After being successful with funding and support from the NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN), the centre established a cardiac rehabilitation program and a respiratory program. Both run for eight weeks and focus on educating participants about their condition, how to use and understand different types of medication, the importance of good nutrition and exercise sessions. 

During the programs, local dieticians and pharmacists will also provide educational talks to the groups. 

Tobwabba’s Aboriginal GP Jamie Fernando said it was found that while similar rehabilitation programs held at the Community Health Centre were highly effective for most, it wasn’t the same scenario for local indigenous people.    

“Only one indigenous person had completed a 10-week cardiac rehab program at the Community Health Centre in Forster,” he said. 

“We were alarmed by the poor attendance rate and put the idea forward to the RDN. They thought it was a great idea so we applied for the funding.”

Dr Fernando believes the poor attendance rates are contributed to by many complex factors, including the social determinants of health, cultural history and epigenetics.

“Many of our mob feel culturally safe and have a trusting relationship with our staff, developed over the past 20 years so going to an outside centre for rehab or other services can be a bit daunting and even a frightening experience,” he said. 

“The fact that we have had six people sign up to these programs and they only started a few weeks ago is really saying something.”

Dr Fernando said it is crucial that local Aboriginal men and women who have survived a heart attack, or are at high risk of a cardiovascular event, must understand they are suffering from a condition that needs active management and that help is readily available.

“It’s well known that indigenous Australians have higher rates of cardiovascular disease. Our life expectancy remains 10 years behind the national average. This is clearly unacceptable,” he said. 

“Evidence shows that cardiac programs can help our mob live longer and have better quality of life.” 

Physiotherapist Jenyce Fernando and Aboriginal outreach worker Desmond Russell have been instrumental in the development of the programs at Tobwabba. 

Mrs Fernando said the structure of the programs were slightly different to others. 

“Ours is a little bit more informal,” she said. 

“We’ll do an exercise session for an hour and then we sit around and have a yarn.  Instead of using a didactic approach, we try to interact as much as possible, encouraging each participant to provide their own unique experience, which benefits the whole group. It’s quite a social atmosphere.” 

For more information about the programs call Tobwabba Aboriginal Medical Centre on 6555 6271.