Loved Nurse and community 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 Aboriginal 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 Aboriginal 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, 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 a big push for her to support the organisation.

“For me, it was being aware of the poor health outcomes 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 primarily been for women’s health, but I am a huge advocate for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

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

“I’m very keen to keep being an advocate for First

She said working with Goolum Goolum 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 a much more authentic and a caring environment,” she s retired, she also planned to continue to come and offer exercise classes with music

Hamilton Street Medical Clinic Practice Manager Wally Coleman said Sharyn had left a positive impact on a few