KWHA Background

HOW IT BEGAN

POOR ACCESS TO PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

Community has the control

In 2009 after a review of the health service at Tjuntjuntjara, it was proposed that linkages between neighbouring health services be developed, a meeting was held on Aboriginal land, involving:

  1. Board members and management of Spinifex Health Service in Tjuntjuntjara, Western Australia,
  2. Tullawon Health Service in Yalata, South Australia and
  3. Oak Valley Maralinga Health Service in Oak Valley, South Australia.

The Aboriginal people from the communities decided to set up an alliance of the three health services because the people in their communities moved around between all three communities and visited their health services.

As a result of these conversations, an alliance was formed and named Kakarrara Wilurarra Health Alliance, meaning east west health alliance.

Healthcare starts with you

A/Prof Jill Benson AM, who at the time had been working as the Medical Director of Tullawon Health Service in Yalata, agreed to be the Medical Director for the Alliance, “The elders at the meeting wanted the services to collaborate more, work together and become better as well as have more visits from health professionals,” said Jill.

Jill said the cross-state, multi-agency collaboration was tricky. There were challenges working across the border which were solved through negotiations.

She was tasked with finding funding and discovered that although Rural Health West in Western Australia and the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency in South Australia were independent, they had the same funding stream looking to support Aboriginal communities in remote areas.

“I contacted Rural Health West and the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency and told them about the Kakarrara Wilurarra Health Alliance and how it came about, and that we needed funding for health services to which both agencies agreed to,” said Jill.

Jill took on the role of coordinator in which she performs varied tasks, as well as practising as a general practitioner. Jill organised flights, finds out which way the wind is blowing, has discussions with the appropriate people on whether you can land on an airstrip and researches where you can get fuel.

KWHA initiatives allowed these three remote disadvantaged Aboriginal communities to get access to health care which would have been almost impossible. The combined efforts of the three communities improved quality of health care, gave people access to highly experienced culturally appropriate general practitioners, specialists and allied health professionals.

TAKING CONTROL OF OWN HEALTHCARE

Community Solution

GOING STRONG

Making Choices

Community has the control

Over the years KWHA developed more maturity. Leaders of the communities provide valuable suggestions and advice.

KWHA Network Committee oversees the activities of the alliance and comprises of:

  • Board of 
    • Oak Valley (Maralinga) Inc.,
    • Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation; 
    • Tullawon Health Service Inc.
  • Ms. Joanne Badke (Current Chair), Chief Executive Officer, Tullawon Health Service Inc (Yalata)
  • Ms. Sharon Yendall, General Manager, Maralinga Tjurutja, Oak Valley (Maralinga) Community
  • Manager, Spinifex Health Services (Tjuntjuntjara)
  • Dr Md Moniruzzaman, Medical Director, Kakarrara Wilurrara Health Alliance (KWHA)

The KWHA Clinical Governance Committee advises the alliance on the strategies, policies & procedures and receives input from multidisciplinary professionals involved directly or indirectly with our service delivery.