The Maaurma-li Team launch the program at the Gunnedah Health Expo
Maaurma-li supports NAIDOC Week celebrations |
|Maaruma-li & Closing the Gap Coordinator - Aboriginal Health: Jessica Blair jblair@barwondgp.org.au Registered Nurse: Vicki Snow vsnow@barwondgp.org.au Aboriginal Health Trainees: Gina Field gfield@barwondgp.org.au Jerrica Wortley jwortley@barwondgp.org.au Ph: 02 6742 3633 The word Maaruma-li comes from the Gamilaraay language and means "to fix or heal". The Maaruma-li Aboriginal Health Program aims to connect Aboriginal people in the Gunnedah area with mainstream health services as a means to address the high rates of chronic disease in this population. Maaurma-li was launched in Gunnedah in June 2010 at the Gunnedah Health Expo. When people sign up for the program, the Maaruma-li team is able to assist them with organising a health check with a GP or registered nurse. The Aboriginal Health Trainees are able to sit in on appointments as required. The Maaruma-li team has completed Certificate II in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care and is looking to complete Certificate III. The program has been very successful in its early stages with an excellent rate of sign-up and health checks completed. The Barwon Division of General Practice is also undertaking the Australian Government's Closing the Gap scheme which aims to reduce the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The Barwon Division has the highest percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (11.4%) out of all Divisions across NSW and is therefore very keen to make Indigenous health a focus of our primary health care services. Under the program, Aboriginal Health Trainees are working to increase the capacity of general practice to deliver culturally appropriate primary health care services to Aboriginal people in the Division area. For more information contact our Aboriginal Health team in Gunnedah. |
Moree Office Narrabri Office Gunnedah Office
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