ENHANCING INDIGENOUS CAPACITY: Building a Sustainable Future

On the 8th and 9th May 2007, the Rio Tinto Child Health Partnership hosted its second national symposium in Perth. This symposium focused on workforce development in Indigenous maternal and child health.

 

The theme was ENHANCING INDIGENOUS CAPACITY: Building a Sustainable Future with emphasis on identifying clear directions and strategies at both a practical and policy level for enhancing the skills of the Aboriginal health workforce, increasing the number of health workers in Indigenous communities and improving the coordination and delivery of primary health care services to Aboriginal people.

 

Over 160 delegates from around Australia attended representing a range of sectors including communitybased health care organisations and clinics, Indigenous communities, State and Australian government agencies and leading research institutes in Australia and from overseas.

The highlight for most delegates was the international keynote, Dr Janet Smylie. Many delegates commented on the practical examples given of how the rich Indigenous knowledge that exists in the languages, experiences, oral histories, and ecological understandings of community members can be respectfully gathered and
applied to maternal child health policy, programs, and services.

 

The symposium was a great success and another invaluable opportunity for so many working in this important area to come together and share their success stories, expertise, research and resources.

 

The main issues raised during the symposium have been captured in a report that encapsulates many of the issues arising from the presentations and workshops over the two days and many of the changes delegates suggested need to occur with regard to workforce development in Indigenous maternal and child health.

 

A copy of the symposium program can be viewed by clicking here.