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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet Kellythird term a young Aboriginal women’s get together was held at the AboriginalOutreach Health Service, bringing together young women and workers fromthe local high school and a regional community Aboriginal centre, increasingtwo-way knowledge exchange between young women and female workers.These two collaborative events are discussed in more detail in CollaborationArea Three. From the co-researchers’ perspective, these activities assistedthem to increase access and information by young Aboriginal women,something that had been difficult to do in their existing programs.A second Aboriginal Women’s Health DayTowards the end of the year, co-researchers and community women felt it wastime for another health day. The need for Aboriginal women to come together,meet and support each other and celebrate life again was high, as there hadbeen too many deaths over winter. There were many suggestions on theevaluation forms from the first Women’s Health Day that staff memberswished to address. Once again we invited the young Aboriginal women fromthe high school to attend, which they did.The second Aboriginal Women’s Health Day was prepared and run similarly tothe first. Once again transport and catering were supplied. Activities focusedon stress management and well-being issues, addressing the growing numbersof requests for assistance with mental and emotional well-being. There wasmassage, hand care, stress management strategies and activities. In my nursingcapacity I provided a very interactive and fun filled session on contraceptionand sexually transmitted infections. Some of the community women were veryknowledgeable and we bounced ideas backwards and forwards across theroom, using laughter and humour. This interactive style enabled Aboriginalwomen’s knowledge to be intermingled with Western medical knowledge inthe style of Ganma (Yunggirringa & Garnggulkpuy 2007). A Tai Chi session(linked to falls prevention programs) was provided by the North East Divisionof General Practice. This was so well received by the Aboriginal women thatthe Aboriginal Outreach Health Service was able to negotiate for it to continueas a weekly activity throughout 2007.245