ECU alumna Elsie Penny recognised for lifetime contribution to Indigenous community health

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ECU alumna Elsie Penny recognised for lifetime contribution to Indigenous community health

Tuesday, 09 March 2021

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At seven years of age, Ms Elsie Penny was stolen from her family in Gnowangerup to grow up in the Marribank Mission near Katanning.

Since leaving Marribank Mission at the age of 18, Elsie has dedicated her life to improving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities.

Earlier this year, Elsie’s contribution was recognised with Australia Day Honours (OAM) for her service to Indigenous community health.

The proud mother-of-five-children and grandmother says she was both “honoured and shocked” to be recognised with such a significant award.

“It hasn’t always been an easy road. I think being persistent and determined to do something positive is powerful,” says Elsie.

In 1998, Elsie who was working as a community healthcare worker joined the South West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS), Bunbury, a year after its doors first opened in 1997.

“SWAMS first started with a group of very proactive and enthusiastic people. In the end we have this wonderful service now, which is community driven,” explains Elsie.

Now, Elsie, Nurse Manager at SWAMS believes one of the keys to the organisation’s success is that it is made up of local community members around the south-west and that it is an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation.

She says this structure is consistent across the organisation, where the CEO Ms Lesley Nelson (a fellow ECU alumna) and approximately half the staff are Aboriginal.

Another aspect she loves about working at SWAMS is how they actively encourage their staff to pursue further education. Between 1999-2005 while working at SWAMS, Elsie completed a Bachelor of Nursing at ECU.

“SWAMS really supports training and further education and that’s one of the things I love about the organisation. If you’ve got an interest, they really want to support you and do everything they can.

Education is the key; it’s been the key for me. It’s been the key for a lot of people I know to help them have a better life,” says Elsie.

In 2013, Elsie left SWAMS to become Coordinator for Benang Suicide prevention program from 2013 – 2016 at the Goomburrup Aboriginal Corporation in Bunbury. A program that has since been incorporated into SWAMS’ programs.

“There is a stigma out there with mental illness, it’s trying to encourage clients to seek help when they need it. You’ve got to have patience, compassion and be a good listener.

Sometimes it’s just about having a smile each day and being positive, because sometimes a smile can brighten someone else’s day,” says Elsie.

SWAMS started with only a staff of 8, it now has over 90 staff and is still growing.

“We’re growing bigger and bigger as an organisation. We want young people coming to the organisation and growing their career here,” says Elsie.

In the meantime, Elsie is driven by the desire to continue to serve the local community in Bunbury and the south-west.

“I remember on my first day working in Bunbury community health I had to go around to all the clients that had kids and tell them about the immunisation clinic coming up the next day.

People can be mistrusting of you when you come into a new area and it takes time to build up trust. So, it’s good to listen and take things slowly to build good and sound relationships.”

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