Rockingham Aboriginal health service Babbingur Mia recognised at NAIDOC Perth Awards

An Aboriginal health program servicing the Rockingham and Kwinana communities has been recognised at this year’s NAIDOC Perth Awards. Babbingur Mia, run through South Coastal Health and Community Services, was nominated by a member of the community without their knowledge and much to the staff’s surprise were named runner-up of the NAIDOC Perth program of the year award. The NAIDOC Perth Awards recognise outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations and businesses that are making significant contributions to the Perth community. The program of the year award is open to not-for-profit groups delivering quality services to communities in the metro area. Program coordinator Emily Garlett, who attended the awards, said the anonymous nomination made the recognition “even more special”. “We knew the awards were taking place but not that we had been nominated. No individual has come forward as yet, but rumours are it was one of our community members,” Ms Garlett said. South Coastal Health and Community Services chief executive Gill Walker said all staff were thrilled with the award, which recognised the hard work Babbingur Mia put into providing a culturally safe space. “We all share the same vision which supports the empowerment of our community. We engage in whole of organisation training to increase cultural knowledge, be culturally responsive and learn the skills required to recognise, engage and apply best practice approaches to provide culturally safe care and support,” Dr Walker said. Babbingur Mia, meaning ‘friendly place’, offers a range of health services to support the wellbeing of women, children, men, new mums and mums-to-be in a culturally safe environment. They include midwife pregnancy support, health assessments, child health checks, mental health support and gatherings. The organisation also welcomed its first Aboriginal GP in May, Yindjibarndi and Palyku woman Talila Milroy. Dr Milroy is the first Aboriginal GP to work at Babbingur Mia and is one of the first to work in the Rockingham/Kwinana district.