Acknowledgments

The Honourable Dr Michael Wooldridge, MP, Professor Millicent Poole, Mr Ted Wilkes, Professor Patrick Garnett, distinguished guests

I'd like to first pay homage to the Nyoongar people of Western Australia, the traditional owners of this land. Plus, in view of the national focus of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, I'd like to acknowledge and pay my respects to all the traditional owners across Australia.

The development of the HealthInfoNet reflects the need for good health information in redressing the health disadvantages experienced by Indigenous people. I was pleased to hear the emphasis Ted Wilkes gave to the role of good health information in the areas of advocacy, health program planning, ensuring high quality services.

The amount, quality and accessibility of Indigenous health information contrasts markedly with the situation that existed 20 years ago when I first started to work fulltime in the area. Another contrast relates to the acceptance of the importance of health information to the whole area of Indigenous health – be it at senior policy levels, for local health service delivery, or for the general community.

Recognition of the great importance of good information about Indigenous health is reflected in the development over recent years of a major unit operated jointly by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The important work undertaken by that unit is complemented by the work of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet. The AIHW-ABS unit works intensively on improving and extending the range of the main health-related collections.

Our Internet site is the main means of disseminating the results of our research. It is now a very large site, comprising some 3000-4000 pages of information. It has become very widely used and gets around 6000-7000 hits per week.

For those people who have not yet had the opportunity of using the HealthInfoNet, four computers will be available in the staff room where the luncheon will be served. HealthInfoNet staff will be happy to show you how to access and navigate around our Internet site.

All that has been developed over the past few years, culminating today in the launch of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, is just the beginning. The next phase of the HealthInfoNet, which I will be personally focusing on in 2001, is actively seeking out sponsorship to develop the many areas which still need more information.

I'd like to acknowledge the many people who have been involved, in one way or another, in the development of the HealthInfoNet. These include:

HealthInfoNet Consultants – about 80 people from all over Australia

Bev Paterson, former manager of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Clearinghouse, and Peter Leong, former designer of the Clearinghouse website.

Health research staff: Sam Burrow, Jen Irvine, Gill Matthews, Melissa Pumphrey, Sandy Angus
Multimedia staff: Duncan Barnes, Moira Mathie, Andrew Dunbar
Librarian: John Sutherland
Visiting scholar: Joanne Panitzke
Manager: Bronwyn Gee

I’m very grateful to the thousands of Indigenous people with whom I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of working over the past 20 years. Thank you.