Collaborative voices: Ongoing reflections on cultural competency and the health care of Australian Indigenous people (original) (raw)
Related papers
Indigenous Cultural Training for Health Workers in Australia
International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 2011
Purpose. Culturally inappropriate health services contribute to persistent health inequalities. This article reviews approaches to indigenous cultural training for health workers and assesses how effectively they have been translated into training programmes within Australia. Data sources. CINAHL PLUS, MEDLINE, Wiley InterScience, ATSIHealth and ProQuest. Study selection. The review focuses on the conceptual and empirical literature on indigenous cultural training for health workers within selected settler-colonial countries, together with published evaluations of such training programmes in Australia.
International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care / ISQua, 2015
This article describes the characteristics and reviews the methodological quality of interventions designed to improve cultural competency in health care for Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. A total of 17 electronic databases and 13 websites for the period of 2002-13. Studies were included if they evaluated an intervention strategy designed to improve cultural competency in health care for Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand, the USA or Canada. Information on the characteristics and methodological quality of included studies was extracted using standardized assessment tools. Sixteen published evaluations of interventions to improve cultural competency in health care for Indigenous peoples were identified: 11 for Indigenous peoples of the USA and 5 for Indigenous Australians. The main types of intervention strategies were education and training of the health workforce, culturally specific health programs and recruitment of an Indigenous healt...
Australian Journal of Primary Health, 2017
This study explored the views of key stakeholders on cultural appropriateness of primary health care (PHC) services for Aboriginal people. A total of 78 participants, including healthcare providers, administrative team members (n=24, ~30% of study sample) and Aboriginal community members (n=54, ∼70% of study sample) living in remote North West Queensland participated in the study. Outcome measures were assessed by administering survey questionnaires comprising qualitative questions and various subscales (e.g. provider behaviours and attitudes, communication, physical environment and facilities, and support from administrative staff). Descriptive statistics were used to present quantitative findings, whereas inductive thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. In contrast to the views of PHC providers, a significant number of Aboriginal people did not perceive that they were receiving culturally appropriate services. Although PHC providers acknowledged cultural awareness traini...
2020
In Australia, an evidence gap exists for governments and policymakers about what it means when the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are included in public policies. Specifically, when the cultures of Indigenous Australians have been incorporated in a public health policy like the Australian Government's National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023 (Health Plan), how do policymakers implement - enable, embed, and enact - cultures? More disturbing is the non-recognition of Indigenous culture's innate relationship to the knowledges held by Indigenous Australians. In recognition of the importance of Indigenous cultures to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, the centrality of culture in the Health Plan represents the first national Indigenous public policy that reflects its relevance. This research protocol describes a public policy qualitative research study that aims to address this evidence gap by using the He...
Australian family physician, 2014
BACKGROUND Given the health inequity faced by Aboriginal people, it is important that interactions with general practitioners (GPs) are effective and that GPs are aware of issues affecting culturally competent practice. METHODS Semi-structured interviews undertaken with Aboriginal people who had a role in cultural support or mentorship of GPs and registrars in urban or large rural centres were analysed thematically. RESULTS Fourteen participants contributed to the study. They emphasised that a culturally respectful approach was the most important attribute. Other core knowledge and skills that promote effective relationships and healthcare were categorised as attitudes and approach, communication and consultation skills, culturally aware practices and applied knowledge. DISCUSSION Respectful attitudes and good communication and consultation skills need to be combined with knowledge of the historical, cultural, social, medical and system factors that impact on healthcare delivery for...
Australian Journal of Clinical Education
Introduction: A partnership between a community-controlled health organisation and a university enabled the development of a regionally coordinated model of health student practicums. The aim of this study was to evaluate students' perceptions of these placements in developing their capacity to provide culturally responsive care. Methods: Students completed a post placement survey involving 15 five-point Likert items on their perceptions of the learning environment, skills development, awareness and selfdevelopment, and supervision. Written responses to two open-ended items on positive or negative aspects of the practicum were thematically analysed. Results: The student placement model facilitated increased numbers and diversity of clinical placement of health students within urban First Australian health. 241 students from various disciplines completed the survey from 2011-2016. Most students were satisfied with the quality of their placement (82%) and believed it was a supportive learning environment (87%). Most indicated greater awareness of First Australian culture (89%) and health concerns (87%), and believed their clinical skills were enhanced (79%). Discussion: These results support the efficacy of regionally coordinating clinical placements with First Australians in urban contexts as a means of cultivating a culturally responsive healthcare workforce. Future research needs to involve pre-and post-measures and link student outcomes with improved client outcomes.