ABORIGINAL HEALTH UNIT
Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to work toward improving their health and the health of their community.
Supporting culturally safe and effective care
The BRHS Aboriginal Health Unit actively supports our local Aboriginal people to work towards improving their health and the health of their community.
The team provides services which are culturally appropriate, accessible and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who live in East Gippsland.
What the Aboriginal Health Unit provides
Access and Support
BRHS’ Aboriginal Health Access and Support Service provides short-term support for frail older people, people with a disability, and their carers who need help to stay living at home or who have diverse needs or circumstances.
The service helps people who find it difficult to find out about services or applying for the services they need because their diverse needs.
Our Access and Support worker can help you to make the appointments you need with agencies that can help you, find answers to the questions you might have about the services and find out if there are any costs involved.
Support from an Access and Support worker is confidential.
No fees are charged for the Access and Support Service.
Koori Hospital Liaison Officers
Our Koori Hospital Liaison Officers (KHLOs) provide social, emotional and cultural support for those who use the hospital.
The KHLOs liaise with and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and their families and ensure those clients and their families understand the hospital system.
KHLOs also encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to identify their ethnicity when they present for treatment at BRHS and other health care agencies.
Our KHLOs work closely with other departments at BRHS and serve providers in the community.
Aboriginal Health Care Coordinator
Our Aboriginal Health Care Coordinator assists with effective hospital discharge, providing follow-up care to reduce hospital re-admissions.
The Care Coordinator will liaise with key people in health services to help coordinate care for Aboriginal people with complex needs so they can access services and information and better manage their condition.
You may also receive a call from the Care Coordinator or Koori Hospital Liaison Officer if you have presented for care at BRHS. This is to make sure we met your needs and that your care is on track.
For information about our services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, please phone 03 5150 6364 and speak to our team.
Video resources
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Responsiveness videos below explain what resources are available at BRHS to support the healthcare journey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Aboriginal Health Unit
- aboriginalhealthunit@brhs.com.au
- 03 5150 3364
- 122 Day Street, Bairnsdale VIC 3875, Australia
