Michaela Meade
Northern Health senior Aboriginal officer Karen Bryant has been inducted into the Victorian Aboriginal honour roll.
The honour roll recognises the achievements of Aboriginal Victorians who have made a significant contribution to their community.
Ms Bryant said she was “very happy” to be acknowledged with the honour.
“I am feeling very honoured to be among 12 other inductees and to hear their stories is a beautiful and humbling experience,” she said.
Ms Bryant, who has worked at Northern Health for 14 years, said she wants improvement in the education of non-Aboriginal people about cultural safety matters and culture awareness, as well as the education of Aboriginal patients on the importance of the hospital, health services and options on services, clinics and programs within the hospital setting.
“A lot of our people are getting chronic illnesses quite early on and people are getting multiple chronic illnesses in their 40s or 50s,” she said.
“Many of our people die earlier than the broader community, so education is key to many things.
“It’s also about educating the staff on how to engage with Aboriginal people.
“It’s about making that journey better for them or getting them to understand the journey.
“The hospital is a safe place and we want to encourage Aboriginal people to attend when needed.”
