Mental Health Service: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Information

The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) aims to identify the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and provide care that will have a positive impact on their social and emotional wellbeing. The ISLHD mental health service have specific staff who work within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific and identified roles; thus providing an integrated and culturally safe environment for Aboriginal consumers, and their families and carers.

Aboriginal Mental health staff:

• John Bolt - based at Nowra Community Mental Health
• Suzanne Trueman - based at Illawarra Community Mental Health
• Sophie Pitt - Aboriginal Mental Health Clinician, based at Illawarra Community Mental Health.
• Bruce Sutton - based at the Sub-acute Mental Health Unit, Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital, Nowra
• Sharlene Cruickshank - Aboriginal Clinical Lead based at the Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital, Nowra

The Aboriginal Action Plan: Closing the Gap 2017-2020 identifies the requirement to understand the needs of Aboriginal Communities; which includes providing a holistic, flexible and integrated service delivery to respond to the cultural context of Aboriginal social, cultural and emotional wellbeing. The Aboriginal Mental Health Workforce can make connections within Aboriginal families and communities.