Aboriginal health

Aboriginal people continue to experience significant health disadvantage, illustrated by a ten-year gap in average life expectancy compared to non-Indigenous Australians – 11.5 years for males and 9.7 years for females (AIHW 2011).

St John of God Health Care is committed to working with Aboriginal people and communities to improve health and wellbeing by operating services and partnering with other organisations.

Our Aboriginal health services place strong emphasis on families, communities, children and youth.

Several of our divisions operate Social Outreach and Advocacy Services which have specific aims to improve health outcomes by walking alongside Aboriginal communities to develop their capacity to manage better health outcomes.

Our current contribution to improving Aboriginal health outcomes includes:

• Strong Family, Strong Culture: Helping pregnant Aboriginal women and families with young children improve maternal and child health; covering communities across the Mid West, Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia.
• South West Community Drug Service Team: Operates services for Aboriginal people with substance use issues across the southwest of Western Australia, tailored specifically for men, women, young people and Elders. The service is based in Bunbury and also seeks to improve access to hospital care for Aboriginal people.
• Mental Health Outreach Service, Warrnambool: One of the community-based mental health services provided by St John of God Hospital, Warrnambool works specifically with Aboriginal people, improving access to mental health in a setting that is comfortable and free from stigmatisation.
• St John of God Hospital Bendigo: Provides a regular diabetes and endocrine specialist Indigenous clinic in collaboration with the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative. The Endocrinologist and Diabetes Educator also travel to a monthly clinic at Swan Hill and Horsham. The clinic was recently provided with a 'Felt Man', which is an Indigenous resource to assist with Diabetes education in indigenous communities.
• Murdoch Community Mental Health: Social and emotional wellbeing family support workers provide specific Indigenous support at South Lake Ottey Family and Neighbourhood Centre, St Patrick's Community Service Centre and City of Cockburn Youth Centre. Assistance and advocacy ranges in age (from birth to elders) and from individuals to families.
• Horizon House Broome: Providing long-term accommodation and support for Aboriginal boys and young men who are in need of a stable home in Broome, Western Australia.

As well as operating the above services, Social Outreach and Advocacy teams in Bunbury and Murdoch have been instrumental as the lead agencies in the South West Aboriginal Health Workers Forum and the Aboriginal Women’s Health Forum (south metropolitan Perth) respectively.