Aboriginal community gains control of health

By Melissa Donchi
THE Yarra Valley’s indigenous community will soon take charge of Aboriginal health services in the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
With the support of Eastern Health, a new Interim Community Group has been established to develop a transition to governance plan for the Yarra Valley’s Aboriginal community.
The group comprising representatives from local, State and Federal Government departments is working to bring the Aboriginal health service towards Aboriginal community control.
Jane Judd, manager of Yarra Valley Community Health, described the transition to governance project as a unique opportunity which will “further strengthen the collaborative partnership between the Aboriginal community in the Eastern metropolitan region and a mainstream health service”.
Now, with the help of a newly appointed project officer, Fiona Mawson, the transition to governance project looks likely to succeed.
Ms Mawson and the transition of governance project steering committee will meet regularly in the coming months to establish a new legal identity for Aboriginal health services.
Doseena Fergie is the manager of the Indigenous Health Team and believes in order to govern in their own right, the new Aboriginal organisation must be strong and sustainable.
“We will need to be financially independent so we are able to pay for IT, cars, administration and staffing,” Ms Fergie said.
“We have been waiting since 1998 for this to happen and will continue negotiations until it does.”
“Hopefully the transition will occur by the end of 2007.”