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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet KellyThe need for Dadirri deep listeningThe need for deep and respectful listening in health care and research was alsohighlighted by the Aboriginal Women’s Reference Group, Aboriginal mentorsand co-researchers. During community consultations, they advised the need tofirst sit and listen before suggesting or attempting health or research strategies.They advised health professionals and researchers to listen with their heart aswell as their head, to connect deeply, and avoid making assumptions aboutwhat Aboriginal people want and need. Deep listening and being with thewomen co-researchers became an integral part of this research process. Asdescribed by Atkinson (2002) this enabled me to hear the Aboriginal women’sunderlying confusion, pain and concerns. Only then could I really understandwhat was happening for them amidst the changes in health care provision anddaily life events.Very few people at the Gilles Plains Community Campus were in a position topractice deep and non-judgmental listening with the Aboriginal communitywomen at Gilles Plains. With the closing of the Aboriginal Young MothersGroup, opportunities for deep and respectful listening and health and wellbeing support through comprehensive primary health care had diminished. Inaddition, most of the health professionals with whom the women haddeveloped deep and trustworthy relationships moved to other sites. Those thatremained became involved in involved in other priorities and programs. Withthe changing focus from supporting Aboriginal women to supporting newarrival refugees, and parents with children less than five years of age, supportfor these Aboriginal women who had primary and secondary aged schoolchildren in their care, decreased. Relationships between these four communitywomen and incoming health professionals at the Aboriginal health servicewere tenuous at best. Unmet expectations, differing priorities and busyworkloads interfered with effective communication. Most of the otherAboriginal community women no longer visited the campus as a direct resultof reduced services and transport support. Keeping in touch was difficult dueto poor transport across suburbs, and non- functioning home telephones. Thisleft the four Aboriginal community women with few support networks at atime that they were experiencing very complex issues related to parenting199