Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The heart is often a symbol of vitality and life, but, in some of our First Nations communities, it represents a significant and preventable challenge. Rheumatic heart disease is an issue that has been virtually eradicated from most of Australia, yet disproportionately it remains a harrowing reality in many of our Indigenous communities. A recent request following the tragic death of three women in Doomadgee in the lower gulf area of Queensland underscores the pressing need to direct our focus to these communities.

Through the Happy Heart Clinic, Dr Ben Reeves is doing just that. Dr Reeves's colleagues serve as a great example of the hands-on approach we need to deal with the challenges in Indigenous communities and get the dial moving to close the gap and improve health outcomes. By prioritising relationship building, creating a fun environment to allay fears and developing resources tailored to each child's preferences for dealing with injections, the clinic has not only improved attendance rates but also cultivated trust and healed traumas.

I encourage the government to take a close look at what Dr Reeves and his team are doing and consider expanding such an issue further so that we can make meaningful improvements to tackling the scourge of rheumatic heart disease. We need real action, not words and certainly no more slogans.