We need to value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural education in the Northern Territory health services

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 521-522
Author(s):  
Chris Rissel ◽  
Courtney Ryder ◽  
Annabelle Wilson ◽  
Barbara Richards ◽  
Madeleine Bower
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Cultural Education ◽  
Torres Strait

Exploring Leave Events for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People From Australian Tertiary Services: A Systematic Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julieann Coombes ◽  
Syazlin Sazali ◽  
Tamara Mackean ◽  
Margaret Banks ◽  
Nilva Egana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Torres Strait Islander People ◽  
Policy Document ◽  
Manual Search ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
Torres Strait

Abstract Objective The primary objective of this systematic review was to identify contributing causes to leave events from health services for Australian patients. The second objective was to identify evidence based preventative measures for effectively reducing leave events, which could be implemented. Study design Articles published in Australia were included if they reported on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians who leave health services prior to being seen or discharged by a medical professional. Two researchers screened each abstract and independently reviewed full text articles. Study quality was assessed, and data were extracted with standardised tools.Data sources MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched for relevant publications from May 27th to June 30th, 2020. The search returned 30 relevant records. Nine additional records were identified by manual search in Google Scholar. References of included articles were searched. From these articles, 11 met the inclusion criteria. Of these 5 were from New South Wales, 2 from Western Australia, 1 each from Queensland and Northern Territory, two were conducted nationally. Data synthesis Four studies used a retrospective cohort method, one included patient interviews,(1) Four cohort studies and two systematic reviews were included. Two government reports and one health policy document were included in this review. All studies were from Australia using mixed methods.Conclusions This review identified causes for, and evidence based preventative measures that have been or could be implemented to reduce Leave Events and describes additional terms and definitions used for Leave Events.

Gonorrhoea testing and positivity in non-remote Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services

Sexual Health ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Ellen Harrod ◽  
Sophia Couzos ◽  
James Ward ◽  
Mark Saunders ◽  
Basil Donovan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Clinical Encounter ◽  
Current Approach ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Torres Strait Islander People ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Aboriginal Community ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Concurrent Testing

Background Gonorrhoea occurs at high levels in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote communities, but there are limited data on urban and regional settings. An analysis was undertaken of gonorrhoea testing and positivity at four non-remote Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services participating in a collaborative research network. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of clinical encounter data derived from electronic medical records at participating services. Data were extracted using the GRHANITE program for all patients aged 15–54 years from 2009 to 2013. Demographic characteristics and testing and positivity for gonorrhoea were calculated for each year. Results: A total of 2971 patients (2571 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander) were tested for gonorrhoea during the study period. Among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander patients, 40 (1.6%) tested positive. Gonorrhoea positivity was associated with clinic location (higher in the regional clinic) and having had a positive chlamydia test. By year, the proportion of patients aged 15–29 years tested for gonorrhoea increased in both men (7.4% in 2009 to 15.9% in 2013) and women (14.8% in 2009 to 25.3% in 2013). Concurrent testing for chlamydia was performed on 86.3% of testing occasions, increasing from 75% in 2009 to 92% in 2013. Factors related to concurrent testing were sex and year of test. Conclusions: The prevalence of gonorrhoea among young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in non-remote settings suggests that the current approach of duplex testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea simultaneously is justified, particularly for women.

What constitutes ‘support’ for the role of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child health workforce?

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Watson ◽  
Jeanine Young ◽  
Margaret Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Overall Acceptability ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Use Of Health Services ◽  
Torres Strait Islander Health

As well as providing primary health care services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers are known to significantly contribute to the overall acceptability, access and use of health services through their role of cultural brokerage in the communities within which they work. As such they are uniquely positioned to positively influence health improvements for this vulnerable population. This study sought to identify key areas that both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous health professionals working within Indigenous communities felt were important in providing support for their roles. This group of workers require support within their roles particularly in relation to cultural awareness and capability, resource provision, educational opportunities, collaboration with colleagues and peers, and professional mentorship. What is known about the topic? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers are known to significantly contribute to the overall acceptability, access and use of health services in the communities within which they work. As such they are uniquely positioned to positively influence health improvements for this population. What does this paper add? Through consultation with a sample of Indigenous child health workers and child health workers key areas necessary to provide support for the individuals working in these roles have been identified. What are the implications for practitioners? The findings from this study will inform policy and program development in order to more comprehensively support health workers in the community and contribute towards workforce development and satisfaction, recruitment and retention.

Bicultural Stress: An Aboriginal Community Perspective

1996 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Salisbury ◽  
Sue Follent
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Cultural Sensitivity ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Barriers To Use

A survey was designed to assess and to compare the levels of stress being experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal respondents. The survey covered a range of areas including demographics, access to transport, drug and alcohol use, use of public services, identification of stressful events in the past 12 months and a self evaluation of stress symptoms. The groups were matched by age, sex and income. The results showed differences between the stressful events and stress symptoms reported by the two groups, with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander group reporting considerably higher levels. There were significant differences in access to transport and use of public health facilities. The barriers to the use of public health services were identified. A major finding was that 69% of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sample experienced more than one loss through death compared to 5% of the non-Aboriginal sample in the previous 12 months. It was concluded that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sample experienced more stressful events, had more stress related symptoms and used public mental health services less than the non-Aboriginal sample. The barriers to use of services were a lack of cultural sensitivity and the discomfort experienced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sample when accessing services. A partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community is required to develop a public health service that is acceptable and useful to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sample.

Nancy Cato at Noosa

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 282-292
Author(s):  
Susan Sheridan
Keyword(s):  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Environmental Activism ◽  
Historical Novels ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Strong Interest ◽  
Murray River ◽  
Torres Strait

AbstractNancy Cato (1917–2000) was born in Adelaide and lived there for the first half of her life. Moving to Noosa in 1967, she became known for environmental activism as well as her writing. Through research for her historical novels set in Tasmania and on the Murray River, as well as her travels in Central and Northern Australia, she developed a strong interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. She published poetry, stories, plays and journalism, as well as novels set in the Northern Territory, North Queensland, the Riverland and Tasmania. She had a painter's eye as well as a gift for lyrics and a lifelong interest in storytelling. With the emergence of eco-criticism, we can now see her diverse career as a writer as cohering around her love of the natural world and her curiosity about how human beings lived in it. This article considers her writing about her adopted country around Noosa.

scholarly journals Optimal Cancer Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People: A Shared Approach to System Level Change

2020 ◽  
pp. 108-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Chynoweth ◽  
Meaghan M. McCambridge ◽  
Helen M. Zorbas ◽  
Jacinta K. Elston ◽  
Robert J.S. Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Care Pathway ◽  
System Level ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Torres Strait Islander People ◽  
Cultural Appropriateness ◽  
Torres Strait

PURPOSE To improve cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the development and national endorsement of the first population-specific optimal care pathway (OCP) to guide the delivery of high-quality, culturally appropriate, and evidence-based cancer care. METHODS An iterative methodology was undertaken over a 2-year period, and more than 70 organizations and individuals from diverse cultural, geographic, and sectorial backgrounds provided input. Cancer Australia reviewed experiences of care and the evidence base and undertook national public consultation with the Indigenous health sector and community, health professionals, and professional colleges. Critical to the OCP development was the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health experts and consumers. RESULTS The OCP received unanimous endorsement by all federal, state, and territory health ministers. Key elements of the OCP include attention to the cultural appropriateness of the health care environment; improvement in cross-cultural communication; relationship building with local community; optimization of health literacy; recognition of men’s and women’s business; and the need to use culturally appropriate resources. The OCP can be used as a tool for health services and health professionals to identify gaps in current cancer services and to inform quality improvement initiatives across all aspects of the care pathway. CONCLUSION The development of the OCP identified a number of areas that require prioritization. Ensuring culturally safe and accessible health services is essential to support early presentation and diagnosis. Multidisciplinary treatment planning and patient-centered care are required for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, irrespective of location. Health planners and governments acknowledge the imperative for change and have expressed strong commitment to work with Indigenous Australians to improve the accessibility, cultural appropriateness, and quality of cancer care.

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