An overview of how the 2 Spirits Program at the Queensland AIDS Council adapts a western health promotion framework into a cultural framework to engage Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities around HIV and sexual health. This presentation was given at the AFAO Community Hub at the ASHM 2015 conference.

2. “Adapting a western health promotion framework into a cultural
framework to engage Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander
communities in Queensland”

3. Introduction
• 2Spirits Program was formed in 1996 under the umbrella of
Queensland AIDS Council, previously known as Queensland
Association for Healthy Communities (Qahc).
• The project was established as the Queensland Aboriginal and
Torres Islander HIV & AIDS Project.
• In 2008, the program went through a name change and is now
known as the 2Spirits Program.
• The program has been operating for 19 years and funded
federally by the Department of Health (DoH).
• We are based in Cairns and Brisbane with a state wide brief.

4. Introduction continues
• Our target group are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Gay
Men and Sistergirls.
• Our approach is “Whole of Community”.
• The cornerstone of our work is ‘”Culture & Identity”.
• Our ‘expertise’ in adapting western health promotion into a
cultural appropriate framework.

5. Workforce Attributes
2Spirits workforce obtain three core attributes that complements
our role as health professionals that reinforces our connection
with communities as the ‘key’ to our connectedness to establish
rapport to normalise conversations about Sexual Health, Sexuality
and Identity.
1 Cultural Identity
2 Community Identity
3 Professional Identity

6. 2Spirits Five Main Dimensions
We address social, emotional, economic and cultural wellbeing
through following five dimensions that provide the link the past,
present and future:
• Spiritual
• Cultural
• Understanding
• Experience
• Aspirations

7. Community Settings
• Urban
• Rural
• Remote

8. Cultures & sub-cultures
• Aboriginal
• Torres Strait Islander
• South Sea Islander
• Indigenous Elders
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Sistergirl, Brotherboy (LGBSB)
• Youth
• Non-Indigenous
• Heterosexual
• English & non-english speaking backgrounds

9. Frameworks
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander frameworks are flexible
with culture and emerging health trends.
• Mainstream frameworks are Inflexible. Can be used as political
responses to address Aboriginal & Torres Strait islander
emerging health crises.

10. Our Focus
• Strengthen community actions
• Create supportive and inclusive environments
• Develop personal and professional skills
• Reorient services
• Build healthy public policy
• Moving into the future

11. Cultural Protocols
We have developed and embed ‘Traditions & Cultural Protocols’ into the
project and programs to connect with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander
people. Our culture identity is the key that connects us through our
spiritual and customary practices through our lifestyles, lore and
ceremonies.
why we do it….
• Indigenous Elders are our leaders and the gatekeepers of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander families and communities. Elders are
responsible for protecting and guiding our communities and our
futures.
• Communities to empower our communities through education and
community awareness to make better choices about sexual health and
become community advocates.
• Youth are our children and future leaders and custodians of our
cultures.

12. Barriers
Main stream approaches neglect to implement cultural appropriate
structures in their procedures to target Aboriginal and Torres Stair Islander
health needs.
The inequities in the standards of Indigenous health in Australia and the
gaps in service delivery is the reason why we are today.
Barriers:
• The recognition of existing professional Indigenous services
• Recognition of the values the front line worker in communities
• Lack of collaboration
• Political targeting
• Non-effective empowerment or sustainability
• Outcomes from conferences
• Setting up positions to fail
• No recognition of existing of successful Indigenous programs
• Tick and flick approach

13. Questions???