The Allan Labor Government is ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls can access culturally safe women's health care, closer to home by strengthening the Indigenous health workforce with further training and support.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today announced at the Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Partnership Forum in Ballarat, that the Labor Government will provide $300,000 to the Victorian Aboriginal Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) to deliver a dedicated Aboriginal women's health workforce initiative.
The program will offer one-off grants of up to $5,000 for health clinicians employed by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) to upskill in areas of women's health. The grants will help clinicians and ACCHOs to better respond to the health needs of Aboriginal women and girls and to provide more effective care.
The grants can be used flexibly and will support up to 50 clinicians across the ACCHO sector to build their knowledge and skills in women's health while also enhancing organisational capacity.
This initiative is being delivered part of the Labor Government's landmark $153 million women's health package.
The women's health package is supporting the delivery of 20 new women's health clinics, new mobile and virtual women's health clinics, a dedicated Aboriginal women's health clinic and the expansion of the women's sexual and reproductive health hub network.
Creating a culturally safe health care environment which acknowledges, understands and respects the strength and diversity of Aboriginal peoples, communities and cultures is central to Victoria's ongoing journey to remove unnecessary barriers to the optimal health and wellbeing of all Aboriginal people in Victoria.
For more information about the Women's Health and Wellbeing Program visit: health.vic.gov.au/womens-health-and-wellbeing-program/about-the-program .
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
"We know that when we listen to Aboriginal Victorians, we get the best health outcomes."
"These grants will upskill 50 clinicians right around Victoria - equipping them with the tools, confidence and skills they need to provide the very best care to First Nations women."
As stated by Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Chief Executive Dr Jill Gallagher AO
"Aboriginal women know what our communities need and these grants will help to build and strengthen the Aboriginal women's health workforce embedding cultural safety and better care."
"Self-determination in Aboriginal women's health care is the only way we can ensure we keep our mothers, aunties, sisters and daughters safe, healthy and thriving for generations to come."
