26 May 2004
NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK 27 MAY-3 JUNE
Midwife’s care aids in the reconciliation process
Health plays an important role in the reconciliation process and in recognition of National Reconciliation Week, the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) and the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses (CATSIN) are calling on the Australian Government to increase their highly successful nursing scholarships and target Indigenous people specifically so that more are encouraged to choose nursing as a career.
‘Nurses recognise that health outcomes for Australia’s Indigenous people are dependent on the care they receive,’ ANF Federal Secretary Jill Iliffe said. ‘There is an urgent need for more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to take up nursing as a career to provide culturally appropriate care and improve Indigenous health outcomes.’
CATSIN Chair Sally Goold says that reconciliation is still very much on the national nursing agenda.
‘Nurses are working together to implement CATSIN’s recommendations and the recommendations from the ‘getting em n keepin em’ report produced by the Indigenous Nurse Education working group, particularly by increasing the recruitment and retention of Australian Indigenous people into nursing the inclusion in nursing curricula of Indigenous, history, health and culture, so that all nurses are prepared to provide culturally safe care with respect for culture,’ Ms Goold said.
‘If nurses walk and work together I believe it will help overcome the parlous state of health of the Australian Indigenous people.’
One success story is midwife Karen Atkinson, who provides specialised support to Aboriginal women and their families during their childbearing experience at Sunshine Hospital in Melbourne. Developed by Western Health in Melbourne, The ‘Putting Koori Women and Children First’ program provides a service that is accessible, appropriate and attractive to Aboriginal women and their families.
‘Western Health has recognised that there are often cultural differences which can cause confusion and misunderstanding for Aboriginal women and their families,’ Ms Atkinson said. ‘As a Koori woman and a midwife, I am able to interpret health information and make it easier for Aboriginal women to understand.’
According to Ms Atkinson, many Aboriginal women and children find coming to hospital can be a daunting experience and her aim is to reduce the fear for these women and make their hospital stay more comfortable.
‘The backbone of Aboriginal society is their children and if you give them a good start, it will hopefully lead to good health and well being,’ Ms Atkinson said.
As well as providing vital assistance for women and children during their contact with Western Health, Ms Atkinson sees her role as an opportunity to encourage members of the Aboriginal community to pursue careers in the health industry.
‘I hope I can inspire other Aboriginal people to pursue careers as health professionals as the representation is very low, particularly in nursing, midwifery and allied health,’ Ms Atkinson said.
‘The health outcomes [for Indigenous people] are still third world in this country and having people like me in [these roles] it will improve health outcomes by way of education.’
There are over 275,000 registered and enrolled nurses in Australia (Nursing Labour Force 2002, AIHW 2004), however only about 1,100 are Indigenous (Health and Community Services Labour Force 2001, AIHW 2003).
Western health midwife Karen Atkinson is dedicated to helping Aboriginal women in their childbearing experiences. Please credit photographer: Scott McNaughton
Media inquiries:
Jill Iliffe, ANF Federal Secretary 0419 576 590
Sally Goold, Chair, CATSIN (07) 3410 7236
Karen Atkinson, RN, RM, Sunshine Hospital (03) 8345 1512
Kim Hargest, Media Officer, Western Health (03) 8345 1201
Heather Witham, ANF Federal Communications Officer 0417 359 907