In addition to the provision of careers information in HSTAC's areas of industry coverage, Michele and Peter took the opportunity this year to promote a theme of nutrition and some of the training and career options available both within the NT and interstate.

HSTAC will also be participating in Futures Expos in Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy in late August and September respectively. For further information contact Michele at: m.bailey@hstac.com.au

PETER'S TRAVELS

(Peter Laming is HSTAC's equally well travelled Disability Coordination Officer)

In the past month Peter visited Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Education where they are increasing their resources to cater for students with a disability. During 2005 they have purchased computer programs and equipment to support two of their students who are blind.

He also attended the Annual Conference of the NT Branch of the Australian Psychological Society at Charles Darwin University in Darwin. The theme was 'Psychology in Indigenous Contexts'. The main speaker was Tjanara Goreng Goreng who is co-founder of the Foundation for Indigenous Trauma Recovery. Tjanara is a psychotherapist working with recovery from generational family disfunction, addiction, violence, abuse and general acculturation. Her two day workshop focused on Healing Shame and Understanding and Recovering from Acculturation.

Another speaker was Dr Tracy Westerman, the only Aboriginal person to have earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Tracy created and manages the Indigenous Psychological Services in Perth. Her presentation included the topics of understanding mental ill health in Aboriginal people, current priority areas in Aboriginal mental health services, the evidence base for what works with Aboriginal mental health clients and seeing cultural differences as strengths to ensure effective service delivery.

Dr Mary Morris, Dean of Health Sciences at Charles Darwin University, presented the findings of a research project the University has conducted with Aboriginal women who experience difficulty with the process of renting a house and maintaining the status of tenant.

Peter also participated, with Michele Bailey, in the Futures Expo in Jabiru. In keeping with the theme of nutrition they took a Vegie Man suit (as seen in the TV ads) which Peter was pursuaded to wear, much to the delight of the younger, mainly male students, who could hardly contain themselves when it took fully five minutes of tugging and pulling to get Peter out of it!

For further information Peter can be contacted at projects@hstac.com.au