St John of God Midland Public Hospital has become the first hospital in the Perth metropolitan area to appoint a head of Aboriginal Health onto its executive board.
Dr Christine Clinch, a Yamatji woman and medical educator, was recently appointed Director of Aboriginal Health for the hospital.
St John of God Midland Public Hospital CEO, Dr Glen Power, said he was delighted that someone of Dr Clinch’s calibre was joining their executive team.
“With 20 per cent of Perth’s Aboriginal people living in the hospital’s catchment area, we place great focus on providing culturally appropriate care and improving health outcomes for Aboriginal people,” he said.
“As Director of Aboriginal Health, Dr Clinch will lead our Aboriginal health strategy, which covers clinician engagement and culturally appropriate models of care, as well as maintaining strong links with key referral agencies in Western Australia.”
Dr Clinch has worked for the past six years in Aboriginal medical education at the University of Western Australia.
She will head the Aboriginal Health Team, which includes two Aboriginal cultural engagement and patient liaison officers.
Dr Clinch will also expand the network of honorary liaison officers – a local reference group of Aboriginal elders and community representatives designed to enhance the hospital’s engagement with Swan and Wheatbelt region Aboriginal family groups.
In addition, Noongar woman Dr Paula Edgill has been appointed an honorary medical advisor to the hospital and will work closely with Dr Clinch.
Currently the Acting CEO at Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service and a GP, Dr Edgill, will provide an additional link to this major referrer for the hospital.
“Dr Edgill’s experience and connections will greatly assist us with developing our service models, especially in the important area of post-discharge liaison with the primary care sector,” Dr Power said.
The hospital provides a number of Aboriginal health services, including collaborations with external health providers such as Patches Paediatrics, the Lion’s Eye Institute and Moort Boodjari Mia (which is being funded by St John of God Health Care’s Social Outreach as a 12-month trial).
Workforce development will form another important area for Dr Clinch; currently 35 Aboriginal people work at the hospital across a variety of areas. The hospital is also undertaking research on Aboriginal health.