More than 600 community members came together to celebrate culture, connection and wellbeing at the Indigenous Wellbeing Centre (IWC) NAIDOC Block Party, transforming the Bundaberg Recreational Precinct into a vibrant hub of music, dance, family fun and community pride.
Held as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations, the event brought people of all ages together to honour the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, while enjoying a packed program of cultural performances, health and wellbeing activities, and opportunities to connect with local services and each other.
Among the live music and fun family activities were community stalls showcasing local organisations and support services, including Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS). It was an opportunity to bring health and community services out of a clinical setting and into an environment where people felt comfortable engaging.
WBHHS Community and Engagement Manager Natalie Rice said her team were able to raise awareness of health services reaching people of all ages with Indigenous and non-Indigenous backgrounds.
“Sometimes a simple conversation can make a real difference by connecting someone with a service they didn't know existed, or by highlighting a gap that we can take back to our teams to help improve access and care,” she said.
“We come away with a better understanding of where we can increase awareness of our health services, while also learning more about community organisations that support people before, during and after their hospital journey.
“It’s also beneficial doing this alongside other WBHHS teams which gives staff the opportunity to learn more about each other’s roles while improving the experience for the people we serve.”
An added feature at the WBHHS stall was Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s Pod Squad app which helped to engage families in conversations about health through fun activities and giveaways.
IWC Chief Executive Officer, Robert Skeen said IWC has a strong and valued partnership with WBHHS and having its involvement demonstrated a united commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of the community.
“While IWC focuses on preventative healthcare and ongoing support, there are times when community members require hospital care,” he said.
“Through our close partnership, we're able to provide wraparound support before, during and after their hospital journey, helping to ensure continuity of care.”
Robert said IWC is committed to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, and community events like the Block Party play an important role in achieving that vision.
“The success of the IWC NAIDOC Block Party is a reflection of what can be achieved when community organisations, local businesses, government agencies, performers and volunteers come together with a shared purpose,” he said.