Find health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
Community-led health services
These services are controlled, managed and run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services
Winnunga Nimmityjah provides free, culturally safe, holistic health care services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the ACT and surrounding regions.
Find out more about Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.
Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation
Gugan Gulwan is an Aboriginal youth centre in the ACT suburb of Wanniassa. They provide opportunities and support to people that focus on activities that can be achieved at home, such as addressing maintenance and repairs, providing cleaning supplies, and facilitating family planning activities.
You can contact them to get support for children, youth and families, educational activity packs, food and transport supplies.
Find out more about Gugan Gulwan.
Help from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support workers
These services are led or guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Help to access services in hospitals, hospital clinics and day therapy
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Service is a team of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
We provide support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are:
- inpatients (admitted to hospital)
- outpatients (patients attending hospital clinics and day therapy units).
Contact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Service.
Support at mental health facilities
Aboriginal Liaison Officers (ALOs) provide one-on-one support at mental health inpatient facilities at least 2 days a week and are available for phone support and consultations.
ALOs provide support at:
- the Alexander Maconochie Centre, Bimberi and Dhulwa on Monday, Wednesday and half day Friday
- the Withdrawal Unit to provide support, guidance, advocacy and consultation.
Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm
Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm provides a place of healing, where you can feel safe and supported to make ongoing and meaningful change in your life.
Read more about Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm.
Services for a specific health need
Find Indigenous and non-Indigenous health services.
Family, children and young people
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service | Child health nurses to help with breastfeeding, nutrition, feeding, sleeping, behaviour and development. The midwifery team offers antenatal and postnatal care, community at home support, baby health checks, breastfeeding support, immunisations, and women’s health services. Midwives work with ACT hospitals to make sure you receive connected care between Winnunga Nimmityjah and hospital services. |
An Aboriginal youth centre that has a range of programs that go well beyond the services provided by most youth centres. Gugan Gulwan gives support to parents and the family unit, focusing on skills development for young people. Programs include a drug and alcohol/mental health program, a child, youth, family support program, and a reconnect program to support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. | |
| Canberra Health Services | Information about where to access services and supports to help with children and young people’s development, nutrition, feeding, sleeping, behaviour learning, resilience and safety. |
| Maternal and Child Health | Home visits to all families with newborns with a referral from their midwife. This first visit is a chance to discuss the wellbeing and any health issues of you and your baby. It can also provide you with information about local services for parents. |
| Early parenting counselling at Canberra Health Services | Appointments for parents and families experiencing emotional, social and psychological difficulties that may have an impact on the health and wellbeing of the children and family. |
| Walk-in centres | Free health care for minor injuries and illnesses such as colds, flu, cuts, sprains, bites and stings. Centres are located in Belconnen, Dickson, Gungahlin, Tuggeranong, and Weston Creek. |
| Child and Family Centres | A ‘one-stop-shop’ supporting families. There are 3 Centres in the ACT in Tuggeranong, Gungahlin and West Belconnen. The Centres provide a range of support programs to help parents and children. The services and support focus on children pre-birth to 8 years. Some services are for children up to 12 years of age. |
| Provides children, young people and their families with initial and continuing support to manage their asthma. | |
| Children's eye screening | Eye and vision screening services for children from birth to 6 years. Their services include vision assessment, eye movement assessment and binocular vision tests. You can access this service with a referral from your GP. You may also be referred to the service through a MACH nurse following a kindergarten health check. |
| Children's hearing service | Full hearing assessments for children aged 18 months to 18 years. |
Dental services to eligible children and young people in the ACT. We can help with dental emergencies, dental restoration and denture services. |
Chronic health management
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Winnunga Nimmityjah | Has a Chronic Disease Coordinator and a Chronic Disease Nurse who can help you with managing diabetes, kidney disease and other chronic diseases. They can also help you reduce the risk of developing these diseases. |
Renal service | Cares for and treats people with problems related to their kidneys. |
| Diabetes service | Treatment and education for all types of diabetes. |
Cancer
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Winnunga Nimmityjah | Cervical screening services. |
| Canteen | Support for young people aged between 12 and 25 who are impacted by cancer. Canteen support young people who are dealing with their own, a parent or a sibling’s diagnosis, or have lost a loved one to cancer. |
| Breastscreen ACT | Free screening mammograms to people aged 40 years and over. Breastscreen clinics are in Woden, Civic and Belconnen. |
| The Cancer Council | Services to support anyone affected by cancer. |
Hearing
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Winnunga hearing health program | Hearing tests for adults and children. |
Overweight and obesity
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Winnunga healthy lifestyle program | A free program for the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Islander community. It focuses on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, including cooking classes and lifestyle advice. |
| Community care nutrition Service | Support for adults who would like to improve their nutrition and health. Dietitians and nutrition assistants can help if you have gut issues, high cholesterol, kidney problems, cancer or if you are underweight or overweight. |
Dental and oral health
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Winnunga dental services | Treatment and preventative dental and oral hygiene care. Treatments include fillings, dentures and extractions. |
| Dental services | Dental services to eligible adults. Help with dental emergencies, dental restoration and denture services. |
Alcohol and drugs
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service | A range of GP, nursing services and support to individuals and families including drug and alcohol and help to stop smoking. |
| Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy | Specialist drug treatment service. Services include 'The Connection' Indigenous service, various community development programs, peer education courses and workshops, case management services, art projects and a medical clinic. |
| Toora Women | Support for women experiencing domestic violence, homelessness and addiction. |
| Arcadia House | Detox, residential and day programs to withdraw from alcohol and other drugs and to help develop positive life skills. The service is for people aged 18 years and over. |
| Catholic Care | Alcohol and other drug programs run by qualified alcohol, tobacco and other drug workers who provide a professional, non-judgmental service. |
| Directions Health Pathways to Recovery | Treatment and support services for people impacted by drug or alcohol related issues. The programs are for people of all ages, including family members. |
| Karralika | Residential care and community-based case-managed treatment options for adults and families. |