1. Improving Health Literacy Today….Not Tomorrow”
It’s in the hands of our Aboriginal people
Julie Wright – AHP – CAHS PHC Outreach Unit

2. Engaging with our Aboriginal Health Workforce
Important Priorities
Engage
Must Prioritise
Engaging with our Aboriginal Health Workforce

3. WHY?
FACTS/REALITIES
Aboriginal language speakers average 70% of all health service users in NT
Aboriginal health professionals are less than 1% of the NT health workforce
High rates of staff turnover
Inability to communicate effectively puts lives and practice at risk

4. strong working relationships
Title
ertion
We must work towards
good communication &
strong working relationships
Sub Heading
Presenter Name
Departmental Agency
Insert date

5. Someone will help if you ask!
Who are we?
Aboriginal Community Workers
Aboriginal Health Practitioners
SWSBSC Strong Women Workers
Aboriginal Male Health Community Workers
Aboriginal Health Promotion Officers
Someone will help if you ask!

6. Someone will help if you ask!
Who are we?
Also include:
Key Community Members, community based lifestyle and stakeholder program workers
Aboriginal workforce in clinics, schools, women's centres, council, shop, police and child care
Also Interpreter Service
Someone will help if you ask!

7. HELP us to help our people
It is essential to teach and provide training to our Aboriginal Health Workforce and community
Create safe supportive working environments & support Cultural Induction
Build and strengthen relationships with the people/consumers and their families
Develop resources and training to use essential tools when working with the people/consumers and their families

8. HELP us to help our people
Create safe supportive working environments
Empower our Aboriginal Health Workforce with the skills and knowledge to interpret health information for the consumer
Language skills are always important to the consumer

9. Definitions
‘Health literacy is about communicating health information clearly and understanding it correctly’ (Osborne, 2014, p1)
the ability to find, understand, and act on health information.
an interaction between patients and the health care system
verbal, print, and seek web-based information
K.A Taylor Health Literacy Presentation NTML Darwin

10. Better Communication pillars
PEOPLE
ACTION
OUTCOME/ RESULT
Consumer
Multi-disciplinary approach and Education and training is the key to Caring for the consumer
Improving Quality Care through our workforce and Language Literacy Skills
Engaging with Health Service Centres
People need to understand what you’re saying if Lifestyle Behaviours are to be modified
Poor Physical Activity
Poor Nutrition
Smoking
Alcohol Social Emotional & Well Being
Working together
Provide clinical expertise
Aboriginal people lead and support remote PHC
Support people and communities self manage:
preventable chronic conditions, Diabetes, Heart& Kidney Disease, Mental health. Also
Environmental Health/living condition issues l
Relationship Building
For the
Consumer
Health teams
Family
Community
Help Support Networks Communication and Referrals
Meetings
Discussions
Workshops
Training
Better Communication pillars

11. Questions are good.
However, when encouraging questions, remember the following:
The nurse asks, “Do you have any questions?”
The patient shakes his head, indicating no.
While the nurse might assume this response means she did a good job communicating, the patient may, out of politeness, be shaking their head to end the consult as a way of not saying how confused he really is. (Osborne, 2014)
Aboriginal workers can help get your message across and assess the level of understanding

12. Any Questions?

13. Osborne, H 2014 Health Literacy A to Z
Resources that can be utilised by the Practitioner to help interpret or help the consumer
References
Osborne, H 2014 Health Literacy A to Z
Taylor, K 2010 intercultural health care communications
DOH Intranet home Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander portal – Resources and Catalogue