Aboriginal Health

We offer a range of health services specifically developed to assist the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples in our region. These include:

• Closing the Gap (Integrating Team Care): we commission Nepean Community & Neighbourhood Services to provide this program. Contact them on 4706 0299 or visit the NCNS website. Referral forms are available on the right hand side of this page. 
• Psychological Therapy Services
• Lithgow Paediatric Outreach Clinic
• Well-Being Psychiatric Clinic
• Windsor Diabetes Clinic
• Mental Health services for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander adults and youth
• Addiction Support services for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander adults and youth 
• An non-smoking campaign designed especially for our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander community

You can also print out our Aboriginal Health Services brochure (pdf, 3.4mb).

Consultation and Reconciliation

Our organisation has a strong history of collaborating with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities within our region.

As part of a length consultation process, we developed Sharing & Learning Circle Reports for each of our LGAs. A summary document encapsulating all four reports is also available. This work would not have been possible without the engagement, participation and commitment of the Aboriginal community locally, as well as the broader community and local service providers. 

We have also developed a Reconciliation Action Plan (pdf, 7.9mb), which formalises our vision to improve the health of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people and embed their community needs into our everyday business and culture. 

715 Health Check Resources

Have you had your 715 health check? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can get a free health check at your local Aboriginal Medical Service, general practice or health clinic. These resources are available for more information: 

• 715 Patient Brochure
• 715 Patient Journey
• 715 Educations Guide (Services Australia)

For more information, case studies and podcasts please visit the Department of Health website. 

Breath of Fresh Air campaign

This year, to coincide with World No Tobacco Day we launched our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander focused non-smoking campaign - Breath of Fresh Air.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people are still overrepresented when it comes to tobacco use, which could indicate that current anti-smoking initiatives are not effectively engaging Aboriginal people.

In developing the campaign, we held workshops involving members of local Aboriginal communities and were honoured to hear their personal stories relating to smoking. These workshops strongly reinforced that our campaign needed to find a positive approach - as opposed to previously used negative or fear-based campaigns – and draw upon the links between mind, body, spirit and culture.

We partnered with Aboriginal companies 33 Creative and Blacklock Media to develop a campaign that focusses on culture and collective community engagement, through the use of storytelling and art-based visual messaging, to better engage Aboriginal people.

The three primary elements of the campaign are: 

• Breath of Fresh Air animation: uses indigenous art and story-telling to make the connection between health and country.
• Breath of Fresh Air ambassador videos: local ambassadors, including UFC Fighter Tai Tuivasa, who support our campaign by sharing why they choose fresh air. 
• Youth Photo Competition: held in 2019 in which local high school students could share what not smoking and choosing fresh air means to you or to Aboriginal culture.