“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is viewed in a holistic context, that encompasses mental health and physical, cultural, and spiritual health. Land is central to wellbeing. Crucially, it must be understood that when the harmony of these interrelations is disrupted, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ill health will persist.” (NIAA 2017)
AWAHS is proud to deliver a comprehensive Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) program to support its First Nations community to achieve social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
The Alcohol and other Drug Support (AOD) service provides telephone, counselling, information, referral and support lines for alcohol and drug use.
Client consultations are one-to-one with a skilled worker and are undertaken in a safe environment. All interactions are non-judgemental and confidential.
Treatment streams include, though are not limited to:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have shown remarkable resilience in the face of the ongoing impacts of colonisation, racism and discrimination, and intergenerational trauma. We have a suicide rate 2.3 times higher than other Australians, and this rate has increased over the past few decades (AIHW, 2020), having devastating and ongoing impacts on all our families and communities.
The Culture Care Connect (CCC) program is funded by NACCHO who believes that self-determination and community control lie at the heart of improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
AWAHS is pleased to deliver the Culture Care Connect program locally.
This program brings together key streams of suicide prevention planning, coordination and activity across the network regions, including raising awareness, early intervention, crisis management and aftercare services.
Suicide prevention and aftercare services provided include:
If someone is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000) and ask for police.
Dhelk Dja: Safe our Way – Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families, is the key Aboriginal-led Victorian agreement that commits Aboriginal communities, Aboriginal services, and Government to work together and be accountable for ensuring that Aboriginal people, families, and communities are stronger, safer, thriving and living free from violence whilst building upon the foundation of Aboriginal self-determination.
Services include:
AWAHS Dhelk Dja Family Violence program offers a culturally safe and sensitive environment. Our interactions are confidential and treated with respect and care.
Your safety is our priority.
Eligibility criteria:
AWAHS understands that family violence can impact everyone and is committed to being an inclusive health provider. We encourage diverse client groups to access the Dhelk Dja Family Violence program, including Elders, LGBTQIA+ community and people living with disability.
If you are experiencing family violence or know someone who is, contact AWAHS for support from Monday to Friday, 8.30am-5.00pm.
Jocelyn, Dhelk Dja Family Violence Coordinator Jocelyn.wright@awahs.com.au
02 60 67 2286
0428 047 891
Health promotion at AWAHS is more than just health education, it’s about actively involving community in their healthcare, and that of their families.
The AWAHS health promotion team is motivated to help its community to lead healthy lives through way of education, culturally appropriate programs and activities, and providing opportunity for connection with self, community, country, culture and spirit.
To learn more about AWAHS health promotion led initiatives, follow AWAHS on social media.
“It’s estimated that as many as one in three Indigenous children were taken from their families between 1910 and the 1970s — affecting most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. These children were forcibly removed from their families and communities through race-based policies set up by both State and Federal Governments. They were either put into homes, adopted or fostered out to non-Indigenous families. They suffered a huge amount of grief and trauma, losing their connections to family, identity, land, language, and culture. Grief that continues today. These Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have become known as the Stolen Generations.” The Healing Foundation (2023)
AWAHS is committed to providing up-to-date information, resources, counselling, and healing support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people impacted directly or indirectly by past government policies, including the forcible removal of children from their families.
Useful links and resources:
https://healingfoundation.org.au
www.linkupvictoria.org.au
https://www.linkupnsw.org.au
https://connectinghome.org.au
The program aims to deliver culturally sensitive tools and therapeutic practices that support individuals experiencing a range of mental health issues.
Services include, though are not limited to:
A registered NDIS provider, since 2023, AWAHS is pleased to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients living with disability to navigate and access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), ensuring individuals receive comprehensive quality healthcare relative to their needs.
The SEWB team offer multiple social supports to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals and their families. The following supports requires a referral to be completed by self, an AWAHS staff member or external stakeholder.
The team meet once per week to yarn about referrals and assign to the most appropriate worker. Individuals and referrers are notified once intake has been completed.
The social services which require a referral include:
Wodonga Koorie Youth Network (WKYN)
The Wodonga Koorie Youth Network is a safe space for young Aboriginal people, aged 12-25 years to get together and enjoy a range of culturally appropriate activities that celebrate culture and harness connection. The group meets on an ad hoc basic, at least monthly.
For more information and to get involved, email wykn@awahs.com.au and follow WKYN on Facebook (hyperlink to Facebook page) @Wodonga Koorie Youth Network – WKYN.
Future Proof: Young People, Disaster Recovery and (Re)building Communities
Led by Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic), Future Proof is a collective impact project in response to the 2019-20 bushfires. It brings together a range of partners to deliver youth-led activities across the bushfire-impacted areas; fundamentally, supporting young people to connect, engage in programs and events, to upskill and attain qualifications.
Future Proof is place-based and applies youth work principles to support young people in youth-led recovery projects and community decision-making.
The project is funded under the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program.
AWAHS involvement expands several Local Government Areas (LGA’s) including Wodonga City, Towong Shire, Alpine Shire, Indigo Shire and Mansfield Shire.
For more information, contact AWAHS Youth Resilience Coordinator,
Sarah – sarah@awahs.com.au or FutureProof@YACVic.org.au
www.yacvic.org.au/get-involved/future-proof
Appointments with GPs and other clinical practitioners can be booked through the AWAHS reception.
Toll free: 1800 421 640
Glenroy: 02 6040 1200
Wodonga: (02) 6067 2286
AWAHS is pleased to host GP registrars in training in
conjunction with our regional GP
training provider, RACGP Training.
AWAHS acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities.
We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders both past and present.
Copyright © 2023 Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service
