Aboriginal Liaison
Services
WUMAN NJINDE (welcome)
An Aboriginal is;
•
A
person of Aboriginal descent,
•
who
identifies as Aboriginal and
•
is
accepted in the community in which he / she lives as being Aboriginal
It is important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
patients to be identified when accessing our services to ensure culturally
appropriate
services can be provided for the improved health of
Aboriginal people.
Aboriginal Health
Summary
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The health of Aboriginal Victorians remains at a standard
unacceptably lower than the rest of the population
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Aboriginal babies are twice as likely to be of low birth
weight, or die before 28 days compared to non-Aboriginal babies
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Aboriginal mothers are having babies at a younger age than
the population average
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Aboriginal youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from
injury, accident and suicide than their non-Aboriginal peers
q
Aboriginal Elders have increased circulatory (heart)
Respiratory (lung) and Renal (kidney) disease compared with non-Aboriginal
people
The most common cause of death reported for Aboriginal
people between 1996-2006
•
Heart Disease
•
Cancer
•
Respiratory Diseases including pneumonia
•
Renal Failure particularly when there is an underlying
diabetic condition
•
Drug related Overdoses
•
Injuries from motor vehicle accidents
Aboriginal culture and heritage:
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The Kurnai / Gunai people were the first people living in
the Gippsland region
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Some Aboriginal people in Victorian and NSWs refer to
themselves as Koori
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Koori is another word used meaning Aboriginal
Latrobe Regional Hospital offers two Liaison Officers to
assist the Aboriginal / Koori community members accessing services at the
Hospital:
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