But it's also about protecting your children, families and Elders in the community from the virus, too.

That's the strong message Aboriginal Elders and health leaders have for local mob to come forward for the COVID-19 vaccine.

With active cases of COVID in the Shoalhaven, Aboriginal health practitioner for Waminda Kristika Kumar reinforced that it's more important than ever to get vaccinated.

Read more: South Coast Aboriginal community remains resilient after federal government's vaccine 'stuff up'

"COVID is real and it's in the community," she said.

"We don't want to wait until someone passes away in our community until we act on this issue.

"It's so important that we get these vaccinations into arms. Vaccination reduce's the severity of the virus and will prevent potential hospital admissions.

"It also prevents taking that hospital bed from an old Aunt or other mob that may need it before we do."

The Shoalhaven recorded three new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the region's total number of cases since the Delta-variant outbreak to 29.

Over 53 per cent of the Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands Indigenous population have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Wednesday.

Almost 30 per cent of the Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands Indigenous population are fully vaccinated.

Kristika said she would like to see these rates higher, but is pleased to see an increased uptake of the vaccine at Waminda, with "word of mouth" having a positive impact.

"The uptake has almost doubled in the last couple of weeks at Waminda and hopefully we get more stock so we can keep rolling it out to community," she said.

"I think word of mouth among mob has been a massive thing."

Edlers Uncle Tom and Aunty Pat are both fully vaccinated. They hope it shows others can do the same.

"It's people's choice but you've got to lead the way," said Uncle Tom.

"If you've got children and they see that their mother, nan or pop have had the vaccine, then it shows they can have it, too."

Read more: Aboriginal community receives hundreds of vaccine doses after RFDS visits Wreck Bay

Craig Ardler, the CEO of the South Coast Aboriginal Medical Service, said he has noticed vaccine hesitancy amongst the Aboriginal community.

He advised mob with any vaccine queries to ask a health professional.

"It can be quite confusing with the information that's passed around, particularly on social media," he said.

"People need to understand the information around the vaccine and the best way to do that is to go and talk to medical staff at the Aboriginal Medical Service or other health services.

"The virus doesn't discriminate and vaccination is about doing your bit to protect your extended family. It's about making sure you give them a fighting chance against the virus."

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A person who tested positive to COVID-19 visited the Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre while infectious on Friday, September 3.

All staff tested negative and the centre closed for two days while a deep clean took place.

CEO Tara Leslie said while the centre's COVID-safe measures helped prevent any exposure of the virus, receiving the notification from NSW Health was concerning and reinforced the importance of vaccination.

"Being a childcare service, it was definitely concerning because children can be carriers of COVID," she said.

"And as we know, it could spread to staff and then to other community members and Elders.

"We have COVID-safe measures in place and all staff are fully vaccinated.

"It shows it's more important than ever to get vaccinated."

Waminda and the South Coast Aboriginal Medical Service both administer COVID-19 vaccines.

Waminda's vaccination clinics are now open on Saturdays. For further information or to book an appointment, call 1800 997 330.

To contact the South Coast AMS, call (02) 4448 0200.

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