Aboriginal health

What is Aboriginal health?

"'Aboriginal health' refers to the physical well-being of an individual and the social, emotional and cultural well-being of the whole Community in which each individual is able to achieve their full potential as a human being, thereby bringing about the total well-being of their Community. It is a whole-of-life view and includes the cyclical concept of life-death-life. Health care services should strive to achieve the state where every individual is able to achieve their full potential as a human being and thus bring about the total well-being of their community.”

National Aboriginal Health Strategy, 1989

See the Network's Aboriginal Health Strategy

How do we help improve the health of Aboriginal children?

Our Network ensures the cultural appropriateness of our programs and services and that we positively impact on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal children. We utilise Aboriginal people's skills, knowledge and experience to provide the best possible services.

Our Network is achieving excellence in many areas of clinical care, research and education in Aboriginal health. Establishing changes in health outcomes in the paediatric environment is the best opportunity to influence lifelong health outcomes for individuals and communities.

The Aboriginal Health Unit

The Aboriginal Health Unit promotes equality of outcomes using equitable processes, The Aboriginal Health Management Advisor works across both Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick and The Children's Hospital at Westmead, with an office based at Westmead.

The role of the Aboriginal Health Management Advisor is to work across the executive structure to develop the organisation's strategic responses to State and National Aboriginal Health and Aboriginal Workforce needs.

The goal is that of connecting the Network's local strategies to enhance the care outcomes for Aboriginal clients, effectively seeking to Close the Gap across the broadest spectrum possible within the Network.

The Aboriginal Health Management Advisor is linked to NSW Health's policy activities and core networks through:

Centre for Aboriginal Health, and the
Aboriginal Workforce Unit.

Plans, policies and resources