The South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network wants more input from members of the region's Indigenous communities.
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Coordinare says it is honouring the voices and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognising the contributions of First Nations communities.
The organisation's CEO Prudence Buist, said improving health care accessibility and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in South Eastern NSW was a key focus of the organisation.
"We are currently seeking expressions of interest to join our two Aboriginal Health Councils and provide advice to Coordinare's board and the wider organisation, to help shape program design, service approaches and professional development.
An important role
"Council members have an important role in helping to identify gaps, barriers, strengths, and opportunities for improvement in the delivery of primary health care to local Aboriginal communities that is culturally safe and accessible," Ms Buist said.
"The councils also contribute to Coordinare's strategy, planning and policies."
Ms Buist said the organisation had been working to equip and support general practices to be safe places that were culturally aware for Aboriginal people as well as other groups.
Strengthen general practice
"Research shows that a large proportion of our region's Aboriginal population choose to attend a mainstream general practice, so we have developed a new online training module which includes interviews with local elders including Narooma's Ron Mason and Lynette Goodwin and Uncle Warren Foster from Wallaga Lake," she said.
"The elders yarned about accessing health care, what good health care looks like and the ongoing importance of COVID vaccinations.
"We think it is important for our doctors to see local faces and local places to give that personal connection," Ms Buist said.
"Providing this support for mainstream providers as well as engaging with local community members and supporting local Aboriginal business is also part of our remit under our reconciliation action plan."
Indigenous view on healing
Over recent months Coordinare has also organised healing workshops written from an Indigenous perspective for community members and service providers in Yass, Goulburn and Eden.
The workshops cover a range of topics including anxiety, fear, social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, suicide safeguarding, domestic violence, and law and justice.
"More than 180 participants have attended the Red Dust Healing workshops to date and the feedback has been very positive," Ms Buist said.
"One participant said having images to help describe emotions, manage distress and big emotions will be helpful in their work.
"This NAIDOC Week, we encourage our first nations communities to continue being loud and proud," Ms Buist added.
To lodge an expression of interest to join Coordinare's southern and northern Aboriginal Health Councils visit Coordinare's website here. Applications close Monday, July 15.
