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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet KellyFirstly, many Aboriginal women experience complex health care needs thatcan not be met by any one service alone. Aboriginal Health Services arerepeatedly mentioned as the health service of choice in Generation HealthReview documents, but there is no way that one service can meet allAboriginal women’s needs. Some Aboriginal women spoke of purposefullyseeking services in non-Aboriginal health centres due to close familiarity withAboriginal health care providers, their need for anonymity, and not wishing toburden Aboriginal health providers with distressing issues.This research supports the move toward Aboriginal specific health servicesbeing better funded and resourced and mainstream health care responsibilitytoward meeting Aboriginal women’s health needs increased. The health needsof Aboriginal women and their families are so complex that increasedcollaboration between both services is necessary. As indicated in GenerationalHealth Review documents and interviews in this research, there is also need forcultural models of practice such as cultural respect and cultural safety to beimplemented in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal services to counter racistand discriminatory practices. Capacity building approaches to ‘train the trainer’models have proven to be effective in enabling experienced people to sharetheir knowledge and prepare newer professionals to provide effective care.Recommendations for addressing issuesCommit to working collaboratively to ‘Close the Gap’.All levels of government, health services and health professionals, need tocommit to working collaboratively with the community and one another if theyare to Close the Gap in Aboriginal health inequities in Australia. In part thiscan be achieved through the encouragement and engagement of closer workingpartnership and networks within the range of health and related services inrural, remote and urban areas.Recognise the importance of healing in heath careMany Aboriginal women reported that accessing and working in the healthsystem can be unhealthy personally and culturally unsafe. Increasedrecognition of personal and cultural needs, skills and abilities, as well as theimportance of building trustworthy relationships are urgently needed.341