Caption: Public Health team from Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation and East Arnhem vet team at the first One Health workshop in Yirrkala, May 2023
Early in May 2023 the first East Arnhem One Health Workshop occurred in Yirrkala. The workshop was designed to share One Health principles and concepts and the links between human, animal, and environmental health. The workshop also provided a chance to meet and greet for further collaboration with the East Arnhem Regional Council (EARC) veterinary program. The Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation’s Public health team have roles under Environmental health Worker (EHW), Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS), Djamurrkuli Mulka (Youth Work) programs and contribute as a team for achieving health outcomes within their communities. In addition to learning about One Health, EARC were keen to share the new online animal health reporting form to gauge interest and usability as well as show the work they do by setting up information stations at the vet clinic for everyone to understand the job they do. AMRRIC’s Dr Jessica Hoopes (AMRRIC’s One Health Research Coordinator) presented on One Health and Michelle Hayes (AMRRIC’s Education officer) the education resources which included the felt cat, felt dog, cat breeding mat, What Wally Needs, Dog Mob Cat Crew music video and our cat breeding and ehrlichiosis (tick sickness) animation
Overall, the workshop was an enormous success with comments like “we’ve never learnt about these things before’ and ‘there are good resources we can use in our community now’. Miwatj staff have already been working with Dr Maddy and the vet team in community on the vet rounds after the workshop, with great results! Congratulations to everyone who attended and a big thanks to East Arnhem Regional Council and Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation who made it a great workshop!
