SYNOPSIS

Approximately 1300 Aboriginal babies are born in Victoria each year. Many Aboriginal children have a good start to life. However there are others whose history and family circumstances means that their health and wellbeing requires particular attention.

The State of Victoria’s Children 2009 report confirmed that while Aboriginal children’s outcomes are similar to those of other children across some developmental and health measures, too many Aboriginal children are faring significantly worse and could be left behind as the living standards and opportunities of most Victorians continues to rise.

Many Aboriginal families are managing precariously, often experiencing repeated life stressors such as trauma, discrimination and racism, poverty and intergenerational disadvantage. This makes it hard for parents – many of whom are raising children alone, often with limited support from overstretched families – to care effectively for their children. For some it is too hard, leaving a disturbingly high proportion of Aboriginal children in need of care or protection.

In this Grand Round, Wadja Aboriginal Family Place at RCH will present a clinical case example from the Wadja health clinic which highlights the burdens faced by an Aboriginal sibling group and their family and illustrates the complex issues and somewhat fragmented service sector facing many Aboriginal families today. We will also highlight the work of the Wadja multidisciplinary team and community agencies/organisations in developing pathways to work towards a more comprehensive, coordinated and culturally responsive approach to care.

This clinical work will be linked to current Victorian policy directions in Aboriginal child health.

SPEAKERS

Dr Renata Kukuruzovic – Paediatrician Wadja Health Clinic and Department of General Medicine

Dr Ric Haslam – Director Mental Health

Annette Gaulton – a proud Kooma woman from South West Queensland and Case Manager at Wadja Aboriginal Family Place