Tasmanian primary health professionals can play a significant role in improving cancer screening rates through making their practice and services safe and accessible. To build clinical capability in Tasmanian primary health professionals, a series of several education sessions will be facilitated by Primary Health Tasmania with the aim of increasing participation in screening for breast, bowel, and cervical cancer for vulnerable Tasmanians.
The first session in this series will focus on the experiences of cancer screening had by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within the Tasmanian context. This session will be led by the community it seeks to serve, aiming to highlight how health professionals could consider engaging with patients about cancer screening in culturally safe ways, to encourage participation in cancer screening.
The session will be led by:
Emma Robertson, Aboriginal Health Practitioner, Karadi
Bec Woolley, Aboriginal Health Worker, Karadi
Kerry Deverell, Aboriginal Health Officer, Primary Health Tasmania
Who will facilitate a panel discussion with the Karadi Deadly Aunties, who meet weekly to provide social and emotional support to each other, participate in art and craft activities, attend social outings and on occasions facilitate guest speakers. Karadi supports this focus group to assist with issues that directly impact on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal families.
By the end of this session, health professionals in attendance will be able to:
- Recognise how cancer is broadly understood and perceived by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including how and why the topic of cancer may need to be approached differently
- Articulate key medical and clinical considerations pertaining to cancer screening and general health screening when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in preventative health contexts
- Recognise and utilise local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs)
- Distinguish the communication skills necessary for having sensitive and safe conversations about cancer screening with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Identify how to create a ‘culturally safe’ clinic, and how one might undergo small (or large) changes to make it physically and aesthetically safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples