Stars and Stories: The Black Star Radio Podcast

Dr Annie Preston - Thomas

Dr Annie Preston - Thomas talking with Mark Hogan
Dr Preston-Thomas said the disease usually began with a mild fever and a runny nose. “This is followed by a sore throat and mouth, with the appearance of blisters in the mouth, and on hands and feet,” she said. “Sometimes blisters may also be seen on knees, elbows or in the nappy area. “The blisters usually last for 3-5 days.”
Dozens of cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease have been identified by public health officials across Far North Queensland. Here's what you can do to prevent the disease spreading.
Parents are being urged to watch out for Hand, Foot and Mouth disease following dozens of cases that have been identified in the Far North.
There have been more than 60 presentations of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease (HFMD) to Cairns Hospital’s Emergency Department since the start of the year, including 9 patient admissions.
Tropical Public Health Services Cairns public health medical officer, Dr Annie Preston-Thomas, said the team was aware of at least 15 day-care centres affected by the disease across the Cairns and Tablelands regions since early January.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Symptoms
Hand, foot and mouth disease starts with blisters that begin as small red dots which later become ulcers.
Blisters appear inside the cheeks, gums, and on the sides of the tongue, as well as on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
In infants, blisters can sometimes be seen in the nappy area. Blisters usually last for 3-5 days
Children can sometimes have a low fever, irritability, sore throat, tiredness, feel off colour and may be off their food for a day or two.
Very rarely, enteroviruses can cause other illnesses that affect the heart, brain, lining of the brain (meningitis), lungs, or eyes.
Signs that an infant or older child might have a more serious form of hand, foot and mouth disease include any of the following:
Persistent fever (38°C or above for 72 hours or more)
Abnormal movements / jerking movements
Rapid breathing
Excessive tiredness, drowsiness
Excessive irritability
Difficulty walking.
If any of these signs are present, then the child should be seen by a doctor urgently even if they have been checked earlier in the illness.

Great interview with Dev Lengjel

The Gateway to Cape York COOKTOWN Set to become a must do tourist attraction in Lakeland, construction has begun on the Gateway to Cape York. The $1.2 million project at Lakeland on Mulligan Highway will be delivered with $998,000 from the Queensland Government’s Building our Regions program, and will provide vital new tourism infrastructure to welcome visitors to the Cape York Peninsula.
Once complete the Gateway to Cape York will feature an iconic “gateway,” a purpose-built traveller information centre, a rest stop area and an interactive sculpture park that will showcase communities from Cape York. “An important aspect of the project is highlighting what makes the Cape so historically, culturally and ecologically unique and then educating visitors as to what they can do to help us preserve and conserve this spectacular part of the world,” said Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott. It’s anticipated that phase one of the project will be complete in time to welcome visitors driving through Lakeland to attend the Cooktown and Cape York Expo 2021 being held between 11-20 June next year. The Gateway to Cape York project is proudly funded by the Queensland Government in association with Cook Shire Council.
COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND COUNTRY - CAPE ARTISTS INVITED TO CELEBRATE THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH ART
Artists and communities from across the Cape are being invited to submit design concepts that represent their community for a chance to have their work featured at the Gateway to Cape York Sculptural Park in Lakeland.

Luke Carroll Talks about Hapee Ears for Early Years

Give your kids HAPEE ears today!
Today, Hearing Australia is launching a campaign to improve the ear and hearing health of
young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Ear disease and hearing loss affects around one in three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
kids and can have a major impact on their development and engagement with their family
and community+.
The campaign will raise the awareness of parents and care givers of the importance of
getting their children’s ears and hearing checked regularly, and that they can do this through
Hearing Australia’s national Hearing Assessment Program - Early Ears (HAPEE).
HAPEE is now operational in over 240 locations throughout Australia and funded by a $30
million investment by the Australian Government to reduce the long-term effects of ear
disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Steve Satour speaks about R U OK

ASK YOUR MOB, YOUR WAY, R U OK?
R U OK? today launched “I ask my mob, in my way, are you OK?”, to support ‘Stronger Together’ a targeted suicide prevention campaign for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The suite of resources for “I ask my mob, in my way, are you OK?” includes culturally appropriate content led by community voices with guidance from the R U OK? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group and in collaboration with the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association.
The campaign encourages people to engage and offer support to their family, friends and colleagues who may be struggling with life. The resources feature engaging and authentic stories that promote a sense of connection, hope and identity.
“The Stronger Together campaign reinforces the power of yarning and “I ask my mob, in my way, are you OK?” is about showing the many ways we can ask, listen, encourage, and check in with our mob,” said Mr Satour. “The most important thing for mob to remember is that you don’t have to be an expert, you just have to be yourself and ask, in your own way, so you look after your mob.
The resources give us the opportunity to get conversations started with individuals, organisations, and communities across Australia,” says Satour. “The stories released today show there are so many ways we can, and already do, have R U OK? conversations.”
The resources will help people feel more confident in having an R U OK? conversation and will serve as a platform to the development of additional tools for communities.
“We’ll also be bringing communities together to translate these resources because we know language is central to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures," said Mr Satour. “Culture is also fundamental for our overall social and emotional wellbeing.”
Reducing deaths by suicide and suicidal behavior among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians is an issue of major concern for many communities and a public health priority.1 “These numbers represent our loved ones; relatives, friends, elders and extended community members who are all affected by the tragedy of these deaths,” said Mr Satour.

Kirsten Banks interview about National Science week 2021

Meet Kirsten Banks, Indigenous astronomer and the newest member of our AG family. Over the coming months she’ll be sharing her knowledge of space from an Aboriginal perspective.
National Science Week acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the land, sea and waters, and their continuing connection to Country. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
As a celebration of science and technology, National Science Week also acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first scientists, makers and innovators of this land.
Indigenous Knowledge systems contain a wealth of scientific information and contribute significantly to STEM research in Australia. The value of two-way knowledge approaches – integrating Indigenous science and Western science – is widely recognized in modern science.
Indigenous perspectives can also be incorporated into our classroom to add value to Western science perspectives, and to create more inclusive learning environments and an increased awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

Dr Vanessa Lee Ah-Mat - R U Okay

Torres Strait Islander Dr Vanessa Lee-Ah Mat is the chair of the RU OK Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group who provide voices of lived experience to the campaign.
R U Okay is a campaign set up for people who are living with a mental illness, speaking to someone is an important step to getting stronger support.
But for First Nations people who want to speak to someone in language or find culturally appropriate information, this can be a challenge.
This new campaign from R U OK? is looking to include such resources created by First Nations people.
Torres Strait Islander Dr Vanessa Lee-Ah Mat is the chair of the RU OK Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group who provide voices of lived experience to the campaign.
For more information go to:
Websites
Suicide Prevention Australia
ILGA World
RUOK? Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group

Interview with Dwayne Savo from Gidgee Healing

The camp was inspired by the efforts of Dwayne Savo from Gidgee Healing. Gidgee Healing is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service providing holistic and culturally appropriate health services, including Drug and Alcohol Services, for Aboriginal people residing in the Mount Isa, North West and Lower Gulf regions of Queensland. Dwayne works at the The Normanton Recovery and Community Wellbeing Service (NRCWS) which is a residential drug and alcohol recovery service, specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Special thanks to Dwayne and Nadine at the NRCWS for allocating the funding for this camp.
Program activities involved an inspiring health and well being talk by the local and popular Doctor Marjard Page who also attended the camp and participated in the Program along with is Countrymen. Dr Page’s mobs are Kalkadoon, Waanyi and Gangalidda. He is also a Christian man and is passionate about his people. Mount Isa is in the heart of Kalkadoon country and Dr Page said it was of great benefit to the community to have a Kalkadoon doctor working locally. He is passionate about the benefits of Culture and our Camping on Country program.

Dr Steve Hambleton Digital Health - Bush Medicine

Dr Steve Hambleton Digital Health is committed to supporting our high quality health system and ensuring it has a sustainable future. I see eHealth as a significant tool for quality and efficiency.
Talking about Bush Medicine found in our back yard. Finding the balance between traditional bush medicine to western medicine.
My Health Record allows people to upload their use of bush medicine (https_insideageing.com.au)
Digital records support preservation of bush medicine information - YouTube https://youtu.be/0f91aLHbU2U
In the youtube film, Linc Walker, owner and tour guide at Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tours in Cooya Beach, north of Port Douglas in Queensland and pharmacist Brad Reilly from LiveLife Pharmacy in Port Douglas, explore the various uses of local bush medicine. From mullet soup oil used to soothe sore and aching joints to treating common warts with frangipanni, bush medicines can be documented in My Health Record to help healthcare providers better understand and treat patients. Video Accessibility Video Accessibility is essential for people with disabilities. We are continually updating our online channels and assets to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. If this video is not in a format you can access, or you need additional help, please contact us. Phone: 1300 901 001 Email: help@digitalhealth.gov.au More information: https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guid...

Haidee Allan ABS/Census spokesperson

Haidee Allan is a proud Kamilaroi woman from Tamworth NSW and a Census Communication Officer. She’s reminding everyone to get their Census done as soon as possible.
“We all need to be counted in the Census, so we can see how much our community has grown and what our strengths are.
“You still have time to complete your Census. You can do it online, by paper or with help from us. If you’re in a remote community, there are field staff available to help you complete your Census.
“If you can’t find your letter, that’s OK. You can request a Census number and complete online, or get a paper form sent to you.
“We want all mob to be supported in filling out the Census. There’s so much help available from our staff – face to face, over the phone or online.
“Young mob out there - please help your Elders, Aunties and Uncles fill in the form, so they can get the services our communities need.
“If we don’t hear from you soon, you’ll get a reminder letter or a visit from our field staff.”
The Census is compulsory*. Everyone who was staying in your household on Census night must be included. This includes visitors and babies.
The Census can show community where services are needed, from housing and employment services through to transport and community infrastructure.
“It’s an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to have their voices heard,” Haidee said.
“Help tell our story and complete your Census today.”
For more information or help visit www.census.abs.gov.au/indigenous or call 1800 512 441.

Carla Canning speaks about Bravehearts

Bravehearts is recognised nationally as the lead agency that specialises in dealing with all facets of child sexual assault. Bravehearts' work in the areas of specialist therapy, support, education, research and legislative reform has made a remarkable, quantifiable and positive difference in protecting Australia's children.
Our Mission is to prevent child sexual assault and exploitation in our society. Our Vision is to make Australia the safest place in the world to raise a child. Our Guiding Principals are to, at all times, do all things to serve our Mission without fear or favour and without compromise and to continually ensure that the best interests and protection of the child are placed before all other considerations. Our programs and services include:
Specialist counselling for children who have been or are at risk of child sexual assault, along with support for non-offending family members; Professional advocacy and support; Ditto's Keep Safe Adventure -- A live school-based personal safety education program for children; Resources for families and survivors, including interactive materials and workshops - Research and lobbying; Community awareness campaigns.
BRAVEHEARTS is the Employer of Choice in Child Protection. Bravehearts gives employees the opportunity to work with dedicated and well qualified professionals in a range of fields in a mission focused culture where staff are provided; - A culture of self- care - Free Employee Assistance program - Salary Sacrificing Options - Equal Opportunity Employer. We enjoy hearing from appropriately qualified and experienced people. Contact our Director of People and Culture hr@bravhearts.org.
For more information or to speak with a counselor, please call 1 800 272 831 or visit our website.
Websitehttps://bravehearts.org.au/