When you visit a health service or facility, we may ask you if you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or both. If we don’t, please tell us if you do. This will help us to provide the best care for your needs.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health team provides varying support services to patients who are either:
The team prioritises person-centred care and focuses on improving culturally safe care for our community within our health service facilities. Achieving health equity for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living and visiting our region is the highest priority for our team.
The team helps people to be more aware of their health care needs and how they can access support. It includes hospital liaison officers, the Community Health Program and the Preventable Hospitalisation Program.
Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Service is a cultural link between health professionals and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and their families.
Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Hospital Liaison Officers assist in breaking down perceived barriers of communication. This helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, and their families have a better understanding of their hospitalisation and treatment.
They can:
You can contact them on the following phone numbers, during the hours shown. If you're unable to call for any reason, please ask a hospital staff member who can contact the team on your behalf.
| Location | Hours | Phone |
|---|---|---|
Sunshine Coast University Hospital | Monday to Friday, 8 am - 10 pm Saturday / Sunday, 10 am - 6 pm Excluding public holidays. | 07 5202 0022 After hours: 07 5202 7981 |
Nambour General Hospital | Monday to Friday, 8 am - 10 pm Saturday / Sunday, 10 am - 6 pm Excluding public holidays. | 07 5470 5316 After hours: 07 5470 6318 |
Gympie Hospital |
Monday to Friday, 8 am - 4 pm
Excluding public holidays. | 07 5489 8452 |
Caloundra Health Service and |
Monday to Friday, 8 am - 4 pm
Excluding public holidays. | 07 5202 0022 |
The program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with different health problems, including long-term (chronic) diseases, acute illness, and diseases that can be prevented by vaccines.
Our 12-week program helps with health issues like:
We provide a range of culturally safe services to local Mob through face-to-face appointments in Nambour, Gympie, Caloundra, and Maroochydore, home visits, video calls, and phone yarns. We also support some deadly health clinics and community programs.
Find out more about the Preventative Health Pathways Program.
The Cultural Healing team provide mental health support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and their family members in our region.
It provides services to adults and children:
Find out more about the Cultural Healing team.
We provide health and hearing checks, as well as vaccinations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. This includes:
We also provide information about community services and upcoming community events relevant to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of this region.
Our team includes:
Child Health Access on 07 5319 4824.
You can also find contact information for culturally appropriate services in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services Reference guide [PDF 7506.62 KB].
When you visit our hospital and health services you have the right to respect, dignity and consideration for your privacy, religion and cultural background.
You have the right to appropriate and easily understood information about your health care and to participate in decisions about your health care.
Before you agree to any treatment, you have the right to:
You also have the right to confidentiality.
Our Health Equity Strategy is an overarching blueprint to address health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Sunshine Coast area.
Find out more about our Health Equity Strategy.
We recognise it’s important to deliver services that are safe and accessible, both clinically and culturally, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Find out more about how we work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.