A new website has been launched to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities affected by cancer.
The website, Our Mob and Cancer, was developed by the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy. It’s an attempt to reach out to Indigenous communities, and offer culturally appropriate information and support for Indigenous patients, their families, and their communities.
The website is an important resource, one which speaks to a growing focus on health and wellbeing around the country, ensuring everyone has access to proper care.
Chair of Our Mob and Cancer working group, Kristine Falzon
The website
Our Mob and Cancer was designed to provide information about the impact of cancer and the ways to protect against it. Visitors will find many interactive displays, as well as pages on diagnosis, treatment, and how to live with the disease. Access to hotlines and other support services are also made available, with simple and easy guidance for connecting with doctors, nurses, and helplines.
Another focus of the site is educating the wider community on how to be culturally sensitive. Health professionals accessing the site will find guidance on how to give culturally appropriate cancer care for Indigenous patients, and the importance of this when trying to support the best cancer outcomes.
To build on this even further, visitors can find pages on topics including Sorry Business, men’s and women’s business, and shame, discussing how these factors may impact an approach to cancer and overall wellbeing for the Indigenous community. Our Mob and Cancer is focused on ensuring all aspects of health are looked after, talking to spiritual and mental concerns as well as physical questions.
The artwork for the website was designed by Indigenous Australian artist Riki Salam. It’s entitled ‘Hope and Healing for Country,’ as is an attempt to show visitors of the site that they are welcomed and accepted.
Cancer Australia CEO, Professor Dorothy Keefe
The impact
Our Mob and Cancer hopes to fill a hole previously found in the online community by providing easy and direct access to information on cancer for Indigenous people.
According to Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, “cancer places a heavy burden not only on those diagnosed with the disease, but also their families, carers, Elders and the wider community.”
“By using a strength-based, culturally focussed approach that reflects our resilience and values, the Our Mob and Cancer platform hopes to engage more effectively with the community and answer the needs of Indigenous Australians with cancer and their families.
Kristine Falzon, Chair of the Cancer Australia Our Mob and Cancer Expert reference groups says the website will create a safe, easily accessible place for those impacted by cancer.
“We know that cancer affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities at a higher rate so having a dedicated hub for patients where they can see themselves in the website and feel culturally safe is really important.”
Clearly, Our Mob and Cancer is an important website, and one which will become a hub of information for all Indigenous people affected by cancer. You can visit www.ourmobandcancer.gov.au for more information.
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