S015: Aboriginal wellbeing model
Tracks
Track 1
| Wednesday, August 26, 2015 |
| 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
| Royal Theatre |
Speaker
Prue Shanahan
Practice Development Nurse
St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
Our journey to developing a collaborative social and emotional wellbeing model for Aboriginal mental health consumers.
Abstract
The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) and St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Mental Health Service have worked in partnership for over 25 years to provide both inpatient and outpatient services to the local Aboriginal community. This partnership includes the VAHS outpatient services and the acute inpatient unit at St Vincent’s.
There are many barriers to Aboriginal people accessing mainstream mental health services including mistrust of these services, service providers’ lack of knowledge of Aboriginal culture; different constructs of ‘mental health’ and Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) and the provision of culturally inappropriate and ‘unwelcoming’ services.
The joint service model allows flexibility with 5 inpatient beds to be used within the concept of SEWB which are not confined to the geographical boundaries of local area mental health services.
Discharge planning and cultural support for consumers is also provided by the VAHS team attending weekly clinical reviews. A key factor is the provision of an Aboriginal Mental Health Liaison Officer position funded by a donor.
This presentation will discuss this unique service model; how it provides Aboriginal consumers with choice; achieves better outcomes and allows for culturally appropriate provision of care while helping to close the gap in health inequalities.
There are many barriers to Aboriginal people accessing mainstream mental health services including mistrust of these services, service providers’ lack of knowledge of Aboriginal culture; different constructs of ‘mental health’ and Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) and the provision of culturally inappropriate and ‘unwelcoming’ services.
The joint service model allows flexibility with 5 inpatient beds to be used within the concept of SEWB which are not confined to the geographical boundaries of local area mental health services.
Discharge planning and cultural support for consumers is also provided by the VAHS team attending weekly clinical reviews. A key factor is the provision of an Aboriginal Mental Health Liaison Officer position funded by a donor.
This presentation will discuss this unique service model; how it provides Aboriginal consumers with choice; achieves better outcomes and allows for culturally appropriate provision of care while helping to close the gap in health inequalities.
Biography
John Egan is a Yorta Yorta/Wemba Wemba man and grew up in Shepparton, Victoria. He is the Team Leader of the ‘Mental Health Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program’ at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Family Counselling Service where he has been employed for the past 9 years.
Prue Shanahan is a nurse with experience in both community and inpatient settings. Prue’s current role is Practise Development Nurse at the Acute Inpatient Unit at St Vincent’s hospital Melbourne where she coordinates 5 Aboriginal beds in conjunction with the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Family Counselling Service.
Adrian Munro
Executive Manager Operations
Richmond Wellbeing Inc
The journey of Richmond Fellowship of WA working alongside and learning from Aboriginal Elders.
Abstract
RFWA has been participating in the Looking Forward Project for three years now. This project aims to affect transformational change in every aspect of the way that service providers interact with the local Aboriginal community.
This occurs by RFWA working alongside the Aboriginal Elders and learning form their wealth of knowledge and experience, as the holders of Aboriginal culture.
The aim for service providers is to provide a workplace that is more culturally safe for Aboriginal workers, and for their services to be more accessible, approachable and culturally sensitive to Aboriginal people.
Thanks to the commitment and support of the Elders, RFWA has already seen some amazing change in many aspects of our service and this presentation will share some of the challenges and successes of this journey so far. Hopefully this inspires others to consider how they can build positive relationships with their local Aboriginal community and how they can improve their services to be more accessible and approachable for Aboriginal consumers
This occurs by RFWA working alongside the Aboriginal Elders and learning form their wealth of knowledge and experience, as the holders of Aboriginal culture.
The aim for service providers is to provide a workplace that is more culturally safe for Aboriginal workers, and for their services to be more accessible, approachable and culturally sensitive to Aboriginal people.
Thanks to the commitment and support of the Elders, RFWA has already seen some amazing change in many aspects of our service and this presentation will share some of the challenges and successes of this journey so far. Hopefully this inspires others to consider how they can build positive relationships with their local Aboriginal community and how they can improve their services to be more accessible and approachable for Aboriginal consumers
Biography
Adrian Munro is the Executive Manager of Operations at RFWA. He initially studied Physiotherapy and worked in this role in a number of health care settings before moving into management positions. Adrian is currently studying a Masters of Health Service Administration, is a GAICD and has served on the Board of the WA peak Housing Body and an NGO.
Adrian currently sits on the PIR National Reference Group and the WA NDIS Advisory Council. Adrian is passionate about making a difference in the community and seeing mental health services truly recovery focussed and valuing the lived experience of consumers and families.
