Setting a New Agenda

Bronwyn Fredericks,Sandra Angus,Melissa Walker,Karen Adams

doi:10.5204/ijcis.v4i2.61

Abstract

The Australian National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Health Strategy was developed to reflect the health priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, as identified by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women themselves. This article describes the process used by the Australian Women’s Health Network to develop the strategy. The women involved in the research used the talking circle method and engaged with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women through a process referred to as ‘talkin’ up’, where women ‘talk back’ to one another about issues that matter to them. In this article, we describe the power of the talkin’ up process, as a way for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to identify their own issues, discuss them in context and talk in a culturally safe environment. The strategy which emerged from this process is an accurate reflection of the issues that are important to Australian Indigenous women and highlights the improvements needed in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s health to strengthen and underpin women’s health, Indigeneity and their sense of well-being as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Highlights

Many academics refuse to acknowledge that Aboriginal people’s existence and conceptions of themselves are very different from their own
Sandy Angus worked as the Project Officer and prepared the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Submission to the Commonwealth Government on the New National Women’s Health Policy (Angus and the Australian Women’s Health Network (AWHN)-TC 2009), which outlined the health priorities and plans of action articulated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women involved in the Australian Women’s Health Network Talking Circle (AWHN-TC)
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Health Strategy builds on what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women said during the talkin’ up process and on the previous work undertaken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women over the years (Angus et al 2009; Daylight and Johnstone 1986; Fredericks, Adams, Angus and the AWHNTC 2010; Fredericks 2003; Harrison 1991; Huggins 1994; Moreton-Robinson 2000; Vickery, Adams and Clarke 2005)

Summary

Introduction

Many academics refuse to acknowledge that Aboriginal people’s existence and conceptions of themselves are very different from their own. This article discusses the role of the AWHN-TC in developing the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Health Strategy.

Results

Conclusion