AMS of the Month

Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Community and Medical Services (Katungul ACC&MS) provides thorough and culturally sensitive healthcare to Aboriginal communities spanning from Eden to Batesmans Bay, NSW.

Established in 1993, their facilities include general practice medical and dental clinics. Allied health programs are in place for eye health, otitis media and maternity care, and a range of outreach programs are available to service the wider community.

The Corporation has clinics located at both Narooma and Bega, offering a wide range of services and treatments to Kooris in the area.

These services include:

• General health care
• Medical checks
• Illness prevention
• Diabetes prevention and management
• Childhood immunisation
• Sexual health
• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
• Women’s health
• Chronic disease management.

A standout program they coordinate aims to combat Otitis Media – a chronic ear infection that’s more common in Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander children and if left untreated can result in permanent hearing loss – through prevention, early detection and treatment. Screening for Otitis Media is held in schools from Ulladulla to Eden three times a year and the program also provides education for families and teachers.

The program, in association with the Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS), has led to the establishment of the Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT) outreach clinic at Goulburn, which is regularly attended by an ENT specialist from Westmead Children’s Hospital. Children with chronic Otitis Media are immediately transferred to the ENT clinic for further treatment.

Katungul have an optimistic view about the future and will continue to focus on the needs of patients and cater for holistic healthcare to the community and surrounding areas. For more information, visit their website.