‘Life-changing’ support for Sharon
We spoke to Sharon about Western Sydney ITC and what she describes as the ‘life-changing’ health support she receives.
Sharon is a proud Ngemba woman from Brewarrina in New South Wales who has experienced severe health issues for decades.
After being hospitalised for heart problems some years ago, an Aboriginal Health Worker put her in touch with Western Sydney ITC so that she could get some support in managing her health.
Safety, comfort and support
Sharon has experienced ill-health for as long as she can remember, having experienced bowel issues and severe reflux since adolescence. These issues have worsened due to heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol and other issues in more recent years.
“When I first started using Western Sydney ITC’s services I was in a really dark place and they helped so much,” Sharon explains.
“The lady who came and saw me initially was so calming and absolutely beautiful to me.

She made me feel safe and supported, and really helped me so much.
That initial help was life-changing, because with what I was suffering it was awful and to get that help and support was wonderful.”
Real help
“When I had prolapse, they helped me find a specialist who could help and that was so important,” Sharon says.
“They’ve also helped me with transport to appointments, getting equipment like a new glucose monitor and a machine to test my blood pressure.
And I think one of the most important things is that my Care Coordinator rings me to check in and make sure I’m okay.”
Sharon believes that this social and emotional support is one of the greatest benefits of Western Sydney ITC.

“They’re a comfort. For someone like me to have that comfort there is amazing, because they really do care. At some other places it’s just a job and you feel like they are just doing their job.
But when you speak to the team at Western Sydney ITC, you can tell they really do care about where you are and how you’re doing.
I would tell anyone who is thinking about getting help to go for it. Honestly, they are so good.
When you are in a place where you find it hard to trust anyone or be around people, to find comfort in having them there calling you and talking to you is amazing.”
- The images included on this page are for illustrative purposes only.
Get in touch
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.