The team runs regular clinics with both paediatricians and Aboriginal Case Managers to deliver holistic care that incorporates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient’s medical, social, cultural and emotional needs.

Wadja Manager Selena White said Wadja Health Clinic has played a significant role in delivering the best health outcomes for children and families at the RCH.

“When Wadja commenced in 2009, our paediatricians saw three patients in its first month of service, and this has now significantly grown to between 28 – 38 patients a month,” Selena said.

“[In 2016], our Wadja Case Managers supported more than 300 patients and families with attendance, cultural support and safety throughout clinic consultations.

“Wadja was a new model of care for paediatric health, so it’s great we’ve had such positive feedback from families – knowing our Koori community value our service is very rewarding.”

In 2017, the clinic implemented an enhanced model of care for Aboriginal patients who fail to attend outpatient appointments, to identify and address barriers to accessing health services.

“I’m very proud of how the team has worked together to develop our service to improve the overall health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children,”

Selena White

“Together we have built trusting relationships with families, formed partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, and collaborated with many other RCH teams – including Social Work – Vulnerable Children, Mental Health and the Education Institute – who are all very much involved in service delivery and care co-ordination of Aboriginal patients’ who attend our clinic.”

“Our role is to support the delivery of holistic wellbeing for our patients. Their health is just one part – we also look after the spiritual, physical, emotional and mental wellbeing of patients and their families.”  

Selena White, Manager of the Wadja Aboriginal Family Place

During the COVID- 19 response in 2020, Wadja Health Clinic clinicians adapted the outpatient service model to Telehealth to ensure Aboriginal patients and families have ongoing access to the service.

“Many of our families have welcomed consultations via the Telehealth platform and we plan to maintain this option where clinically appropriate post COVID-19,” Selena said.

Despite the COVID-19 limitations, the Wadja team saw an increase in presentations over the previous twelve months, providing care to 3,612 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families during the 2019-20 financial year.

Since its establishment, Wadja has significantly enhanced the experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients at the RCH. 

Kirra Grimes experienced the care of Wadja when her child, Malu, was admitted at age 3.

“As soon as Malu was admitted to the RCH, we were introduced to the Wadja Aboriginal Family Place and given a dedicated Case Manager. Having somebody who was also Indigenous that we could talk to when we were in a really emotional state and open up to and connect with was a godsend.

“It was helpful to have someone there walking us through all of the administrative side of things, from parking to financial matters. They would also check in on us, and make sure we felt comfortable, despite everything that was going on.”

“If we didn’t have support from Wadja, we wouldn’t have felt as comfortable as we did through that time.” 

Kirra Grimes, Parent

“Wadja is a leading model of care for indigenous child health, and what the team has achieved over the past 10 years has been fantastic,” Selena said.

Wadja also offers a general paediatric health clinic, specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Delivered by a multi-disciplinary team consisting of case managers, paediatricians, mental health clinicians and allied health clinicians, the clinic aims to address the complex medical and social needs of this patient cohort.  

“We’re with families every step of the way, and often our case managers wear many hats. Not only are they a support person, they also ensure parents or guardians understand things like consent forms and what their child’s surgery involves.” 

“Of course, this is something we want to keep building on, so we’re looking for opportunities to improve the effectiveness of our service and ensure we have a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of our patients and families.”

“We’re also looking to enhance our physical environment, to reflect the traditional owners of the land, and we’re working on strengthening relationships between the RCH and the Aboriginal community by increasing engagement with Aboriginal organisations, Aboriginal elders and community members.”

To date, the Wadja team has held over 8,000 sessions of delivery, helping improve outcomes and the overall patient experience for Aboriginal children and their families.

The incredible impact of Wadja extends further than just its patients. Since 2009, the Wadja team has developed a reputation within the community, working closely with local Victorian Aboriginal organisations, including the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA), to provide service delivery and referral pathways for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

They have also played an integral role within the hospital, building understanding, empathy, cultural knowledge and culturally safe care among RCH staff.

Impact Milestones

April 2022 – March 2023

• The Wadja team has provided 4,169 occasions of service delivery from April 2022 to March 2023 to Aboriginal outpatients. 
• The Wadja Health Clinic has remained consistent at 87 per cent attendance rate during the period from April 2022 to March 2023, with a total of 500 outpatient appointments booked and 433 attendances. 
• During this period, the Wadja team continued to engage and consult with community partners, including the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS), the Victorian Aboriginal Childcare Agency (VACCA), and various Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (VACCHO’s), for the provision of service delivery and referral pathways for Aboriginal communities. 

April 2023 – May 2024

• The Wadja team collectively provided over 4,000 occasions of service delivery to Aboriginal outpatients and their families.  
• The Wadja multidisciplinary team held a workshop to review, develop and uplift the current scheduling of patient appointments, triaging processes and referral screening of new patients. This has helped minimise the waitlist at Wadja.  
• The Wadja team are currently working on educational materials such as podcasts and eLearning modules with Campus-wide partners, including the University of Melbourne and the Melbourne’s Mental Health Strategy to ensure that Aboriginal patients and community are supported better. 
• The Wadja team are continuing to engage and consult with community partners for the provision of service delivery and referral pathways for Aboriginal communities.