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Racial discrimination

Posted By telescopiumje36

"Racial discrimination"

About: Kununurra Community Health Service Kununurra Hospital

(as a parent/guardian),

As a young Aboriginal person who does not smoke or does not drink alcohol, the nurse who gave my child their immunisations asked about sleep arrangements that I have with my child and as I co-sleep they said to me if I'm drunk I will roll onto my child and squash them, apparently automatically assuming I’m a careless drunk! I’m so sick of the racial discrimination I've experienced at this hospital! Kununurra Hospital do better!

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Responses

Response from WACHS Kimberley 2 weeks ago
WACHS Kimberley

Submitted on 5/01/2026 at 11:44 AM
Published on Care Opinion Australia at 12:56 PM

Dear telescopiumje36,

Thank you for sharing your experience at Kununurra Community Health Service. No one should come to the hospital and feel racially discriminated against and we deeply regret how you were communicated with.

A discussion around safe sleeping is often a part of the child health consult. However we recognise that it must be done in a way that is culturally safe.

We will share your story with all the staff at Community Health, including our Aboriginal Health Workers, for further review and reflection. Your feedback keeps us accountable, and we will keep working on how racism and bias affects the way care is delivered.

If you are open to discuss your experience in more detail, we would welcome that opportunity. Please let us know how we can respectfully connect and do better, or feel free to reach out to Patricia Scott, East Kimberley Operations Manager at patricia.scott@health.wa.gov.au or by phone on 9166 4242.

Kind Regards,

Khairul Madkhul
Clinical Nurse Manager
Community Health Service Kununurra & Wyndham

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