Working the third space: bridging between cultures in Aboriginal mental health
Working the third space: bridging between cultures in Aboriginal mental health Conference Paper
14th National Rural Health Conference: A World of Rural Health
- Author(s): Clews, Sharon
- Secondary Author(s): Coleman, Leanne
- Published: 2017
- Publisher: National Rural Health Alliance
Abstract: The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) received funding in 2011 under the C losing the Gap initiative for implementation of the State- wide Specialist Aboriginal Mental Health Service (SSAMHS). Funding for the program will continue until 30 June 2018. In 2012 an additional thirty -two Aboriginal mental health staff were on the ground and complimented the existing fourteen Aboriginal staff. The Aboriginal mental health workforce now comprises approximately 10 per cent of the entire workforce in regional and remote community mental health services. There are seven WACHS regions; the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, Midwest, South West, Wheatbelt and Great Southern. Each region has made decisions locally about the implementation of the program and receives support from WACHS Central Office Mental Health and specifically the Senior Program Officer — Aboriginal Mental Health. The WACHS model is one of Aboriginal Mental Health Workers (AMHW) and multidisciplinary professionals working together within mainstream mental health services to improve outcomes for existing and newly referred Aboriginal mental health consumers. The program has several objectives; to improve access and provision of specialist mental health services for Aboriginal people and improve the capacity of WACHS mental health services to meet the needs of Aboriginal people in a culturally appropriate framework. To meet these program objectives several regions have undertaken work that supports, acknowledges and recognises the Third Space. By operating in this “third space” , clinicians and Aboriginal mental health staff are able to benefit from mutual learning and improve the service provision to the Aboriginal community, family and individuals. Aboriginal cultural engagement with the service in both client numbers and occasions of service has markedly increased since the program commenced. There has been Improvement s in cultural competency of non- Aboriginal workforce and cultural security of mainstream services. The details of specific strategies will be discussed further in the paper.
- Urls: http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/14nrhc/sites/default/files/Clews%2C%20Sharon_E5.pdf Available from, http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/14nrhc/program/concurrent-speakers Download site
- Publisher Location: Cairns