Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Queensland Health endeavours to support cultural practices and beliefs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout the end of life journey and after. You may want to return home, be on country with family and have access to culturally sensitive services.
Please let your healthcare team know if you and your family have any special needs or requests to support your cultural practices. They can help you to access healthcare workers with knowledge of Aboriginal culture, kinship and men’s and women’s issues.
To find an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health service in your area who can support you with advance care planning, check the list of Indigenous health services.
Planning ahead
If you become so sick that you can’t tell people what you want, your family and health worker may need to make decisions for you. You can make decisions ahead of time about things like:
- what is and isn’t important to you and your family
- where you want or don’t want to be cared for
- who you want and don’t want to care for you
- what medical treatment you do and don’t want.
This discussion starter can help you to think about what is important to you and how you can help your family make decisions for you.
You can also complete other documents including:
- Advance health directive—a legal document which allows you to give instructions about your future healthcare, and appoint an enduring power of attorney. It comes into effect if you have impaired capacity.
- Enduring power of attorney—a legal document giving another person(s) (substitute decision-maker) the authority to make personal (including healthcare) and/or financial decisions on your behalf when you have impaired capacity.
- Statement of Choices—focuses on your wishes, values and beliefs. It is a document in use in some Queensland Health facilities, residential aged care facilities and general practice to support advance care planning conversations, but does not act as a substitute decision-maker or as consent. It is managed statewide by the Metro South Hospital and Health Service.
- Wills—a legal document that states what you would like to happen with your money, belongings and other assets (your estate) when you pass away.
Aged care information
If you’re finding it harder to do the things you used to, you might need some help at home.
The Australian Government’s My Aged Care website has a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific information about accessing aged care services, including:
- help and support for elders in your community
- who can get help
- the cost
- people and groups specially trained to help in your community.
Information is available in Arrernte, Pitjantjatjara, Torres Strait Creole (Yumplatok) and Warlpiri languages.
Other resources
- Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
- Queensland Indigenous health services
- Queensland Aboriginal & Islander Health Council
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient care guideline
- Sad News, Sorry Business