WA HEALTH APPOINTS FIRST ABORIGINAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS

Emily Garlett and Danielle Jones. Credit: WA Health.

The first Aboriginal Health Practitioners (AHPs) to join WA Health began work at Rockingham Hospital last month.

Danielle Jones and Emily Garlett work in the emergency ward to provide support to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients.

AHPs can provide clinical and primary healthcare, as well as case management and care planning.

Ms Jones said there are a lot of barriers for Aboriginal people in the health system.

“We just need to work together to Close the Gap by liaising with the patients and the doctors,” she said.

Ms Garlett said there were various factors that prevented Indigenous people from reaching the same health outcomes as non-Indigenous people.

“People struggling financially, no transport, lack of doctors or hospital, other commitments [like] Sorry Time: There’s a lot of barriers stopping our community from getting the healthcare they need.”

WA Health plans to roll out the AHP program throughout the state.

Listen to Ms Garlett and Ms Jones speak to Ngaarda Media’s Marion Cheedy: