Latest Aboriginal environmental health news from WA's Goldfields

The latest Indigenous environmental health news from Western Australia's Goldfields region was recently featured in the newsletter of the WA Environmental Health Directorate in this article by Robert Mullane:

Serving the Goldfields' Communities

During February, 3 ½ days was spent travelling to a number of Aboriginal communities and meeting with numerous agencies in the Goldfields to improve the delivery and management of the region's Aboriginal environmental health programs and services.

During the trip, more than 10 different meetings were held with representatives and environmental health staff from Kurrawang and Mt Margaret communities, Menzies Aboriginal Corporation, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Bega Garnbirringu Health Service, WA County Health's Goldfields Population Health unit, and Ngunytju Tjitji Pirni.

Everyone expressed great interest in and a growing awareness of the importance of environmental health in 'closing the gap' between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health outcomes. There was a lot to talk about including:

• establishing a Goldfields Aboriginal Environmental Health Planning Forum under the existing Goldfields Region Aboriginal Health Planning Forum
• improving links between agencies and programs relating to general public health and health promotion, provision of housing and housing management, tenancy support services, Remote areas essential services program (RAESP) and employment services
• introduction and use of individual Community Environmental Health Plans (CEHPs) for all remote Aboriginal communities in WA
• Aboriginal Health Worker training options (certificates II / III & degree level qualifications)
• better support for the regions' remote communities
• implementation of the new state wide contract service activity reporting
• dog health programs in the region including veterinary de-sexing services
• the condition and viability of community tips, wastewater/septic systems and other infrastructure
• general contract management updates and site visits.

Feedback was very positive, especially the rollout of the new service activity reporting tool and database, the establishment of a Regional Aboriginal Environmental Health Forum and the introduction and use of the new CEHPs and processes.

Source: (WA) Environmental Health Directorate

Contacts

Robert Mullane
Program Officer - Aboriginal Environmental Health
Environmental Health Directorate
WA Health Department
Grace Vaughan House
227 Stubbs Terrace
Shenton Park WA 6008
PO Box 8172
Perth Business Centre WA 6849
Ph: (08) 9388 4935
Email: Robert.Mullane@health.wa.gov.au

Links

• View resource: Environmental Health Directorate Newsletter (WA)
• View contact details: Environmental Health Directorate (WA Department of Health)
• View website: WA Department of Health