The Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia's 10-person Tobacco and Healthy Lifestyle Team is being disbanded as a result of the federal government failing to renew $1.3 million in annual funding.
With the funding running out at the end of this month, the team's staff have been given two weeks' notice.
Two of the staff work within King Edward Memorial Hospital for maternity patients and the David Wirrpanda Foundation, which helps indigenous youth.
AHCHWA chief executive Des Martin said the federal government had been irresponsible in its delays and called for the immediate announcement of renewed funding.
"These anti-smoking programs are vitally important to the health and wellbeing of Western Australia's Aboriginal community, and their funding should be a priority for government," he said.
Mr Martin also said the council was lobbying for the federal government to commit to renewed funding for programs delivered by 20 Aboriginal medical services around WA.
And there was also a lack of certainty around $140,000 in state government funding for an Aboriginal liaison officer who works with patients from regional and remote communities to make them comfortable when travelling to Perth to get treatment.
"Without this, many patients needing treatment may not get it," Mr Martin said.
He said the role was crucial in facilitating effective communication between the Aboriginal health sector and state-based programs.
"AHCWA has spent three years building up and training a high-quality team and it would be a tragedy if we lost all of these great people," Mr Martin said.
"Our staff are mostly young people, many of them with mortgages, and the funding uncertainty is creating great stress in their lives."
Share
