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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet KellySumming upCollaboration Area Three has focused on ways that health and educationsectors can work together to improve young Aboriginal women’s access tohealth information, services and well-being. It responded to concerns raised byAboriginal Elder women and mothers that young women may not be receivingimportant women’s health information and encouragement to attend healthservices. Health professionals were keen to work with young Aboriginalwomen in comprehensive primary health care programs in conjunction withschool staff. They identified that they saw very few young Aboriginal womenin the clinic who were not physically ill or already pregnant. Educationprofessionals recognised the importance of collaborative relationships betweenthe young Aboriginal women, the school and health service to ensure theyoung women had timely health information and access. I was unable to workdirectly with young Aboriginal women at the school as a researcher; rather Ibecame indirectly involved by supporting health and education co-researchersto work together collaboratively.This research highlighted that issues related to colonisation, discrimination,inequities, grief and loss continued to negatively impact on many youngAboriginal women’s lives, education, health and well being. Most coresearchersidentified the need for young Aboriginal women to be supported todevelop a positive Aboriginal identity with strong links to family and culture,although some teachers questioned the academic benefits and challenges foryoung women who connect strongly with their Aboriginal families andcultures. The vital role of central support people such the Aboriginal EducationWorker (AEW) was highlighted. The AEW was repeatedly identified by all coresearchersas someone who understood the deeper issues and supportedstudents and their families in culturally safe ways. In the next chapter I discusshow co-researchers and I worked to improve positive collaboration acrosswider sectors in Australia by co-planning an action research action learningconference embedded in Aboriginal preferred ways of knowing and doing.295