ACRRM acknowledges the importance of language this NAIDOC Week

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) welcomes the opportunity to acknowledge NAIDOC Week, a significant annual event that celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year’s theme, Our Languages Matter, highlights the importance, resilience and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, and will be the topic of discussion during NAIDOC Week, 2-9 July 2017.

Fellow of ACRRM, Dr Marjad Page, said that discussions surrounding Indigenous culture often do not include language, despite its importance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and traditions.

"From language comes communication; not just day to day communication, but deep and thorough understanding of the lives of our people, our songs, and our dreamtime," Dr Page said.

"If we lose our language, we will lose those songs and stories that make up our rich history.

"This year’s theme extends beyond just our use of language - it's also about the importance of language to communication. We all need to be talking the same language if we’re going to maintain our identity and our community."

Dr Marjad, who was recently awarded the Denis Lennox Medal for an outstanding Rural Generalist Registrar at the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland Awards, is a proud Kalkadoon, Waanyi, Ganggalidda and Christian man from the Mt Isa region. He is currently sharing his skills with mentor students and registrars in the inaugural cohort of the Queensland Rural Generalist Leader Program.

This week, ACRRM reaffirms its commitment to the advancement of the status, health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly those living in rural and remote communities, who typically experience the country’s greatest health disadvantage.

ACRRM President, Associate Professor Ruth Stewart said, "In ACRRM's core values we seek to promote the health of Indigenous people and their communities. Our training programs provide support and leadership opportunities to Indigenous students, registrars, GPs and other health professionals.

"It's pleasing to see Indigenous Fellows and registrars move through ACRRM programs and training, and then go on to become leaders and improve health outcomes in their community.

"Dr Page is just one example of this leadership. We would love to see and in fact encourage more Indigenous doctors to become Fellows of the College, and have mechanisms in place to support this."

NAIDOC Week will run nationally from 2-9 July and is an occasion for all Australians to come together to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.