Healing together, one yarn at a time

Health outcomes amongst Aboriginal and Torres strait islander’s communities still lag that of other Australians.  

Closing this gap requires culturally appropriate models of health delivery service and is something that MAX takes seriously in our Reconciliation Action Plan.

 Thanks to a great collaboration involving members of our Health, Indigenous Outcomes and Employment Services teams, MAX delivered the first Health Yarning Group held on Wakka Wakka Country this month in our Murgon office. 

The session began with a Welcome to Country and blessing by Elder Max Conlon of the Cherbourg community, who spoke about the value and purpose of coming together through the yarning circle.   

Led by MAX HSO Ellen Jurd the group brought attendees together to share stories and yarn about health and wellbeing, with a focus being on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural practices and beliefs, inclusive of social concerns. 

The aim of the group is to build stronger relationships, working interactively under the Social Emotional Well Being model, and increase personal and community resilience through deadly activities for stronger minds, bodies and spirit.    

The session was followed by a lunch to celebrate the milestone with customers and local Elders.

We are looking forward to starting the second Health Yarning Group at our Rockhampton office with a yarning space already set up and ready to go on Monday the 7th of August. 

This is MAX’s RAP in action with Closing the Gap!