COORDINARE funded five mainstream general practices to help them form partnerships with Aboriginal people and dedicate more time to ‘yarning’. Practices engaged in cultural competency training and then joined 28 Aboriginal community leaders in co-design training.

The community leaders then worked with the general practices to co-design improvements to their cultural safety and sensitivity. This process resulted in the development of genuine relationships and learnings between consumers and practices.  

“The Cultural Audit tool was eye opening and [the practice] made a lot of changes based on that,” said one practice staff member.  

“Our co-design group became part of the team, going direct to them to ask advice.” 

Co-design work has led to changed ways of working, partnerships with local Aboriginal organisations, and a focus on practices’ cultural safety.

The Illawarra Medical Services (IMS) in Berkeley hosted a successful Aboriginal Community Day in May 2023, is working on an Aboriginal Charter, and is displaying their new Acknowledgement of Country. Goulburn Health Hub has erected flagpoles to display the Aboriginal and Australian flags. 

Practices will continue to involve Aboriginal consumers to co-design better care for primary care patients.  

Thank you to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leaders who supported practices in their understanding and co-design work for cultural safety.  

Partner(s): Goulburn Health Hub, Grand Pacific Health Nowra, Illawarra Medical Services, Narooma Medical Services, Rutledge Family Medical Centre.