Introduction

Aim of the Resource

This website aims to provide information about Indigenous services across Gippsland. This website also includes mainstream health and community services to encourage community members to utilise these services, to promote self empowerment and choice in regards to health and the health of others. This directory is also available electronically via the Gippsland PHN website, www.gphn.org.au

It is hoped the Gippsland Black Pages Service Directory will be widely used and shared between all service providers to assist with targeted and culturally sensitive care. It also serves as a starting point for the development of relationships between organisations, which we hope will lead to information exchange, transfer of knowledge, further discussions and a greater understanding around Aboriginal health outcomes.

In many instances throughout this directory the terms Indigenous, Aboriginal and Koori/Koorie are used. This is largely dependent on the individual organisations. In most instances these terms refer to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This is the fourth revision of this directory, which was originally developed in collaboration with Indigenous professionals and community members in 2011.

Acknowledgement of Support

The Gippsland Black Pages Service Directory has been made possible by Gippsland PHN through the support of the Commonwealth Department of Health, Indigenous Australians Health Program.

Language

Gippsland PHN would like to acknowledge and thank Dr Doris Paton for her contribution of GunaiKurnai language to the Gippsland Black Pages. Dr Paton is a Gunai/Ngarigo Monero woman who has worked with the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages (VACL) for 22 years, specialising in Gunai language and Aboriginal education curriculum.

Photographs and Artwork

The home page image was kindly provided by Myles Bennell Photography, www. mylesbennellphotography.com.

Photographs: Images captured throughout Gippsland at public events kindly provided by Deadly Sport Gippsland, www.deadlysport.com.au.

Artwork: With thanks to the children of Lake Tyers Health and Children’s Services, Nowa Nowa Kindergarten, and Nowa Nowa Primary School.

General Information

Gippsland PHN would like to thank all of the contributors and organisations that have participated in the development of this directory and acknowledge the work being done to close the health gap throughout Gippsland.