Synopsis
The Royal Children’s Hospital welcomes patients from all over our beautiful country for cardiac treatment, but
we also acknowledge that this can be a frightening time for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and
their families that can bring up feelings of fear, sadness, homesickness, and isolation. Many of our Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander patients and their families may have never been to Naarm (Melbourne) before,
therefore it can be overwhelming and disorientating, particularly if families are arriving in the middle of the night.
This video is a walkthrough of The Royal Children’s Hospital, from staying at Ronald McDonald House through
to talking to cardiac surgeons in the operating theatre, this video takes patients through what to expect, and
helps them to feel supported in a culturally safe environment.
This year’s NAIDOC Grand Round will explore the collaboration of the Wadja Walkthrough video that was only
possible thanks to the dedication and countless hours invested across RCH Wadja, MCRI Heart Flagship Patient
Advocacy Group and HeartKids.
Speakers
Selena White is an Iman woman from Central Queensland and Manager of the Wadja Aboriginal Family Place.
Selena has over 24 years of experience working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care. She
currently leads support of RCH Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and families with cultural support
and safety throughout clinic and ward consultations. Selena is a leader of advocacy in Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander healthcare, including as the Co-Chair of the RCH’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee, the cross-
community body that ensures the hospital provides equitable, culturally safe and responsive health care, and
promotes improved health outcomes for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families.
Annette Gaulton has been an RCH Wadja Case Manager for over 10 years. Netty is a proud Kooma woman
from southwest Queensland. Netty had provided excellence and leadership in health services to Aboriginal
children and their families at RCH. Netty has made invaluable contributions to child health advocacy, liaison,
research, mental health, education, and family support to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal children
and young people in Australia. In 2016, she was awarded the Pied Pipers Scholarship to strengthen partnerships
in Northern Territory Communities, reduce risks to patient safety due to discontinuities between inpatient care
and care at home by improving pre-admission and post-discharge communication and planning, streamlining
patient care by ensuring patient and family journey is supported by providing necessary information to those
involved in patients’ care prior to travel and ensuring travel and surgical arrangements are clear to parents’,
guardians’ and community Elders. Netty has been a dedicated and passionate advocate for Rheumatic Heart
Disease patients and their families travelling to RCH from remote Aboriginal Communities for Cardiac Surgery.
Rebecca Peters works with The Royal Children’s Hospital and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Heart
Flagship. Bec was born in Darwin and enjoyed a unique childhood, growing up on Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of
Carpentaria in the Northern Territory. In 2012, aged 19, Bec commenced her career at RCH in the Department
of Adolescent Medicine. In 2014 Bec joined the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Heart Research group,
in 2020 the Orthopaedic group. She completed a Master of Nursing in 2023. Bec previously worked as the Youth
Engagement Coordinator for HeartKids, where her passion regarding the power of the consumer voice
began. Bec is now Co-Chair of the MCRI Heart Flagship Patient Advocacy Group, established in 2021, which
provides a voice for the childhood heart disease community on campus. Bec continues to be a strong advocate
for ensuring the patient and family voices are heard and believes engagement is a powerful way to enhance
outcomes and improve the standard of care for all individuals and families impacted by illness or disease.