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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet KellyIt fits with the social determinants of health. It is no use hiding behindsomething in order to make it look different. In order to say we can’t dothis work because we have these individuals doing blah. It would be fine ifour community was equally OK, but they aren’t.So we need workers who understand these things, and that requires anattitude shift for many. And we need a system to support them, managerswho understand. And we need to try it more than once, we need to keeptrying. There are few people comfortable with that kind of work, but Ithink that is what is needed (AH Mg Int. 3).This explanation reinforces the importance of cultural models of practice thatchallenge health professionals underlying attitude and beliefs, and supportthem to work in culturally safe and respectful ways. In order to do this, theywould need manager and health system support.Doing what works - taking extra time and careOne participant identified the importance of taking extra time and care withclients in recognition of the huge impact colonisation, discrimination,inequities and disadvantages have on many Aboriginal people’s health andwell-being. She said;We see people who are so traumatised generally. There will have been somany issues that have alienated people from services, so we try to makeeach interaction even more positive in every way for the person so thatthey end up having a positive experience. Even if we haven’t actuallyfixed the problem, if we are working to make positive relationships, it is astart.It is unrealistic to think that people solve problems and fix things behindclosed doors in a very insular way, but if you can give people the tools tohelp them through a process than that is a way of looking at it (AH HpInt.2).However, finding effective and useful referral pathways were often difficult.Sometimes we refer women to providers who say yes we see Indigenouspeople, but they are not particularly appropriate. So even the referrals232