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Swan Hill District Health enhanced understanding of Aboriginal cancer care and implementation of the OCP for Aboriginal people with cancer

Loddon Mallee

Purpose

To uncover the challenges experienced by the local Aboriginal community in accessing Swan Hill-based cancer services, and the screening and treatment resources provided. Central to the project was raising awareness in prevention measures and developing a bespoke referral pathway, aligned to Optimal Care Pathway (OCP) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer.

What we did / are doing

In 2021–2022, LMICS awarded a small grant to Swan Hill District Health (SHDH) to strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer care through implementation of the OCP above. The SHDH Project Officer and McGrath Breast Care Nurse built and strengthened local relationships with the First Nations community to develop culturally safe services and support initiatives.

Outputs

  • A co-designed referral resource card between SHDH and Mallee District Aboriginal Service
  • Two ‘Beautiful Shawl’ events held in Kerang and Swan Hill, in partnership with Breast Screen Australia and Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) Kerang
  • A local ‘Pamper Day’ and a women’s health event
  • An information session with SHDH health staff, building links to services and resources.

Impacts

This project strengthened relationships between SHDH and the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander community, in particular MDAS (Swan Hill and Kerang), has led to a greater knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander needs, their barriers to access to cancer care. Staff at SHDH also reported report increased cultural knowledge and understanding of the role that cancer services staff play.

For more information, email LMICS@bendigohealth.org.au