Loved Nurse and First Nations ally retires

Goolum Goolum – Hamilton Street Medical Clinic registered nurse Sharyn Cook has finished up a 40-year fulfilling career in healthcare.

Sharyn dedicated much of her later career to improving outcomes of health for First Nations women.

Originally working in mainstream healthcare, Sharyn was initially exposed to Goolum Goolum in 2007.

She was attending Goolum events in her role with Wimmera Health Care Group as a Community Health Family Planning Nurse. She also had funding in her role at the time to take First Nations women out on camping trips and other activities aimed at supporting women.

Her experiences with Goolum Goolum influenced her to join the team. She first started one day a week providing cancer screening, pap testing, cervical screenings, and other general needs for women’s’ health.

Sharyn said knowing the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was often worse than other communities was big push for her to support the organisation.

“For me, it was being aware of the poor health comes for First Nations communities,” she said.

“I also live in Dimboola too, so I’ve seen so many First Nations women my age or younger die far too young.

“I just wanted to promote cancer screenings and try to improve health outcomes for Indigenous women and their families. My role has primary been for women’s health, but I am a huge advocate for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.” said.

Sharyn said seeing the effects of intergenerational trauma First Nations people firsthand had given her the drive to continue being an advocate even while in retirement.

“I’ve seen firsthand the effects of generational trauma working in the health sector.

“Some of the women I know I have worked with since they were teenagers are now 21. They absolutely need support.

“The trauma inflicted on women who have had children removed from their families is just unimaginable. We need to keep our families healthy.”

She said working with Goolum Goolum she had felt like she was part of a team and appreciated for her work.

“The major difference I found working with Goolum Goolum compared to mainstream services has been I found it much more authentic and a caring environshe said. s retired, she also planned to continue to come and offer exercise classes with music d like to thank her for hard work, her friendship s contribution to women’s health throughout the Grampians region has been outstanding over the years and we will certainly miss her!

Hamilton Street Medical Clinic Practice Manager Wally Coleman said Sharyn had left a positive impact on a few weeks ago. Sharyn has worked at Goolum since 2014 she said.