CELEBRATION, CONGRATULATIONS AND SOBER RESOLVE TO CLOSE THE GAP

ANTaR Qld Close the Gap in Indigenous Health Award 26th October 2009

Even the thunder clapped as John Close, Director of the Goori House Men’s Recovery Centre accepted the 3rd Annual Close the Gap in Indigenous Health Award from Premier Anna Bligh on 26 October 2009 in the Premiers Hall at Parliament House.

This year's ANTaR Close the Gap Award recognised the success of Goori Men’s Recovery Centre programs in Cleveland and at their Referral Centre in the Valley in delivering better health outcomes by helping overcome addictions. Thanks to the many ANTaR volunteers who greeted and mingled with Local Elders, with the Leader of the State Opposition John-Paul Langbroek, other politicians, policy makers and members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations who joined the Premier for the Award Ceremony.

Inspiring speakers - important messages

Uncle Des Sandy welcomed us to Country in language. Reminiscing about the culturally significant place where Parliament House now stands, he said, 'But we're not here to talk about place. We're here to talk about people.' Uncle Des can even make unspoken words tell important stories. ANTaR president Kitty Carra acknowledged the generosity of Premier Bligh in hosting the Awards this year. Kitty reminded us that ANTaR had worked nationally and in Queensland to get high-level commitment to the Close the Gap goals. 'ANTaR was there when Premier Anna Bligh was the first State Premier to sign the Statement of Intent', said Kitty. She added that ANTaR was also there to celebrate Sorry Day, the Reconciliation Walk, the Apology - and that ANTaR will continue to lobby governments to improve the social determinants of health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Close the Gap guest speaker Dr Mark Wenitong is senior medical officer at Apunipima Cape York Health Council and was one of the founders of the Indigenous Doctors’ Association. He was a delegate to the 2020 Summit and is in the running for Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in this year's Deadly Awards. Dr Wenitong talked about the persistently appalling health status of Indigenous Australians and the failure by the mainstream primary health care system to meet people’s needs. He said there is strong evidence that community control gets results. This phenomenon has been widely recognised in research and policy, so we need to work out how to put this knowledge to best effect here in Queensland. He said we now have a commitment by the Federal Government to make the same primary health care available to Indigenous Australians that others receive, and to do it within 10 years, as well as a commitment to ‘close the gap’ in life expectancy by 2030. Dr Wenitong spoke of the strong link between Indigenous health status and high imprisonment rates and congratulated Goori House for their innovative counselling and treatment programs.

The Premier's commitment

Premier Anna Bligh expressed her Government's genuine commitment to Close the Gap goals and to improving the social determinants of health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders. Ms Bligh acknowledged that greater effort was needed. She had met recently with representatives of Murriwatch, ATSIWLAS and ANTaR Qld and was committed to lead the way in reducing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment. In presenting the Award to John Close, she praised the work of Goori House for making a significant difference in individual men's lives, to their families and the community.

The winners

John Close spoke resolutely about seeing a need and doing something about it. He said Goori Men's Recovery Centre strives to provide the best chance possible for all patients to get back on their feet and make a positive difference amongst their families and peers. The Centre has put together a program based on three stages considered essential for ongoing rehabilitation. The men move in 3 month blocks from a fully supervised residential treatment to a half-way house where they start to engage in ‘normal life’, then to a third stage of taking control of their lives while still being mentored and supported as necessary. Men come to the House from the prisons system, or are sent by families, medical centres and or other organisations. Non-indigenous people are also accepted. And everyone undergoes a program of education, counselling, and cultural awareness that involves former addicts and family members. John and the Goori Centre team are working successfully to improve lives and to break the cycle of abuse, addiction and jail. They say:

• Sober up the Man: the Wife Wins
• Sober up the Wife: the Child Wins
• Sober up the Child: the Family Wins
• When the Family Wins: the Community Wins

7 years to go

The Close the Gap awards are the brain child of former ANTaR Committee member, Barry Malezer. The awards will be given for 10 years until 2017. The ten awards emphasise the need for long-term commitments to solve deep-seated problems of unequal access to primary health care. Sheryl Lawton, CEO of last year's Close the Gap Award winner, Charleville and Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health (CWAATSICH), handed the 2009 award to John Close.

We all know that there is much to do in the next 7 years to 'close the gap'. We had a sense on this night that it just might be possible.