Halfway point for the Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015 a comprehensive blueprint was outlined by all United Nations member states to build a world where we could all thrive, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). The 17 goals were an urgent call for action, centred on calling on global partnership to address these challenging goals worldwide.  This weekend marks the half-way mark for the goals at the SDG summit. While we are a small not-for-profit, we still believe in making worldwide impact so that all people can flourish. Our approach to working with communities focusses on place-based approaches to building community partnerships (with our community media expertise) so we align strongly with the SDGs. In partnership with WickedLab, we recently conducted a contribution analysis of our HCR projects in Australia and then wider with our HCR family around the world (with our global partners Amplifying Voices) to analyse what goals we are working towards collectively in all our projects.

As highlighted, we are working across majority of the goals, however, global partnerships remain key for all our projects. Working together is how we aim to help build healthier communities for all. We look forward to the re-alignment of the global goals during the upcoming summit and call on more global partnership so all can thrive around the world.

Meeka Wellbeing Stories

By Celeste Larkins

Last year, we spent some time in Meekatharra working with the community to develop local radio and video messages around what locals do to stay mentally healthy. The project was led by the Shire of Meekatharra, funded by the WA Primary Health Alliance. We met with a range of local people from Shire workers to the local dog walking group, among others. The Meekatharra Shire recently launched the videos through their social media channels and can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@theshireofmeekatharra7054

The local newspaper also did a write up on the project which you can read here!

Sam & Jo, Meekatharra locals, share how they stay mentally healthy.

Building positive culture

By Dane Waters

Over the summer break I was provided with an opportunity to participate in some extremely valuable extended governance training. One of the key learnings was the importance of good culture in organisations, which is set by leadership. As someone who works as a community development practitioner aiming to help build healthier communities with community media, building positive culture is core business, so it was encouraging to see that filter into the business world. 

Definition: culture:  the ideas, customs and social behaviours of a community

So, what happens when the cultural social norms of a community are not positive? As a practitioner who advocates for building from the grass roots up, is there a role to speak/ advocate for positive change, particularly if this is not coming directly from the grass roots level?

I am privileged with education and consider it a tool that I can help use to support communities. Sometimes this means helping directly educate and challenge harmful social norms. While it’s not a naturally comfortable role for me, we definitely have a role to play if the system is not enabling healthy communities. Community media is a wonderful tool for these important discussions on positive social norms and we will continue to help communities continue the discussions and build positive culture. #learning

Empower...

Empower: make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights.

Empowerment has often been used as a “buzz” word in the health promotion/community development sector. While there is considerable discourse (which I won’t explore extensively in this post) as to whether this is a process of giving power, or whether it’s equipping the power the person already has, the end goal is people becoming stronger and more confident to make changes or take actions to improve the own health and the health of their community. Community media is a powerful tool to make this process happen. 

I was recently training a group of community development students about how community media can be a tool to help build stronger and healthier communities. It’s always rewarding seeing new people engage with media for the first time. It usually starts with hesitancy and nervousness about being recorded, however, after support they usually agree with “I’ll give it a go, but please don’t actually use it on radio.” Once recorded we show how the content can help the community, with participants usually saying, “wow that’s a very powerful piece of audio. You can use it because I want to help my community."

This group chose to produce a radio message about mental health because they saw it as the most important issue that they want to address in their community. To me seeing that journey over just one hour reminds me how powerful community media can be and to me that’s empowerment.

We want to empower more people to use community media to build healthier communities.

Closing the Gap

By Dane Waters

In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience significant differences in health indicators when compared to non-Indigenous people. This “gap” has driven focus under the “Closing the Gap” program to ensure that all Australians experience equality in health and life expectancy by 2031. We at HCR want to see all people flourish and live long and healthy lives which is why we are so passionate about walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations to help close this gap. Community media can be an important tool to raise Aboriginal* voices and why we are training and supporting Aboriginal organisations to help drive positive changes to ensure all experience equality in health. The latest “report card” has shown some progress, however, clearly shows we still have a way to go to reach equality. Life expectancy is often used as a measure that people are enjoying long and healthy lives. In July 2022, nationally, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are expected to live to 71.6 years for males (whereas 80.2 years for non-Indigenous males) and female 75.6 years (83.4 years for non-Indigenous females). This gap has improved since 2005-2007 when the gap was 11.4 years for males (now 8.6 years) and females were 9.6 years (now 7.8 years), however, we are not closing the gap fast enough. We are encouraged by the national dialogue about closing the gap faster and keen to continue to support positive change from the grass roots through community media. 

For more about the latest on Closing the Gap, see the annual data report:

https://www.pc.gov.au/closing-the-gap-data/annual-data-report/report/closing-the-gap-annual-data-compilation-report-july2022.pdf

*we use Aboriginal as we have been advised it is the preferred term for our local partners in the Mid West, Western Australia, but acknowledge this includes all Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander people.

World Maternal Mental Health Day

By Celeste Larkins

With the support of the Statewide Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Program, we have recently been working with local Geraldton parents who are expecting or who have a new baby to share their experience to help other parents, particularly at the moment as services are limited due to COVID-19. The project, which was launched on World Maternal Mental Health Day (May 4th) supported parents to record video and audio messages for broadcast on Facebook and local community Aboriginal radio station, Radio MAMA. They aim to help Geraldton parents identify self-care strategies, know where they can access help and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness as a new parent. With the support of local stakeholders, the project is continuing to include more local parents and service providers as well.  

Local Geraldton mum, Chelsea, with her 12 week old baby, who was involved in the project.

The importance of time

By Dane Waters

Community media has shown to be a powerful tool to help build communities, as it enables communities to talk, listen and then develop strategies to take action to build healthier communities. This is why we are so passionate about training communities to use community media in their own community. An important reminder though is that the underlying foundations of any community development strategy is built on relationships and trust. 

I was reminded of this recently, when a community service asked me to attend a workshop and assist with producing community media product to support a mental health project. While it had been a particularly busy time with many deadlines, I committed as we always try to say yes, and the task should have only taken 20-30 minutes. On arrival all training participants were hesitant and did not want to be involved, so instead I became involved in the workshop and spent time building relationships with those there. As the afternoon progressed all the participants felt it was a worthy project and then participated in developing community media messages to help the community with mental health. Even though it then took 2.5 hours, it was definitely worth it.

Giving time is key to building relationships which is foundational to community development. 

TV stars wanted for epic 6-day adventure

We have an exciting update! Health Communication Resources is working with the Producers of Australia’s newest travel TV series ‘Adventure All Stars’ to find cast members! We’re looking for people (living in Australia) to undertake an unforgettable journey to a secret Aussie location for a week of fun and adventure (filmed in 2022). How would you like to star in an award-winning TV show that’s broadcast in 25 countries to a viewership approaching 100 million people... andfundraise for a great cause?

BONUS: net proceeds from this TV project will support Health Communication Resources.

The trip, the TV show and all the fun in between!

Every episode in this ground-breaking television series features real-life cast members undertaking an unforgettable 6-day journey. Pre-filming all participants raise funds for Health Communication Resources, and their reward for doing so is a starring role on TV. ‘Adventure All Stars’ is the ultimate road trip where TV viewers get to experience incredible locations through the eyes of an engaging cast.

Produced by the internationally acclaimed Charity TV Global, this media format provides a platform to see the world and be socially responsible.

Watch this exciting 60-second video below for a snapshot of the life-changing adventure YOU could be in for! 

View testimonials from past TV cast here: https://vimeo.com/402060509

How do I become a TV Cast Member on Adventure All Stars?

Visit www.AdventureAllStars.tv and complete a TV Cast Member application form.

New names for old friends

To kick off a new year, we’ve changed some things around here. As of 1 January 2021, our HCR teams in the UK and Pakistan are operating as ‘Amplifying Voices’. Our Australian team will continue to be known as Health Communication Resources, and we continue to work together as an international family.

The Amplifying Voices teams have got a new name, new logo, new colours, new websites, and new stories! But why the change?

Health Communication Resources (HCR) was founded in 1996 as a health promotion organisation. The WHO defines health promotion as "the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health”. You could say, health promotion is amplifying voices - its what we've always done! The names Health Communication Resources and HCR have a well-established history among Australian public health service providers, and among the aboriginal communities in Western Australia where we work, so in Australia we will continue as Health Communication Resources or HCR.

However, the UK and Pakistan teams work in different contexts and had identified a need for a name that helps people to visualise how media projects help communities bring about changes in wellbeing, peacebuilding and resilience. The name ‘Amplifying Voices’ does paint a picture of communities being equipped to speak out and be heard in order to take the lead in their own development.

Different names, same family

Health Communication Resources (HCR) and Amplifying Voices (AmpVoices) continue to be part of the international HCR family.

HCR and Amplifying Voices continue to pursue our shared vision together as we seek to see communities live life in all its fullness, free from poverty, injustice, and conflict.  

Our vision and values remain unchanged, we continue to be a family sharing a common commitment: we’re taking the same approach in using community-centred media to further our mission.

Whether in Australia or elsewhere, our role is to come alongside communities and listen. It’s then we can empower people to find what media solutions work in their local contexts. We help train partners and community members on how to use tools and strategies to their full potential so that the communities themselves can champion positive social change. This is our approach in every community-centred media project.

Why focus on community-centred media?

A typical community-centred media project brings together community members, service providers, and media organisations to create content. The media content can be anything from a social media video talking about protecting our mental health to an informal chat where a community member shares their story. It’s designed to tackle issues that are raised by the community. This, in turn, gets people talking about their ideas and opinions and helps people hear others’ hopes and concerns. 

Our partners then use trusted communication channels to broadcast or distribute the content, to help them play a key role in mobilising inclusive, community-led initiatives. What’s important is that the community members play a key role in designing and voicing the messages and content.

Health communication happens best by amplifying community voices. Amplifying local voices is a proven, effective way to mobilise local resources for health communication.

What’s next? 

As an international family we are currently working with eight projects, where community-centred media is making a positive impact. Exciting developments are happening in each of them, and we’d love to keep you updated as part of our supporting community! You can subscribe to sign up for our monthly newsletter, or help get more people involved by clicking the share link below. Go and do the same on Amplifying Voices UK and Amplifying Voices Pakistan site.

Thanks for joining us in this new chapter of the HCR International Family.

Measuring value in complex situations

By Dane Waters

How do you evaluate whether you are making a difference? Working in the space of social change we are often working with complex issues with complex environments making evaluation challenging, even though it’s more important than ever. HCR’s approach is to build community media partnerships with community stakeholders (community organisations, community media and community members together) who then work for change together. A simple theory of change would suggest if we develop positive community media partnerships then these partnerships will help drive positive social change.*

However, how do we determine if these partnerships are adding value? A challenging question that we are continuing to ask. One way is if the community organisations report that the relationships with us at HCR are providing value. What could this look like? Possibly a simple comment from a partner that they value the partnership or evidence when the organisation or community member continues the partnership.

Recently we have had several positive indicators which suggest we are building these community partnerships in the Mid West, Western Australia. One of these was a community stakeholder who purchased tickets to a community event and asked us to come with them as their VIP because of all the assistance that we have provided to them with health promotion for the community. Another, was a nomination for a state wide award in recognition of our valued contribution and support for a young people’s mental health organisation.

While they don’t explicitly say we have made significant changes to complex issues, it does say we have community members and stakeholders who value our skills and knowledge when it comes to addressing complex health and social issues. Even more so, they value our proven commitment to helping tackle complex community issues.

(Dane pictured at the Youth Focus Make A Difference Awards Ceremony)

 *We acknowledge this is a simplification of a complex issue and doesn’t completely represent change for complex issues, however, it is written this way to help build understanding.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

All of us at HCR wish you and your families a joyous time over Christmas and New Year. Thank you for your continued support. We are looking forward to what the New Year will bring, with new and different opportunities to continue to help marginalised communities around the world.

HCR Australia staff with some of the Board at a recent meeting.

Stigma – a personal perspective!

Day 12 of #16DaysofActivism

By Shilpa Shinde

Let’s face it, India doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to valuing women! We rank 174th out of 189 on the gender inequality index.  As the leader of a small NGO I can tell you, it’s a man’s world and I have to work very hard to make my voice heard!  But the issue that has been bothering me most lately is the issue of stigma and particularly how women are affected by it.  

Take my close friend Anugrah*.  She got pregnant before marriage and was unaware that she had been carrying a child for 3 months.  She admits she was very naïve and not aware of much in those days but she was very afraid that her parents and her community would reject her.  

After she and her boyfriend discovered that Anugrah was pregnant, he secretly gave her a drug which he had been told would induce an abortion.  The effect however was to make her very ill, which raised the suspicion of her family, who eventually found out.  Anugrah and her boyfriend’s family then entered discussions and she was put under great pressure, particularly by his family, to abort the baby.  Augrah felt compelled to go through with the abortion, with the promise from her boyfriend’s family that they could get married soon afterwards.  Sadly, not only did they not keep their promise or help her through the procedure, which made her very ill, but they rejected her. They seemed more concerned for their image in society and the church.  

Anugrah was blamed for not ‘not keeping her purity’, while the son was exonerated from any blame, stigma or shame. She has endured rejection and shame from her church and community and even been kicked out of her youth group.  Many of her friends rejected her.   

Thankfully the story doesn’t end there.  Anugrah is now one of our key workers, helping our charity, Seva, serve poor and marginalised indigenous or Adivasi communities in our state.  She has amazing empathy, especially with girls and women, who suffer greatly.  And they love her… they know she feels their pain. 

Seva is a key HCR-partner in India, using a community-centred media approach to bring about holistic transformation among tribal communities (see http://www.h-c-r.org/news/2018/9/12/village-gets-a-new-voice)

*Not her real name

Women have a voice

Day 11 of #16DaysofActivism

By Johnny Fisher and Hazeen Latif

This year the UK celebrated 100 years of women being able to vote. Before that democracy was interpreted to mean “rule by the men” rather than “rule by the people”. This development has been repeated over and over again. Women around the world are be able to participate fully and equally in decision-making at community and national level. Sadly, in many communities, people are unaware of these national developments and the threat of violence is often used to prevent women from speaking out in public conversations. 

In Pakistan women do participate in public life and Pakistan is one of an increasing number of countries to have had a female prime minister. But in some Pakistani communities it would be considered offensive for a woman to engage in influential conversations at community or family level. Women who try to do so face threats of violence and exclusion. 

HCR supports a community-centred radio project in one such community. Community activists have worked together to get training and put community radio programmes on air. However, the participants in the radio work are all men. Women do participate in complementary off-air activities, and one lady, Zakia*, has been running health and hygiene workshops for women and girls. Another older lady in the community has offered her home for Zakia to run vocational groups for women and girls. The older lady said, “We have to do this, whatever the cost to me”.  Inspired by this Zakia also spoke to an HCR associate about getting involved in radio. She realised it could be very dangerous for her as it might invite repercussions from the wider community. But she believes that radio by women and girls, for women and girls would extend the benefits of the workshops to more people. Zakia said to our associate, “Someone must stand up and speak, and I will do it”. 

HCR is supporting women who want to engage in public life through radio. We are also speaking up for the many women whose voices are not heard because they have been intimidated into silence by the threat of violence.

*Not her real name

in some Pakistani communities it would be considered offensive for a woman to engage in influential conversations at community or family level.

Violence is never okay

Day 10 of #16DaysofActivism

By Dane Waters

The keystone to transformational development is building trust and relationships. At HCR we endeavour to build trust with all people we work with, as we walk alongside communities. Trust is critical and particularly highlighted when working on family violence and women’s empowerment issues. In the Mid West, Western Australia we are continually confronted with family violence issues. Women who we have built trusting relationships with, come to us in all levels of distress due to family violence. As the Family Law Act 1995 in Australia states:

Domestic and family violence occurs when someone tries to control their partner or other family members in ways that intimidate or oppress them. Controlling behaviours can include threats, humiliation (‘put downs’), emotional abuse, physical assault, sexual abuse, financial exploitation and social isolations, such as not allowing contact with family or friends.

Women who have shared their stories with us have experienced controlling behaviours from physical assault to financial exploitation, and when victims come to us we support them to seek appropriate services. All women and men need to be empowered to stand up to all types of intimidating behaviour. Alongside supporting individual women, we also work with community champions and local services to develop community media strategies to help provide critical information to those in need with regards to family violence. This includes recording and broadcasting community service announcements about services available. We are passionate about working on this issue and making a stand, because violence is never okay.

All women and men need to be empowered to stand up to all types of intimidating behaviour.

Carpet talk

Day 8 of #16DaysofActivism

 By Jon Hargreaves

“Gender inequality exists throughout Kenya, but it’s particularly bad in this part of the country,” says Harriet Atyang, the manager of HCR partner station Amani FM in Tana River.   In many situations Harriet says women are subjected to abuse and violence, but it is rarely reported, as it seen as a cultural norm. 

Recounting a story where one young girl was given by her parents to an old man, Harriet said, “A woman is often seen as a man’s property.  Many men see the role of women is purely to give birth and look after the home, but they don’t have a voice and are left out of decision-making.” 

It is for that reason that Amani FM has many programmes to promote change like “Jamvi la mwanamke jasiri”, or ‘Carpet Talk’. The idea is that the carpet is a place where people can sit and feel comfortable and confident to share their concerns.  By airing women’s stories, Amani FM is starting a community conversation and they find that men are engaging positively with the issue too.   With the help of other Non-Government Organisations and counselling services, the station is helping women to find help and making the community aware of their rights. 

“Judging by the number of calls we are getting to the programmes, we are having an effect.  Many are calling in and really opening up with their personal stories,” says Harriet. “It is going to take time, but however long it takes, we are going to keeping working with communities and other stakeholders to bring about the change that is needed.”

Harriet and Esther from Amani FM interview community members.

Women: The Givers of Life

Day 7 of #16DaysofActivism

By Celeste Larkins

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience higher rates of family violence than in the general population. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s 2018 report found Indigenous women were 32 times as likely to be hospitalised due to family and domestic violence than non-Indigenous women. Indigenous women are also less likely to report abuse. 

Indigenous people in Australia often have higher risk factors for family violence such as poor housing and overcrowding, financial difficulties, unemployment and social stressors. However, it needs to be clear that the perpetrators of this violence are both Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners.

Recently, an Aboriginal Elder spoke to me of his concerns of violence against women in the community. It saddened him, as traditional Aboriginal culture respects women as the givers of life, as nurturers, the same way Mother Nature gives and nurtures us. Both should be respected.

However, it’s evident after not only speaking with this Elder, but many more communities across the Mid West and Gascoyne of Western Australia, that the intergenerational trauma of the invasion of Australia has caused a major impact on the life and culture of the one of the oldest cultures in the world.

At HCR we work with Aboriginal communities to support them to develop their own health messages and campaigns which help deal with many of the risk factors for domestic and family violence. This approach allows local people to share their knowledge in a culturally relevant way for their local community.  

At HCR we work with Aboriginal people and support them to use their local knowledge, culture and language to develop health campaigns for their local community.