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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet KellyOne non-Aboriginal staff member shared her understanding of discriminationand how it impacted on Aboriginal people’s responses;…discrimination is in everyday life for Aboriginal people, so much so thateven if someone is the last in line in a queue they think it is because theywere deliberately put there. People face so much of it; it is no wonder thatthey see it even when it is not meant (AH D4).Some linked colonisation to past history, particularly the Stolen Generation;One woman said that from the age of 8 years old, she and her sister hadinternal examinations every time they went back into a home. She said shehates going to doctors now (AH D9).Other related to more recent events. For example;The wiping of ATSIC, all of the Aboriginal controlled organisations beingwiped out now; it is the beginning of wiping everything Aboriginal out. Onecan only think that it is just going to get worse. You are not going to berecognised as an Aboriginal, only recognised as an Australian. Your wholeculture, your whole identity wiped out; that is what they are trying to do (AHD7).Health carers role in understanding colonisation effectsOne Aboriginal manager explained how colonisation and disadvantage affectspeople’s decision making and that this needs to be understood better by healthcarers;I think it is teaching basic attitudinal changes. Because what people arebrought up with is what they bring to their work. People will say ‘wellthat person chose not to do that’ which is fine, except that if you have acommunity with such a high level of need (and such a high level ofdisadvantage) I question what choice means. You’ve got to startquestioning the idea of choice. Because if they are choosing somethingand you know that is going to put them at such a disadvantage, what doesit mean? What does it really mean? Generally people don’t get to choosefrom two evils, all the time. Generally they can choose one option that isOk. But some communities and families don’t get that choice.231