Serving the community

Spotlight on
1 October 2014

Spotlight on, October 2014

Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health (ICN 2034)

Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health (Yulu-Burri-Ba) provides primary health care and associated health services to the Aboriginal people of North Stradbroke Island and Capalaba in south-eastern Queensland [see map].

Since its incorporation in 1994, Yulu-Burri-Ba’s income has steadily grown which has seen it rise from the 138th largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation in 2007−08 to 80th position in 2012−13 (see the Registrar’s sixth top 500 report*). It has also recently reclassified from a medium-size corporation to a large one. It employs 50 staff.

Good governance is a priority. The corporation has a board of seven directors and a membership of 26. The right controls are in place to ensure good governance and financial management.

The board meets monthly or more often if urgent topics need to be discussed. The directors work collaboratively with the CEO and, once decisions are made at the board level, they apply appropriate delegations.

Yulu-Burri-Ba’s CEO carries out the board’s instructions to ensure the highest quality of service. The corporation has Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited (AGPAL) and International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) accreditation, confirming that the corporation models best practice and provides safe and effective medical services to the community.

The corporation also partners with the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) to provide a model of care that delivers primary and allied health services to the community.

In many ways, Yulu-Burri-Ba offers a health care service well beyond the general doctor’s surgery. Every effort is made to deliver care innovatively and thoughtfully to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal families. For example, Yulu-Burri-Ba has formed a social health team to bolster emotional wellbeing through support groups for both women and men. It also delivers fitness and training programs to promote healthy lifestyles, and works with the Dunwich State School. The corporation has established ‘before’ and ‘after’ school clubs which actively encourage healthy eating and social activities for the local kids.

Other services include antenatal and paediatric care; dental services; diabetes education; physiotherapy; podiatry; reflexology; adult and children’s occupational therapy; speech therapy; and psychology and counselling—the list goes on.

For Yulu-Burri-Ba the future looks full and bright, especially with the expansion of the clinic on North Stradbroke Island—although a key issue will be managing the construction work to make sure it does not affect service delivery.

Critical to Yulu-Burri-Ba’s success is the trust it engenders with the Aboriginal community.

‘I believe it’s the time and effort that Yulu-Burri-Ba staff and management put into building honest and reliable relationships with the community that makes the difference,’ said Lyn Shipway, Yulu-Burri-Ba’s chairperson.  ‘Each and everyone who works at Yulu-Burri-Ba continues to build and maintain effective connections.’

Another factor is Yulu-Burri-Ba’s dedication to employing more Indigenous staff and making Aboriginal culture the central focus of its commitment to better health outcomes for its clients.

Yulu-Burri-Ba would like to thank its various funding partners for their continued support: Commonwealth Department of Health, Queensland Health, Queensland Department of Communities and the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH).

*    The top 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations 2012–13 analyses data submitted to the Registrar as part of corporations’ annual reporting requirements. Corporations are ranked from one to 500 according to their income, although other factors are also examined. To see the report go to ‘News’ on the ORIC website.

Captions, top to bottom:

  • In partnership with Dunwich State School, the corporation has established ‘before’ and ‘after’ school clubs which actively encourage healthy eating and social activities for the local kids.

  • Map showing the location of Yulu-Burri-Ba.

  • Yulu-Burri-Ba offers a health care service well beyond the general doctor’s surgery.

  • At the clinic for a check up.

  • Celebrating NAIDOC day 2014. 

All images courtesy of Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health