Aboriginal Health Strategy

East Metropolitan Health Service (EMHS) is committed to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to support access to healthcare by providing a culturally safe environment, creating employment opportunities and developing partnerships. This work aims to close the gap on health inequities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and the broader community.

There are 12,738 Aboriginal people living in the EMHS catchment area, which equates to 2.2% of the total catchment population.

The Aboriginal Health Strategy team works to improve the health of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by improving their access to culturally appropriate health care. To achieve this, the Aboriginal Health Strategy team:

• support EMHS services to deliver culturally secure and appropriate services
• work in consultation with the community and make recommendations on service priorities and the procurement for health services for Aboriginal people
• facilitate and support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to participate in and engage with hospital and health service providers, to create culturally secure services in genuine partnership
• develop and implement Aboriginal workforce strategies to support the attraction, recruitment, retention and development of the Aboriginal workforce
• provide cultural leadership and support to Aboriginal employees, trainees and host departments in mainstream services
• support staff to develop confidence and knowledge when caring for Aboriginal patients and working with Aboriginal staff.