Goondir aims for equality

Ethel Hayden, the clinic manager for Goondir Health Services, has opened up about Close the Gap.

READY TO ROLL: Goondir Health Services employees Mardi-Leigh Rolls and Charlie Thomas in front of the clinics bus. Picture: Sam Flanagan

CLOSE the Gap day was held last Thursday across the country in an effort to raise awareness surrounding the disparity facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a range of issues.

The program began in 2006 and aims to close the health and life expectancy of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and that of the non-indigenous Australians within a generation.

Indigenous Australians are currently nearly three times more likely to be diagnosed with liver and cervical cancer, and twice as likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer than non-Indigenous Australians.

Ms Ethel Hayden is the Clinic Manager at Goondir Health Services and says that the indigenous community must play their part for the program to be successful.

"Understanding the importance of your healthcare and attending your appointments is your part; but most of all it's compliance to treatment,” Ms Hayden said.

"This is taking control of your healthcare and allowing you to live better lives.”

Ms Hayden also acknowledged the hard work of all the staff at Goondir and the collaborations that give the program the help it needs to be successful.

"Our partnership with QH is bringing about very positive changes for our people.

"Working together, we are tapping into services vital to closing the gap, such as the provision of GP nurse navigators whose role on peoples discharge from hospital is to coordinate their journey of care from the hospital.

"We are making a promising effort to realise our vision through our mission while honouring our values; committing ourselves to closing the gap through our organisations strategic plan.”

It is hoped that by 2030 ATSI children born across the country have the same opportunity as other Australian children to live a long, healthy and happy life.