Dania Ahwang, CEO of Wuchopperen Health Service, got vaccinated because she wants to protect her family and community from COVID-19.  

Ms Ahwang is a woman of the Torres Strait islands, with family connection to Erub in the north-eastern corner of the Torres Strait. 

She has always aimed to work with community and working for Wuchopperen allows her to do that on a daily basis. 

As a person whose career has been built around helping the community, her reasoning for getting the jab reflects that. 

“For me, working in a health service and working with people every day, I see that vulnerability and if there’s a way to reduce that vulnerability, I’ll definitely be making the most of that,” Ms  said. 

“I’ve had both vaccinations.  

“I actually went and visited my Aunt in an aged care center on the weekend, I wouldn’t have gotten in if I wasn’t double vaccinated.  

“I was able to go in and connect with my Aunt who I hadn’t seen for quite a while so that was good.” 

Ms Ahwang has found information from a trusted source in the community is one of the most powerful methods of helping those with vaccine concerns. 

“What I’ve found with the community days that we have run is that people tend to come and want to talk to people that they trust.  

“With our workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, with our nurses, with our doctors, there’s generally a good relationship with the clients that we’ve had that come from community.  

“And it really is about getting some good information.  

“You hear a lot in the media, but a lot that’s in the media is not necessarily good.  

“So it’s about who do you trust? Where can you get really good information, to make the decision to get yourself vaccinated?” 

She also said Wuchopperen’s community days have been very successful. Not just because of the number of vaccinations, but because it’s helped allay fears of community members. 

“We’ve definitely seen community members come in on our community vaccine days where they’ve been a little bit unsure about whether they’re going to get vaccinated or not, they’ve gone in, they’ve talked to the health worker, and then they’ve gone and got vaccinated.  

“So that’s been a really good outcome for us.” 

Dania also said if you have doubts about getting the jab now, go and speak to someone, 

“I would recommend you do talk to your health professional and just get some information from them,” she said. 

“Because they know you the best, they know your health the best, they’re the people you can talk to about whether you get the vaccination now or whether you get it at a later date.” 

If you would like more information, or to book an appointment, contact Wuchopperen Health Service.