CPS helps out at Aboriginal Men’s Health Summit

CPS represented at the Aboriginal Male Health Summit
In July 2008, nearly 400 Aboriginal men gathered at Inteyerrkwe, Ross River in the Northern Territory to discuss their health and that of their families and communities. They participated in eight workshops that were about empowering Aboriginal males to take positive individual and community action to change the situation they currently face.
Two CPS staff, Michael Keane and Andrew Rush, joined a group of 30 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal specialist facilitators who supported the participants in workshops. The topics were: Children are our future; Domestic violence; Pornography; Male Health; Grog and other substance abuses/petrol sniffing; Environmental Health; Education and employment and Aboriginal Culture.

The 8 workshop topics were drawn from issues raised during discussions with many hundreds of Aboriginal males attending a regular Monday morning drop in session at the Congress Male Health Clinic in Alice Springs. They echo the ‘Little Children are Sacred’ report’s themes:

“Put simply the cumulative effects of poor health, alcohol, drug abuse, gambling, pornography, unemployment, poor education and housing and general disempowerment lead inexorably to family and other violence and then on to sexual abuse of men and women and finally, of children”.

All participants completed the 8 specialist workshops, during which they were asked firstly to identify the issues, then to propose and develop solutions. Outcomes from all these workshops will be consolidated and presented as a report to the Federal Government and the Northern Territory Government.

Michael and Andrew were involved in the Children Are Our Future workshop. The big theme of this workshop was inclusiveness – bringing families back together, working with the whole family, working with the whole community. Men stated they want to be in families, are seeking acknowledgement and inclusion, and are prepared to put a lot of effort into that. Many men feel that they have done well as fathers and family members – not perfectly, but well – and whilst acknowledging the dangerous, fearful, and distressing actions of some men, most men feel grossly misrepresented by ALL men being labelled with violence and abuse. Men do want to take a role in caring for children and families but don’t always know how, and recognise that they need help with this that is positive and inclusive. Community empowerment, men’s centres and safe houses, for families as well as men, located within and run by communities were common themes.

Andrew said that “It was an honour and privilege to have been part of this powerful and positive event. It left me powerfully aware of the need for self determination for Aboriginal people, of the courage of the men who shared their stories of struggle, anger and pride. I returned home thinking and feeling deeply about my role as a father, uncle, brother and son.”

For more information see the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress website.
www.caac.org.au/malehealthinfo