Ronnie: A Voice For His Mob

A life-changing accident in 2014, and the long recovery road that followed showed Ronnie Bamblett what his true passion and purpose in life was.

A proud Wiradjuri man, and loving father of two, Ronnie has dedicated much of his life to mental health, drug and alcohol support and peer support.

“It made me feel really passionate about helping others to be heard,” Ronnie said.

“I was a mess when I got home, really depressed and had to stop working while I was recovering.

“You could see the physical scars, but I didn’t really have time to address all the emotional stuff that was going on underneath all that.

“When I did return to work, I became the project co-ordinator for The University of NSW regarding harm minimisation and alcohol for my Mob.

“At the completion of the project, I began to work as a Mental Health Peer Support Worker and luckily identified that I was not doing okay.”

Ronnie took some time off and did some hands-on work at a vineyard to try and clear his head.

He enrolled in the Mental Health Recovery Program with Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLDH), which he said gave him great insight into what he was going through.

Growing up, Ronnie said there were major impacts and barriers stopping Aboriginal people from completing education, and he was one that became disengaged and troubled.

“Although I was interested in learning, I had been told I wasn’t smart enough and it wasn’t just me who copped the doubt, so many of the kids in my community suffered the same.

“Sadly, I got into trouble a bit and moved away for a clean break.

“My teachers at the new school I attended believed in me, they saw I was interested and helped me study a range of different subjects.

“Their help and time made me feel like I could do my schooling and that I mattered.

“It made a real difference.

“It spurred me on to finish my studies and I was one of the first in my family to finish my year 12 certificate.”

Ronnie feels his role as an Aboriginal Health Worker and an Aboriginal man who has spent time as an inpatient in hospital, gives him a unique perspective to give meaningful feedback to peers and consumers.

“It is what inspired me to apply for the Aboriginal Health Chronic Care Worker position with MLHD,” he said.

“I felt passionate about helping my people access appropriate care in a culturally safe and welcoming environment, especially our Elders.

“My people just often nod and agree with what the doctor is saying, because they want to get out of there.

“Many of our Mob are fearful of government departments and hospitals and the experience can be confusing and frightening with all the jargon.

“They get to a point where they don’t care what the results are and the possible outcomes - they just want to get out of there.

“It doesn’t matter if theta re really sick, or even dying, they just want to go home to their safe haven, to their community.

“An Aboriginal Health Worker is the voice for the consumer because we can relay what it all means in their lingo, and they feel more confident to raise their concerns and issues with us.

“We have made good ground at Griffith Base Hospital now, so our Mob know about us more and they understand why we are here, they will ask us to come and have a yarn with them.

“We also have built good relationships with the hospital staff to let them know our role and what we are about.

“They can ask us for help and refer people to us if they identify or if they are concerned about someone.

“It means we’re getting a better outcome forour patients, and that is really important to everyone here.”

Ronnie looks forward to going to work every day, supporting and advocating for his community and Elders and making sure they have a voice and feel safe to ask questions.

“I want our people to know that they deserve the very best health care just like everyone else, we are all equal,” Ronnie said.

• Topics:

• First Nations Peoples
• Health & Wellbeing
• Mental Health and Welbeing