5,000 complete cultural awareness training

The Metro North Hospital and Health Service Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit (A&TSIHU) is celebrating a major milestone this month with 5,000 participants completing their online Cultural Practice eLearning Program since its launch two years ago.

Director of A&TSIHU, Angela Scotney presented Caboolture Midwife Laura Wilkinson with a special certificate  as the 5,000^th participant.

“The Cultural Practice Program is a strategy from Queensland Health’s overarching Indigenous health policy framework, Making Tracks to Close the Gap in health outcomes for Indigenous Queenslanders by 2033,” Angela said.

“On completion of the training, staff have a better understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and health, the impact of government policies and practice since colonisation and its link to the current health status of families and communities who access our services.”

Laura, who is a graduate Midwife with the Midwifery Group Practice at Caboolture Hospital, said the program helped her understand to be aware of surroundings, looking at appropriate communication and the importance of having an open mind.

“I found the program to be very helpful and beneficial. It increased my knowledge, as a student and now a graduate midwife, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

“The program was very user-friendly and it covered a lot of the basics such as the meaning of the flags and the importance of men’s and women’s business in a hospital setting. It really helped broaden my knowledge and to provide perspective of the challenges and opportunities for health professionals.”

Laura said the program also helped increase her knowledge of the Ngarrama program, which cares for women who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and/or whose partner identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and choose to give birth at the Caboolture Maternity Unit.

“The program helped me understand the role of my Ngarrama colleagues and the importance of their service.”

“We tend to focus on differences but forget we are all just people.”

Visit the Skills Development Centre for further information and to access the course.

Media Contact: Renee Simon 0439719665 / renee.simon@health.qld.gov.au