HealthWISE is proud to have the opportunity to significantly expand the reach of our Aboriginal Health Workers in Pharmacy program, bringing culturally safe care to First Nations people, thanks to $310,000 in new funding from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.
The first multi-year charity partnership for Newcastle Permanent in the New England North West, the pilot launched in 2024, and reached over 70 clients in its first six months. The program brings Aboriginal Health Workers and Practitioners into local pharmacies, creating culturally safe, welcoming places for First Nations people to access health information, preventative screening and support accessing local services. The funding expansion will allow HealthWISE to bring Aboriginal Health Workers to four more local pharmacies over the next three years.
“No one else has done it,” multidisciplinary team leader Vicki Gardner said. “I love the pharmacy program because it’s an opportunity for community members to visit another non-clinical place.”
Over the past year, Vicki has become a familiar face in Tamworth’s Discount Drug Store and Carter’s Pharmacy in Gunnedah, offering free blood pressure and blood glucose tests, helping clients understand their prescriptions and access local services. She said she values her clients’ health just as much as their families do.
With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people making up almost 12 per cent of the New England North West population, compared to 3.4 per cent more widely in NSW, HealthWISE executive manager of services Sarah Dean said there was huge need for better access to culturally appropriate health care.
“Trust and understanding is so important when it comes to giving and receiving health care, so providing access to a worker who appreciates the unique needs of First Nations peoples is invaluable,” Sarah said.
“It’s also not just about the physical; having that safe place to talk about how you’re feeling, your home life or your financial situation is another important way to identify barriers and take those vital first steps towards better health outcomes.”
Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation spokesperson Kirrah McClelland said the Aboriginal Health Worker program bridges disparities between locations and cultures.
“By bringing culturally safe care into everyday settings, this program is helping to close the gap in a meaningful and practical way, and we’re very proud to support an initiative that empowers First Nations people to take control of their wellbeing,” Kirrah said.
The pilot came from local insight after Tamworth pharmacist and HealthWISE board member Lia Mahony identified a need to better support First Nations people in pharmacy settings. With funding from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, HealthWISE collaborated with local GPs, pharmacists and the Rural Doctor’s Network to bring the idea to life.
Since then, the partnership with local pharmacists has flourished.
“I love this service for the community engagement it brings to the store,” Lia said.
“As an added benefit, my team is also improving their understanding of the wide range of services available in the community.”
Our Aboriginal Health Workers partnered with Carter’s Pharmacy for their Knowing Your Numbers pilot program, performing cholesterol and HbA1c checks to gather critical health data for early detection of chronic disease. They also collaborated with an Aboriginal pharmacist, who was able to meet with and educate a HealthWISE Elders group on blood pressure and bowel screening.
“I think the program is improving engagement with First Nations peoples; knowing pharmacists are available to answer questions about their health and medicines, and very accessible,” pharmacist Karen Carter said.
Trust and understanding is so important when it comes to giving and receiving health care, so providing access to a worker who appreciates the unique needs of First Nations peoples is invaluable.
