By TANIA PHILLIPS
STANTHORPE Hospital joined a number of facilities throughout the Darling Downs and Hospital and Health Service (DDHHS) to commemorate Close the Gap Day last week.
Hospital director of Nursing Jan Faulconbridge described the Close the Gap Day morning tea as a great success.
“This was the first time we’ve had a closing the gap event here at Stanthorpe Hospital, and it was a wonderful morning,” Ms Faulconbridge said.
“We fully support initiatives that help to make a real difference to health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and we were very happy to have representatives from Carbal Medical Centre and also people from the local Indigenous community joining us.
“I’d like to particularly acknowledge Jo Bell for her tremendous efforts in organising this event.”
Ms Bell, who is a midwife at Stanthorpe Hospital, said encouragement from DDHHS cultural practice co-ordinator Rica Lacey got the ball rolling.
“A few weeks ago we were contacted by Rica who spoke to us about holding a closing the gap day event,” Ms Bell said.
“The Stanthorpe community has more than 200 people who identify as Indigenous, so we thought it was important to host an event and show our support, particularly as this was the 10th anniversary of Closing the Gap day.”
Joanne Lomas, Carbal Medical Centre District Care co-ordinator, travelled from Warwick to be a part of the event.
“Closing the gap day is very significant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Ms Lomas said.
“In 2008 the Close the Gap campaign was endorsed by the Australian Government, targeting areas such as health, education, employment, education and housing.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Centres such as Carbal in Toowoomba and Warwick employ Aboriginal health workers and care co-ordinators who are committed to closing the gap.
“More recently, we have had care co-ordinators Lee Lingwoodock and Mike Salbro working on the ‘Tackling Indigenous Smoking’ program, to help stop smoking and prevent chronic diseases.
“It’s been 10 years now, and while it is a gradual process, statistics show that it is working, and the gap is closing.
“I’d like to thank Stanthorpe Hospital and staff for hosting this event, and I would also like to thank our Aboriginal elders who joined us.”
DDHHS acting chief executive Dr Peter Gillies said closing the gap would continue to be a priority throughout the health service.
“At a special closing the gap event at Mt Lofty Heights nursing home in Toowoomba last week I was joined by members of the DDHHS executive team to sign a pledge to continue working to improve the health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the health service’s 20 public hospitals and six nursing homes,” Dr Gillies said.
“While we have been working in a number of key areas such as reducing the impact of chronic disease, maternal and child health, public health and mental health, we acknowledge there is more work to be done.
“Across our region there are more than 11,000 residents who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
“I am pleased we will be collaborating more closely with the Aboriginal Medical Services to close the gap to improve the health and quality of life of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“We have made significant progress in training our staff in how to provide care in culturally appropriate and sensitive ways, with seven in 10 employees having completed our cultural practice program.”
