New First Nations health service

Pictured: Nurse Navigator Suzy Warren and Advanced Health Worker Lisa Cuthbert.

A new culturally safe service has started in Metro North and the City of Moreton Bay to help First Nations people better navigate health and community services.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Nurse Navigation Service supports First Nations people with complex chronic disease and medical conditions who need help navigating services.

Community and Oral Health (COH) Nurse Navigator Suzy Warren explains: “As part of the new service, we advocate for and co-ordinate culturally appropriate care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families.

“It’s about having a yarn to the patients about what they need, then linking them to health services and home supports.

“We visit patients in their home, assist patients to attend health care appointments while other services are identified and put in place.

“We work in partnership with the patient, family/carers, allied health, nursing, and other treating teams to develop individualised care plans.

“These plans can encompass the physical, social, emotional, spiritual and cultural wellbeing of the individual and the whole of the community.”

Closing the gap

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurse Navigation Service aims to improve health equity and address the challenges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have when accessing health services, compared with other Australians.

“We link people to disability supports, ongoing therapies and health assessments, and home support after comprehensive health and social assessments,” Suzy says.

“We can also assist with My Aged Care and NDIS applications where appropriate, and health education where necessary.”

The new navigation service is also about addressing some of the barriers faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders such as the lack of access and distance to healthcare services.

“Cultural understanding of services and staff can also impact the delivery of care,” Suzy says.

“First Nations people who have lost some connection with country, community and kinship circles may also need extra help.”

Suzy, a Mitakoodi woman with family in Cloncurry, says the service also provides patients with links to GP services.

How it works

The new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Nurse Navigation Service is delivered by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurse navigator and Advanced Health Worker Monday to Friday from 8am-4.30pm.

Suzy said First Nations people in Moreton Bay and North Brisbane can self-refer.

They can also ask any hospital, non-government organisation or community health professional, indigenous health liaison officer or GP to refer them by emailing [email protected]

To be eligible for the free service the patient must identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and be 18 years of age or over, or transitioning from paediatric services.

Other eligibility criteria including having a complex medical and social concern, having high presentation rates to emergency departments and/or at a high risk of deterioration.

The service is delivered through face-to-face visits, telehealth and/or over the phone.