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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet Kellycathartic, particularly as they had been the recipients of uncommunicatedhealth care changes for so long.Importantly, this research was a positive research experience for the Aboriginalwomen and they have since become involved in other research projects. In acolonised country where western research is considered to be deeplyuntrustworthy, this is a significant achievement and indicates that this researchprocess was both culturally and personally safe.Implications for other Aboriginal women are that there are researchers, healthprofessionals and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health services who arewilling to work in respectful and collaborative ways to meet Aboriginalwomen’s health and well being needs. Collaborative projects in health care andresearch can focus on and support Aboriginal women’s strengths and abilities,rather than just focus on what is not working. Knowledge sharing models suchas Ganma and Dadirri, and collaborative models such as our PAR are tools thatcan be used by both community women and health services to improve healthand well being. They are accessible, understandable and support the need forpersonal and cultural safety.Implications for health professionals practiceThis research has highlighted the challenges and difficulties associated withtrying to meet Aboriginal women’s health and well being needs in urbanprimary health care settings. It has enabled the perspective of healthprofessionals, particularly Aboriginal Health Workers and Nurses to be heard.This research has explored many issues that are also experienced by healthprofessionals in a wider range of settings. These include; being blamed (orblaming self) when programs do not go to plan; Not having professionalknowledge validated, recognised or included in health service deliverydecisions; Working with people who are struggling with traumatic issues, andthen experiencing vicarious trauma; Sweeping changes from comprehensive toselective primary health care; misunderstandings and frustrations experiencedby health professionals and clients not understood by the wider health system;Having to walk away from health programs that are working well, or that wereworking well until they were dismissed or changed.343