A vibrant and dedicated space in the hospital is making a meaningful and positive impact on support, access and the overall patient journey for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
During Closing the Gap Day celebrations today (19 March) at Mackay Base Hospital, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Liaison Officer office was officially opened by Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) Chief Executive Sean Birgan and Interim Board Chair Monica McKendry.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Executive Director Kerry Maley said it was a proud and meaningful day to officially open the office, and a valuable reminder that Closing the Gap is not only a national priority, but a shared responsibility across the organisation every day.
The new office space is next to Mackay Base Hospital’s main entrance on Bridge Road.
It is decorated with Health Equity artwork to provide a highly visible, welcoming and culturally safe environment where patients, families and community members can seek support, share concerns and receive culturally appropriate information and assistance from the hospital liaison team.
“This space recognises the extraordinary work of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health liaison team, who walk alongside local patients and families during some of their most vulnerable moments,” Ms Maley said.
“They advocate, guide and support people to navigate a complex health system with compassion, cultural understanding and respect.”
Health liaison officers help to build trust, strengthen communication, improve health outcomes and, most importantly, help create a hospital environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients feel safe, respected and heard, she said.
“This space has become a central one-stop hub for patient support, strengthening coordination between the hospital liaison team, transport officers and the Better Connected Care (BCC) team to deliver a more holistic and responsive approach to care,” Ms Maley said.
“The space also offers a safe yarning place for Elders and a comfortable waiting area for patients who may experience anxiety when accessing hospital services.
“The hospital liaison office encourages drop-in visits, allowing for greater support, feedback and information sharing with our mob.”
The office space helps improve engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and addresses barriers such as failure to attend appointments and discharge against medical advice through early connection, trust-building and support.
The office also supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander unit staff by providing an environment for debriefing, cultural reflection and knowledge sharing, Ms Maley said.
“Essentially, this hospital liaison space serves to strengthen culturally safe practice within the hospital, improve the patient experience and reinforce our commitment to delivering respectful, inclusive and equitable care for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
Today’s celebration was attended by Health Equity Advisory members Uncle Harold, Uncle Shane and Aunty Jenny, who provide cultural authority, leadership and guidance to help strengthen both the health service and community. Members of the HHS Executive Leadership team, Mackay Hospital and Health Board Interim Chair Monica McKendry, and Board members Bill Cooper and Andrea Ranson also attended the event.
National Close the Gap Day reflects the priorities of the Closing the Gap National Agreement, which calls for genuine partnership, shared decision-making and accountability in improving life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
While there has been progress, significant disparities remain, Ms Maley said.
“As a health service, we are committed to embedding health equity into everything we do, and today’s celebration and opening of the health liaison office reaffirm our collective commitment to achieving health equity, genuine partnership and Closing the Gap.”