- Support for Gudjaga Gunyahlamai Birth Centre and Community Hub
- Good News Story: Aboriginal clinician Darryle Barnes is changing Indigenous health outcomes one GP visit at a time
- Push for MBS health assessment eligibility for all ages
- New study to improve health literacy in NSW prisons
- Waminda celebrates 40th Anniversary with Yilaag Marring Family Fun Day
- Sector Jobs
The NACCHO Sector News is a platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.
We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.
Support for Gudjaga Gunyahlamai Birth Centre and Community Hub
The South Coast Women’s Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation (Waminda) Gudjaga Gunyahlamai Birth Centre and Community Hub in Nowra will receive $45.5 million over seven years from the state government to support culturally safe holistic maternity care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their families in the South Coast region.
Birthing on Country supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their babies by providing culturally safe continuity of midwifery care through the pregnancy, from antenatal to birthing to postnatal support.
Waminda’s Minga Gudjaga and Birthing on Country Manager, Melanie Briggs, thanked all levels of government for their commitment to Birthing on Country which will “implement and improve the maternal and neonatal outcomes for Aboriginal families on the south coast of NSW”.
“The life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people will be significantly improved through care that is culturally safe and respectful through Waminda’s Birthing on Country initiative,” she said.
“Waminda are honoured to continue our ancestors’ dreams for birthing that is woman centred, sacred and honours LORE and culture at its core.
“Waminda’s Birthing on Country initiative is a key milestone for increasing the First Nations workforce that will fundamentally enhance generational wealth and sustainability for our people.”
To read more, go here.
Nowra’s Waminda Gudjaga Gunyahlamai Birth Centre and Community Hub will receive $45.5 million from the NSW government to support culturally safe holistic maternity care for Aboriginal women and their families in the South Coast region. (Image: Waminda).
Aboriginal clinician Darryle Barnes is changing Indigenous health outcomes one GP visit at a time
After almost 20 years as a registered nurse, proud Barkindji man and Aboriginal clinician Darryle Barnes is now behind a push to close the gap in health outcomes for Indigenous communities in South Australia’s Riverland region. Mr Barnes has been at the helm of the Riverland’s only dedicated Aboriginal Health Clinic as team leader and nurse unit manager for 18 months. Mr Barnes has been at the helm of the Riverland’s only dedicated Aboriginal Health Clinic as team leader and nurse unit manager for 18 months.
Since Mr Barnes started working with the clinic the number of healthcare services available to First Nations people has increased by 30%. His self-described “takeaway menu” of health care includes more than 13 services such as podiatry, physiotherapy, rehabilitation services, diabetes, hearing, and social work clinics.
For local First Nations people, the efforts of Mr Barnes and his team to expand the availability of culturally safe health services in the Riverland have not gone unnoticed.
Nganguraku and Ngintait woman Sheryl Giles said the clinic was playing a vital role in “breaking down barriers” for local Aboriginal people seeking healthcare in the region.
“I now have people who understand and are culturally aware. The fact it is run by an Aboriginal, at the Aboriginal Health Clinic in Barmera, is a blessing,” she said.
To read more, go here.
Sheryl Giles says Darryle Barnes has managed to put a “cultural lens” on the health care he and his team are providing in the Riverland. (ABC Riverland: Will Hunter).
Push for MBS health assessment eligibility for all ages
As recommendations from the 2020 MBS Review Taskforce continue to be investigated, the RACGP has submitted its thoughts on the latest review of health assessment items and called for eligibility to be expanded.
In a submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the college stated ‘health assessments should be available to patients of all ages, with recommended intervals varying depending on healthcare need’.
It has also recommended expanding target groups for time-based assessments, and ensuring item 715 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments align with the NACCHO-RACGP National Guide.
To read more, go here.
New study to improve health literacy in NSW prisons
People in NSW prisons, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, have poorer health outcomes and lower health literacy than those in the broader community, according to recent research. Numerous studies have found that people in NSW prisons have higher rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases compared to the general population, including mental health conditions, Hepatitis A, B and C, HIV, drug and alcohol disorders, asthma, cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.
The landmark study is being delivered in partnership with the Swinburne University of Technology Centre for Global Health and Equity, as one of nine projects funded through the NSW Health Translational Research Grants Scheme (TRGS). The study aims to develop solutions that will provide people in NSW Correctional Centres with better and more equitable access to health information and services.
To read more, go here.
Image source: The Daily Aus.
Waminda celebrates 40th Anniversary with Yilaag Marring Family Fun Day
South Coast Women’s Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation (Waminda) 40th Anniversary celebrations continue with its Yilaag Marring Family Fun Day.
“The family fun day is all about celebrating 40 years of Waminda,” said Cleone Wellington, Waminda’s chief executive leader.
“It is about bringing our community together, having families come together to celebrate everything that Waminda is, and have a really fun day.”
To read more, go here.
Waminda’s chief executive leader Cleone Wellington and Senior Balaang and Birthing Country manager Melanie Briggs. Picture by Abi Kirkland.
Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.
Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.
