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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet KellyManagers ofhealth servicesPolicy makers& fundingbodiesOther serviceseducation,welfare, housingHealthProfessionals;Aboriginal &Non-AboriginalAboriginalcommunity women;Carers, Elders,Young womenFigure 11.2 Knowledge sharing necessary for effective comprehensiveprimary health careThese forms of knowledge sharing may happen to greater or lesser extents, butit is important that they do happen for health care to become more responsiveand coordinated.Recommendations for knowledge sharingReinstatement of models of practice that support knowledge sharingThere is an immediate need for models of practice such as comprehensiveprimary health care (CPHC) and collaboration to be supported by all levels ofgovernment and health services. Only through improvement in two-waycommunication between Aboriginal community members and health serviceswill significant and lasting changes be made to the heath and well being statusof Aboriginal women and their families. Experienced CPHC practitionersshould be supported to mentor and educate newer practitioners into the role toensure that this skills base is not lost.A review of what constitutes evidence based practiceClient and health professional knowledge needs to be acknowledged assignificant aspects of evidence based practice alongside biomedicalknowledge, particularly in primary heath care settings. Unmodified scientificknowledge cannot adequately address deep rooted social, economic and335