Health and wellbeing program
Oxfam understands that the people best placed to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are community members themselves. That’s because no one understands their circumstances better than they do. And that’s why we continue to call on governments to invest in Indigenous-led solutions.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples can take control, make their own decisions and live strong, proud and healthy lives. And a national network of more than 150 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations around Australia is enabling them to do just that.
These organisations are initiated and operated by local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members to provide comprehensive and culturally appropriate healthcare. That’s why Oxfam continues to advocate for greater investment in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health sector.
Closing the Gap
We’ve played a lead role in transforming the Close the Gap campaign for Indigenous Health Equality from a popular campaign to a force that is shaping government policy by working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to hold our government to account.
Learn more about the Close the Gap campaign.
National Aboriginal Community Control Health Organisation (NACCHO) Ochre Day
Oxfam supports the NACCHO Ochre Day and Aboriginal Men’s Health Conference. Ochre Day helps bring together the ACCHSs’ male workforce in one large Aboriginal Men’s Group, providing an opportunity for men to share workforce experiences and activities and to reinforce their value to each other, the ACCHSs sector, their families and communities.
Menzies School of Health Research
With the Menzies School of Research, we’re working on the ‘Stories of Survival’ research project. ‘Stories of Survival’ identifies key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men who are cancer survivors to attend a Cancer Yarning workshop. The workshop generates discussion about their experiences, and invites the men to share their stories of survival through recorded interviews which are distributed over 110 national, regional, local and remote radio stations across Australia.
Learn more about the Menzies School of Health Research
Mallee District Aboriginal Services
Oxfam is supporting the Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) to deliver a program focused on men’s health and wellbeing initiatives such as connecting participants with their community and attending cross-cultural camps for Elders and young men. MDAS empowers and provides opportunities to Aboriginal men who are long-term unemployed or former offenders by training participants with new skills to help gain access to apprenticeships and employment.
Learn more about Mallee District Aboriginal Services
