Our First Nations Health Unit and liaison officers are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of First Nations patients and consumers through advocacy, education and support.
Key points
- We act as a cultural broker between consumers and treating teams
- We can advocate for First Nations patients and their families, and help them to navigate the hospital and healthcare system
- We provide secondary education to clinicians and treating teams to improve cultural sensitivity and to promote a more culturally appropriate and inclusive environment
- We provide integrated and coordinated services that are culturally safe for First Nations consumers
What we do
First Nations Hospital Liaison Officers
Our First Nations Hospital Liaison Officers (FNHLOs) work as part of the First Nations Health Unit (FNHU) to promote holistic and culturally safe care for First Nations patients and consumers.
Our team can assist with:
- Ensuring hospital services are culturally appropriate, safe, welcoming and meet the needs of First Nations patients, consumers and the wider community
- Bedside visits to explain the hospital system and act as a liaison between patients, their families and our multidisciplinary team of staff
- Discharge planning
- Helping patients and their families access hospital and external support services in the community post-discharge
First Nations Clinical Nurse Officers
Our First Nations Clinical Nurse Officers work collaboratively with all members of the multidisciplinary teams across the hospital to ensure culturally aware and safe practice is maintained with the patients' best interests in mind.
With their nursing experience, our nurses are able to work through barriers to care from both sociocultural and medical perspectives. Their roles support patients and clinical staff on the wards.
First Nations Patient Care Navigator, Emergency Department
Our First Nations Patient Care Navigator provides culturally responsive support, advocacy, and care coordination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients attending the Emergency Department, helping to improve access, understanding, and experience of care.
First Nations Patient Navigator, Breast & Lung Cancer
Our First Nations Patient Navigator is a registered nurse who provides clinical and cultural advocacy, translation, support, and system navigation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients undergoing screening and subsequent investigations for breast and lung cancers through the BreastScreen and National Lung Cancer Screening programs. This support is offered across a person's breast or lung cancer journey, and aims to reduce barriers, increase screening uptake, and improve outcomes and experiences of care.
Research Fellow, First Nations Cancer Care Pathways & Evaluation Lead
Our Research Fellow leads the design, implementation, and evaluation of culturally safe cancer care initiatives to improve screening participation, care coordination, psychosocial support, and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Who can use our service
The First Nations Health Unit services are available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander patients and consumers at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH).
Referrals
Referrals can be made by a member of a patient's treating team at the RMH.
Ground Level
300 Grattan St, Parkville, Victoria
The Royal Melbourne Hospital acknowledges the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our services are located.
We are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of First Nations people.