Aboriginal Health Partnerships
Aboriginal Sexual Health Worker Project
A Health Department of WA grant for the review and the role of the Aboriginal Sexual Health Worker has been compiled into a learning resource for Aboriginal Health Workers, Doctors and Nurses. It involves a series of approximately twelve interviews from around the state with Aboriginal Sexual Health Workers. Juli Coffin presented this study at the 6th National Rural Health Conference in 2000. The paper titled Good news stories: Aboriginal sexual health workers is available here.
A book has also been published by the WA Department of Health.
Sexual Health Training Review
In 2000 CUCRH was contracted by the WA Department of Health to review the current competency training and course materials offered by KAMSC (Kimberly Aboriginal Medical School Council) and Bega (Bega Garnbirringu Health Service) through the Advanced Certificate Of Aboriginal Sexual Health Course. Recommendations were incorporated in a new tender for delivery of a revised course.
Aboriginal
Health Worker Training
Very few Aboriginal people in the Murchison and Pilbara have health worker qualifications. This is because historical there has been no accredited training delivered locally. Aspiring students had to travel for long periods to Broome, Perth or Kalgoorlie for training. Between 2001 and 2003 CUCRH worked closely with the School of Health Studies of Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council, Wirrika Maya Health Service, East Pilbara Health Service, Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service and Murchison Health Service to deliver training to two cohorts of Aboriginal people. The training was based in Meekathaara and Port Hedland. High retention rates meant that the training program achieved its objectives of increasing the pool of qualified health workers in these regions.
Looking, listening and learning from young people
With Elsie Mitchell and Marisa Gilles of the Gascoyne Public Health Unit and a number of local Aboriginal community organisations, Ann Larson explored young Aboriginal peoples’ views of life in Carnarvon and their understandings of sexual health risk.
The research used an innovative method known as photovoice, in which young people took photographs about sexual health in Carnarvon and participated in an interview. For more information about the method see the web site www.photovoice.com or a paper presented in Session C-6 at the National Rural Health Conference, Canberra in March 2001 is available Here.
