Drive through flu for First Peoples
A drive through flu vaccination centre was established at the Drouin Recreation Reserve last week by the executive team of the First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing Clinic .
First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing is a clinic that focuses on providing healthcare to Aboriginal communities and individuals who may not be able to access clinics due to their location.
Aboriginal midwife at Monash Hospital Tracey Stephens got in touch with the team and spoke about initially having a clinic at Pakenham, before de4ciding to include Drouin.
The organisation’s medical director Peter Walsh said that they were approached to open the drive through clinic after they were a success at Frankston and across the Mornington Peninsula.
“We actually vaccinated 130 people in a day on the Peninsula, it was a big day, so since then we’ve had 15 clinics to vaccinate those in each area we visit,” he said. “Now that the COVID testing criteria have loosened as well, we’ve added in that testing for those who meet the criteria,” he added.
First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing began in November 2018, opening in Thomastown with a Frankston clinic following a year later. CEO Karinda Taylor said that the organisation was an important one for the Aboriginal community.
“People wanted an Aboriginal health service they could access, one that really empowers communities. Since our opening, we’ve really seen a big jump in patients, especially since the coronavirus pandemic,” she said.
With only two clinics servicing 25,000 Aboriginal people in the greater Melbourne, Karinda said it was a need that was not being met.
“For us it was about knowing there was a significant health need, and with my nursing and midwifery background, it’s great to be able to come out on the road like this and give back to the communities that need our help,” she said.
While it’s important for the team to make sure they are enabling those in the many communities to access the flu vaccinations and coronavirus tests, the organisation has a large focus on overall health, with their booking forms often covering many other areas that patients may need advice or help in.
“Our booking form is quite comprehensive, it’s just how we do it, it gives us a really comprehensive look at someone’s health, which enables us to ring them in a few days and ask them how other areas of their health are going, it’s a way for us to be personal with our patients and show them we care”, she said.
Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood was also on hand at the site, speaking to visitors at the drive through clinic, thanking them for coming forward to get their flu vaccination and COVID test.
“It’s really important, we’ve had these clinics for other residents in the Baw Baw Shire, but to be able to encourage our Aboriginal brothers and sisters to come out and get the immunisation and tests they need is really important,” he said.
“Aboriginal elders in Drouin and around the region do a fantastic job and I know they are doing their best to encourage their community members to come and be tested and get the flu vaccine,”
Mr Blackwood also praised everyone in the region on the work they’ve done to slow the spread of coronavirus.
“I’ve been really impressed and proud of how the community has responded, we’ve had no new infections for a long time now and that’s an indication of how responsible we’ve been,” he said.
First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing also set up a drive through clinic in Pakenham which helped test and vaccinate the Aboriginal community.