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The Beautiful Shawl Project Wins Victorian Public Healthcare Award

Nov 20, 2024

The Beautiful Shawl Project has won the Excellence in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Award at the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards last night.

The Project was established in 2018 as a collaborative partnership between the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) and BreastScreen Victoria. Since the Project’s launch, VACCHO and BreastScreen Victoria have worked alongside 30 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) and Aboriginal-led services, to perform a total of 1,342 breast screens for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the state. The award recognises innovation in health service delivery that is culturally responsive, promotes inclusion, advances Aboriginal self-determination and improves health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal people in Victoria.

VACCHO CEO, Dr. Jill Gallagher AO, said she is immensely proud of the continued achievements of the Beautiful Shawl Project, which she knows saves lives.

“The success of the Beautiful Shawl Project demonstrates the power of having Aboriginal women in the driver’s seat, and the positive health and wellbeing outcomes that it creates.”

The Project provides customised screening shawls to Community that are culturally appropriate, familiar and beautiful to wear during their breast screen. The shawls, designed by local talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and artists, are gifts to take home after screening.

“I commend the hard work and dedication of our ACCOs and other Aboriginal-led services who work tirelessly to ensure that our Community gets screened.”

“I’d like to pay tribute to Communities across the state for embracing the Beautiful Shawl team with open arms on visits throughout Victoria.”

Dr Gallagher said she looks forward to seeing the Beautiful Shawl Project delivered to new locations across Victoria in 2025 and beyond.

Learn more about the Beautiful Shawl Project here.
Watch the Beautiful Shawl Documentary here.

VACCHO COO Jim O’Shea, BSV CEO Rita Butera, VACCHO Director, Health and Healing Clare O’Reilly, VACCHO CEO Dr Jill Gallagher AO and BSV Board Chair Dr Elisabet Wreme.

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Media enquiries

For further media enquiries please email communications@vaccho.org.au or contact our media unit on (03) 9411 9411.

Background 

VACCHO is the peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing in Victoria – the only one of its kind – with 33 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations as Members. VACCHO Members support over 65,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria, and combined are the largest employers of Aboriginal people in the state.