Community urged to have health checks

Busselton Aboriginal health worker Noelene Councillor is urging the Noongar community to have regular health checks in light of new life expectancy figures for Aboriginal people.

The Australian Institute of Health’s biannual report, released last month, showed life expectancy was 12 years less for Aboriginal males compared to non-Aboriginal Australians and 10 years less for Aboriginal females.

Chronic disease contributes to two-thirds of the health gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians and there is a 40 per cent higher hospitalisation rate due to chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and diseases of the renal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

The GP Down South Network is encouraging local indigenous people to attend annual preventive health checks with their doctor to increase their chance of early detection and disease prevention.

Ms Councillor said her role was to improve access to healthcare by providing transport, advocacy and support.

“Come in all you fellas and yorgas, you need to come in and have your health checks,” she said.

There is also a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme which funds medicine for indigenous people at risk of developing chronic disease.

Contact Ms Councillor at GP Down South on 9754 3662.