Kristie Simpson is the Manager of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing Team. She is a proud Yorta Yorta woman with strong connections to the Gamilaroi and Weilwan Country of Coonamble, where she is from.

As a result of marrying and having a child with a non-Aboriginal man, Kristie’s great-grandmother was forced to move, due to ‘past practices and policies’, from the Cummeragunja Mission to Central West NSW, Gamilaroi / Weilwan Country.

‘A lot of the knowledge that I share is Gamilaroi / Weilwan knowledge because Yorta Yorta was taken from me. But, I am really proud that I am one of those people at the forefront. I always say that we are like activists, but just in a different way. We make sure we are keeping Aboriginal business and Aboriginal health on the table.’

Kristie and her team are responsible for ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients who enter a health facility are provided with ‘holistic care’ and that their personal and cultural needs are met.

‘As soon as [an Aboriginal or Torres Islander] patient comes into our facility, a referral is made to our team. We work with the clinician team and become part of that treating team to support and heal our people together.’

Kristie works closely with all clinical, allied health and integrated care teams to guarantee that patient-centred care is provided. One of her responsibilities is ‘educating our non-Aboriginal colleagues around ensuring we have a culturally safe workplace and environment for our community members to come to. Making sure that their needs are being met and their voices are being heard.’

The team see themselves as ‘cultural translators’ that bring their lived experience and cultural knowledge to the work they do.

‘Some of our Elders have intergenerational trauma and some of their reactions to healthcare or the clinical settings can be a ripple effect from what they have experienced in the past. If we [ALO team] can explain that to clinicians and help them understand, it can help our old people and our mob on their healing and recovery journeys.’

Kristie is incredibly proud of the work her and her colleagues are doing and not only sees the benefit for Aboriginal and Torres Islander people but for the broader community as well.

‘It’s a great opportunity to be in this space and make sure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is at the forefront, especially because statistically we are running behind. If we can help improve that and be involved with closing the gap, then that is an honour and a privilege.’

She believes ‘that education, awareness, and understanding’ of Aboriginal and Torres Islander culture, spirituality, and the plight of her people ‘goes a long way.’

‘A lot of the background work that we have to do is tiring because we are retelling our story and reliving our trauma, but we keep doing it because we know there is a need and a reason. Our old people have taught us that we have to share our knowledge, not only with our own but with others. I hope that by doing this it can bring change. I see that we are in the right spot to bring that change and be that inspiration for others who might hopefully join our workforce. You are helping your mob and your community.’

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