Three months ago, when Australian Prime Minister John Howard shut down the country’s only elected government agency representing indigenous people, his reasoning was based in the power of "mainstreaming."

But Howard’s contention that dissolving the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Commission (ATSIC) and integrating its work into other governmental agencies would improve services did not sit well with many indigenous leaders, who remain worried that their representation will get lost in the shuffle.

Aboriginal traditional healers from the Northern Territory, South Australia, and West Australia launched a book entitled Ngangkari Work - Anangu Way. The book is the first of its kind, offering stories and information about the lives and work of traditional healers.

Dr. Gregory Phillips’ new book Addictions and Healing in Aboriginal Country has received acclaim for its revision of the framework on Indigenous health. The book examines addiction in Big River, a former mission reserve in northern Queensland, finding that substance addictions are results of unresolved traumatic histories. Suggestions to treat these addictions involve rather traditional healing than legislation. The book attempts to empower the indigenous community by showing that traditional healing has made positive changes, and that change is possible.

On Friday May 31, the capital city of Canberra is holding a Schools Reconciliation Event for the close of Reconciliation Week, during which indigenous and non-indigenous students of all grades have gathered to celebrate and appreciate indigenous culture and history. The event is intended to bolster the pride and self-esteem of indigenous students while helping to educate non-indigenous students about Aboriginal ways of life, in order to foster reconciliation within school communities.

The Western Australia government announced that it would be closing the Swan Valley Nyoongah camp. This decision comes after five suspicious deaths and a number of allegations of abuse against women and children. Premier Geoff Gallop said the risk of keeping the camp open was unacceptable. The opposition is saying Gallop should go further and call for mandatory reporting of abuse cases, as other states in Australia do. Among the dead was 15-year-old Susan Taylor, who was found dead by hanging in 1999.

Director 2002. Phillip Noyce PG 95 minutes. Everlyn Sampi, Kenneth Branagh, David Gulpilil.

Australian health statistics show that Aboriginal children experience greater health risks then the rest of Australia's population. Over the last ten years the number of Aboriginal children suffering from malnutrition has increased by more than 25%. Research also shows that Aboriginal children have a greater chance of being affected by bronchiectasis than non-Aboriginal Australian children. One in 40 Aboriginal children come down with the lung condition compared with one in 2,000 non-Aboriginal children.

The Northern Territory and Federal Governments have launched a new food safety program for outlying communities that suffer from one of the highest rates of food-borne illness in the country, which Health Minister Jane Aagaard attributes to the region’s climate and isolation. The program, which aims to benefit remote Aboriginal communities, features a video demonstrating optimal food storage, handling and preparation procedures.

In a bid to gain Aboriginal support in the upcoming elections, Tasmania’s Liberal Party has made several promises, should they be elected. First, they have promised to appoint three reconciliation officers, one each to the south, north and northwest regions. In addition, they have vowed to meet at least twice a year with Aboriginal elders, the land council and the regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

A $30 million partnership between the Durri and Birapi Aboriginal medical services, Mid-North Coast Area Health and the federal and state governments was signed on June 27. The agreement will apply Commonwealth funding to such indigenous health problems as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and renal failure. At present, life expectancy rates for Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders are 19 to 20 years lower than that for other Australians, and deaths from kidney failure are 8 times as great among indigenous men and 5 times as great among indigenous women.