06 BUSINESS NEWS
THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2023 TORRES NEWS
More to be done on social and emotional wellbeing STORY BY JILLIAN BOWIE PICS SUPPLIED BY DEBRA NONA & MARTINE SLEVIN Expert guest speakers and attendees from across the country and surrounding communities were welcomed to Badhu Island for Ninu Wakainthamam Midhikidh – The State of Mind: Wellbeing Symposium, a mental health and social and emotional wellbeing workshop held over three days last week. The idea was for services to sit together to try to understand how to bridge the service delivery gaps through listening and workshopping with community. “There is still a lot to do,” Event Facilitator Debra Nona said. “We need the whole community to come together and participate in these workshops so that they gain a better understanding of mental health, social and emotional wellbeing, and the services that are available regionally and nationally.” She said it was important to include keynote presenters who were First Nations
experts, who knew and understood Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders and the daily challenges they faced – mentally, emotionally, physically, socially, and environmentally. Keynote presenters included Black Dog Institute Psychotherapist, a Yawuru and Bunaba woman, Vicki McKenna, and the daughter of Mabuyag Elder Mr Patrick Whop, Nephrologist Associate Professor Dr Jaqui Hughes BMed FRACP PhD. Ninu Wakainthamam Midhikidh, or What are your thoughts?, was the theme of the event, which was aimed at addressing overall mental health and wellbeing, and how it affected our everyday lives. “All services need to gain ownership of the future,” Debra said. “We have received a lot of positive feedback from participants and are pursuing to begin organising another one in the near future.”
ABOVE: Black Dog Institute representatives Vicki McKenna, Eliza Kitchener, and Rhonda Lui enjoying lunch and a yarn with Badhu Elders Ronald Namoa, Tommy (Dinto)Tamwoy, Denna Nona and Bishop Tolowa Nona. LEFT: Nephrologist Associate Professor Dr Jaqui Hughes presenting on renal health at Ugarre Hall, Badhu Island. More pics P7 N
Ailan Life
CEQ $150 GIFT CARD WINNER The winner of the May 2023 Ailan Life photo competition is Di Gretton – Congratulations Di.
Di submitted her beautiful Ailan life pic of fisherman heading home late afternoon on Poruma Island. “No fish, but enjoying a magnificent display of colour from mother nature as the sun sets over the reef,” Di said.. For your chance to win, email us your pic showing your Ailan Life along with your name, phone number and a 25-word description to ads@torres.news
Employment plays key role in health & wellbeing STORY BY JILLIAN BOWIE PICS SUPPLIED BY JILLIAN BOWIE & DEBRA NONA
Alice Fauid, Assistant Manager at the IBIS Poruma Store, and our winner Di Gretton with her $150 gift voucher. Pic supplied.
Also at the State of Mind Wellbeing Symposium held on Badhu Island last week was the launch of the Biznis Blo Yumi Project, marking the end of Queensland Small Business Month. Meriba Ged Ngalpun Mab (MGNM), in partnership with Department of Small Business and Training (DESBT) and Gr8Motive Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation, launched the Project with a consultation workshop to identify the needs and support required by local small business owners, or those thinking of starting a business. The session also introduced Deadly Business 2032 – a key action released under DESBT’s First Nations training strategy Paving the Way. Deadly Business 2032 was initiated to create an evidence-based, understanding of Indigenous small business strengths, capacity,
opportunities, and aspirations in Far North Queensland. The Strategy was to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses looking to improve opportunities for partnership, business improvement, sustainability, or expansion. MGNM Training & Programs Manager, Jillian Bowie said employment played a key role in mental health and wellbeing. “The significant impact that employment plays in enhancing the mental health and wellbeing of an individual and their families is important to note,” she said. “Creating employment within our communities though enterprise development is paramount not only to an individual’s life but to the community’s overall wellbeing.” The Biznis Blo Yumi Project was a collaborative approach of government and non-government stakeholders who were committed to contributing to the Project leading up to a much bigger event planned for Indigenous Business Month in October.
