Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer

 AHLO/ALO
The Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers (AHLO) provides cultural, emotional, and clinical support to Aboriginal patients and families. Their role is to provide cultural support and advocacy for Aboriginal patients to ensure that their safety and care is culturally appropriate. Whilst demonstrating acts of kindness and hostility, the patient’s needs are being met. AHLO is employed in hospitals so that Aboriginals have equitable access to health care services, which in turn can increase cultural awareness and sensitivity of health care services to Aboriginal families. It ensures that Aboriginal individuals and families receive culturally appropriate information in order for patients and families to understand medical procedures.

VAHS provides services called ‘’Men’s Unit’’ and the help of health professionals to improve people’s conditions including the man’s diabetes. Specifically, ‘‘Men’s Unit’’ focuses on counselling, wellbeing and case management. Counselling enables the man to manage his emotions, to feel connected to himself and to direct him to a clearer future. Case managers are advocates who help people like the Aboriginal man to understand his current health status and what he can do to resolve it. They provide culturally appropriate information as to why support and receiving treatment are vitally important. Furthermore, they help motivate patients by guiding them to achieve their goals more effectively. This resource aids the man to be informative in his own way and to also make him feel holistic. VAHS consist of multiple health professionals including dietitians to educate the man what sources of nutrition he should and should not be consumed. The dietitian assesses the man to help alleviate his diabetes. The dietitian develops a food plan to help improve his health and also counsels him to develop a clear mind to focus that he is meeting proper nutritional requirements, resulting him to improve his mental health. The wellbeing of the 58-year old man will significantly improve his quality of life and independent living. With the help of staff, their support

They demonstrate the importance of compassion and non-judgemental care in relation to their Code of Ethics where they must follow its requirements. Their role is to respect and value a patient’s background, beliefs, values and most importantly, develop a safe cultural environment for them. Their role also provides better access, liaison, health promotion and preventative health services to the Aboriginal community. AHW have an adequate understanding of Aboriginal history which also helps to interact with Aboriginals and empathise their experiences. Aboriginal Health Workers work collaboratively to achieve better health outcomes for Aboriginal people and develops an appropriate relationship towards Aboriginal patients, including the 58 year old man; to allow him to share his emotions and thoughts. They demonstrate simple acts of kindness and gentleness to make people feel comfortable and safe. They educate Aboriginals who have urgent needs and concerns to help protect their health in a culturally appropriate manner. The AHW’s ability allows to culturally connect with Aboriginal patients relate to each other’s experience and develop solutions in overcoming the situation, this helps reduce the imbalance discrimination and cultural safety within a hospital environment. Their sympathetic care empowers the patient’s feeling to be safe and