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Suicide among Australia’s Indigenous population is significantly higher than the general Australian population. Estimates suggest that, in some years, the suicide rate for Indigenous people in specific communities is as much as 40% higher than that for the Australian population as a whole. Over the past 30 years Indigenous suicide has increased, with young Indigenous males being the most at risk. From our recent travels into communities, we have come across: 1 a month, suicide or attempted in the NPY lands over the last 3 years Over 60 attempted suicides in past 12 months in a community of 450 in NT 2
We’ve been encouraging young people to use the F word (Reachout) Failure Now it’s the C word (Draft National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social Emotional Wellbeing 2014-2019) Connection If we accept that ‘Connection’ is the key to good mental health, it becomes clear that those we need to reach most are the Dis connected, Disengaged, the Marginalised – the most Vulnerable. 3
But how…? Connection @ Human level – person to person / within a family group / as a member of the broader community / as peers… Technological level – the new way to connect… SMS, Facebook, AirG … skype … THE INTERNET… national network of community Hubs, sharing… 4
Our purpose: Co-creating knowledge to transform lives. Hitnet empowers marginalized communities by co-creating and disseminating culturally targeted information through an evolving digital eco-system. Our approach: Our approach recognises that a community that actively participates in the process of identifying and resolving its ongoing challenges, maintains its sovereignty and becomes empowered, even while it remains remote. About Hitnet: Hitnet is an innovative Australian ‘Media for Development’ social enterprise. We were originally an action-research project within the Uni of QLD. Over the past decade we have developed expertise in the design and development of culturally appropriate health promotion resources, working with remote and indigenous communities co-creating digital content specific to their needs. Our values Our values guide each and every decision, and the organisations and people we choose to partner with, as we work together to 5
fulfill our purpose. We are… Open-hearted and open-minded. . We’re generous with our knowledge, ideas and connections, as our partners are with us. Playful yet serious. The stories and information we share through our community hubs tackle serious problems with a playful approach, and that’s why they leave their mark. Passionately inventive. When traditional and cultural knowledge take their rightful place alongside innovative learning, literacy improves and our work transforms lives. Technologists at heart. While technology is the backbone of our business, it’s also the key to unlocking the digital divide and to creatively engagin g the next generation. Committed to co-creation. We’re dedicated to co -creating knowledge in each and every community in need. Together we identify the problems, and together we create the solutions. 5
With a nationwide network of 60 touchscreen kiosks in some of Australia’s most remote areas. The back-end support systems and network capacity are established and available to accommodate further expansion Connect across the nation but regionally connected with sharing stories In 2013, our network received over 60,000 real uses (not random) with nearly 70% of people seeking information being young people, with an even split between male and female. 6
At the community hub level, this is the digital eco-system that will be established to enable personal connection Build Wi-Fi hotsopts into new Community Hubs as they are rolled out – culturally appropriate websites and apps Ties in with Telstra’s plan to build more than 8000 Wi -Fi hotspots around the country 7
In the spirit of invention we’ve received feedback from communities, we are now developing an outdoor, mobile kiosk. Meet Max – the tough outdoorsy type He has: · Large capacity, rechargeable, battery operation for up to 12 hours continual use · Sunlight readable, low power, touch monitor 8
· Stereo sound (water proof speakers) · Integrated, large diameter wheels to enable the unit to be easily moved around (even over rough surfaces) · Designed to withstand general rain and dust ingress · Optional, unique, weather shelter (provides additional sun and rain protection) If you have ideas or suggestions about our design, we would love to hear them. 8
With Dr Ernest Hunter (QH Cape York Psychiatrist for 20+ years) as Hitnet’s founder 12 years ago, mental health has always been a focus of much of the content we distribute across the national network. Here is a snapshot of some of our mental health productions, including: - beyondblue’s Stories for Keeping Strong -Bulur Yealamucka, Healing Spirit – made with the Yarrabah community in FNQ -Free the Warriors – made with former prisoners who give advice to current inmates and those thinking about it! -Frame of Mind – music mental health workshops -Ibobbly – youth suicide prevention app for tablets, created with BDI – currently being piloted in the Kimberley -Partners in Recovery – mental health community program in FNQ -Napranum Here We Go – hip hop music production with mental health workshop -Strong Choices – Cybersafety song by B2M in Tiwi Islands Frame of Mind addresses the vulnerabilities of disengaged youth by building resilience skills through intergenerational and peer participation processes. Targeting young people in their home community, the initiative focuses on providing the understanding and skills required for young people to support their 9
peers in dealing with the pressures of substance use. Framed around community-based media production and social representation, HITnet convenes a 4 day workshop for marginalised youth, featuring the Indigenous Hip Hop Project. This builds on value systems and culture to deliver a locally developed, ‘life promotion and suicide prevention’ music video for deployment to the local Hitnet Hub, and later, others on HITnet’s national network, YouTube and Hitnet’s virtual kiosk. 9
How is Hitnet able to connect in ways that others can’t? The technical: Digital ecosystem / multiplatform / WiFi /mobiles / Max’s / Apps… Formalising cybersafety as part of implementation of new technologies by Hitnet – ACMA Cybersafety workshops as Community Hubs are rolled out. The human: We make it sexy! Film crews, music videos, jobs, fun… and learning. Community-led projects Participation in the creative process 10
Supports Participants, Practitioners, Provocateurs model: Participants – activities: using HITnet Community Hub to access culturally appropriate interactive digital media. User-generated content uploaded to local Hub via Wi-Fi hotspot Practitioners – activities: Community Hubs can showcase their content development nationally Provocateurs – activities: local job creation in supporting the Community Hub 11
It’s our wish to connect and collaborate with partners all over the country who want the same as we do - digitally savvy, healthy, vibrant communities. We have a vision for Indigenous Australia – 50 co-created community productions distributed through 350 community hubs reaching 500,000 people daily within 5 years. 12
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