Hay Aboriginal Medical Service wins the 2022 Primary Healthcare Award for Innovation

A children’s health check program delivered by the Griffith and Hay Aboriginal Medical Services has won the 2022 Murrumbidgee Primary Healthcare Award for Innovation.

The program provides health checks, parental support and advice and is a collaboration between the Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service mums and bubs team and staff at the Hay Aboriginal Medical Service.

MPHN Board Chair Dr Jodi Culbert congratulated the staff from Griffith and Hay on winning the award.

“The Innovation category recognises activities promoting new or creative ways to improve health and wellbeing in the community,” Dr Culbert said.

“The remarkable outcomes achieved by this initiative is a testament to the effective collaboration between Griffith and Hay AMS staff and the local community which is leading to important outcomes for children in the Hay area.”

Hay Aboriginal Medical Service Team Leader Jean Woods was thrilled to accept the award.

“The program was created to ensure children in the community receive effective health checks and opportunities are available to support families when more serious health concerns arise,’ Ms Woods said.

“We know the statistics around Aboriginal health show we need to get at problems early and we hope this program will make a difference.”

Two other nominees were recognised as finalists in this award category.

In November 2021, headspace Griffith opened their youth safe space, CreateSpace. This is a multi purpose, youth friendly space where young people and their friends can come and relax, access support and other wellbeing initiatives. The space also plays host to targeted wellbeing and skills groups. The CreateSpace has led to attitudes towards accessing mental health services changing, which has led to an increase in referrals to the service.

The Wagga Wagga Local Health Advisory Committee delivered this project to support mental health and wellbeing in school aged children in the Riverina. The LHAC worked in collaboration with the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital Executive, Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, Murrumbidgee Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Alliance, headspace Wagga Wagga and local high schools to design and develop a silicone wristband with a QR Code which takes the user to the Head to Health website.