Looking after Women's Business: Indigenous Women's Health in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne
Presented at Respecting Culture and Diversity: Innovations in Healthcare Delivery, June 2005
Speaker
Ms Cath Shimmin, Youth and Women's Health Nurse, Western Region Health Service, VIC
Cath Shimmin is a registered nurse with experience spanning 29 years both in the acute and community sector. The last 10 years Cath has specialised in women's health. Cath has had extensive experience in both rural Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne which has given her a deep understanding of the health needs of women from both rural and urban areas. The last six years Cath has worked in the western suburbs of Melbourne with women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and more recently with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women.
Abstract
Aims:
To conduct an Indigenous women's health day at the newly established Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place
To establish a culturally sensitive integrated service for indigenous women in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne by promoting health in a positive and culturally appropriate way.
Strategies:
The following health promotion principles were utilised throughout the project:
- Building capacity within the WSIGP to develop quality services for the local indigenous community has been a strong component of this project.
- Consultation has been an integral part of the success of this project. Setting up a reference group for the project, project planning and implementation phase, and the establishment of the Women’s Wellbeing Reference group to support the WSIGP, has enabled ongoing consultation of the indigenous women's health needs.
- Partnerships have been formed with key local and regional health organisations to enhance the services provided by the WSIGP
- Cultural Awareness Training has been offered to Allied Health and other staff at WRHC to enhance Staff's understanding of the Aboriginal Culture
Outcomes:
Building of trust and confidence in health practitioner's working alongside indigenous women has had a lasting effect on the relationship with mainstream services involved.
An ongoing partnership has been established between WSIGP and WRHC to provide outreach allied health services such as Podiatry, Diabetes Prevention and Education and the Well Women's Clinics continue to be well utilised by the local indigenous women. Health Promotion strategies are now being used by staff at the Gathering Place in the planning of activities and service delivery.
A parenting group has been now been established as a result of feedback from the Indigenous Women's Health Day
A Women's Wellbeing Reference Group has been established to support the Indigenous Women’s Wellbeing Worker; they are developing a specific brochure on indigenous health services for indigenous women in the Western Suburbs and looking at future directions and initiatives
(Final Report: Indigenous Well Women's Project Papscreen Grant, 2004)
