This award is to acknowledge outstanding service to Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander health consumers. The candidates can be an Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander person or organisation.
Aboriginal Health Team
This holistic services offers a range of health services and screening in one clinic. There are 9 locations for this innovative service. There are also 4 playgroups across the metropolitan offered after consulting with consumers. The purpose of the playgroup is to get the children ready for school, plus empower the mothers, assist the mums to read to their children, plus mimic the activities utilised each week.
Boodjari Yorgas Family Care Program
The Boodjari Yorgas family care group, including its Aboriginal Grandmothers, are involved on a daily basis with Aboriginal women and their families as ‘consumers’ of maternity care, making sure their needs are met, that they are able to attend appointments, and have a consistent person available to them to answer questions and help them negotiate the, often complex, maternity care system.
Christine Parry | Boodjari Yorgas Family Care Program
Christine Parry has been part of the Moort Boodjari Yorga’s antenatal program since its beginning. Christine’s knowledge is exceptional, and she has contributed to improving non- Aboriginal health professionals cultural understanding of women’s needs and that her Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal colleagues are able to effectively work within the health system to care for Aboriginal women during the important events of pregnancy, birth and early parenting.
Kerri Colgate | St John of God Midland
While patients are in hospital Kerri supports staff to deliver a culturally safe model of care. In addition, Kerri creates relationships between the hospital and community service providers to ensure people get what they need after discharge back into the community. She maintains contact once people have been discharged and supports people to understand their health and how to stay well.
Living Improvements For Everyone (L.I.F.E)
The Chronic Disease Self-Management Living Improvements for Everyone (L.I.F.E) Program objective is to improve the capacity and participation of Aboriginal people in Metropolitan region of Perth in the self- management of chronic disease. This is achieved through the delivery of the LIFE course and culturally secure training and education programs to increase knowledge of chronic disease management for health care professionals and community members.
Leah Bonson | Child and Adolescent Health Service
Leah has worked tirelessly to support the Child and Adolescent Health Service to be more culturally supportive of Aboriginal patients, with a focus on supporting the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
Peter Humphries and Natasha Garlett | Aboriginal Health Liaison Officers, East Metro Health Service
The liaison officers in the LIFE program both Peter and Natasha provide support to improve Aboriginal health by working with the Aboriginal community and other relevant agencies. They do this effectively by treating consumers with dignity and respect. They share information and knowledge with skill and care. As LIFE Program facilitators they have a wonderful rapport with participants based upon respect and sharing of information in a culturally appropriate way. The partnership between facilitator and consumer is a two-way learning that is professionally embraced.
WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program
The creation of this resource in partnership with Aboriginal women from across WA has ensured that relevant, timely, culturally appropriate and user friendly information is utilised in the educational strategies targeted to this consumer group. It results in a better understanding of health risks and greater acceptance of cervical cancer prevention strategies for this group of women.