Supporting Aboriginal women’s health through Yarning Circles
Cathy Leane of the Women’s and Children’s Health Network and her team, with the support of our Bloom Research Program, will integrate Aboriginal ways of knowing into the healthcare system, by co-designing and testing community-based Yarning Circles to improve sexual, reproductive and perinatal healthcare amongst Aboriginal women and families.
The rate of stillbirth, preterm birth and other sexual and reproductive health issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women remains unacceptably high. There is a clear need for culturally safe education and support to close this gap in health outcomes.
Bec Smith, Principal Project Manager of the SA Health Maternal, Neonatal and Gynecology Strategic Executive Leadership Committee, says, “We undertook specific Aboriginal engagement and what we found is that we weren’t embracing Aboriginal ways of knowing and traditional Aboriginal ways of finding information.”
“If we were able to approach things in a different way, where we were valuing community members, and particularly Aboriginal women who are Elders, Aunties, grandmothers, trusted members within the community, we could potentially inform the community members in a better way, and then perhaps we would be able to have people better engage in care.”
Funds from our Bloom Research Program will enable the co-design and testing of community-based yarning circles to improve sexual, reproductive and perinatal health care amongst Aboriginal women and families through a project titled ‘Building on Aboriginal women’s ways of knowing – collaborative Yarning Circles to improve sexual, reproductive, and perinatal health literacy and engagement in care.’
Yarning uses storytelling to share knowledge, build understanding and create connection, and has been used by Aboriginal communities for generations.
Cathy Leane, Darug woman and WCHN Manager Strategic Partnerships, Aboriginal Health Division, says, “We are building up the skills and knowledge of our Aboriginal grandmothers, our Aboriginal Aunties, our Aboriginal big sisters, who will then be able to support women on their journey through sexual health and parenting.”
It is hoped that integrating Aboriginal ways of knowing into the healthcare system will engage and empower Aboriginal women and families, leading to improved sexual, reproductive and perinatal health.
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