School‑age Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children received a warm and supportive start to the new school year at Inala Indigenous Health’s annual Back to School Day.
Held every year in the week before school returns, the event brings families, community organisations and health services together to make health care easy, accessible and culturally welcoming. This year’s event featured stalls and support from Services Australia, Inala Wangarra, Kummara Association, Inala Centre of Excellence, the Child and Adolescent Wellbeing Service, and other community partners.
Children made their way through a series of check‑ups—including vision, hearing, oral health, immunisations and other key health assessments—earning stickers in their individual health passports as they went. After completing all checks, each child received a backpack filled with supplies to help them feel confident and prepared for the year ahead.
Metro South Health’s Consumer Partnering Manager, Jodie Nixon, attended to hear directly from children, parents and carers about their experiences and what helps them feel safe and supported when they come to our services and facilities.
“Families trust this event because it brings health care into a space where they feel welcome, respected and understood,” Dr Nixon said. “Listening to children and their carers helps us understand what really matters to them.”
The event also reflects Metro South Health’s Statement of Commitment to being a Child Safe Organisation, which outlines our responsibility to ensure every child feels safe, valued and protected when accessing care.
“This well‑established event is a wonderful example of how we can put our Child Safe principles into action,” Dr Nixon said. “It shows how collaboration, community voice and culturally safe care can create environments where children can thrive.”
With strong community engagement and increasing participation each year, Back to School Day continues to play an important role in supporting children’s wellbeing and strengthening local partnerships.