Study: AHLOs boost Aboriginal patients' hospital experience

We call upon all levels of government to: 1- Increase the number of Aboriginal professionals working in the health-care field. 2- Ensure the retention of Aboriginal health-care providers in Aboriginal communities. 3- Provide cultural competency training for all healthcare professionals.

Aboriginal people have the same right to good health outcomes as every other Victorian. But right now, Aboriginal Victorians are dying more than 10 years earlier than the rest of the community – and are more than twice as likely to end up in hospital for preventable conditions. That’s why, we’re doing things differently in health here in Victoria, putting Aboriginal health in Aboriginal hands through the Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Partnership Forum. Last week in Ballarat, I met with Aboriginal health leaders who are already delivering real change – from stronger cultural safety in our hospitals, to better infrastructure, a growing Aboriginal health workforce, and easier access to care. And yesterday, the Allan Labor Government has taken another historic step by introducing Victoria’s first Statewide Treaty into Parliament. Treaty is about giving Aboriginal Victorians a real say in the decisions that affect them – because when communities lead, services improve, and lives are saved. In Victoria, we have been on the path to Truth and Treaty for almost a decade. Generations of advocacy by First Peoples has led to this important moment. It doesn’t take anything away from anyone. It’s about improving people’s lives and the services they use.

Learning and listening are essential to reconciliation, deepening our understanding of the history and lived experiences of Indigenous peoples. Organizations like the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) and the Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA) offer educational resources on residential schools and other important topics. Hear more from Dr. Nicole Blackman, RN, and Christi-Ann Poulette, RN, from Indigenous Primary Health Care Council in this video.

Learning and listening are indeed essential steps. At Lakehead Staffing Solutions, we believe cultural awareness is especially important for healthcare workers serving Northern Ontario communities. Our training and practice guides ensure that the professionals we place are not only skilled but also aware, respectful, and integrated into the communities they serve. We encourage all healthcare providers to take advantage of resources from organizations like the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, OFIFC, and ONWA to deepen their understanding of Indigenous history and lived experiences. Watch and learn from Dr. Nicole Blackman, RN, and Christi-Ann Poulette, RN, as they share insights on Indigenous primary healthcare. #CulturalAwareness #IndigenousHealth #HealthcareStaffing #NorthernOntario #Reconciliation #TrainingAndDevelopment

Health Partners on IPV+ Exploitation will host four virtual educational sessions to discuss intimate partner violence (IPV), including: prevalence and definitions; clinical change strategies including the CUES intervention; HRSA’s UDS measures on IPV/exploitation, and referrals and collaboration strategies to develop comprehensive HC responses. Health Outreach Partners and Migrant Clinicians Network will lead one session with a focus on IPV experienced by migratory seasonal agricultural workers (MSAWs) and will describe outreach strategies, essential partnerships and healing-centered strategies to support staff and patient well-being. https://lnkd.in/e7EM4Th4 Date: Wednesdays: October 22; October 29; November 5; and November 12, 2025  @ 7am HST/10am PST/11am MST/12pm CST/1pm EST (4 – 60 minute sessions) All four sessions will be offered in English with simultaneous Spanish interpretation 

🌿 Beyond cultural competence: co-design and self-determination. At the PHN Commissioning Showcase, Clair McDonald and the Western Victoria PHN team shared how they are reshaping the response to First Nations family violence through partnership, trust and self-determination. Working alongside Wanga Laka, A Lives, and 8 ACCHOs, the pilot focused on strengthening the primary healthcare system’s ability to identify and support those affected by family and domestic violence. ✨ The cornerstone: a values-based commissioning strategy grounded in respect, cultural safety and lived experience. ✨ The method: co-design with Aboriginal-led organisations and communities, not just consultation. ✨ The insight: “Timeliness can be adapted – but self-determination cannot be compromised.” 👏 Thank you Clair and the Western Victoria Primary Health Network team for showing how commissioning can move beyond cultural competence to genuine partnership and change. #Commissioning #SelfDetermination #FirstNationsHealth #PHNShowcase

In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action #20, #LakeoftheWoodsDistrictHospital provides onsite Ojibway translation through the Indigenous Patient Relations Department (IPRD) team. All of the IPRD patient navigators can communicate in Ojibway/Anishinaabe and have supported on average 125 patients with translation per year. The IPRD is a partnership between the hospital, Ogimaawabiitong Kenora Chiefs Advisory and Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe'iyewigamig (WNHAC). #OurCommunitiesOurHospital

Not Just Needles: Providing Ethical and Comprehensive Migraine Care The latest Canadian Headache Society (CHS) Position Statement highlights the importance of comprehensive, ethical, and patient-centered care that goes beyond procedures to include diagnosis, education, prevention, and follow-up. At Migraine Canada, we are also developing our own position statements to support and build on these efforts. Read the full CHS statement here: https://lnkd.in/eNZVhysh

The Aboriginal Chronic Care Program in South Western Sydney Local Health District is improving health outcomes through culturally safe care coordination and strong partnerships with Aboriginal health services. The program coordinates care that includes home visiting and access to additional services that support people to manage their chronic condition. In 2023–24, the program supported more than 6,000 consumers with care coordination, leading to high satisfaction and fewer hospital stays. Its success shows potential to support other vulnerable communities through culturally responsive care. The Aboriginal Chronic Care Program is a finalist in the Excellence in Aboriginal Healthcare category for the 2025 NSW Health Awards. Learn more about this project and other Award finalists here: https://lnkd.in/gUWiSGfw

In Ontario, 2.5 million people live without a family doctor to manage chronic health issues and prevent new ones. In northwest Toronto, where over 50,000 residents are unattached or ‘uncertainly attached,’ Humber River Health and the Schulich Family Medicine Teaching Unit (Schulich FMTU) have created a simple, elegant solution. Read the full story from the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto: https://lnkd.in/gAh5iVCX