Report on Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Consultation

Melbourne - 30 September 2002

 Kuracca Consultancy  (White Cockatoo)

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BACKGROUND:

Food Standards Australia New Zealand contracted Kuracca Consultancy ,Kerry Reed-Gilbert to organise, co-ordinate and facilitate a one day community meeting in Melbourne for Indigenous community organisations and its members together with relevant government departments to meet and discuss issues relevant to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in relation to food and health issues.

Who is FSANZ:

FSANZ, in cooperation with the Australian Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and the New Zealand Government, develops food standards and other regulatory measures for Australia and New Zealand.   FSANZ has the responsibility of approving standards, and variations to standards before notifying the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council).   The Ministerial Council can accept, reject or seek up to two reviews of any standard notified by FSANZ.

Within Australia, FSANZ also does the following:

• coordinates surveillance of food available in Australia; coordinates food product recalls in cooperation with States and Territories; conducts research on matters that may be included in a food standard; undertakes food safety education initiatives in cooperation with States and Territories;

• develops Codes of Practice for industry on any matter that may be included in a standard; and develops risk assessment policies for foods imported into Australia.

FSANZ is committed to improving its consultation processes with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to ensure better participation and consideration of relevant issues in the food standard setting process.

To date FSANZ has:

FSANZ, formerly ANZFA, has been working towards the establishment of a consultation strategy with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In order to progress this work, an Aboriginal consultant, Ms Barbara Flick, was engaged. Barbara has facilitated two meetings in Darwin and Alice Springs in July 2001 with a range of people largely from remote areas with an interest in food and nutrition for Indigenous communities.

Outcomes of these two meetings highlighted the range of difficulties faced by Indigenous communities in relation to food and nutrition issues.   The high cost of foods, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables, were raised as an important issue.   The need for programs, targeting improved nutrition to address diet related illness, were also highlighted. ANZFA reported the outcomes of these meetings to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council in December 2001.

A number of issues were also raised that were outside the responsibility of FSANZ and these were referred to the appropriate Commonwealth and State/Territory Health Departments for consideration and action. Ms Flick also recommended hosting a consultative forum in an urban area in order to ascertain issues facing urban indigenous communities.

The Meeting:

To enable FSANZ to gain a clear understanding of how Indigenous views on food standards issues could be identified and incorporated into FSANZ’s decision-making processes, a program agenda was designed in consultation with FSANZ staff(Attachment A).Kuracca Consultancy,contacted relevant community organisations and relevant government departments to attend and participate within the meeting(Attachment B).

Aims of the meeting:

• To establish a culturally appropriate forum to discuss food issues relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and FSANZ; and

• To develop an appropriate report based on the discussions of the workshop, including options and actions FSANZ can implement to improve relationships and dialogue with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This report is based on the outcomes of the Melbourne meeting.

Outcome of the meeting:

It is with regret that the consultant can report that only three invited representatives attended the meeting. These three representatives were Fay (Aboriginal Elder) and Michael (non-Aboriginal person) from the Aboriginal Council of Elders and Victor, a Health Officer from the Food Safety Environment (also a non-Aboriginal person). While FSANZ did receive a number of apologies, attendance was disappointing.

The Hon. Rob Knowles, FSANZ Board Chairman, Dr Heather Yeatman and Professor Kerin O’Dea, FSANZ Board members, Mr Ian Lindenmayer, FSANZ Managing Director and senior staff with responsibility for Indigenous consultation also attended this meeting.

Due to the small number of representatives, the agenda was modified to ensure a successful meeting. The meeting started with a welcome and thank you by the Hon. Rob Knowles which included informing the group of the role of FSANZ. This was followed by a welcome and introduction by the consultant. Introductions of all in attendance were invited with members introducing themselves including their workplace, roles and their organisation and/or departments.

In line with the program agenda Dr Heather Yeatman conducted a brief presentation in relation to the need of FSANZ consulting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people including the current involvement with Maori living in New Zealand.   Mr Adam Luckhurst presented an overview of FSANZ.

Throughout the process of the meeting key issues were discussed including:

• What are important issues about food for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
• What are cultural issues associated with food?
•  What are the major public health issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?

In response to the issues discussed it is important to acknowledge the participation and input of the three representatives in attendance.    It is recognised that while the group was indeed small, the valuable knowledge and expertise that was given and freely shared by all was indeed constructive and important to FSANZ. The consultant would especially acknowledge Fay, for her extensive input freely discussing the issues that are relevant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people honestly and without restraint.

What are the key issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and FSANZ?

To enable FSANZ to gain a clear understanding of issues, a group discussion (yarning) was instigated by the consultant to allow free flowing conversation by all in attendance. While the key questions were not formally asked due to this process of yarning the quality and quantity of information was forthcoming.

In relation to what are important issues about food for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people? Group participants stated:

• Low socio-economical status for Aboriginal people: As most people are reliant on social security benefits, the cost of being able to purchase quality foods and services is a major barrier to a quality healthy lifestyle.

• Literacy and numeracy problems can be a barrier to food and health education for community members.

• Food education has not been seen as a priority for Aboriginal people. This has stemmed from the days of the Australian government assimilation policy when mission managers had complete control over the food distributed to Aboriginal people including denying Aboriginal people access to Bush tucker and a healthier food and living lifestyle.

• Understanding of the need for food labeling is not recognised or acknowledged as a priority or an everyday occurrence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This concept is new for community members and would need a communication strategy developed and implemented to inform Aboriginal Australia of the importance of this.(Please see recommendations)

• Occasionally “out of date”products are purchased by community members, when financial limitations are placed, this could lead to the purchase of products that could cause major health problems for consumers. Labeling “out of date”products and“best before date”products needs strong considerations by FSANZ due to the economic lifestyles of Aboriginal people.

• Advertising by FSANZ should target and consider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

While discussing what are the cultural issues associated with food the group identified some of the following:

• The cultural obligations in relation to the extended family while being a low-income earner is further demand on being able to supply quality food and healthy lifestyles.
• The denial of Bush tucker to Aboriginal people (as previously stated).
• Due to the lack of substantial income fast food is prominent within the community, therefore leading to further health problems such as Diabetes etc.
• Lack of a Treaty or any binding document leaves Aboriginal people without a right to negotiation with the Australian government and government bodies.
• Educating young ones and young people on healthy living lifestyles including child care initiatives.
• Educating community members on lifestyle changes including therapeutic alternatives.
• Aboriginal people moving into aged care centres – has been seen as culturally inappropriate
• Establishing health services to the home for community members eg: Homecare.
• Health training conducted appropriately for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Culturally appropriate advertising when targeting the Indigenous population in relation to the issues of food labelling etc.

While it is common knowledge what the major public health issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are, the group highlighted a range of issues including:

• Overall general health style
• Drug and alcohol
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Aged care
• Access to non-Aboriginal services
• Racism
• Frail aged
• Illness and injury are closely associated but not recognised: Bad diet leads to other health problems.
• Transition: Transient life styles
• Pre-maturing aging: - Identification that some Aboriginal people aged in their forties have a comparable health status of non-Aboriginal Australians aged in their sixties.

It was acknowledged and recognised by the group that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples health is not one issue but a major component of all issues including the service delivery of FSANZ. It was determined that while FSANZ can play a role in providing a quality informed food choices to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, without the co-operation and commitment from other health bodies and the Australian government, the health of the Indigenous people will continue to suffer.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

While it was recognised and acknowledged that FSANZ as a single body would not be able to ‘right the wrongs’ in Aboriginal health it was acknowledged that strategies could be incorporated with other government bodies and community organisations that would successfully target and address some of the food and health issues relevant for Indigenous people. Listed below are the following recommendations from the meeting.

Advertising:

When targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait health needs and problems:

• That joint advertising campaign initiatives are instigated and conducted by the FSANZ and other health departments and/or organisations in relation to addressing the food and health needs of Indigenous people. Such as nutritionists programs, Dietitians Association, National polices etc.

• That FSANZ, together with other funding bodies, consider promotional information distribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait people by the development of a communication strategy to successfully inform and promote food and health issues to Aboriginal and Torres Strait people.

• That FSANZ consider appropriate the designing and development of culturally appropriate promotional material for distribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait people and their communities, including the use of Aboriginal personalities.

• That consideration by FSANZ, together with other funding bodies, is given to promotional information on food and health information with the aid of culturally appropriate outlets such as Streetwise Comics, Aboriginal media, Aboriginal radio etc.

Steering Committee:

• That a steering committee be established with Aboriginal and Torres Strait representation from community organisations and government departments.

• That the steering committee members are instrumental and consulted in relation to designing and developing a communication strategy to be incorporated by FSANZ.

• That steering committee members are instrumental and consulted when developing national policies for health bodies. Such as nutritionists programs, Dietitians Association etc.

 Employment:

• That FSANZ consider employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait people within its department.
  
• That FSANZ actively seeks out and encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, participating in the Graduate Australian Public Service program, to work at FSANZ.
  
• That FSANZ explore the possibility of offering internships to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are participating in relevant studies, such as the advanced study and training in public health nutrition course at the Menzies School for Health Research .

Cultural Awareness Training:

• That FSANZ conduct cultural awareness training for its staff including senior management .

Linking FSANZ and other service providers:

It was stated by the Aboriginal Elder in attendance that the lack of attendance of government agencies with responsibilities for Indigenous issues was disappointing but evidenced the need for departments to come together to enable specific and effective health changes to eventuate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait people.

Workshop participants acknowledged and recognised that the poor health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people requires a multifaceted approach.   FSANZ alone cannot address all these issues.   However, FSANZ can work with other relevant government agencies and community organisations to ensure a consistent, co-ordinated, holistic approach is adopted in order to successfully target and address food and health issues relevant to Indigenous people.

Kuracca Consultancy would like to thank the community members in attendance at the meeting and Ann and Adam and all involved with ensuring the success of the consultation.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultation Workshop Medina Grand Melbourne  Ph: 03 9934 0000 Tuesday 24 September 2002

DRAFT AGENDA

10.00am         Start: Morning Tea

10.30am          Welcome and introductions

o         Ms Kerry Reed-Gilbert

o         The Hon. Rob Knowles

11.00am          The role of FSANZ

Presentation

o        Overview of FSANZ (Mr Adam Luckhurst)

o        Why we are consulting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (Dr Heather Yeatman)

Discussion

o        What are important issues about food for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?

12.00pm          Lunch

12.30pm:         Working with Indigenous Communities

Presentation

o       Consultation processes (Mr Adam Luckhurst)

o       Involvement with the Maori people of New Zealand (Mr Adam Luckhurst)

Discussion

o         What are the cultural issues associated with food?

o         What are the major public health issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?

1.45pm            Closing remarks (The Hon. Rob Knowles & Ms Kerry Reed-Gilbert)

2.00pm            Finish                                                                                                                                   

Attachment B

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