A new James Cook University online initiative, designed to help close the gap, will feature the work of Mount Isa-born artist Chern’ee Sutton.
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The Kalkadoon artist’s vibrant acrylic painting, Caring for Community, will form the banner for a new web page on JCU’s Generalist Medical Training site.
The web page will enable doctors undertaking specialist general practitioner training to explore training opportunities in Queensland Indigenous health services.
The web page and artwork were unveiled on Tuesday at the end of the opening day of the JCU Centre for Rural and Remote Health 2018 ‘Are You Remotely Interested?’ Mount Isa conference.
Ms Sutton said her artwork illustrated the provision of healthcare in her community, for the community and by the community.
“In my painting, the large community symbol in the middle represents the Mount Isa and North West Queensland region, with the smaller community symbols and travelling lines representing the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people that travel to hospital for medical treatment,” Ms Sutton said.
“The footprints represent the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people returning to their homes and communities after receiving treatment, and the emu and cranes’ feet represent Kalkadoon country.
“The sections of the painting, separated by the stethoscopes, represent the medical treatment and care given to Indigenous people of all ages, from young to elderly, by the doctors and students that live in the community.”
JCU Director of Generalist Medical Training, Associate Professor Peta-Ann Teague, said the new web information would be a valuable tool in recruiting registrars to training posts to develop the cultural and clinical expertise to address Indigenous health issues.
The training posts are available within a range of accredited Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, non-community controlled Aboriginal health services and Queensland Government health services.
“These training posts are able to equip GP registrars with the skills to contribute to closing the gap in healthcare outcomes,” Dr Teague said.
“The new web page includes an interactive map detailing the location of all our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander training posts and videos which feature the personal and professional experiences of GP registrars already working in partnership with communities to improve health outcomes.”
Dr Teague paid tribute to the university’s cultural mentors in Mount Isa, who work with GP registrars to develop an understanding of the history of local Indigenous and the impact of that history on the delivery of effective healthcare services.
“These mentors help our GP registrars to learn the most appropriate way to relate to patients from different cultural groups. They enable us to provide healthcare in a culturally safe environment for patients, which optimises the opportunity to achieve the best health outcomes,” she said.
Tuesday’s unveiling also featured a second artwork from Ms Sutton, called Dreamtime Soldier. In the spirit of giving back to her community, the piece was donated by the artist to the Centre for Rural and Remote Health in 2014. Ms Sutton said the acrylic painting is a tribute to Indigenous people that have served in Australia in the military forces.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
