Professional development is key to closing the Aboriginal healthcare gap for Oceania Harris

After three years of hard work, Aboriginal Liaison Officer Oceania Harris has completed her Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health.

In May, Oceania travelled to Sydney to accept her well-deserved diploma. Now she’s back in the South West using her new skills to further support health equity for Aboriginal communities.

As an Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Oceania’s role includes following-up with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients who present to emergency departments (EDs) in Busselton, Margaret River and Augusta.

“I provide referrals and support to people presenting to ED,” Oceania said.

“I link them in with what they need – child and maternal services, physios, social workers – my role is across the board, supporting patients from birth to end-of-life.”

A wealth of knowledge, Oceania is also registered as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner under APHRA, having worked at the South West Aboriginal Medical Service for five years before joining our team.

Undeterred by an already busy schedule of working and being a single mother of five, Oceania is always looking to upskill to help her community.

“I am driven by Aboriginal health, my goal and my passion is Aboriginal health, and I love that I get to do what I love,” she said.

“Every day, I get to come to work and deal with patients. But they’re not just patients, they’re family.

“The community know they can come to me because I know them and have built relationships with them.”

Oceania also said she was grateful for the support of her team and WA Country Health Service during her studies.

“When I first came into the job, I advised my line manager that I was currently still studying, and it would benefit me, the team and the organisation in the long run.