When Avis Deguara started her job, there wasn’t a lot of training because no-one here had ever done it before.
Twenty years ago, Avis started as a mental health Aboriginal Liaison Officer (ALO) at WSLHD.
“I never thought that I would be the first there. I just hopped in and did the job, went to work,” Avis said.
An Aboriginal Liaison Officer’s role is to help reduce the stigma and mistrust towards mainstream services including mental health services.
ALO’s play an important role in improving engagement and ensuring continuity of care for patients of Aboriginal background.
Despite being the first, Avis credits the people around her for doing the pioneering work.
“It was all laid out for me in a way, and I was very thankful because I had a good community around me and I knew good people,” Avis said.
When Avis first moved to Sydney from Rockhampton, she worked as a caster at Royal Dalton.
“I was voted as the first caster. I got a special cup from Royal Dalton and I treasure it,” Avis said.
Avis keeps her cup next to a gold watch her husband was given for his service with the Sydney Water Board.
“I was married to a Maltese Mediterranean man, but he’s passed away,” Avis said.
“He worked for 32 years on the Sydney Water Board, he was given a gold watch to commemorate his work. I still have it,” Avis said.
Avis was positioned at Embark Building at Blacktown Hospital with the acute care team.
She says her life experience has helped enrich her ability to listen, and have compassion for what people are going through.
“You’ve got to have the capacity to understand what they’re talking about, what they’re dealing with,” Avis said.
She began in 2004, a few years after The Bridge Walk for Reconciliation which saw 250,000 Indigenous and non-Indigenous people walking across the Sydney landmark.
“Reconciliation is sacred to me, and I’m proud to play a part. When branches from the hospital come together, it’s really something,” Avis said.
Acting Team Leader YiJean Chew describes Avis as spontaneous, full of life and unconventional.
“She heals in a magical way and in her quiet manner, she speaks wise words. She taught me to listen,” YiJean said.
Avis is looking forward to placing pictures of her farewell next to the gold watch and Royal Dalton vase, as she moves onto the next phase of her life.
YiJean says that while Avis will be missed, her impact will endure.
“Avis has left such a positive impact regardless of the unit she worked at,” YiJean said.
“She has helped Aboriginal patients be seen, heard, and respected and by doing so, she has greatly improved the mental health outcomes for them,” YiJean said.
Collaboration across communities has been a constant throughout Avis’ career.
“I’ve worked alongside other Aboriginal workers, we supported each other and had meetings and had cups of tea together,” Avis said.
“We were happy and worked with everyone, the non-Indigenous people, all the nurses,” Avis said.
These thoughts are echoed by her manager YiJean.
“She not only provided her care to Aboriginal patients, she was for everyone,” YiJean said.
Now an elder of the Mount Druitt community, Avis says her advice to others is to look after themselves.
“Make sure you look after yourself and have support, continue learning, never give up and always make time for yourself first,” Avis said.