Moving Forward Together in Aboriginal Women's Health: - Theses ...

Moving Forward TogetherJanet KellyParticipant rolesCo-researcher refers to those directly involved in planning, discussing andeffecting action. People who chose to actively participate included Aboriginalcommunity women at Gilles Plains Community Campus (n= 4), staff membersat the Gilles Plains Aboriginal Outreach Health Service (n = 5) and from themainstream community health service (n = 3), staff at the nearby high school(n = 5) and co planners of an action research and action learning conference (n= 10). Each co-researcher chose for themselves the level of participation theywished to make. Detailed descriptions of co-researchers are not given as thiswould identify them as individuals in this small health care and researchsetting.Stakeholders were those who affected or were affected by the research butwere not directly involved, and includes Aboriginal Elder and communitywomen (n = 7) 18 , young Aboriginal women (n = 10) Aboriginal mentors (n =2), university supervisors (n = 4), staff from ethics committees (n = 4),Aboriginal health co-ordinators (n = 4) and managers (n= 4). Many wereinvolved in the community consultations, played a peripheral role in planningand actions, and were involved in discussions involving emerging themes.They were less involved in the actual ‘hands on’ activity, but were recognisedas having an opinion or influence on what could, should or would happen.Nurse/researcher/facilitator describes my role in this research, highlightingthe combination of nursing, research and community development.Participatory action research (PAR)Overall there was a preference for research that enabled both Aboriginalcommunity women and health professionals to participate directly, with otherstakeholders having indirect input. The research needed to be culturally andpersonally safe, easily understood by a wide range of people with differingeducational, cultural and research backgrounds, adaptable and flexible. Itneeded to be responsive to, and inclusive of, a diverse range of participants’priorities and knowledges, and lead to collaborative action and win- win18 And potentially at least twenty more Aboriginal women who accessed local services and ourwomen’s health days.122