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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet Kellyprovided, and the reasons why this might be. One realisation was that themainstream community health service had been on site at Gilles Plains formany years, whereas the Aboriginal heath service was still a very new anddeveloping organisation. The community health service had a multidisciplinaryfocus with outreach staff being relatively equal decision makers with minimalmanagement supervision (following a comprehensive primary health caremodel) and no doctor, where as the newly developing Aboriginal health servicehad a definite clinical, medical and management hierarchy (primary care), withlittle decision making by those most closely in contact with women. The highturn over of staff and management alongside state government and healthsector changes created ongoing change and confusion for staff and communitymembers alike.Strategic Planning – exploring future optionsAn important aspect of our collaborative research involved strategic planningof ‘where to from here’. I was only able to commit to working alongside thecommunity women for a year. The women identified that they did not want torun a group themselves, saying they did not have the inclination or energy todo this. Those who were feeling motivated were funnelling their energy intoother areas such as looking after children or family members, or seekingtraining and employment. Others were struggling with major issues that leftthem no energy for such tasks. In group discussion the women adapted theoriginal options to:Option 1 – connect with services at the Gilles Plains campus.Option 2 – seek activities and support off campus.Option 3 – continue with the Women’s Friendship Group.Option 1 Connecting with a wider range of services at the Gilles Plainscampus.Members of the Women’s Friendship Group became actively involved incollaborative activities at the campus, leading to improved relationships. Theseincluded making Nunga cushions for the campus crèche, catering for the afterschool hours Aboriginal homework program and assisting at the Aboriginalwomen’s health days. During all of these activities, we quietly built and rebuiltrelationships between Aboriginal women and service providers. A range of188