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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet KellyCommunity Health and Child and Youth Health services 25 . It became apopular, well resourced, capacity building and comprehensive primary healthcare program with childcare, transport and catering facilities provided(Abdullah 2002). The program was run in a quiet way, empowering youngAboriginal women to take control of their own health and well-being(Abdullah 2002). It aimed to meet participants’ comprehensive needs, byproviding flexible and responsive parenting courses, first aid lessons, art andcraft, driving license instruction, general health discussions, baby and childhealth checks, career planning and financial assistance. The workers strove tocombine cultural safety, women’s health and well-being, and comprehensiveprimary health care in flexible and respectful ways.Twenty five to thirty women attended each week. Most were young Aboriginalwomen, but the group also included Aboriginal GrandMothers’ in recognitionof their role as primary carers for their grandchildren. Over time, groupmembers increasingly supported each other and met at other times during theweek (Community consultations 2005). Workers noted that the requests forone to one services with health professionals were reduced as a result of thisincreased networking within the group (Abdullah 2002). The Gilles PlainsYoung Mothers’ Group became well known across the north eastern suburbs asa meeting place for Aboriginal women, and many agencies sought permissionto come and talk with the women about upcoming Aboriginal programs andprojects (Abdullah 2002; Community consultations 2005).Early in my visit, one of the oldest Aboriginal women began stronglyquestioning me about who I was and where I stood in relation to colonisationpractices and inequalities. She spoke about a history of health professionalsforcing Aboriginal women to use contraception without consent, andmidwives’ involvement in taking away Aboriginal women’s babies. Havingworked in Aboriginal health for some time, I recognised that she was testingmy motivation and responded as respectfully as I could. I acknowledged thatthere is a history of non collaboration and that my intention was to offerinformation about contraception so that Aboriginal women could make an25 At that time both Child and Youth Health and the Adelaide Central Community Health Servicefavoured Aboriginal health worker / community health nurse partnerships withinmultidisciplinary teams.163