Up to 30 Nursing Science and Midwifery students and academics from USC will help lead a free day of health and wellbeing checks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families in Gympie tomorrow (Saturday 13 May).

USC has partnered with the North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health (NCACCH) to support Well Persons Health Check Day, from 9.30am to 3pm at the Jones Hill State School in McIntosh Creek Road, Gympie.

USC’s Indigenous Clinical Nursing Facilitator and Aboriginal community elder Leone Smith said the event for all ages aimed to bring together the Gympie and Sunshine Coast Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to focus on their health and wellbeing.

Community members can receive a general health check, talk with health service providers and allied health professionals and receive free influenza immunisations, pap smears and blood pressure checks.

“As part of the event, a team of USC Nursing and Midwifery students and academic staff will provide basic health screening for people under 15 years,” Mrs Smith said.

“Children and youths can work their way around various health check information stations where USC students will conduct basic eye tests and talk about sun safety and skin care, diet and nutrition, dental health, hand hygiene, exercise and fitness.”

Once they have completed their health checks they will receive a complimentary health promotion backpack.

“This is a great partnership opportunity for USC’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine and the North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health,” Mrs Smith said.

“It will give the Nursing and Midwifery students an opportunity to see the importance of health promotion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and the benefits of providing that information in a relaxed, respectful and culturally-appropriate way.”

— Clare McKay