abstracts and bios cover_final.indd - LIME Network

Learning how to communicate effectively: An action research projectMs Lyndal Sheepway 1 , Dr Tricia McCabe 1 , Ms Sally Farrington 1 , Dr Lilon Bandler 2 ,A/Professor Tania Gerzina 3 , Mr Adrian Miller 4 , and Team1. Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney2. Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney3. Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Sydney4. Anton Breinl Centre for Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook UniversityAbstractEffective health care relies on good communication, which can be undermined by differences in culturalbackground, language skills, and perceptions of health and illness. This presentation will describe aresearch collaboration between the University of Sydney and James Cook University, funded by the AustralianLearning and Teaching Council. The research team includes health academics, leaders in Indigenous healtheducation, and clinicians from a range of health professions (medicine, speech pathology, dentistry, nursing,occupational therapy and pharmacy). The action research methodology will aid development of multimediateaching materials and interprofessional curriculum modules to facilitate the teaching and learning ofculturally safe and effective interviewing practices with Indigenous Australians. The materials will be basedon research conducted with Indigenous people in selected communities, eliciting opinions and experiences.Participants will be asked what they consider important during information giving and receiving with healthprofessionals. The materials developed will be appropriate for use with a range of medical and other tertiaryhealth students. As part of the research, the materials will be implemented and their effectiveness willbe evaluated with students in health programs at both universities. Materials will be developed for use bythe participating Indigenous groups, to aid community education and health promotion. With the paucity ofexisting resources these materials are urgently needed across health professional preparation programs.The implementation of these new materials will be a critical step in closing the gap in health outcomes forIndigenous Australians by preparing graduates to meet the needs of their patients.Presenter: Ms Lyndal SheepwayLyndal is a Project Manager in the Faculty of Health Sciences at The University of Sydney.She has extensive experience in the development and management of clinical educationof speech pathology students, and is currently undertaking her PhD research in thisarea. Lyndal’s interest in Indigenous health has developed over the last decade.71