Each July, NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia to celebrate the rich history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As NAIDOC Week has finished, Respiratory Care WA would like to reaffirm our commitment to learning from, engaging with, and working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, organisations, and communities to build awareness and education to create a better quality of life.
Our vision is for every Western Australian impacted by a respiratory condition to have access to personalised care. One in nine Australians are impacted by asthma and one in seven people over the age of 40 are impacted by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), but sadly these rates are much higher in our Indigenous community with double the rate of asthma and double the death rate. The community are twice as likely to have asthma and 5.8 times as likely to have COPD. Additionally, asthma is one of two leading causes of hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians. But with the correct diagnosis and management, 80% of hospital admissions of asthma are potentially avoidable.
Last week members of Respiratory Care WA’s health team flew to Leonora to provide Lung Function Testing and education on asthma and exercise with the Binar Futures health embassy. We’ll be heading to Broome in October for the next Binar Health Embassy as part of Broome Basketball Junior Carnival.
Back in Perth, we attended a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony event held by the City of Subiaco and on Friday Respiratory Care WA CEO, Anne Hallam, attended the South West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS) NAIDOC Family Fun Day in Bunbury to raise awareness and provide education on asthma and COPD.
Respiratory Care WA are currently working with health organisations Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service and Moorditj Koort Aboriginal Corporation to help Western Australians with respiratory conditions and look forward to continuing with these amazing organisations.
At Respiratory Care WA, we believe that Aboriginal respiratory health is everyone’s responsibility. As NAIDOC week 2024 wraps up, we are reminded that every day is an opportunity to Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud