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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet Kellyrather than ‘this is what is available so it is your only choice’ (CH MgInt. 1).Some spoke of the importance of balancing top down decisions and ground up(community derived) suggestions in a range of service delivery models;community controlled, Aboriginal focused or mainstream. For example;A community controlled model of health involving Aboriginal people intheir own health care with Aboriginal Health Workers recognised aspositive role models (AH Hp Int. 2).AndLooking at ways that non-Aboriginal health services can be improved toactually provide decent services to Aboriginal people (AH Hp Int. 2).Another addedAboriginal health workers and receptionists would be able to makedecisions (AH Hp Int. 3).Many discussed the importance of non judgemental services that really engagewith communities through positive relationships and partnership models, andsupport people particularly when they are feeling vulnerable. Most identifiedthe need for a comprehensive primary health care approach, with varyingemphasis on chronic conditions and health checks.Access was repeatedly raised as a high priority. Some spoke of transportassistance, others of outreach programs going into women’s homes. Forexample;…finding ways of getting out into the community to women who need usmost. Nungas are not just going to walk into (a mainstream) service, ifthey were going to do that, they would have done it 5 – 10 years ago.…getting back out there, doing grass roots community work, stop hidingbehind bureaucracies and get out there and see people. This wouldrequire training and up-skilling workers, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal... Something that really addressed the social determinants ofhealth (AH Mg Int.2)216