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Date posted: 11 September 2013
This year's Deadly Awards saw a number of Indigenous people recognised for their contributions to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Deadly Awards celebrate Indigenous achievement across sport, music, film, television, visual arts, education, culture, science, employment and health; areas that contribute to Closing the gap.
Professor Pat Dudgeon, who plays a significant role in mental health and suicide prevention, as well as trauma, loss and grief, was honoured with the Deadly Award for Health. Professor Dudgeon is involved in many organisations and initiatives and was the inaugural Chair of the Australian Indigenous Psychologist's Association, and is a National Mental Health Commissioner. Her most recent work has been through the National empowerment program, a universal strategy to promote social and emotional wellbeing and reduce community distress and suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The Excellence in Health Through the Promotion of Healthy and Smoke Free Lifestyles Award was taken by the Rewrite your story campaign, developed in partnership by the Puiyurti team at Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc, the Aboriginal Health Council of SA, Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service, and the Cancer Council SA. Rewrite your story is a community development campaign aiming to raise awareness of smoking's harmful effects on your body and community. The campaign featured the real-life smoking stories of 16 local ambassadors to inspire Adelaide's Aboriginal communities to rewrite their stories and give up smokes for good.
Aboriginal Health Worker, Leonie Morcome, is the proud recipient of a Deadly Award in the Health Worker of the Year category for her long term efforts to better the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Morcome has been a committed Aboriginal Health Worker at the Biripi Aboriginal Medical Service for almost 26 years and has played a large role in the development of the organisation, and driven many successful programs.
The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet would like to pass on their warm congratulations to the Deadly Award winners.
To see the full list of recipients please refer to the links below.
Source: NACCHO communique, The Deadlys