At Health Consumers’ Council WA, we’re committed to representing the voices of health consumers across our vast state. So this month, Tania Harris and I travelled to the East Kimberley to connect with community members, health service providers, and local leaders about what matters most when it comes to healthcare in the region.
We joined the WACHS Kununurra Hospital team at the local agricultural show — a vibrant community event that gave us the chance to hear directly from locals. We also had the privilege of meeting with services doing vital work, including the Wyndham Aboriginal Youth Corporation, where Neville and his team are helping young people craft strong, purposeful futures. We met with the Nurse Partnership Program about their work supporting new mums on their journey through early motherhood, including the role of peer workers, to support people to have the best start in life. We also met the team at Kimberley Legal Service where we heard about their innovative program that combines legal support with social work support to provide a holistic service.
It was great to hear about the many strengths in the region — including the deep relationships between local health services — we also heard about the ongoing challenges for people in the region when accessing healthcare. For many, this can mean long trips to Perth, navigating unfamiliar hospital environments, far from family and Country. Many of us know how important the support is from family or loved ones to our healing and healthcare experience.
This visit reminded us once again how critical it is that regional voices are heard in state-level decisions. We remain committed to amplifying those voices as we advocate to health leaders across WA.
To those already speaking up — as consumer reps, members of District Health Advisory Councils, or community advocates — thank you. Your insights guide our work. Please reach out if there’s more we can do to support you.
Clare Mullen | Executive Director
Media enquiries: 0488 701 839 | info@hconc.org.au