Aboriginal Health
The Royal Perth Bentley group respects and acknowledges the Noongar people, both past and present, as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we provide services. We strive to create a culturally safe and responsible health care service that understands the importance culture and connection plays.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represent 12 percent of our inpatient admissions, and more than 50 percent travel from rural and remote communities in WA.
We aim to provide a suite of Aboriginal-specific services that focus on supporting individual health needs through advocacy, education and direct clinical support services.
These services all operate with the vision that culture is central in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and needs to be part of reaching the best health outcomes.
We aim to ensure your time here is as comfortable as possible. Royal Perth Hospital recognises the values, beliefs, rights and customs of Aboriginal people and provides a range of services and support to make your time away from home easier.
The Aboriginal Acute Care Coordination (AACC) program is available when Aboriginal patients are admitted to Royal Perth Hospital and discharged with an acute condition from the Perth metropolitan or regional areas of Western Australia.
The program provides patient advocacy and education to improve the health journey of Aboriginal patients, identifying gaps in the patient journey when admitted and discharged from hospital.
Care Coordinators within the AACC team work with Aboriginal patients linking them with community care providers to support the access to services and assist in the management of their health conditions. This includes assisting patients to schedule GP appointments for GP Management Plans and further patient care planning. The Care Coordinators provide support to attend follow up Outpatient appointments to support the continuity of care.
Culturally appropriate podiatry and diabetes education for Aboriginal people is provided with a focus on prevention and management of foot complications and their risk factors such as diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, peripheral neuropathy and other chronic diseases. Clients receive clinical and education services at various community clinics across the metropolitan area in a combination of community venues and the mobile clinic van. Many of the clinic locations are in partnership with other agencies and stakeholders providing services to Aboriginal people, resulting in a shared-care approach. Services provided by Moorditj Djena include: This multidisciplinary team can coordinate the clients care by initiating recall systems, providing intervention and referrals relative to the patient’s risk category. Clients from Moorditj Djena are referred into Primary Health Networks, community based organisations and other external service providers for a seamless client journey. For more information - East Metropolitan Health Service - Moorditj Djena – Strong Feet 
Moorditj Djena (Strong Feet) – Moorditj Djena is a podiatry and diabetes education outreach program for Aboriginal people within the Perth metropolitan area.
Contact Us
Aboriginal Health Liaison Officers are based in the Social Work Department in Victoria Square entrance and work closely with the Social Workers attached to the speciality ward area that they work on.
Aboriginal Health Liaison Officers (ALOs) provide cultural support to patients during their stay in hospital. This may involve supporting treating teams with their communication with Aboriginal patients, providing emotional support and completing tasks such as assisting with PATS and Centrelink. The ALOs also assist with linking patients to Aboriginal specific services in both the metropolitan and regional communities.
To contact Aboriginal Health Liaison Officers (ALOs), please phone 9224 2711.
Please speak to the Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer if you would like to be connected with the services.
Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service is closely linked with Royal Perth Hospital and provides a range of services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.
Country Health Connect is a support and coordination service for Country Aboriginal people travelling from rural and remote areas to Perth. Country Health Connect work closely with Royal Perth Hospital and can provide practical support such as transport for PATS patients who are staying at the Perth Aboriginal Hostels.
Aboriginal Hostels Limited operates more than 50 hostels Australia-wide to provide accommodation for Aboriginal people who need to be away from home for a range of reasons, including medical treatment. Aboriginal Hostels Limited provides safe, comfortable, affordable accommodation and offer three meals each day during your stay.
The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry is concerned with the spiritual, cultural and social development of Aboriginal people in the Archdiocese of Perth. The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry provides pastoral care to Aboriginal people that include visits to the hospital and home, spiritual preparations including funerals and working together with other organisations dealing with Aboriginal issues. The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry can be contacted directly on 9328 7529.