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Facing fear
Loss and grief counsellor and member of the Stolen Generations, Rosemary Wanganeen remembers 1987 well. She was in a women’s shelter, following family violence, and wondering how she had ended up there, yet again. “I knew that I couldn’t go into the future to find my way, but I realised I could go into the […]
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Busy health service caters for all
The Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service (AWAHS) is a non-profit organisation that was set up to cater for the health-care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families. They are passionate about delivering innovative programs for people of all ages. Albury and Wodonga are thriving border-cities on the banks of the […]
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Stay safe online
Self esteem is important, especially when you’re growing up. Some kids have plenty of self esteem, but others run low, which can affect all areas of their lives. It can be the difference between living a happy, healthy life or not. One of the things that can knock a young person’s self esteem out of […]
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Health check
John Corowa’s long career in Aboriginal health was recognised at the 18th Deadly Awards when he became the 2012 Aboriginal Health Worker of the Year. “Receiving the Deadly was a great achievement for me and a very humbling experience. I was proud and honoured to be recognised after 15 and a half years in Aboriginal […]
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Florence Onus leads the healing process
Chair of the Healing Foundation Aunty Florence Onus talks about the work her organisation are doing to reverse the harm done to the Stolen Generations.
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Feeling rundown? Don’t be sore
It’s the start of Spring and if you’re lucky you’ve escaped the long winter without a bout of the flu. But if you’re one of the millions who weren’t so lucky this flu season, you could be forgiven for feeling tired and rundown in the weeks following your illness. It’s when we’re in this rundown […]
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Mixed signals
Deadly Vibe caught up with National Mental Health Commissioner and Bardi woman Professor Pat Dudgeon in Alice Springs during national consultations on mental health, social and emotional wellbeing, and suicide prevention. The consultations in Alice are part of the National Mental Health Commission’s development of the first annual National Report Card on Mental Health and […]
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It’s ok to say ‘I’m not ok’
You wouldn’t think footy star Wendell Sailor would have to worry about bullying, but he admits he was bullied at school and that’s why he is keen to promote R U OK? at School. Wendell was at the recent launch of this new program that encourages students to check in with their mates and ask […]
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Help for indigenous carers
Did you know that the incidence of dementia is five times higher in Indigenous communities than the rest of the population? Thankfully, awareness about dementia is growing all the time, with new resources also being developed to assist people caring for those with the illness. One such resource is a new book developed by the […]
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The growing dangers of designer drugs
An Australian study has found the use of the drug ecstasy, both in Australia and internationally, is on the decline. While this may seem like good news, the drop in use is believed to be attributed to a perceived weakening in the purity of the drug, causing many users to instead turn to other synthetic […]
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Closing the gap in life expectancy
The life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians can be mainly attributed to chronic diseases, a new report has found. But while some inroads have been made into the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the report says there is still a long way to go. The health and welfare […]
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Play it safe
Don’t gamble your life away Is there a safe way to gamble? The answer is yes and it’s a message former NRL star and counsellor Ashley Gordon is taking to community to try and reduce the impacts of gambling on children, families and young people. “Gambling is a big problem in our communities and should […]
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Understanding Schizophrenia
What is schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. The word literally means ‘a split mind’, which may have led to the common misconception about the illness being related to split personality. The illness is found in all countries and racial backgrounds, and it’s estimated that around […]
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Preventing Dementia
A study in the Kimberleys WA has found Aboriginals living in remote communities are five times more likely to develop dementia when compared to non Indigenous Australians, but the good news is that several of the risk factors can be prevented. Conducted by the Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing, the study focused on […]
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Mind over matter
Got the blues? Get out of your head and back into your body with exercise. It’s not only food that can make you feel happier and healthier… so can exercise. Most people think that you only exercise to get a six pack and look good on the beach, but there’s an even more important reason […]
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Drugs and Mental Health
Even if you have been a long term drug user and never experienced mental health problems before, that is no guarantee you will continue to be safe in the future. “There’s a very large association between mental ill health and drugs,” says Barbara. “Prolonged drug use is not good for mental health especially if you […]
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