Well Women’s Business will be held at Highland Heritage Estate on Wednesday, October 18 for women aged 18 and older.

The day will include blood pressure, blood sugar and general health checks, as well as tips on cervical screening, menopause symptoms management, tricks to quit smoking, breast awareness, protecting skin against UV rays and healthy lifestyle and food choices.

Tai Chi, Bocce and beauty treatments will also be on offer. 

McGrath Foundation breast care nurse and event organiser Sue Kuter said health professionals had formed a group to improve indigenous health.

“Cancer doesn’t discriminate, but indigenous people are less likely to seek treatment, they’re more likely to die of their diseases and at an earlier age,” she said.

“We’re trying to provide ways to make the diagnosis process less difficult for them to manage.”

Mrs Kuter said one of the strategies was to make the cancer centre reception at Orange Health Service more comfortable for Aboriginal people.

“It’s so they’re coming into an area that doesn’t look so European,” she said. 

She said the information day was another part of the program, to familiarise women with the medical professionals they could meet in the event they did fall ill. 

“It’s already known that Aboriginal people have poorer health outcomes – they smoke more, they drink more so this day helps them reduce their risk,” she said.

“We hope the people who attend go back to their families and share what they could do or should do to make themselves healthier.”

Mrs Kuter also hoped members of the indigenous community who wanted to become health professionals themselves would also make contact so they could be linked with sponsorship to help them become qualified.

She hoped to have 100 women in attendance for the October 18 event, with 50 confirmed so far. 

The event will be held from 9.30am to 2.30pm, with free transport available on RSVP. 

Bookings are essential by Monday by calling Mrs Kuter on 6369 3968, Fran Ferguson on 6369 3967, or Cathy Robbins on 6369 3441.