Close the Health Gap
HealthWest resources
Link to resources and information developed by HealthWest through its Close the Health Gap project:
Service Mapping in the West
Cultural Self Identification Cards in the West
What is the difference between “Welcome to Country” and an “Acknowledgement to Country”?
Welcome to Country is performed by an Aboriginal elder or an Aboriginal person who is from the local area or is a descendent from the local tribe of that area. It is an official welcoming onto the country from the original custodians of the land that the meeting or event is taking place on. A “Welcome to Country” is usually a speech but can include singing, dancing and or smoking ceremonies.
Acknowledgement to Country can be performed by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and is a way of showing awareness and respect for the traditional owners of the land that the meeting or event is taking place on. An example of an “Acknowledgement of Country” is as follows:
I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, the Wurundjeri people and pay my respects to elders past and present.
I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, and pay my respects to elders past and present.
Be mindful to acknowledge the correct tribe if using tribal name details and if unsure simply acknowledge the traditional owners of the land as per the second example above.
Aboriginal Health Status
Overview of Australian Indigenous health status 2011 Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, 2012
Health Care Access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Living in Urban Areas, and Related Research Issues: A Review of the Literature Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health, 2008
Partnerships with Aboriginal communities
Fact Sheet: When to engage with Victoria's Traditional Owners State Government of Victoria, October 2011
Organisation cultural audit tools
Working with Aboriginal people and communities: Health and community services audit Produced by the Making Two Worlds Work Project.
Victorian government resources
Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework: Building for the future: a plan for ‘Closing the Gap’ in Victoria by 2031 State Government of Victoria, 2012
Aboriginal Inclusion Matrix State Government of Victoria
Cultural Resource Guide Victorian Department of Health, July 2011
The Aboriginal Health Promotion and Chronic Care Partnership (AHPACC) Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Tool Victorian Department of Health, August 2011
Resources for Hospitals
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Patient Quality Improvement Toolkit for Hospital Staff La Trobe University, Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia, Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit, University of Melbourne, June 2010
Advance Care Planning with Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders Austin Health, 2006