As we Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! this NAIDOC Week, we celebrate the histories, cultures, and achievements of First Nations peoples.
We know that Aboriginal people remain disadvantaged in accessing health services and experience significantly disparate health and wellbeing outcomes. In Western Australia 75,976 people identify as Aboriginal and of those, one third live in the Perth area, whilst the remaining two thirds reside in regional and remote areas, with very high proportions in the Kimberley.
Improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people is a priority for WA Primary Health Alliance. We have embedded a focus on Aboriginal people and Aboriginal health across our organisation to activate our commitment to closing the gap in health outcomes for Aboriginal people.
This includes Cultural Competency and Capability Frameworks, currently in development, to increase access to culturally competent and safe primary health care services, our recently launched Innovate RAP, and our Aboriginal Health Strategy, soon to be launched.
We are investing in programs and services that are culturally appropriate for Aboriginal people and consider the unique needs they have. Commissioning the right balance of services that provide culturally appropriate clinical treatment, improve social and emotional wellbeing, and maintain connection to culture throughout the healthcare journey is critical.
Throughout history Aboriginal people have a proud history of getting up, standing up and showing up to fight for their rights, their land and their culture. Now is the time for us all to come together and amplify our voices to bring about this much needed change.
Find out more about our work in Aboriginal health.
Integrated Team Care supporting Aboriginal people throughout Western Australia
Our flagship Integrated Team Care (ITC) program helps Aboriginal people to better coordinate the management of their chronic condition and improve their access to support and other services.
Boab Health delivers the ITC program in the Kimberley. They support Aboriginal people with complex chronic care needs to improve self-management of their condition in partnership with their GP.
Recently, one of the ITC team conducted a home visit to a client’s home. After assessing his situation and yarning with him, they discovered he had not been able to read anything for three years. Through booking him an eye care appointment, he received new glasses and is now very grateful to be able to read again.
Another member of the ITC team supported a gentleman from Beagle Bay to get a much-needed sleep study, organising accommodation and appointments. After being diagnosed with severe sleep apnoea, he now has a CPAP machine and is sleeping much better and is no longer tired all the time.