Kununurra men's hub increases healthcare access for Indigenous men

The Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service opened a dedicated Men's Hub in Kununurra, a remote town in Western Australia, to encourage Indigenous men to seek medical care.

The facility provides walk-in appointments with general practitioners and offers support for social, emotional, and addiction issues. The organization established the hub after noticing that male patients were engaging less with existing health services despite facing higher mortality rates from preventable diseases.

The hub addresses cultural barriers that often prevent Indigenous men from visiting standard clinics. For example, traditional cultural laws may prevent men from being near certain female family members, which can cause them to leave a clinic if a female relative is present. By staffing the reception and clinic with Aboriginal men, the hub creates a more relaxed environment.

Field officers also work to build trust with patients, sometimes visiting a single individual many times before they agree to attend an appointment. Since the hub opened, approximately 180 men have used the service, with many returning for follow-up care. Doctors at the facility report seeing new patients who had never accessed health services before, including those seeking check-ups or sexual health screenings.

The Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service says it needs more funding to expand the service and offer more appointments in the future.