Local lands seat on Rural Health West’s inaugural Aboriginal advisory committee for improving health outcomes

A Kalgoorlie-Boulder local has landed a seat on the inaugural Aboriginal Advisory Committee established by Rural Health West to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal people in WA. Stephen Morrison is one of seven committee members who will help ensure Aboriginal voices and lived experience help inform work to improve health outcomes across WA, with a key focus on the health of Aboriginal people. The committee will also provide cultural expertise and strategic advice to the Rural Health West Board and staff to ensure programs and future initiatives are informed by Aboriginal knowledge, perspectives, and lived experience. The committee has representatives from across WA and is chaired by Dr Stephanie Trust, with Mr Morrison, Adjunct Professor Tuguy Esgin, Ashley Councillor, Mitchell Walley, Jessica Curnuck, and Dr Christine Clinch rounding out the committee. Dr Trust said the committee understood the realities communities faced and the importance of care that respects culture, connection, and community. “We need Aboriginal voices influencing every part of the health system — from the way services are delivered to how programs are designed and decisions are made,” Dr Trust said. “This committee creates a space for that influence. It allows Aboriginal leaders to share their knowledge and lived experience so Rural Health West can work in ways that genuinely support our communities.” Dr Trust said strengthening Aboriginal leadership in health was critical to creating sustainable change in rural and remote Australia. “Our communities have the knowledge and the capability to shape solutions,” she said. “When Aboriginal people are part of the leadership and decision-making, it strengthens the whole system and helps ensure the services being delivered truly meet community needs.” RHW chief executive Professor Catherine Elliott said the committee represented an important step in ensuring Aboriginal voices shaped the organisation’s work at every level. “Closing the gap in health between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people cannot be achieved without genuine partnership with Aboriginal peoples,” she said.