Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) hosted a special NAIDOC Week event on Tuesday, July 7 with a focus on improving health awareness and management among local Indigenous people.
The annual Community Gathering and Health Expo was held at Gosford Showground, and Aboriginal health unit manager Mr Steve Ella said, it saw a record number of attendees.
“Our annual NAIDOC Week Community Gathering and Health Expo was another big success again this year with approximately 2,500 members of the local Aboriginal and nonAboriginal community joining in the fun and celebrations.”
Free health checks were available to all visitors over 16, with an estimated 180 people taking advantage of this. 80 representatives from CCLHD attended the event, including staff from Renal, Nutrition Services, Cardiac, Pathology, Podiatry, Oral Health, Respiratory, Diabetes, Sexual Health, Drug and Alcohol Services and Self-Management Support Service.
Youth Health was also present conducting spotlights on young people’s health issues and the Health Promotion Unit presented talks on tobacco control. The family-friendly event featured a traditional Welcome to Country as well as other cultural demonstrations and performances.
Along with the annual barbecue, visitors to this year’s NAIDOC events were treated to a variety of cultural foods. Unfortunately, the popular touch football competition was this year cancelled due to poor weather. Despite that, 70 community stalls operated over the week, including the Health Expo showcase that featured a range of Central Coast Local Health District services available to the Indigenous community.
Mr Ella said this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, ‘We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate’, perfectly encapsulates the work the local health district seeks to do in promoting the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“The day was also an opportunity for us to engage with the Aboriginal community to increase their awareness of the many health services available on the Central Coast,” he said. “It is a great, informal way to start a conversation about health in order to help local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people achieve better health equality,” he said.
Media release, 24 June
2015
Email, 14 July 2015
Lauren Nichols, Central
Coast Local Health District