NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week is held as a celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Joining us in this episode is HammondCare CEO Mike Baird who shares some introductory remarks and an expert panel that explore the care considerations for First Nations peoples.

Members of this panel include Professor Dawn Bessarab, a Bard/Yindijibarndi woman, Director of the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health at the University of Western Australia and lead researcher for the Good Sprit Good Life Centre for Research Excellence at the University of Tasmania; Stephanie Charlesworth who is Dementia Consultant from SA  that has worked with a number of Aboriginal communities and organisations in the NT, as well as completed her studies at Charles Darwin University in Yolngu Studies; and Meghan Heatrick who is also a Dementia Consultant that has extensive career history working in greater Sydney, Alice Springs and other communities and is currently studying a master's in Indigenous health. 

Together, this group discusses the current environment of care of First Nations peoples, what quality of life and care means for First Nations peoples and how this can be different from the general Australian population. 

This episode is sponsored by Dementia Support Australia (DSA).

DSA has developed culturally appropriate communication cards and helpsheets as free downloadable resources for use when caring for a First Nations person living with dementia.

You can access the ‘Good Sprit Good Life’ assessment tool developed by Dawn and the team at ‘Aboriginal Ageing Well Research’ as well as information on how to be involved in their research and further validation of this tool.

The 'Little Red Yellow Black Book' is a suggested resource by the panel as a guide to the rich cultures and histories of Australia’s First Peoples.

This resource provides evidence of the higher susceptibility of dementia in First Nations people as well as other information on First Nations health founded by the Australian Government.