Hospital Liaison Service

Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Hospital Liaison Officers act as a cultural link between health professionals, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, and their families.

They can help break down communication barriers so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and their families can better understand their hospitalisation and treatment.

In this video you will hear from Jordan Scott, the Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Hospital Liaison Officers. He is a proud Gamilaraay man from Moree NSW.

Resources

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Hospital Liaison Officers fact sheet

Patients and their families are supported by:

• Bedside visits to explain the hospital system
• Liaison between patients and clinical staff regarding treatment
• Personal and family support
• Coordination of care from hospital to your home
• Mediation and advocacy for referrals to social workers and support services if required
• Assistance with language barriers
• Helping with referrals to other Gold Coast Health facilities or community-based services
• Organise family meetings and provide practical support to patient's families
• Ensure culturally respectful health care practices
• Identify service barriers, and improve engagement with you throughout your care

We want to ensure you and your family feel culturally safe when accessing the service by supporting non-Indigenous staff and clinicians when engaging in the clinical care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

If you or a loved one will be going to hospital, let us know, and we can yarn about how we can help or arrange to meet you when you arrive.

If you're already at the hospital and would like a visit, please ask your ward staff to contact our service.