Key Result Area Guideline 1:
Establish and maintain relationships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and services
- Creating a welcoming environment
- Acknowledging and respecting Aboriginal history and culture
- Involving Aboriginal people in governance and advisory roles and processes
- Partnerships with Aboriginal organisations
- Identifying relevant Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in your area
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations: their history and role
Creating a welcoming environment
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people often do not feel welcome in mainstream health services.
Health services can start to make the environment more welcoming for Aboriginal patients in small, inexpensive ways.
Good ideas
Ask VACCHO for health posters (pay for postage) to hang in areas where Aboriginal patients are likely to go, especially entry foyers and waiting rooms Tel: 03 9419 3350 www.vaccho.org.au
Commission a local Aboriginal artist to paint, sculpt or weave a work for a specific area in the hospital - your local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation will put you in touch with local artists. For a map showing most Victorian Aboriginal organisations, go to http://www.aboriginalaffairs.vic.gov.au/web7/aavmain.nsf/HeadingPagesDisplay/Contact+us
Join the Koorie Heritage Trust, support Aboriginal artists and purchase posters and artwork. Ask about art from your local area. Tel: 03 8622 2600 www.koorieheritagetrust.com Membership price for Organisations:
Participate in NAIDOC Week * by mounting a display of Aboriginal art, holding a forum on Aboriginal health or inviting local elders for morning tea with senior staff
*National Aboriginal & Islander Day Of Commemoration Week - usually held in Victoria end of June/early July. To learn more, go to http://www.vals.org.au/faqs/naidoc.htm
For NAIDOC Week history, go to http://www.naidoc.org.au/history/default.aspx
Plan an event with local Aboriginal people to mark Reconciliation Week at the end of May /early June, and the National Day of Healing on 26 May (formerly Sorry Day), such as a flag-raising, artwork unveiling or the launch of a health project.
Subscribe to the Koori Mail newspaper and place copies in waiting areas
One year subscription (25 copies) costs $65.00
Subscribe online www.koorimail.com
Show films and videos about Aboriginal culture in waiting rooms. Educational and training resources are available at the Koorie Heritage Trust and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Studies at http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/audiovisual_archives
Hang a framed copy of the Victorian Parliament's apology to Aboriginal people for the Stolen Generations (passed on 17 September 1997) in a prominent place in the hospital
That this house apologises to the Aboriginal people on behalf of all Victorians for the past policies under which Aboriginal children were removed from their families and expresses deep regret at the hurt and distress this has caused and reaffirms its support for reconciliation between all Australians.
Full text of Parliamentary speeches.
For background on the apology see http://www.hreoc.gov.au/Social_Justice/bth_report/index.html
Ask your local State Member of Parliament (MLA) for a copy of the apology. For a listing of Lower House MPs by district, go to http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/mlas1.html
Display a copy of the Constitution (Recognition of Aboriginal People) Act 2004, passed by the Victorian Parliament. Click here to go to a copy: constitutionalamendment04.pdf
Fly the Aboriginal flag (and a Torres Strait flag if appropriate) at each campus of the health service
For information about the Aboriginal flag go to http://www.ausflag.com.au/aboriginal_flag.htm
For information about the Torres Strait Island flag go to http://www.ausflag.com.au/torres_strait_island.html
For information about flag protocol, go to http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/symbols/flag.cfm#flag
Buy a flag from the Koorie Heritage Trust or from your local Aboriginal organisation.
Koorie Heritage Trust: Price approximately $75.00 (Members 10% off)
Allocate a room or a sheltered area outside for Aboriginal people to meet and wait when visiting family members in hospital. For examples see photos below of Mildura Base Hospital healing place, and Minya Barmah room at Goulburn Valley Health and Family Room at the Royal Children's Hospital:
Healing place: Mildura
Minya Barmah room Shepparton
Royal Children's Hospital Family Room
Designate a room as the Aboriginal birthing room and involve local Aboriginal women in its planning and setting up.
To learn more:
Wendy Weeks' (2002) report Cultural Diversity and Services Against Sexual Violence (see Further Reading section for details) has many good examples of mainstream services creating a more welcoming environment for Aboriginal people.
Contact: Koori Human Services Unit, Department of Human Services, 20/50 Lonsdale St, Melbourne 3000
Telephone (03) 9096 7032
Email: koori@dhs.vic.gov.au