Connecting Country to Culture: supporting Colleen’s final wishes
Deearne Dodd, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Liaison Worker
Colleen Wilson was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2023. In December the cancer had progressed to widespread bone metastases. Colleen was admitted to Cooinda House in April 2024 following a hip fracture.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Liaison Worker Deearne Dodd supported her health journey providing culturally responsive care and support up until her passing.
It was a journey that surpassed the medical model of care and supported Colleen to reconnect with country and her identity as a proud Aboriginal woman.
From her admission to Cooinda House, Dee and the Community and Oral Health (COH) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team maintained regular weekly visits, providing culturally safe and responsive support, ensuring Colleen felt socially and emotionally supported.
“I had built a strong rapport with my client through storytelling and yarns about our spiritual connection with the land, country, water, family, and community,” Dee said.
“My client had a traumatic history and connection to their Aboriginal culture, as her ancestors had to hide their identity to avoid racism and inequities living in Australia. As a result, my client and her family were raised not being connected to country, family and community and had a lack of identity.”
Dee took a holistic approach to care, and this was key in maintaining Colleen’s trust and building a strong relationship. She said supporting Colleen in reclaiming and expressing her identity was central to her care. Dee ensured Colleen understood what was happening with her care and supported her on palliative care outings where she was able to openly yarn about her story lines and cultural history.
In December 2024, Colleen expressed a wish to return to country on her remaining journey to sorry business. Due to the limited services and appropriate accommodation to support this wish, Dee worked with colleagues to help fulfill Colleen’s wish through a daytrip to her country.
Dee was on call 24 hours a day during Colleen’s final days, ensuring both she and her family felt culturally, spiritually and emotionally always supported. Colleen passed away in March 2025.
“Before passing, Colleen embraced her Aboriginal heritage and reclaimed her cultural identity, something she had been unable to fully express for much of her life,” Dee said.
“Though she was not able to pass away on country, she was reassured and comforted by the trip we facilitated in February, which fulfilled her wish to reconnect to land. I feel deeply honoured to have supported Colleen and her family on this journey.
“As a Gunggari woman, I am proud to have been able to uphold cultural, spiritual and traditional practices that respected her story, heritage and identity.”
Colleen’s story highlights the importance of Sorry Business Pathways to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in palliative care settings.