W HAT DOES THE “ THIRD SPACE ” MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ? Eileen Tan Lisa Molony Kate Brazzale

I NTRODUCTION

D EFINITION OF THIRD SPACE

A BORIGINAL T ERMS OF R EFERENCE – T HIRD S PACE Link with Identity Their Perceptual View/Way of Life How they deal with things – eg Community involvement.

A BORIGINAL I DENTITY IN RELATION TO THE THIRD SPACE Family Community Land Importance

A BORIGINAL H EALTH S TATISTICS KATE BRAZZALE Deaths Infant Mortality Rate Chronic Disease Rate Comparisons with other Nations – i.e. Canada

A BORIGINAL H EALTH S TATISTICS KATE BRAZZALE

I MPLICATIONS FOR H EALTH P ROFESSIONALS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are not the same. Discontinue use of out-dated, derogatory terminology. Half-caste, full-blood, quadroon, etc. Always use the terms Aboriginal Man/Woman/People or Torres Strait Islander Man/Woman/People. Aboriginal people mistrust people who offer services related to “protection” and “intervention. European colonisation. Government Policies post colonisation. The “Stolen Generation”. Government policy til “Keep your word.” Changes made. e.g. Kevin Rudd’s “Apology”. NSW Department of Community Services 2009 & National Disability Services WA 2009

I MPLICATIONS FOR H EALTH P ROFESSIONALS Sensitive issues due to past Government policies have contributed to: Dispossession of land Family fragmentation Mental health issues Social and emotional wellbeing issues Grief and loss issues Self-harm and intentional injury Over-representation of Suicide rates Family and domestic violence issues Loss of country Loss of identity Poverty Racism Unemployment Poor health outcomes Poor education outcomes Below standard literacy and numeracy rates Alcohol and substance abuse/misuse Over-representation in the juvenile and criminal justice system NSW Department of Community Services 2009 & National Disability Services WA 2009

I MPLICATIONS FOR H EALTH P ROFESSIONALS Respect Elders, The Land, Animals, Ancestors. “Sorry Business” Kinship Defines roles and responsibilities within the family. Ensure that extended family is included in important meetings or when making decisions. Gender responsibilities. Men’s Business – issues which have a male perspective within aboriginal culture. Women’s Business – issues which have a female perspective within aboriginal culture. NSW Department of Community Services 2009 & National Disability Services WA 2009

I MPLICATIONS FOR H EALTH P ROFESSIONALS Language Originally 300 nations speaking 250 languages with up to 600 dialects. Nonverbal cues Eye contact. Hand and facial gestures. Silence Progression of Conversation. Semantic Ambiguity Swearing Communication Techniques Use uncomplicated language, Not “jargon”. Be wary of comprehension NSW Department of Community Services 2009 & National Disability Services WA 2009

F OCUS Q UESTION.

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