College clinic seal

By Kath Gannaway
A HEALTH clinic will be established at Worawa Aboriginal College under a memorandum of understanding between the school and Valley Primary Health Centre.
Worawa switched from a co-ed school last year to cater only for Aboriginal girls from urban, regional and remote communities across Australia.
Worawa’s executive director Lois Peeler said the new clinic would enable students to be treated by female doctors within the cultural context of the college.
The MOU between Worawa and the Yarra Glen health service was signed by Ms Peeler and VPHC principal Dr Alex Murray as part of a cultural awareness day for local health and other professionals.
Ms Peeler said Worawa’s program aimed to address the physical, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual wellbeing of its students – as well as their educational needs.
Dr Murray said the workshop had been informative and helpful.
“I think it gave us a better understanding of the issues the girls are coming with, and some of the ways they may respond to the things we are trying to do,” she said.
She said their aim was to provide a holistic health service for the students who fitted their needs.
“Many of the girls come from remote communities and are not used to going to new places and meeting new people,” Dr Murray said.
“If we can help them, we believe it will build better relationships and achieve better health outcomes.”
Ms Peeler welcomed the partnership, saying it would have obvious benefits for the college and the students.
“It will assist the college to ensure the health needs of our students are met in a timely and culturally appropriate manner and enhance student health care at Worawa and beyond,” she said.
Worawa has 45 students with another 20 joining the college when their building program is completed in July.