WACHS celebrates Aboriginal leadership this NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week is held every year in June to acknowledge the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

WA Country Health Service (WACHS) is marking this year’s theme Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! by celebrating the organisation’s extraordinary Aboriginal staff and their achievements in advancing the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal communities.

Acting Chief Operating Officer Margaret Abernethy said the WA Health Aboriginal Cadetship Program was one of the ways in which the WACHS was welcoming young Aboriginal employees to the workplace.

“From building capacity in our Aboriginal workforce, to the design of health facilities and the expansion of telehealth services into remote Aboriginal communities - Aboriginal health is front and centre of WACHS’s business,” Margaret said.

Cassandra is one of the program cadets who recently completed a three-week placement in Broome with the Kimberley Population Health Unit.

She said her time there was so fulfilling she planned to complete another placement with the Kimberley team and continue her career in health in the region.

Our workers and mentors across country WA are integral to ensuring both our staff and communities are committed to the goal of closing the gap for Aboriginal people and communities.

Allied Health Assistant Melanie and Aboriginal Health Consultant Helena are just two of our passionate Aboriginal team members who are creating positive change across the Pilbara.

Helena is a Yawuru and Gija woman who says her love of family, her people and community is what drives her to develop and support cultural change as we all work together toward closing the gap.

Melanie is a Malgana and Wilman woman who helps clients across hospitals, towns, Aboriginal communities and station properties connect back to community-based services after some time in hospital.

“I love that I can help people at their most vulnerable and help lift them back on their feet again,” Melanie said.

Across regional Western Australia we’re working hard to make health services accessible and comfortable on country and close to home

Earlier this year Northam couple Josie and Derek welcomed baby Hezikiah (Zeke) with the support of the Avon Valley Midwifery Group Practice on the first day of Reconciliation Week. Josie is a Yuat Noongar woman from Northam, and Derek is a Wanmullas man from the Goldfields.

Josie and Derek are also the first couple of have three babies born with the assistance of our dedicated obstetric and midwifery team at Avon Valley Midwifery group Practice.

During NAIDOC Week, you can get to know some of our inspiring Aboriginal staff and find out more about how we’re improving Aboriginal health outcomes, by following WA Country Health Service on Facebook.