Val’s legacy to help close the gap

It was the great hope of Moree elder Val Dahlstrom that a better understanding of Indigenous culture and history could help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, particularly when it came to health.

Aunty Val Dahlstrom. (Image published with the permission of her family.)

While watching people glued to their phones at an airport one day, she came up with the idea of designing a set of playing cards and a solitaire app that could help increase that knowledge.

She had no idea at the time how to go about his but as an Aboriginal liaison officer for GP Synergy, she soon had the organisation on board to develop the product.

The cards feature Indigenous artwork and provide players with insights into events that have shaped the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“Australian history belongs to all of us, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people alike,” Aunty Val said after the app was launched in 2017.

“I like solitaire and I respect our history, and it concerns me that people don’t seem to know all that much about it.

“So put the two of them together and we are planting a seed which will sprout, and flower so that our history is there for others to see, and to own and cherish.”

Sadly, Aunty Val recently passed away but with the approval of her family GPSA has been able to share her story.

GPSA has teamed up with GP Synergy to provide our membership with access to these cards, which are available through our website.

Access the App here.