Inclusive health partnership

Three Wimmera-mallee health-service providers have gone into partnership to further formally recognise the importance of improving healthcare that is inclusive and appropriate for all.

West Wimmera Health Service, Rural Northwest Health and Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative.

The MOU is to strengthen a collective capacity to provide services that are culturally appropriate, safe and meet the needs of the Aboriginal community.

West Wimmera service chief executive Ritchie Dodds said inclusive and appropriate care was a priority in the region.

“This MOU will assist in improving our ability to serve our culturally diverse communities, in particular those of the traditional owners of the land on which we operate – the Wotjobaluk,

Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk people,” he said.

Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative is the principal Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation in the region.

Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital chief executive Andrew Saunders said Aboriginal health was a priority.

“We recognise that improving health outcomes requires collaboration – it takes more than one health organisation to achieve this goal,” he said.

Mr Saunders’ Rural Northwest Health counterpart Kevin Mills agreed.

“We are excited and look forward to building a responsive and respectful relationship with Goolum Goolum over the next five years and collaborating to ensure we provide culturally safe services to Aboriginal members in our community,” he said.