Aboriginal traditional healers, known as Ngangkari, are working hand-in-hand with health professionals to treat patients in hospitals and healthcare facilities across the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network.
Executive Director of Aboriginal Health, Kurt Towers, said Ngangkari provide an essential service for physical, emotional and cultural health and wellbeing.
“In an innovative national-first, the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) Aboriginal health team has developed the first formalised and clinical endorsed procedure to support Ngangkari healers working in a health setting, including mental health,” Mr Towers said.
“The formal agreement enhances the recognition of the role of Aboriginal traditional medicine within Australian health care.
“We have had exceptional support from doctors, nurses and staff throughout NALHN, and the addition of the service will help our efforts to Close the Gap and achieve greater health and life expectancy equality for Aboriginal people.”
Director of Critical Care, Dr Simon Jenkins, said NALHN clinicians recognise the Ngangkari as a valued profession.
“From a western medicine perspective, it’s difficult to conceptualise this kind of diagnosis and treatment, but the Ngangkari methods of healing have a profound effect on patients and complement mainstream treatment,” Dr Jenkins said.
“Doctors, nurses and allied health staff across NALHN can now refer patients for an appointment with a Ngangkari to support their recovery and help patients get better quicker.”
A Ngangkari is a traditional healer, with origins from Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands and connections to other remote Aboriginal groups within Central Australia.
Ngangkaris inherit the healing powers through beliefs, bloodlines and traditional training methods, and focus on healing a person’s spirit.
The formalised agreement, developed in conjunction with the Anangu Ngangkari Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation ( ANTAC), allows ongoing access for patients and supports a culturally responsive and respectful health system that contributes to better outcomes for Aboriginal people.
ANTAC was established to bring Ngangkari together to deliver their healing treatments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders or their kinship in need, and manage training and decisions on who is a Ngangkari, which is determined by bloodlines.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Francesca Panzironi, said supporting the 60,000 year-old Aboriginal traditional medical knowledge system in hospitals allows healing of the spirit and helps with a sense of culture in a hospital setting.
“In simple terms, when people get sick the Ngangkari use their traditional healings methods to take away the pain,” Dr Panzironi said.
“The healers use methods including Pampuni (Healing Touch), Mapampa (Blowing) and Marali (Spiritual healing and bush medicines) to complement mainstream treatment.
“Patients say things like, ‘I felt the energy had left me’. After seeing a Ngangkari, they say they feel better, like their spirit has returned.”
Current Aboriginal patients can request the Ngangkari Service by speaking with a NALHN health professional to obtain a referral for a Ngangkari appointment.
