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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet KellyChapter 4 Theoretical PerspectivesIn this chapter I provide a deeper discussion of the three central collaborationconcepts of knowledge sharing, working together and addressing issues. Ibegin by explaining Western concepts of communication and knowledgeinterests, and Aboriginal concepts of Ganma two-way knowledge sharingacross cultures and Dadirri deep listening. I discuss how the treatment ofparticular people as ‘Others’ and the privileging of one form of knowledgeover another can interrupt knowledge sharing, particularly in Aboriginalwomen’s health settings. The second section explores how respectful anddemocratic knowledge and power sharing can strengthen Aboriginal women’sand health professionals’ voice, organisation and action and lead to moreeffective collaboration. The concepts of liberation and communitydevelopment are presented as specific strategies that can assist people toimprove their life situation, health and well being. The third section focuses onaddressing issues of colonisation and health care access. I describe howconcepts from postcolonial feminism and cultural safety can be used togetherto counter discrimination and enable health professionals to better meet clients’needs. I review concepts of evidence based practice and question what formsof knowledge are included in this process. I then argue that in order to provideculturally safe care, health professionals need to (be supported to) recogniseand utilise subjective, professional, client focused and cultural knowledge andpriorities as well as external, objective biomedical / technical knowledge. Ibegin by discussing knowledge sharing as the basic building blocks ofcollaboration and culturally safe health care.Knowledge sharingAs discussed in the previous chapters, many Aboriginal community women,health professionals and policies have identified the importance of knowledgesharing and a collaborative partnership approach toward health care, in orderfor meaningful health improvements to occur. Colonising, discriminating andexclusionary practices have involved, and continue to involve, one way and/ ordisrespectful communication, and the use of power over another. In order to86