Robyn Sharman and Valda Murray - Let's Yarn With Aboriginal Health Workers and Community About Cancer Prevention, Early Diagnosis and Better Outcomes

2. “Let’s Yarn with the Aboriginal community of
Albury/Wodonga about cancer prevention,
early diagnosis and better outcomes”
Robyn Sharman & Valda Murray

3. Cross Border Collaboration
BORDER
CANCER NETWORK
RIVERINA
CANCER NETWORK
Greater Southern Area Health Service
Cancer Networks
WEST WYALONG
BOMBALA
JUNEE
YOUNG
GUNDAGAI
TUMUT
BATLOW
COOTAMUNDRA
COOLAMON
TEMORA
LEETON
NARRANDERA
TUMBARUMBA
HOLBROOK
BOOROWA
HARDEN
WAGGA WAGGA
LOCKHART
HENTY
BARHAM
URANA
JERILDERIE
FINLEY
DENILIQUIN
BERRIGAN
TOCUMWAL
HOWLONG
ALBURY
COROWA
DELEGATE
GRIFFITH
YASS
JINDABYNE
HAY
HILLSTON

4. Hume Regional Integrated Cancer
Service (Hume RICS)

5. Cancer incidence for Indigenous
Australians
Cancer is
a chronic
disease
2nd largest
cause of
death in
Indigenous
Australians
Incidence rate
of cancer is
higher for
Indigenous
people
Most cancers
in Indigenous
people with a
high incidence,
are
preventable
Indigenous
Australians
have poorer
outcomes after
a cancer
diagnosis

6. “Lets Yarn” with the Aboriginal
Community in Albury/Wodonga
June 2012 – May 2014
Led by Lung Foundation Australia
in collaboration with Hume RICS
June 2012 - May 2014

7. Project aims
To raise awareness and understanding of
lung cancer in the Aboriginal community
• To provide education about cancer & treatments
• To develop the “Key Messages” ……risks, symptoms & actions
• To provide information about local cancer services
• To develop Aboriginal specific cancer resources
• To provide information on how to access supportive care

8. Advisory Steering Group
“Furthering Aboriginal Health & Cancer Services”
Chaired by an Aboriginal Health Worker
o 8 AHW – employed by various Aboriginal services across Albury Wodonga
o 2 Aboriginal community members
o 7 members from local cancer/health support services

9. Community Engagement
• Feel the passion
• Identify a key person
• Be persistent – keep trying
• Integrity and honesty

10. Developed “Key Messages”
Risks
Smoking
Passive smoking
Asbestos exposure
Symptoms
Persistent cough
Coughing up blood
Feeling tired
Change in voice
Unexplained weight loss
Shortness of breath
Actions
Go to the Doctor
Ask advice from the
Aboriginal Health Worker

11. Resources Developed
Archie Roach
Surviving Lung
Cancer
Merles story
Surviving Lung Cancer
‘
Key messages
Symptoms & risks
Available on You tube, Lung Foundation or Hume RICS websites

12. Aboriginal cancer awareness pin

13. Lung cancer: signs and symptoms

14. Education Sessions
“Walk thru” treatment sites
• Radiation Oncology -
• Day Chemotherapy Unit
• Palliative Care Unit
• Palliative care (PEPA) training

15. Evaluation:
Aboriginal Health Worker feedback
Learning
more about
cancer myths
was great
Bring on more
education
about cancer
and supportive
care
Education was
needed to
empower the
workers to get the
information out
Sessions on
palliative
care would
be great
Good to
understand how
the treatment is
given and to
meet staff

16. “
Lets Yarn” Lung Cancer project
completed May 2014
However, the work with the AHWs
continues in the Hume RICS region

17. Working with Aboriginal Health
Workers
June 2013 - December 2014 :
“Yarning along the Murray” funded by Cancer Institute NSW
Aim:
To increase the knowledge about cancer for Aboriginal Health
Workers

18. “Yarning along the Murray”
 Aboriginal Project Officer appointed 0.6 FTE
 Project Coordinator 0.2 FTE
 Guided by the established steering group

19. Topics
• Breast screening and assessment
• Radiation
• Chemotherapy
• Palliative care

20. Cancer & treatment theory
sessions
Breast screening
Cancer treatment ..
Radiation &
chemotherapy
An understanding of
palliative care
Aboriginal Health Workers
What is cancer?

21. Palliative Care Sessions
4 PEPA sessions (palliative care theory) conducted
80 participants attended from regional /rural areas of NSW

22. Placements
Radiation :
 Planning session
 Discussion with oncologist
 Treatment session
 Side effects with nurse
Chemotherapy :
 Pt education with nurse
 Explanation of treatment regimes
 Meeting with pts and listening to their stories

23. Placements cont……….
Breast screening and assessment
 Attending mammograms to develop an understanding of process
 Attendance at assessment days … involved investigation of
suspicious findings … biopsies, ultrasounds & sessions with
nurse
Palliative care
 Conducted at Mercy Health, Albury over 2 days
 Developed an understanding of services /supports available
 Attended education sessions on palliative care
 Attended community visits with nurses

24. Placement Challenges
• AHW scheduled for placements but failed to attend
• Pre and post evaluations difficult to collect
• Staff at units often too busy to support placements

25. Addressing the Challenges
 Pre placement evaluations sent electronically & returned before
placement commences
 Undertaking theory sessions prior to placement
 Provide a mentor to support, orientate & assist workers during placement
 Collect placement evaluations immediately following placement
 Ensure each AHW is committed to the placement
 Partnership with TAFE NSW (AHW Cert 1V course)

26. Evaluations
 Pre placement evaluations – to determine AHW understanding of
placement site
 Post evaluation survey to determine if program has met the aims
 Feedback
 Treatment staff - “not only was I able to help with their understanding of the
R/T process, but I had many of my own questions answered about their
culture” & chemotherapy nurse “having a mentor worked much better as
we do not have the time to give to the workers “
 AHWs – All participants felt the placements were very rewarding and
increased their knowledge, but noted some staff at sites required cultural
awareness training.

27. Cultural Awareness Training
Provided to private oncology practices in Albury/Wodonga
WHY private practices ????
 Training not mandated for private practices
 Practice questionaires not asking the question
 AHW identified lack of cultural awareness during placements
 Conducted over 3 subsequent sessions
 20 staff attended (radiation therapists, reception, nursing)

28. Feedback
“I honestly had very little understanding of our nation’s
Indigenous history. This has truly opened my eyes & given
me an appreciation for what they have and are still trying to
overcome”

29. New Resource
 Educational DVD for Aboriginal patients and community

30. Sustainability
Aboriginal Health Workers have developed :
The skills/knowledge/confidence to discuss treatment and care
The skills to conduct training and assessment
Understanding of the principles of palliative care
Knowledge of cancer treatments
The Strengthened networks with cancer services for improved
collaboration

31. In progress
 Placements are still progressing
 Partnership established with TAFE NSW (Cert 1V AHW course)
 Metro Visit - 12 AHW will visit major metro facilities
 Steering group continues to be active and supportive
 Development of a service directory for Aboriginal and mainstream
health professionals

32. Partnerships
Aboriginal Health Service
Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation
Viney Morgan Aboriginal Medical
Service
Murrumbidgee Local Health District
Gateway Community Health

33. Thank You
Robyn Sharman and Valda Murray