Obang helps migrant and refugee families navigate health services

Obang Girma Othow was born in Ethiopia, and came to Australia in October 2016 from a refugee camp in Kenya.

On arrival, he was amazed by the quality of the services and healthcare available for his children and family.

As a father of twins who were born preterm, he has firsthand experience of the health service as a parent.

These experiences motivated Obang to become a Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) Community Ambassador.

“I have a deep desire to give back to the community,” he said.

Having seen the quality of care and services available for migrant and refugee families, Obang is eager to ensure more people in his community are aware and know how to access help when they need it.

“I want to be a bridge between the system and CAHS,” he said.

“I will be proactively sharing essential information with the communities I represent, making sure families are informed about their healthcare options.”

As Ambassador, he will also ensure his community’s voice is heard when shaping the future of child and family health in Western Australia.

“I am proud to be advocating for cultural safety and improved access for families who may not otherwise have a voice.”

Learn more about the CAHS Community Ambassador program and subscribe to the Engage network if you’d like to hear of other opportunities to share your feedback with our health service.