Aboriginal Elders, community members and local health service providers recently met in a yarning circle at Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service to launch the A journey into Sorry Business booklet and yarn about the importance of taking care of business with mob.
Fiona Bradbury, Chronic Disease co-ordinator at Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service said the booklet was a casual yarn that delivered the key message
“‘Don’t wait until you’re old or sick to attend to your journey into sorry business,” she said.
“Have your voice heard with what matters to you.”
A journey into Sorry Business supports Aboriginal people to share their wishes and preferences for their end-of-life care through ‘sorry business’ - cultural practices and protocols associated with death.
The resource has been developed to provide culturally appropriate, respectful and mindful information to encourage Aboriginal people to yarn about their rights, wishes and how to plan ahead when circumstances change through their lives.
Murray PHN partnered with Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service to co-develop the booklet. Input was received from community members from Wiradjuri, Yorta Yorta, Waveroo and Duduroa Countries, the lands the booklet encompasses.
The resource has been adapted from a booklet developed by South Western Sydney PHN in partnership with Aboriginal Elders, the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council and South Western Sydney Local Health District.
Murray PHN CEO Matt Jones said the booklet aims to connect health services and community members with Aboriginal wisdom when assisting and caring for those with life-limiting conditions, while honouring their connection with land, community, family and tradition.
"We value the importance of advance care planning and this resource has been developed to provide culturally appropriate, respectful and mindful information to encourage Aboriginal people in opening up conversations about their rights, wishes and how to plan ahead when circumstances change throughout their lives,“ Mr Jonessaid.
A Journey into Sorry Business is available at Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service as a free hard copy resource and can be downloaded from https://bit.ly/4eKWFi9
Hardcopies will also be available at the following free community ‘Last Days’ palliative care workshops:
October 22, Shepparton: https://bit.ly/4eyDN61/
October 23, Wangaratta: https://bit.ly/3TB6HtT/
