Cultural carers to boost health

An ambitious new approach to indigenous health will be trialled in four Kimberley communities after eight cultural carers graduated from their intensive training program last week.

The Cultural Carers Program has been spearheaded by former MP Ernie Bridge and his Unity of the First People of Australia group which will operate the program in Lombadina, Djarindjin, Looma and Noonkanbah.

The Cultural Carers have been trained to be go-betweens for the community and health workers and will arrange appointments for people to visit doctors and nurses while promoting better health and lifestyle practices in communities.

Mr Bridge said the program was in a six-month trial period and he was hoping to emulate the success of the UFPA’s diabetes prevention program.

“No real change will occur with the health standards of Aboriginal people without the people themselves taking greater ownership,” he said.

“The Cultural Carers program will provide that empowerment and ownership.”

Naomi Ougham is about to start work as a Cultural Carer in Djarindjin, and believes one of her main tasks will be engaging the community with health services.

“I think a lot of people don’t go to the clinic because they’re too shy but we’ll be giving them support so they visit more often,” she said.

Ms Ougham believes having community members liaising with health services will mean more people from remote communities getting treatment.

Quinton Nardi will start as a carer in Looma and said he would encourage young people to develop a healthy lifestyle, and would use his position in a football team to get youngsters to play sport.