COMMUNITY NEWS Aboriginal health in focus at Peel Developing a strong partnership with Peel’s local Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Centre is an important objective for Peel Health Campus. The centre is known to most in the local community by the Noongar name – Nidjalla Waangan Mia. Since the centre’s inception in 2010, Peel Health Campus have developed a highly effective working relationship where both services provide mutual support to each other. The centre provides local and regional Aboriginal people with accessible and culturally secure primary health care, recently winning the WA Health Excellence Award for ‘Achieving Better Health Outcomes for Aboriginal People’. Dr Margaret Sturdy Hospital CEO says “This relationship is crucial to us in helping us meet our ongoing vision of developing and improving services that are sympathetic to the needs of Indigenous Australians.” In the past five years the hospital has developed a strong relationship with the centre and set up the Peel Health Campus Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP team constantly liaise with George Walley, who is the Regional Communications Manager of Aboriginal Health Services, and is a member of the hospital’s Community Board of Advice. George and his team at NWM provide continuous counsel, advice and support to the hospital. 14 The Ramsay Way 2016 | 01 Each year we collaborate to create awareness and to promote activities to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people, such as ‘Close the Gap’ and Harmony Day. The two organisations joined forces in September, hosting a string of community events based around a theatrical play, called Head Full of Love, which mirrored genuine reconciliation work being done at the Alice Springs Beanie Festival. Di Barr, Director of Clinical Services, and Executive Sponsor of Peel’s Reconciliation Action Plan said the hospital was incredibly proud to be working in conjunction with the centre. “It’s no surprise that Nidjalla Waangan Mia recently won the WA Health Excellence Award for ‘Achieving Better Health Outcomes for Aboriginal People’. The service they provide in the community is fantastic, it’s an absolute privilege to work in partnership with them” said Di. Restoring lives in Ethiopia North Shore Private Hospital and Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia have joined forces to give patients some very special gifts. New mothers who book in to the VIP suites at North Shore Private will receive a hand carved soapstone heart from the Hamlin store in their gift hamper. These beautiful Fairtrade stones are made in Kenya and proceeds support the work of Dr Catherine Hamlin AC and her team in Ethiopia. The partnership is the brainchild of North Shore Private obstetrician and Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia volunteer Dr Felicity Gallimore. Felicity saw an opportunity for patients to receive a wonderful keepsake from North Shore Private while raising awareness for a worthy cause. For a population of almost 100 million, Ethiopia has less than 200 obstetrician/gynaecologists and less than 5,000 trained midwives. In rural areas, women have little or no access to emergency obstetric care, and if labour becomes obstructed, they can be left in agonising labour for days. Sadly most women lose their babies, and many are left with a fistula, causing permanent incontinence. At Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, women receive free surgery, counselling, physiotherapy and care. Founded by Australian obstetricians Drs Catherine and Reg Hamlin, the organisation operates purely on philanthropic donations and includes six hospitals, a rehabilitation centre and the Hamlin College of Midwives. So far, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia has helped over 45,000 women. Tanya Seabrook, Retail Manager at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, says this partnership with North Shore Private will raise much-needed funds. “The proceeds of this partnership could fund eight obstetric fistula operations each year, or put a young Ethiopian woman through one year of midwifery training.” “We are delighted to partner with such a prestigious hospital as North Shore Private and to give hope to some of the world’s most marginalised women. We look forward to working with North Shore Private and the Ramsay Health Group.” The Avenue Private Helps Struggling Families This year The Avenue signed up to collect non-perishable food for families in crisis in the lead-up to the festive season as part of the Wesley Mission Victoria’s Food for Families appeal, which helps families who are struggling with the basic cost of living by providing nutritious food and household essentials, at Christmas time and all throughout the year. Staff were asked to donate non-perishable food and household essentials, which will go directly towards families in need this festive season. All staff were extremely generous and managed to fill a total of 21 boxes to donate to the Mission. Westmead Private donates much needed medical supplies to the Solomon Islands Westmead colorectal surgeon Dr Gary McKay, recently returned from a trip to the Solomon Islands where he performed much needed surgery for locals. Westmead Private Hospital was proud to support Dr McKay’s trip with much needed surgical supplies to stock their theatres. Dr McKay will be returning in July and is currently looking for donations of medical supplies and equipment to fill a 40 foot shipping container. Pictured with the new addition to VIP hampers, Stephanie Virgona, Clinical Manager Maternity and Michelle Daniels Nurse Unit Manager. L to R: Kim Wilkinson Community Development and Family Support Nidjalla Waangan Mia, Di Barr Director of Clinical Services Peel Health Campus, George Walley Regional Communications Manager of Aboriginal Health Services Nidjalla Waangan Mia, Kay Williams Community Engagement Manager Peel Health Campus. Dr Catherine Hamlin AC in Ethiopia.
The Ramsay Way - Autumn 2016
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