Indigenous community offered cracking service in Logan

By Priscilla Roberts

CQUniversity’s chiropractic team in Brisbane have ‘clicked’ up more than 600 no-fee treatments in 12 months for the Indigenous community in Logan.

According to Chiropractic Clinical Supervisor Daniel Nalborczyk it has been a “true win-win partnership” between CQUniversity and Logan District Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Elders.

CQUniversity chiropractic students and staff visit the Logan Elders' offices every week to provide treatment for the community. 

“Our outreach clinic has grown from a few patients every two weeks to a busy shift for four interns each week,” Mr Nalborczyk said.

“The community receive excellent quality musculoskeletal care that may otherwise be out of reach, and our students gain unique clinical experience and cultural awareness.”

Chairperson of Logan and Districts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Elders Terry Stedman said he was first introduced to CQUniversity’s clinic services at a homeless person’s event in Brisbane.

It was here he saw an opportunity to connect with CQUniversity to offer clinic services for his community.

“Logan has a greater number of low socio-economically disadvantaged people than any other area in the south-east corner of Queensland. It also holds the largest number of First Nation persons in the State,” he explained.

“Having such a high concentration brings with it a greater number of health and other linked factors of socio-economic disadvantage.”

Mr Stedman said the partnership with CQUniversity for the clinic had been a great success to date. 

“The benefit, particularly to the elderly, is evident by the outcomes.  Physical health has so much to do with mental health,” he said.

“We hope to have the clinic on a long-term basis.”

Mr Nalborczyk said several of the CQUniversity chiropractic students also had expressed that the Logan clinic was the highlight of their clinical experience so far.

“They found it challenging and rewarding to work with patients who are sometimes underserved by the health care system.”

Mr Nalborczyk said the Logan Elders have also been impressed with the knowledge, skills and professionalism displayed by CQUniversity interns.

As the outreach program continues to grow, CQUniversity hopes to enlist additional services from other disciplines, including nutrition and podiatry, to meet the health needs of the Logan community.

“It’s our goal to create a student-delivered allied health hub for the Indigenous community in Logan.”