Tracey: A long-term ITC client
There are so many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our community who are living with chronic health conditions. But it is important for them to know it is not something they have to manage alone.
We spoke to Tracey, a 61-year-old Anēwan and Darug woman from Western Sydney, who has been assisted by Aboriginal health support from Western Sydney ITC for more than 15 years. Here’s how we offered Aboriginal health support for Tracey.
Finding Western Sydney ITC
“I first heard about Western Sydney ITC from an Aboriginal Health Care Worker at Cumberland Women’s Health Centre, when I was doing a placement for my Diploma in Community Services,” Tracey explains.
“She told us about Western Sydney ITC and got us involved and registered, so that I could do a self-referral.”
Tracey has been managing a number of chronic health conditions for decades, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteo arthritis, high-blood pressure, high-cholesterol, lymphoedema, sleep apnoea and clinical depression.

“With all my medical conditions, it really did make a difference,” Tracey says.
“The team from Western Sydney ITC came out and spoke to me and I got an Aboriginal health check, and after that I just had to ring them if I needed something and they would sort it out.”
How Western Sydney ITC helps Tracey
“I have a Care Coordinator and I contact them when I need a service, like a specialist,” Tracey explains.
“They paid for my specialist physiotherapist and for my compression stockings, which was really helpful.
The team at ITC are really good. They’re easy to contact and really great at getting what I need straight away.
It’s important for Aboriginal people to know that they’re entitled to these services and they’re a good team of people who are Aboriginal.”

Helping her community
Tracey is an important part of her local community, working for a social support group in the Western Sydney area. Along with organising and providing many other resources and activities, Tracey encourages the women in her group to contact Western Sydney ITC.
“I work with a group of Aboriginal women and I have referred many women to Western Sydney ITC,” Tracey explains.
“I also make sure they know that the service is available for any of their children and grandchildren who have health issues.

I know many Aboriginal people are hesitant to use mainstream services because of the past and the lack of trust, so it’s really important for people to know that this is an Indigenous service run by Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people.”
- The images included on this page are for illustrative purposes only.
Get help
Western Sydney ITC proudly supports our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community by offering holistic healthcare and social support for those living with chronic health conditions.
If you need help or want to learn more about how we can help or how others can help, click through to one of the links below. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, contact Western Sydney ITC.