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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet Kellyresearcher invited her to give the presentation during the Aboriginal Women’sHealth Day, and an arrangement was made to share catering costs.One of the co-researchers and I had begun meeting with the local high school(in our roles as community health nurses) and we invited the AboriginalEducation Worker and teachers to assist the young Aboriginal women toattend. The Aboriginal Education Workers ensured parental permission wassought, and an interpreter was booked so that hearing impaired students couldparticipate. She also asked the young women what activities would mostinterest them, and relayed this information to the Aboriginal Outreach HealthService staff. I was working with the Aboriginal community women in FocusAre One at this time, and either brought, or encouraged them to bring, theirpreferences to the attention of staff members also.Taking actionThe Aboriginal Women’s Health Day was held in February 2006. It was amulti agency health and social event quickly planned and collaboratively run.Health information sessions relating to general women’s screening wasprovided by both local staff members and external agencies, and all womenreceived a small bag with health information and a gift. Fun activities includedpainting two canvas murals, making jewellery, sharing conversation over foodand generally socialising. Community women were able to meet staff membersincluding the new female general practitioner. A healthy lunch and transport toand from the campus were provided. The Aboriginal Health Service was awomen’s only space for the day, allowing Aboriginal women to freely discussmany aspects of women’s and sexual health in groups, and in one to oneconversations, in culturally safe and respectful ways (Australian HealthMinister's Advisory Council 2004; Ramsden 2002). Approximately thirtywomen attended.The Aboriginal community women from Focus Group One were significantlyinvolved, helping to set up and run activities through-out the day. One of thewomen facilitated the painting of the canvases outside under a tree; anothertook photos, while two others assisted with preparing lunch. The youngAboriginal women from the high school (and their friends) came with the240