Western Health has taken out the prestigious Excellence in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Award at the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards.
Western Health’s Babaneek Booboop Program promotes cultural safety for First Nations children and families as they engage with healthcare services, supporting more than 350 children and their families since its inception in 2017.
Babaneek Booboop works with Western Health’s Melton Paediatric Community Services to offer paediatric and allied health assessments, link children and families with local cultural organisations, and facilitate access to playgroups, kindergartens and early years services.
Western Health was also a finalist in the Excellence in Values-Based Healthcare category for its innovative same-day discharge initiative for surgical patients.
Taking inspiration from successful projects overseas, Western Health’s Perioperative and Critical Care Division led an initiative to improve access to surgery, reduce lengths of stay and make surgery less disruptive for patients.
In one year, more than 300 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and hernia repair surgery who would have stayed overnight were instead able to get home safely on the day.
Western Health chief executive Russell Harrison said that the awards were a great recognition of the high quality of healthcare in Melbourne’s west.
“I’m so proud of our Babaneek Booboop Program and our Integrated Community Health Service in Melton for their critically important work helping First Nations children and families access the services they need. Our Aboriginal Pathways workers keep cultural safety firmly in view, promote self-determination and ensure appropriateness of services,“ he said.
“Congratulations also to our Perioperative and Critical Care Division for their work in providing best care to our patients by getting them home safely without the need for an overnight stay. It’s great to see the exceptional care and culture of innovation at Western Health acknowledged.”
The Babaneek Booboop Program is funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing through Korin Korin Balit-Djak funding. It is co-designed and co-produced with the local Aboriginal community and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
The West Metro Health Service Partnership, of which Western Health is a key partner, was also recognised and nominated for Health Service Partnership of the Year.
Since its establishment two years ago, the partnership has built strong connections with more than 280 stakeholders and delivered significant impact through 13 collaborative projects.
