Exploring the experiences of Indigenous women who participated in a 'follow-through' journey within a Bachelor of Midwifery program

[Extract] Summary: • The women interviewed in our study reported the many benefits of having an Indigenous midwifery student provide them with Continuity of Care • Increasing the number of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander midwives is essential to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander familie

Indigenous Australian participation in pre-registration tertiary nursing courses: an Indigenous mixed methods study

A well-educated Indigenous nursing workforce is one way to improve the poor health of Indigenous Australians. The Indigenous Nurse Education Working Group Report (2002) called for an increase in Indigenous nurses in the health workforce commensurate with the representation of Indigenous people in the Australian population. The aim of this Indigenous concurrent mixed methods study, undertaken using the tenets of Dadirri, was to uncover the current state of Indigenous nursing student success in tertiary courses. The specific objectives were to describe Indigenous student experiences of barriers to and strategies for success, develop a narrative of the student experience, and to describe the factors that academics identify as barriers to, or strategies for, Indigenous nursing student success.\ud \ud In the quantitative phase, Department of Education Employment and Workforce Relations, Higher Education Statistics Unit data for the years 2002-2008, was collected and analysed to reveal the differences in commencement numbers, progression, attrition, and completion rates between Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous nursing students. Key study findings were that while national commencement numbers and completion rates for Indigenous nursing students have increased overall, the disparity between completion rates for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students remains wide and in need of urgent attention.\ud \ud In the qualitative phase interviews were conducted with 8 Indigenous students and 13 academics from Queensland universities. The interview data was analysed using content analysis to identify barriers to, and strategies for, Indigenous nursing student success as identified by students and academics. Barriers to successful course completion identified by Indigenous nursing students and academics have remained similar to those of the last few years except for financial obstacles, which were less of a concern to these participants. Strategies for success include the importance of identifying and harnessing individual student characteristics; supportive and culturally inclusive institutional structures, systems, and processes; strategic relationships, connections, and partnerships; raising family and\ud community knowledge, awareness, and understanding; and, improving academics' knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the issues experienced by the students.\ud \ud A secondary narrative analysis of the qualitative student interview data was also conducted to uncover stories of success as revealed by the students. The narratives revealed six threads: Making a difference; Valuing Indigenousness; The healing strength of connections; Resisting racism; Embracing support; and, Persevering towards completion. These narrative threads elucidate the stories of success and offer a new perspective from which the experience for these students can be viewed

Epilogue

[Extract] This special issue of Contemporary Nurse on Advances in Contemporary Indigenous Health Care has finally come to fruition. It has been a difficult and challenging journey, but the outcome has made it worthwhile. Importantly, this area of health care is one that deserves special attention and we commend the editors on the decision to once again make this a feature of the journal. The authors submitted a range of interesting and important papers covering issues of direct relevance to clinical health care, such as anti-smoking projects (Robertson, 2010; Thompson, 2010), issues surrounding access to health care services (Van Herk, Smith, & Andrew, 2010), nurses' experiences caring for circumcised patients (Mangena, Mulaudzi, & Peu, 2010), and other important areas such as education of nurses, ways to increase the numbers of Indigenous students (Biles & Biles, 2010; Meissner, 2010; Stuart & Nielsen, 2010; West, West, West, & Usher, 2010), and issues related to culture (Blackman, 2010; Downing & Kowal, 2010; Rigby et al., 2010). While most of the papers submitted were from Australian authors, we were very pleased to receive and accept two papers from international authors for the special edition (one from Canada and one from South Africa). Of course there were also three invited editorials from Australian nurse leaders, including an Indigenous nurse, a Professor of Nursing, and the Chief Nurse of Australia, which set the scene for the issue

The Mental Health of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

There are approximately 517,200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people residing in Australia. This represents 2.5 per cent of the total Australian population. When compared with non-Indigenous Australians. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are less likely to be employed. are less likely to own a home and are overrepresented in supported accommodation for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless. While Australians enjoy relatively good health overall. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience higher death rates than non-Indigenous Australians across all age groups (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2008). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people also experience higher rates of some mental disorders and social and emotional well-being problems than others (Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council, 2004a). Prevalence estimates of mental illness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are not well researched or documented in Australia (Henderson, Andrews & Hall, 2000). As a way to understand the issues currently facing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia, and as a context for reflecting on these facts and figures, it is important to have some insight into the history of Indigenous people in Australia

The mental health of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

This chapter is divided into three sections. The first introduces you to the Australian Indigenous mental health issues, the second to Maori mental health concerns and the last section provides the reader with insights from a remote care nurse who is working with remote clients in Australia

Indigenous (Australia and New Zealand) and Remote Mental Health: Section 1 - The mental health of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

This chapter is divided into three sections. The first introduces you to the Australian Indigenous mental health issues, the second to Maori mental health concerns and the last section provides the reader with insights from a remote care nurse who is working with remote clients in Australia

Increased numbers of Australian Indigenous nurses would make a significant contribution to 'closing the gap' in Indigenous health: What is getting in the way?

The provision of a well trained and culturally safe health workforce is critical to the alleviation of health inequities for Australian Indigenous peoples. Educating and graduating significant numbers of Indigenous registered nurses is one way the 'Close the Gap' initiative succeeds. Indigenous nurses bring a set of unique skills, knowledge and understanding to health service delivery. Their contribution has the potential to enhance future outcomes for Indigenous people by improving access to health services, ensure services are culturally appropriate and respectful, and assist non-Indigenous nurses to deliver culturally appropriate care. This paper discusses the background to the current numbers of Indigenous undergraduate nursing students enrolled in and completing tertiary nursing courses, with a focus on Queensland nursing programs. A range of identified barriers impede Indigenous nursing students' successful completion of their studies. We propose recommendations for education, research and employment to help overcome these problems, and ensure greater Indigenous participation in the nursing workforce

Tjirtamai - 'To Care For': a nursing education model designed to increase the number of Aboriginal nurses in a rural and remote Queensland community

In 2009, a nursing education model was locally designed and delivered to support the interest of a group of Aboriginal community members living in a rural and remote town in Queensland, specifically to prepare for entry into further nursing education. Named 'Tjirtamai' by the traditional owners of the area, the program was offered in recognition of the challenges faced by Aboriginal people when they enter nursing education courses and as a way to increase the local number of Aboriginal nurses. This program, while funded by the Government, had unprecedented support and involvement from both the local Aboriginal and wider community. The model offered multiple exit points, assistance with financial and other known challenges for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and included contextualised literacy and numeracy. Of the 38 Aboriginal students who enrolled in the course, 26 students completed. Of those students, 18 have since enrolled in a bachelor degree in nursing while another 4 enrolled in a diploma of nursing. This paper provides an overview of the course and its outcomes

'Tjirtamai' - 'To care for': A nursing education model designed to increase the number of Aboriginal nurses in a rural and remote Queensland community

In 2009, a nursing education model was locally designed and delivered to support the interest of a group of Aboriginal community members living in a rural and remote town in Queensland, specifically to prepare for entry into further nursing education. Named 'Tjirtamai' by the traditional owners of the area, the program was offered in recognition of the challenges faced by Aboriginal people when they enter nursing education courses and as a way to increase the local number of Aboriginal nurses. This program, while funded by the Government, had unprecedented support and involvement from both the local Aboriginal and wider community. The model offered multiple exit points, assistance with financial and other known challenges for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and included contextualised literacy and numeracy. Of the 38 Aboriginal students who enrolled in the course, 26 students completed. Of those students, 18 have since enrolled in a bachelor degree in nursing while another 4 enrolled in a diploma of nursing. This paper provides an overview of the course and its outcomes