What does the “third space” mean to you as a health professional?

1. What does the “third space” mean to you as a health professional? Eileen Tan Lisa Molony Kate Brazzale

2. Introduction

3. Definition of third space

4. Aboriginal Terms of Reference – Third Space • Link with Identity • Their Perceptual View/Way of Life • How they deal with things – eg Community involvement.

5. Aboriginal Identity in relation to the third space • Family • Community • Land • Importance

7. Aboriginal Health Statistics • KATE BRAZZALE • Deaths • Infant Mortality Rate • Chronic Disease Rate • Comparisons with other Nations – i.e. Canada

8. Aboriginal Health Statistics • KATE BRAZZALE

9. Implications for Health Professionals • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are not the same. • Discontinue use of out-dated, derogatory terminology. • Half-caste, full-blood, quadroon, etc. • Always use the terms Aboriginal Man/Woman/People or Torres Strait Islander Man/Woman/People. • Aboriginal people mistrust people who offer services related to “protection” and “intervention. • European colonisation. • Government Policies post colonisation. • The “Stolen Generation”. Government policy til 1969. • “Keep your word.” • Changes made. • e.g. Kevin Rudd’s “Apology”. NSW Department of Community Services 2009 & National Disability Services WA 2009

10. Implications for Health Professionals • Sensitive issues due to past Government policies have contributed to: • Dispossession of land • Family fragmentation • Mental health issues • Social and emotional wellbeing issues • Grief and loss issues • Self-harm and intentional injury • Over-representation of Suicide rates • Family and domestic violence issues • Loss of country • Loss of identity • Poverty • Racism • Unemployment • Poor health outcomes • Poor education outcomes • Below standard literacy and numeracy rates • Alcohol and substance abuse/misuse • Over-representation in the juvenile and criminal justice system NSW Department of Community Services 2009 & National Disability Services WA 2009

11. Implications for Health Professionals • Respect • Elders, • The Land, • Animals, • Ancestors. • “Sorry Business” • Kinship • Defines roles and responsibilities within the family. • Ensure that extended family is included in important meetings or when making decisions. • Gender responsibilities. • Men’s Business – issues which have a male perspective within aboriginal culture. • Women’s Business – issues which have a female perspective within aboriginal culture. NSW Department of Community Services 2009 & National Disability Services WA 2009

12. Implications for Health Professionals • Language • Originally 300 nations speaking 250 languages with up to 600 dialects. • Nonverbal cues • Eye contact. • Hand and facial gestures. • Silence • Progression of Conversation. • Semantic Ambiguity • Swearing • Communication Techniques • Use uncomplicated language, Not “jargon”. • Be wary of comprehension NSW Department of Community Services 2009 & National Disability Services WA 2009

13. Focus Question.

14. References