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Wednesday 2
nd
November, 2009
MMEDIA RELEASE
edia Release
EMBARGOED UNTIL THURSDAY DECEMBER 3
Consumers need to be at the centre of policy development
Minister for Indigenous Health Warren Snowdon launchedwill launch the new
“The ‘Talking it Up’ research report tomorrowtoday in Melbourne.
The ‘Talking it Up’ project came out of elders’ work with Aboriginal people over
many years. It identified that Aboriginal people in metropolitan Melbourne felt that
they had no voice in decision making processes, in particular when it came to
identifying and addressing the issues that impact on their lives and wellbeing.
was approached in a collaborative way, bringing together Wesley Mission
Melbourne, Deakin University and Aboriginal consumers,” said the Hon. Warren
Snowdon, Minister for Indigenous Health.
“The fact that Aboriginal consumers were leading the research ensures that the
report findings genuinely represent their voice.”
Wesley Mission CEO Poul Bottern says The ‘Talking it Up’ project came out of
the elders’ work with Aboriginal people over many years, which identified that
Aboriginal people in metropolitan Melbourne felt that they had no voice in
decision making processes, in particular when it came to identifying and
addressing the issues that impact on their lives and wellbeing.
it was important for consumers to “Consumers need to be at the very centre of
policy development,” said Poul Bottern, Wesley Mission CEO..
“More needs to be done to seek out and include the voice of Aboriginal
consumers in the creation and implementation of Government health policy.”
The project trained a group of Aboriginal people as researchers, who recruited
Aboriginal consumers and ran a series of community forums, ensuring that it was
the consumer voice that formulated the findings.
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Aboriginal elder and leader of the project, Aunty Shirley Firebrace says it was an
important process.
“Through this collaborative project consumers were finally given an opportunity to
have their voice heard. That is what is at the core of this report. ,” said Aunty
Shirley Firebrace, an Aboriginal elder and leader of the project.
“Listening to the consumers helps to heal the trauma of feeling invisible in the
system,.” Aunty Shirley Firebrace said.
Mr Snowdon says he was impressed by the collaborative nature of the report.
”It brought together the Wesley Mission in Melbourne, Deakin University and
Aboriginal consumers.
“The fact that Aboriginal consumers were leading the research ensures that the
report findings genuinely represent their voice,” Mr Snowdon said.
To donate to Wesley Mission Melbourne, please go to www.wesley.org.au or call 1300 493 753
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Media contacts:
For further information please contact - Media Liaison Officer Andrew Blyberg: 0401 691 666 or email
ablyberg@wesley.org.au or Cassie Wells: 0466 205 772 or email cwells@wesley.org.au .
About Wesley Mission Melbourne
Wesley Mission Melbourne provides services for people who are at risk of homelessness, people with disabilities, youth
and families in crisis and older people. A community service organisation of the Uniting Church, Wesley advocates for
better community and government responses to situations of need, and seeks to educate the wider public to change
underlying attitudes and values about disadvantaged people.
About Wesley Mission Melbourne
Wesley Mission Melbourne provides services for people who are at risk of
homelessness, people with disabilities, youth and families in crisis and older
people. A community service organisation of the Uniting Church, Wesley
advocates for better community and government responses to situations of
need, and seeks to educate the wider public to change underlying attitudes and
values about disadvantaged people.
NEWS 
