District honours Aboriginal and Torres Strait Elders for NAIDOC Week 2023.

A new space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and their families has officially opened at Concord Hospital.

The Aboriginal Cultural Lounge is part of the District’s Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan to address culturally competent work environments and health services.

“It gives our District’s Aboriginal Liaison officers a safe and welcoming environment to care for and support patients and their families,” Deputy Director Aboriginal Health Unit Ricky Lyons said.

The lounge was opened as part of the District’s celebrations for NAIDOC Week. This year’s NAIDOC Week national theme is For our Elders and the celebrations recognisedthe prominent role of Elders and their families in our community.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and District staff were invited to the opening to hear from community Elder and Wiradjuri woman Aunty Norma Ingram.

An advocate for Aboriginal people and communities for many years, Aunty Norma shared her story experiences as an Elder and encouraged other Elders to share their lived experiences with the community.

“You need to be telling them your story. We’ve got so much history and our culture is so beautiful,” she said.

Concord General Manager Joseph Jewett reflected on his own experiences listening to the stories of others.

“The power of sharing stories tells us about our history, collective history, and paints a picture of the challenges we currently face,” he said.

The Aboriginal Cultural Lounge provides a culturally appropriate space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and their families to share their own health stories.

Sydney Local Health District is committed to having the healthiest Aboriginal community in the country, through strong partnerships with the Aboriginal Medical Service Redfern, the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Lands Council, the District’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, patients, and community.

District Chief Executive Dr Teresa Anderson highlighted how partnerships with District Elders groups  are helping to close the gap.

Held at different facilities across the District, the Aboriginal Elders Group meetings are ongoing forums with Executive teams, allowing Eldersto discuss key health challenges in their community, and share ideas for improving services to break down barriers for receiving care.

“One of the highlights of my job is sitting down with the Elders for a yarn,” Dr Anderson said.

“The more we listen and learn, and the more we critically evaluate our work practices, the more we will be ensuring effective pathways to genuine empowerment.”

NAIDOC Week celebrations at Concord concluded with a performance from the Sydney Harbour Elders Cultural Group and Aboriginal arts and crafts Workshops run through the afternoon.

NAIDOC Week is celebrated from 2 – 9 July. It is an opportunity to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country, and to learn about First Nations cultures and histories.

Construction of the Aboriginal Cultural Lounge at Concord follows the Rainbow Serpent Cultural Garden which opened in 2018.