Good Health is important to me

Good health is the foundation of a strong family and proud community. That’s something that has been reinforced to me over the last few years during my work for Aboriginal health organisations. Health organisations make it possible for Aboriginal people to excel in education, play, work, business, sport and life.

As a young Wuthathi/Meriam girl, I grew up west of the railway line in suburban Cairns. My grandfather died of tetanus at forty and my mother worked in the hospital. So I have respect for good health and the organisations that deliver it.

While I am not a doctor, nor a nurse, I have found I can help provide better health outcomes for Indigenous people by assisting Aboriginal health organisations in my capacity as a legal practitioner.

My firms legal work for Indigenous health organisations includes:

• Our client, a primary health network was about to sign a software licence and asked for our opinion. We identified the licence was inconsistent with Government standards and suggested amendments to the licence.

• We prepared and presented an Education Session for members and explained amendments to their constitution, to make it comply with the Co-operatives (Adoption of National Law) Act 2012

• A supplier was trying to take advantage of our client, an Aboriginal health service provider, tens of thousands of dollars were at stake, we clarified the issue, drafted letters to the supplier and resolved the matter to the satisfaction of all.

• We looked at the Poisons Act and considered how this would impact on our clients strategy for an immunisation campaign.

• We presented a Governance Workshop, took questions from the board, clarified several issues and resolved a lot of tension.

• We acted as mediators on a confidential matter involving unresolved conflict between two Aboriginal staff members

• Our client was developing a training program with an Aboriginal name and a high component of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), we advised them how to identify and manage their ICIP.

For more information, please contact us.

#Terri