Disability Liaison Officers (DLO) at Northern Health is a health professional passionate about reducing the barriers for people with disability to accessing health services. We support delivery of disability action plans and develop disability competency in health services to improve access to healthcare for people with a disability.
DLO supports people with a disability, their families and carers to utilise hospital services that are safe, accessible and inclusive.
DLO supports patients living with a disability to make their inpatient stay more comfortable.
DLO can support you to attend your outpatient appointments or preparing for surgery.
In doing so, we work towards empowerment of the care and medical team through comprehensive training, ensuring they are equipped with the skills, tools, and knowledge to effectively address specific disability-related accessibility needs/barriers.
Health staff with a disability or working with patients with a disability are also welcome to reach out.
What to expect from the service?
- A central point of contact for a person with a disability, their families and carers.
- Help to navigate the health care system and link with programs across Northern Health.
- Connect you with your local health supports and NDIS.
- Assistance with booking hospital appointments.
- Make sure you have the support and care you need to support your health care.
- Support any adjustments to match your accessibility needs.
- Ensuring inclusive care for all with a disability from LGBTIQA+, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and CALD backgrounds.
- Work with your healthcare team to make sure that the team knows about your disability-related needs and has the right tools and skills to help with them.
- Access COVID-19 screening, vaccination and treatment for people with disability, their families and carers.
- Ensure your hospital stay or outpatient clinic appointment is safe, accessible and inclusive.