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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet Kellyrelocated to another site in an organisational reshuffle 28 (Communityconsultations 2005). Third the funding for staff positions and programs becamelinked to Medicare Aboriginal Primary Health Care Access Program funding.As a result of these three events, the first services to be provided at theAboriginal Neighbourhood House were a medical clinic, diabetes program, andschool based health expos. The local Aboriginal women asked what washappening about the women’s group or craft group that they had discussedwith the original manager. A room was made available for them to come in anddo craft without worker support.The community women discussed their feelings about what was happening inongoing research meetings, interviews and focus groups. They spoke aboutfeeling increasingly out of place at the Aboriginal Neighbourhood House.After having access to the whole building during the Family Well-beingProgram, they now felt that they didn’t belong (AWG D2). The women saidthey were finding it difficult to get their needs recognised and met amongst theincreasing clinical focus and securely locked cupboards and doors thatdeveloped within the Aboriginal Outreach Health Service. It often took up toan hour for the clinic receptionist to become available to unlock the artcupboard in the group room. When the clinic was cancelled they arrived to findthe building locked. Signs had appeared announcing that community memberswere not to use the telephone, kitchen, photocopier or fax, when previouslythey had access to these amenities.The women discussed mixed feelings about the changes. One said;The new clinic is good, but hopefully it is not being provided at theexpense of the social and emotional well-being programs and communitymeeting space that we have lobbied for over many years (AWG D2).Another woman explained;We thought we could go there for help outside of health stuff, and that itwould be a meeting place. At the moment there is a lack of28 It was originally envisioned that the Gilles Plains Aboriginal Neighbourhood House wouldfocus on social and emotional well-being and this intention was discussed in regional meetings inlate 2004. However this intention changed at a higher management level (I have been unable todetermine exactly how and way) and the team were relocated to a Western location.169