HealthWISE

HealthWISE is a community-based health organisation working across northern New South Wales and southern Queensland to reduce barriers to care through prevention-focused services and primary care programs, including outreach.

This includes integrated primary, allied, and mental health services, as well as youth-specific and culturally responsive programs, with a long-standing commitment to Aboriginal health.

HealthWISE is committed to building healthier communities across the regions it serves. They deliver support that truly reflects local needs by improving access to quality care and embedding lived experience into their programs.

With locally based care teams, HealthWISE addresses the social determinants that shape health outcomes, creating meaningful and lasting impact for individuals, families, and communities.

Our partnership is supporting HealthWISE to expand its Aboriginal Health Workers in Pharmacy model across the northwest region. This initiative integrates Aboriginal Health Workers into local pharmacies to reduce cultural barriers and improve access to healthcare and health literacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

This community-driven preventative health initiative was developed in close collaboration with the community and local health sector, and successfully piloted with support from a previous Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation grant. It strengthens cultural understanding among pharmacy staff while improving the effectiveness of care, contributing to better health outcomes and helping close the gap in life expectancy.