A presentation given by Leanne Crittenden & Cathy Hastings at the October 2012 CHA Conference, The Journey, in the 'Service Redesign & Innovation' stream.

1. Aboriginal Child & Family
patient journey project
Supporting Aboriginal families
accessing health services

2. Contributing Authors: Donna Lloyd, Tony Martin, Julie Smith,
Trish Davidson, Leanne Crittenden and Cath Hastings

3. Background to Project
 Joint project between North Coast and Hunter
New England AHS. Funded by NCHN
 Responding to difficulties for Aboriginal families
travelling to receive higher level health care
 Family Interviews
 Existing Aboriginal Health programs and reports

4. Issues Identified
 Increased cultural competence amongst non-
Aboriginal staff
 Physical environment
 Support when travelling away from home
 Improved collaboration within and between health
services

5. Hunter New England

6. HNE Aboriginal population
In 2010, 32,858 people identified as Aboriginal
and/or Torres Strait Islander
 21.4% of the Aboriginal population of NSW
 3.9% of the total HNE population
 0-24 years = 55.7% of population

7. HNE Organisational Context
 Aboriginal Strategic Leadership
Committee
 Cultural Respect Training
 Aboriginal Employment Strategy

8. Cultural Competence
 Priority for CYPF staff to attend
Cultural Respect Training
 Cultural competencies/responsibilities
within position descriptions
 Didja Know: Aboriginal Cultural
Communication handbook – Phil Towney

9. Physical Environment
 Culturally  Moree – local resources
appropriate  Tamworth: Painting and
signage, artwork, Toys
posters, flags,  Quirindi: Paintings
calendars  Glen Innes: Flags and
Children’s books
 Narrabri: Calendar
 Muswellbrook: paintings
 JHCH: Video loop

10. Tamworth Paediatric Ward
Artist: Pearl Slater

11. Moree Hospital
Artist: Margaret Adams

12. Tamworth Community Health Toys

13. Muswellbrook Hospital
Artist: Les Elvin

14. Muswellbrook Hospital
Artist: Les Elvin

15. Support when travelling away from home
 Introduction and continued support
for 2 escorts for Aboriginal children
requiring IPTAAS support
 Shuttle bus; Broadmeadow train
station meets Moree/Tamworth trains
2 X per day

16. Service Collaboration
 Strengthening working relationships
between managers, Aboriginal staff and
Aboriginal Community Controlled
Organisations.
 Facilitate AHLO’s forum – included tour of
JHCH, NICU, Uncle Bob’s Place and
Ronald McDonald House
 Paediatric Outreach Clinics to AMSs

18. Supporting the Journey of the
Aboriginal child
when travelling between healthcare
facilities and away from home

19. What we set out to do……
To improve the quality of information available for Aboriginal
children and their families when children are transferred,
present to Emergency Department and/or are admitted to
hospital.

20. Why did we do this?
 Local community consultations identified a need for culturally
appropriate information for families to improve their
understanding of what happens when their children transfer
from a small to a larger healthcare facility, away from their
immediate community environment.
 Consultations with Hospital and Emergency staff identified
similar issues.

21. How did we do this?
 We developed culturally appropriate resources for the young
patient and their families to support transition across and
entry into healthcare facilities.
 We created culturally appropriate environments within the
hospital setting for Aboriginal children and their families to
support care and recovery.

22. The Environment

23. The Resources

25. The DVD

26. Many thanks
 Mid North Coast Local Health District for allowing us to share
and adapt their Triage Poster.
 The local community and hospital staff for sharing their stories.
 Dedicated project officers: Ruth Kreamer, Therese Stacey &
Cathy Powell
For further information on the project, resources or to obtain
a copy of the DVD please contact: Donna Lloyd, Coordinator
Health Equity donna.lloyd3@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au

27. JHCH DVD loop