John Corowa

TPCH is excited to welcome Cultural Capability Officer John Corowa, who will be educating staff and contributing towards our culturally aware hospital environment.

A proud Bundjalung man with Australian South Sea Islander roots, John has been working in various health roles after moving from Bowen to Brisbane in 1994.

“I started working as an AIN in aboriginal-focused nursing homes and hostels before taking a role as Health Liaison Officer at Logan Hospital in 1998,” John said.

“I am passionate about creating a welcoming and respectful hospital environment so that our patients can feel safe when coming on to campus.

“Stigma and historical consequences still play on people’s minds, so it’s important to look at a patient’s journey from an aboriginal perspective.

“Particularly on how they move through the hospital system and back into their communities.”

With only three sessions available until the end of the year, you’ll need to be quick to secure your spot at one of his education sessions.

“The education sessions will centre around cultural safety and cultural knowledge,” he said.

“You will leave with a better understanding of how to interact with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“We will look at body language, history and current government policies and health agendas like the Closing the Gap campaign.”

If you’re interested in attending John’s Cultural Capability sessions, log into your TMS account to register. You can also book into one of his short identification sessions if you’re unsure about the correct way to identify a patient’s Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status.

If you need more information call John on 3139 6623 or email John.Corowa@health.qld.gov.au at any time