Patricia Fraser is a proud Bidjara woman, born and bred on country in Charleville. 

She loves her home and knows the healing strength that can be drawn from the land. 

As the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Liaison Officer for the Charleville and Western Area Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Limited (CWAATSICH), the health of her mob, whether it be physical, emotional, social, or spiritual is never far from mind. 

That is why Patricia made the choice to be vaccinated against COVID-19; for the sake of her health, but also to protect the community.  

“It was important because I knew that, well I didn’t want to get it for a start, and I didn’t want to get it and then infect my family or my community, cause that would have been devastating for the Indigenous community,” Ms Fraser said.  

“There were times we were a bit worried because we read so much negative stuff on social media,” she said. 

“But the majority of those stories are untrue.” 

A big part of her decision was the footage she had seen of people infected and dying of COVID-19, how they struggled to breathe, and the empathy she felt toward those people. 

“I think that frightened me more than anything,” she said. 

“Like the thought that I couldn’t breathe. It’s terrifying.  

“You look at some of the patients that went through it all, people that suffered, they were struggling.  

“But then some never recover, and they pass away.  

“What could be worse than suffocating?  

“So that was frightening enough.  

“There’s no way I’d wish that on my family members, friends or anyone actually.  

“It’s frightening.” 

Patricia knows that due to the changing nature of the COVID-19 virus, getting the vaccine is the best weapon the world has in the fight to keep people, especially mob, alive and well. 

“COVID is going to be with us, and everyone knows that.  

“You look at now in New South Wales and Victoria, everyone had it under control and then, a new strain.  

“This virus changes.  

“So who knows what’s going to happen further on down the track, but eventually the virus is just going to be just like the flu to us.  

“It’s always going to be a part of our communities, but to be vaccinated, gives us a chance to keep us safe.  

“Like I said, without the vaccination, the virus just takes over. 

For more information or to book a vaccination appointment contact Charleville and Western Area Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Limited.