92376 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: Women and Babies
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Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject enhances students' understanding and awareness of the issues related to the health of Indigenous people, particularly Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Students are given the opportunity to explore their own personal and professional beliefs and attitudes in relation to working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and babies. Students examine the ways that colonialism has impacted, and continues to impact, the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through cultural, political and socioeconomic circumstances. Content includes a focus on health conditions and outcomes that more commonly occur in the population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and babies, and includes examining causal pathways and programs developed to support optimal health. It also examines primary health care initiatives and community development approaches that have been implemented to address the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and babies in Australia as well as Indigenous people in other countries.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Discuss the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and critically evaluate the impact this history has on health and wellbeing |
|---|---|
| B. | Describe links between colonisation and health and how these have impacted on Indigenous maternal and infant health outcomes in Australia |
| C. | Recognise the specific needs of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their communities and recommend appropriate measures that seek to address health disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous women, babies and communities |
| D. | Explore their own personal and professional beliefs and attitudes in relation to working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, babies and families |
| E. | Critically analyse maternity service provision in relation to providing a culturally respectful and competent services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples |
| F. | Incorporate pathophysiology, symptomatology and inter-professional management of high prevalence chronic diseases that impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and babies |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Practise woman-centred care (1.0)
- Demonstrate woman-centred care, acknowledging the physiological, psychological, cultural and spiritual needs of women, their babies and family members (1.1)
- Demonstrate critical thinking and sound clinical judgment that is based on evidence and reflects appropriate reasoning within the relevant professional codes and guidelines (2.2)
- Are resilient, emotionally competent midwives who foster human flourishing (4.0)
- Demonstrate knowledge of the broader health system and advocate for midwifery as a local and global public health strategy (5.2)
- Practise with the knowledge that midwifery can make the biggest difference to the least advantaged women and families (5.3)
- Integrate strategies for ongoing personal and professional development (6.2)
- Graduates have professional cultural competency which contributes to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, inclusive of physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellness (7.0)
Teaching and learning strategies
In this subject, students participate in a range of teaching and learning strategies that are designed to assist them to develop understanding and awareness of the issues related to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous mothers, babies and families. Students explore personal and professional beliefs to assist in developing cultural competence and respect.
ONLINE LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Students access online learning resources including podcasts, videos, professional and grey literature prior to attending face-to-face sessions. Attendance patterns for this subject require students to rely on online modes to deliver content and support learning. Students then review online activities and discuss them in class to share learning, experiences and reflections.
STORIES AND SCENARIOS
This subject uses stories and scenarios to help students explore health and wellbeing related scenarios. Cases depict women, babies and their families in a maternal and child health setting. Students use these scenarios to learn concepts, interpret information and develop creative solutions through a strengths-based approach. The subject develops critical thinking through analysis, interpretation of and reflection on issues or situations. Students also have the opportunity, through a collaborative art workshop, to share and paint their own journey towards developing cultural respect and competence in midwifery practice.
LECTURES
Face-to-face lectures enable students to clarify, discuss and develop subject concepts.
COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ACTIVITIES
The majority of the face-to-face time in this subject involves collaborative group activities and workshops. Staff support students to engage in content prior to attending class and class time focuses on group learning and mentored activities to support learning. Students are also supported to meaningfully engage in online collaborative activities through the use of a private social media page. Students are encouraged to share positive media stories in relation to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous mothers, babies and families.
PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND EXPERT NARRATIVES
Guest speakers provide students with personal and professional stories in relation to the subject content. Hearing stories from both a professional and personal perspective supports students to relate learning to real world situations.
Content (topics)
Understanding and exploring Aboriginal identity and diversity
- Personal, professional and health system cultural competency
- Historical influences on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples
- Colonisation and racism as determinants of Indigenous health
- Understanding Aboriginal culture and Acknowledgement of Country in everyday life
- Respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, traditions and the contribution of elders - past, present and future
Understanding the health outcome issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Health outcomes of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and babies
- High-prevalence chronic and pregnancy-related conditions that impact on Indigenous maternal and infant outcomes
Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- Strengths-based approaches to care provision and support for Indigenous women, babies, families and communities
- The importance of building effective relationships and providing midwifery continuity of care
- Exploration of specific and mainstream services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and babies
- Community-controlled health organisations and other agencies who provide services
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Brief reflection on your own experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture
| Intent: | This assessment enables an individual reflection on students' own knowledge and experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 6.2 and 7.0 |
| Type: | Reflection |
| Weight: | 15% |
| Length: | 300-500 words |
Assessment task 2: Audit of a health service
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): B, C, D, E and F This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 2.2, 4.0, 5.2, 5.3 and 7.0 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Report |
| Weight: | 60% |
| Length: | 1500 words |
| Criteria: | Comprehensive marking criteria for this assessment is available under 'Assignments' in Canvas. |
Assessment task 3: Reflection
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): C and F This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 1.1 and 7.0 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Reflection |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 25% |
| Length: | 500-800 words |
| Criteria: | Comprehensive marking criteria for this assessment is available under 'Assignments' in Canvas. |
References
Australian Government (2013), National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023, Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra.
Australian Indigenous Health Infonet (2016, February 2020), What is the history of Closing the Gap?, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/closing-the-gap/key-facts/what-is-the-history-of-closing-the-gap.
Best, O. & Fredericks, B. (eds) (2018), Yatdjuligin: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing & midwifery care, 2nd Edn, Cambridge University Press, Melbourne.
Dudgeon, P., Milroy, H. & Walker, R. (eds) (2014), Working together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing principles and practice, 2nd edn, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
MacRae, A., Thomson, M., Anomie, Burns, J., Catto, M., Gray, C., Levitan, L., McLoughlin, N., Potter, C., Ride, K., Stumpers, S., Trzesinski, A. & Urquhart, B. (2013, February 2020), Overview of Australian Indigenous health status, Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet, Western Australia. http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/health-facts/overviews.
Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen., HG. & Dixon, L. (eds) (2019), Midwifery: Preparation for practice, 4th edn, Elsevier, Sydney.
Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (2011), Growing up our way: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child rearing practices matrix, Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care, Melbourne.
Sherwood, J. (2013), 'Colonisation - It's bad for your health: The context of Aboriginal health', Contemporary Nurse: A Journal for the Australian Nursing Profession, 46(1) 28-40.
Other resources
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