Moving Forward Together in Aboriginal Women's Health: - Theses ...
Moving Forward Together in Aboriginal Women's Health: - Theses ...
Moving Forward Together in Aboriginal Women's Health: - Theses ...
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<strong>Mov<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>Forward</strong> <strong>Together</strong>Janet KellyIn this era of Close the Gap (Oxfam Australia 2008) we know that to even startto redress the appall<strong>in</strong>g health status of Aborig<strong>in</strong>al Australians we have tomove beyond unsusta<strong>in</strong>able approaches that have been revealed <strong>in</strong> thisaccount, and urgently and truly listen to and work with the Aborig<strong>in</strong>alcommunity to ensure we can move forward together and significantly improvethe health and well be<strong>in</strong>g of Aborig<strong>in</strong>al women and their families. Aborig<strong>in</strong>alhealth <strong>in</strong>equalities are too serious for us to keep ‘re-<strong>in</strong>vent<strong>in</strong>g the wheel’,re<strong>in</strong>stat<strong>in</strong>g programs that have not worked <strong>in</strong> the past, and ignor<strong>in</strong>g ordismantl<strong>in</strong>g projects and programs that are work<strong>in</strong>g. Precious time andsignificant resources are wasted <strong>in</strong> duplication and dislocation, and lostopportunities for build<strong>in</strong>g trustworthy work<strong>in</strong>g relationships that may never berecovered.Similar concerns to those raised by this research regard<strong>in</strong>g top down decisionmak<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>in</strong>adequate consultation with local community members and healthprofessionals who have established work<strong>in</strong>g relationships were also raised <strong>in</strong>the review of the Northern Territory Emergency response. The Review Board(2008, pp. 9-10) advised that;The most essential element <strong>in</strong> mov<strong>in</strong>g forward is for government to reengagewith Aborig<strong>in</strong>al people… based on genu<strong>in</strong>e consultation,engagement and partnership.I argue that these same mistakes are yet aga<strong>in</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g repeated <strong>in</strong> urban Adelaidehealth services today and that it is way past time for decision makers andhigher level managers of health services to f<strong>in</strong>d culturally respectful and properways to work with Aborig<strong>in</strong>al communities <strong>in</strong> decolonis<strong>in</strong>g collaborativeapproaches. A proactive step forward now is to commit to programs andemployment for at least five and preferably ten years to enable programs to befully developed and implemented. Appropriate checks and balances wouldneed to be put <strong>in</strong> place to ensure that programs were evaluated by thecommunity as well as government to ensure that they were effective. PARprocesses would be ideal for this purpose as they <strong>in</strong>volve elements offlexibility, evaluation and cont<strong>in</strong>ual improvement.There is clearly a need for solid commitment to improv<strong>in</strong>g Aborig<strong>in</strong>al healthand well be<strong>in</strong>g with agreed goals, targets and strategies. The Close the Gap328
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