Gold Coast Health is recognised for quality patient care, nursing and midwifery excellence and innovations in professional nursing and midwifery practice under the Magnet® Recognition Program.
"Walking together in kindness" artwork produced for Gold Coast Health by Riki Salam, We are 27 Creative.
Gold Coast Health is enhancing access to culturally safe healthcare for First Nations women through the expansion of its Waijungbah Jarjums service.
The service has relocated to Cotton Street, Nerang, creating a one-stop community service that provides continuity of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families from pregnancy through to five years of age.
More than 3,000 patients have accessed the service since 2019, with on average 140 births each annually.
The first-of-its-kind service will continue delivering its established programs, including antenatal and postnatal care, hypnobirthing courses and child health assessments. The expanded service will also introduce a dedicated gynaecology clinic and cervical screening service.
These new initiatives are expected to support more than 500 women each year by increasing participation in preventative healthcare, addressing known gaps in screening uptake and health outcomes, and enabling earlier identification and management of reproductive health conditions.
Clinical Nurse Consultant Lacey Richmond said the model is a powerful step toward improving long‑term health outcomes for First Nations women.
“Early screening and early intervention greatly improves outcomes, but only when families feel safe enough to come through the door,” she said.
“It’s a model that recognises our social, emotional, cultural, and spiritual wellbeing as central to good health.”
"Culturally safe care helps to improve early engagement and improve outcomes for families,” Acting Midwifery Unit Manager, Megan Jenkins, added.
"Our new space at Nerang helps our service to grow and provide gold standard care to families through continuity, health promotion and early intervention. The expansion of Waijungbah Jarjums strengthens our ability to walk alongside First Nations women in a way that honours culture, builds trust, and supports healthier futures for their children.”
This expansion supports Gold Coast Health’s commitment to Closing the Gap and advancing Health Equity priorities, while aligning with state and national strategies to improve health outcome for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
For more information on the service, visit their webpage.
