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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet Kellythe reality of conducting a collaborative community based research as a PhDstudent.As researcher and author, I endeavoured to maintain a delicate balance betweenrespectfully acknowledging the words of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal coresearchersthrough the use of quotes (in italics) and maintaining theirconfidentiality and protecting their identity through the use of coding and themes.The approach taken in each instance reflects co-researchers own preference forpublic acknowledgement or the need to remain anonymous.The literature review sections of this thesis include both oral and written sources inrecognition that much Aboriginal knowledge remains unwritten. The communityconsultation that took place as preparation for this research forms a significant partof this oral knowledge. When choosing written texts to discuss colonisation andAboriginal experiences of health care, I have devised a hierarchy of texts thatprioritised those written by Aboriginal authors, then those written collaborativelybetween Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal authors, and then those written by non-Aboriginal people are considered an accurate account by Aboriginal co-researchersand mentors.Structure of the thesisThe structure of this thesis is also purposeful and reflects a blending of bothacademic and Aboriginal co-researcher and reference group priorities. Chapter Twopresents an overview of Australian colonisation and associated discrimination andexclusions and the impact this had, and continues to have, on Aboriginal womenand their families, leading to current health disparities. Examples of noncollaborativeapproaches central colonisation practices and the associated impactsof social, gender, economic and environmental issues are highlighted.Chapter Three explores the development of primary health care, Aboriginal healthand women’s health as the three main components of Aboriginal women’s healthcare in community health settings in urban Adelaide. Significant changes in each ofthese areas over the last forty years have led to a diverse and at times confusingrange of experiences, expectations and concepts relating to knowledge sharing andcollaborative action by both health professionals and Aboriginal community womenclients. This chapter provides a discussion of the various and changing policies and23