Celebrating 50 Years of Deadly at Grace Vaughan House

Earlier this week our Central Office teams, and staff visiting from the regions, gathered at Grace Vaughan House for National NAIDOC Week celebrations.

Staff were Welcomed to Country by Noongar Elder Neville Collard who gave heart-felt speech, calling on health services to continue to work in reducing health disparities for Aboriginal people.

Mr Collard also shared some enlightening historical information on the area and its surrounds, explaining that the wetlands were important camping and seasonal gathering places for Noongar people, where turtles were often hunted.

Local Noongar dance group, the Bigarrda Cultural Dance and Digeridoo Performers shared some traditional dance pieces, including the yongka (kangaroo) and wetj (emu) dances.

WA Country Health Service Chief Operating Officer John Quinn then spoke in recognition of the immense efforts of Aboriginal health professionals across WA Country Health Service and how together we must continue to work towards genuine reconciliation.

To close the event, WA Country Health Service Director Aboriginal Health Strategy Russell Simpson gave a poignant speech, discussing the hard-fought journey of Aboriginal people over the last 50 years (and before) and shared how several of those present – including himself – were old enough to remember a time when Aboriginal people were not considered citizens – the significance of which was not lost on staff.

Mr Simpson concluded his speech by emphasising that a successful health service must be designed so everyone can navigate, understand and access the care they need.

The event provided all in attendance with a renewed sense of purpose in our collective mission of ensuring healthcare is equitable, respectful and responsive to the needs and diversity of Aboriginal people.

We would like to thank the NAIDOC Central Office Working Group for organising such a successful event – your efforts were well and truly – Deadly!