunday 4 October 2009
Every year the Indigenous medical student workshop offers a supportive space for students to discuss issues they may face as a result of course workload, university processes, racism and discrimination and issues around identity and culture. The 2009 Student workshop continued the theme of Healing Our Way with a focus on stress management and relaxation.
The aim of this workshop was to support Indigenous medical students to focus on their own wellbeing and equip participants with skills to maintain their resiliency. The workshop included a men’s session and women’s session, facilitated by AIDA Vice-President, Dr David Brockman and immediate past Student Director, Ms Danielle Arabena.
The student workshop was well attended with around 35 AIDA student members. Student feedback from the workshop was overwhelmingly positive with the only suggestions for improvement being a resounding call for more time to be allocated for the workshop. In response to these suggestions AIDA will consider at holding this workshop earlier in 2010 Symposium program of events.
Sample of student feedback from the 2009 AIDA student workshop:
- [The workshop was] such an enlightening experience conducted in a way that was safe and therapeutic;
- [The thing I liked best about the workshop was] the chance to learn skills that can help as a healer and get in touch with spirituality;
- I have truly grown from this [workshop] – would like to have this next year in an extended form;
- [The workshop] allowed me to explore strategies of dealing with stress and providing a way to deal with personal issues.