10 September 2010
The outstanding achievements of NT health professionals working in the area of chronic disease were recognised at an awards ceremony last night in Darwin.
The Chronic Disease Network Recognition Awards celebrate the achievements and outstanding contributions of NT individuals, teams and organisations. The awards are a testament to the diversity, commitment and value of work being done in the field of chronic disease.
The annual awards were handed out at a ceremony at Parliament House, following the opening of the 14th Annual Chronic Diseases Network Conference.
Nominees from across the Territory were put forward by their peers and colleagues in recognition of the value placed on their work and contributions to the field.
This year's winners in three categories are:
Chronic Disease Program Delivery Award
The Asthma Foundation NT
For innovation in project implementation addressing chronic lung disease in the Northern Territory - "Better Outcomes for Lung Disease" (BOLD) project.
The BOLD project was a collaborative project between Asthma Foundation NT, Bodyfit NT and Wisemind Psychology Pty Ltd which was conducted over a 40 week period and incorporated physical activity, nutritional advice and encouragement of a peer group support.
This program assisted participants with their personal health and wellbeing, to overcome fear of physical fitness, changes in diet, changes in medication usage and improvement in lung function.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health & Leadership Award
Female:Bora Sarah Bukulatjpi
For excellence and leadership in engaging her team and community members to improve chronic disease management in the community.
Bora Sarah Bukulatjpi is an Aboriginal Health Worker and has been the Program Manager of the Chronic Disease team at Ngalkanbuy Health for the past 2 ½ years.
Bora has a steady ongoing commitment to chronic disease patients and actively participates in their care. Her bilingual fluency in English and Yolngu Matha and her natural insight and understanding of culture play an integral role in the success of the program.
Male: Terrence Guyula
For many years' commitment and outstanding achievements in reducing chronic disease in Aboriginal men in the community.
Terence is a senior Aboriginal Health Worker with a history of valuable contribution to improving Aboriginal Health within the East Arnhem Area. Terence promotes the need for men to access health services and emphasised that males need to manage their own health. He also collaborated on a health literacy CD aiming to improve health literacy to Health professionals and communication between client and practitioner.
More recently Terence has concentrated his efforts on the promotion and prevention of Rheumatic Heart Disease.
Individual outstanding Contribution to the Field of Chronic Disease
Because of the quality of candidates this year, it was decided to select joint winners:
Estrella Munoz
For leadership in chronic disease management and excellence in providing an evidence base to inform health practice.
Estrella Munoz is currently a Preventable Chronic Disease Educator in the Health Development Unit and has worked in the NT for about 30 years both in the Top End and Central Australia.
Her interest and focus is on continuous quality improvement and systems to support best practise related to Chronic Disease by supporting the utilisation of audit tools in order to generate reports which inform strategies for health improvements in remote communities. Estrella has primarily been involved in developing and facilitating a continuous quality improvement model of best practice using care plans and health checks within the Preventable Chronic Disease team.
She is also a valued member of Primary Care Information System group. She ensures that all the work she carries out relates directly to the Corporate Plan, Aboriginal Health Key Performance Indicators and Chronic Disease Strategy.
Hilary Bloomfield
For leadership in developing and implementing a multidisciplinary chronic disease management program.
Hilary Bloomfield is a health worker at Danila Dilba Health Service. She has designed and led the implementation of a new CD Program which focuses on systemic approach to delivery of chronic disease care which includes clear identification of clients, systematic recall, extended appointments, ongoing cycles of care, best practise delivery and approaches to improve communication with clients.
Hillary has shown leadership, a willingness to share knowledge and train other professionals. In addition, she strives to develop strong partnerships with other teams in the Top End which supports the provision of better patient care and the enhancement of an improved patient journey in services external to Danila Dilba.
Conference Theme Award
Aboriginal Resource Development Services
For their extensive work in developing culturally appropriate health education resources to improve the health literacy of Aboriginal people.
ARDS primarily works to improve and promote health literacy among the Yolnu people in North East Arnhem Land. The main aim is to empower Yolnu communities to understand their own health and engage in self management, to participate in health services and to maintain and strengthen traditional healing and socio and cultural practices.
Over the past 12 months ARDS have produced a number of resources to educate Yolnu communities including the English to Yolnu Matha Dictionary of Anatomy.
Media contact: Bridget Wild - 8999 2751, 0401 116 144
