Cuz Congress

The Cuz Congress website serves as an interactive, informational portal for Australian Aboriginal youth in search of opportunities for dialogue or help about various issues. Much of the information is Australia-specific - telephone helplines and local help centres and services (e.g., medical clinics, women's health, men's health, and youth programmes) are detailed here, for instance. Other information might be applicable to any adolescent (Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal) anywhere.

Though dealing with serious issues, such as suicide, this portal is characterised by an entertaining, colourful logo and tone. The superhero character graces each page of the website, and is featured on products such as Cuz Congress t-shirts and "Cover Your Tracks" (an HIV video resource).

For example, the "Sorting Stuff Out" section offers resources for Aboriginal youth in the areas of drugs and alcohol, eating disorders, family issues, friends and relationships, loss and grief, managing independence, safety and violence, education, sex and pregnancy, and sexuality. The narrative begins, "Everyone goes through tough times and in this section you will find heaps of information about different issues that may get you down, some suggestions for how you can work through them yourself and links to websites that may have more info. Content is broken into different streams so whether you are dealing with depression, having a fight with a friend or just struggling with life you can check out one of the issue streams below and click on a relevant fact sheet." A "Finding Help" link here offers emergency helpline numbers: Lifeline: 131 114 (cost of a local call) or Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800 (free call for people under 18).

Part of the Cuz Congress website - "Chilling Out" - links visitors to an initiative called "Reach Out!" which is a collaboration with the Inspire Foundation. Launched in March 1998 as a specific youth suicide prevention initiative, Reach Out! has broadened its web-based work to help young people going through "tough times" to access information that is often stigmatised and personal. While Reach Out! does not offer online counselling, the information and interactive features on Reach Out! are designed to be first steps to help young people working through difficulties themselves, and to direct them to further assistance if they choose to seek it. The service also reaches out to young people directly via a national Secondary Schools face-to-face programme (including the Reach Out! Rural and Regional Tour) and a regular spot on national youth radio station Triple J. This section of the Cuz Congress website offers stories from teens who are coping with various illnesses and issues. Here, youth may subscribe to Reach Out!'s email newsletter - RAW. They may interact with peers about such issues as exam stress, confidentiality, and loneliness.

Youth, Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS, Suicide and Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Education, Conflict and Violence.

Initiated in June 1973, the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress describes itself as "an organisation of Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people, controlled by Aboriginal people." Congress works for the health of Aboriginal people by:

• providing comprehensive primary health care for Aboriginal people
• educating Aboriginal health workers
• helping other Aboriginal communities take control of their health matters, and
• acting as "a political advocate for our people, and speaking out on matters affecting our health."

The organisation "would welcome the opportunity to license this [Cuz Congress] concept to other Indigenous health services throughout the world."