ACCESS AND EQUITY FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE THROUGH EDUCATION, ASSESSMENT AND REFERRAL WITH ONGOING HOLISTIC FOLLOW UP AND CARE
DETECTION OF HEARING PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN.
PREVENTION OF HEARING PROBLEMS IN ABORIGINAL CHILDREN BEFORE REACHING ADULTHOOD
ALLOWING THE SAME ADVANTAGES AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS, THEREFORE PROMOTING HIGHER EDUCATION,
TO ATTAIN AND ACHIEVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN BOTH LIFE AND SOCIETY.
PROJECT SUMMARY
Since its beginning from 1999 to the present, Dharah Gibinj Aboriginal Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation, has grown. The role of Aboriginal Audiometrist (Otitis Media) is to support Dharah Gibinj AMS and the Aboriginal communities we service with our Central Hearing Clinic and Outreach clinics. Education and delivering ownership to the various Aboriginal communities will ensure the development of this strategy will continue.
Dharah Gibinj Aboriginal Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation aims to develop a model by using a multidisciplinary team involving key stakeholders familiar with processes and outcomes. This will form part of the integrated care that is needed in most of the communities. An information retrieval system is already in place for patient follow-up and recall which is structured in the Medical Spectrum software.
Dharah Gibinj’s aims to have an educational component as a vital part of the service model as Otitis Media is preventative and by having trained staff collaborating with other health professionals certain strategies can be developed.
Our long-term goals would involve screening, support, follow-up, health promotion, developing assessment tools, early intervention, accessability and cultural awareness.
Dharah Gibinj Aboriginal Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation will ensure with evidence-based guidelines that care across providers is conistent and directed towards achieving health outcomes. These will be developed towards and interpreted towards the needs of local services availability. Some other outcome measures will be directed towards community-based adverse events (e.g. where they swim,current education programs, changes in community behaviour and risk factors (e.g. smoking, physical activity) and nutritional educational programs.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
GOAL: To provide a level of support to commuities and facilitate by using planning and screening in the Aboriginal communities of the Richmond Valley.
OBJECTIVES |
STRATEGIES |
Identify people who are effected by Otitis Media
Arrange for screening appointments to assess level of hearing impediment
Refer within multi-discipilinary team for further treatment
Ensure program for on-going screening with assessmenmts in place with Dharah Gibinj AMS
Hearing clinic
Support for outreach programs with portable assessment equipment operated by Aboriginal Audiometrist
Development of assessment tools relating to:
Listening
Learning
Speech
Language
|
Conduct screening days and identify those people effected
Develop plan for screening days at AMS and communities
Conduct ongoing assessments of those people identified
Encourage Aboriginal people to participate in planning
Develop networks with service providers with early intervention of:
Referral
Monitoring
Assessment
Management
Outreach clinics
Dharah Gibinj AMS clinics
Schools |
HEALTH PROMOTION
GOAL: To provide a healthy lifestyle and better health for Aboriginal people
OBJECTIVES |
STRATEGIES |
Promote Otitis Media awareness
Promote attendance to hearing clinic for assessment by certified Aboriginal audiometrists.
Develop protocols and guidelines that may identify and encourage development
Evidence of service delivery through Partnerships with various stakeholders
Establish the health promotion needs of the community in a culturally appropriate way which has a literacy level comprehensible to community members. |
Establish health promotion by developing initiatives identified within Aboriginal communities
Involving Aboriginal people in helping to develop health promotion.
Initiate education days via barbeque luncheon.
This will include a nutritionally appropriate menu.
Develop workshops that include competencies on cultural awareness, sharing experience and skills
Collaborate with relevant stakeholders e.g. NRAHS Health Promotion, Division of General Practice, Otitis Media Coordinator, ENT, Speech Pathologist
Access and monitor Aboriginal community members who attend health promotion days for Otits Media information.
Promote healthy hearing programs to enable understanding of primary health care issues
and preventative measures. Incorporate Breathing Blowing Coughing (BBC)Program |
CLINICAL SUPPORT
GOAL: To provide clinical support and assistance for the Otitis Media Coordinator .
OBJECTIVES |
STRATEGIES |
To provide clinical support within the role of the O/M Coordinator.
Establish education and training for Aboriginal people as identified in NRAHS strategies.
Ensure future education and training in audiometry is set in place . |
Actively seek to establish an Otitis Media Service as identified in Northern Rivers Area Health Well Being Plan 2003 -2008 and the NRAHS Aboriginal Employment Strategy 2003-2007, NSW Health Aboriginal Workforce Development Strategic Plan 2003-2007. The NSW Otitis Media Strategic Plan for Aboriginal Children
Through The Aboriginal O/M Coordinators initiatives, Aboriginal staff have completed training v ia OTEN (TAFE) and are now fully qualified audiometrists.
Liaise with OTEN (TAFE) and NSW Health to make provision for access to this training and assist with financial support for attendance to venue. |
CREATE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AWARENESS
GOAL: Write print and have published culturally appropriate literature that educates Jarjum’s (children) in living a healthier lifestyle.
OBJECTIVES |
STRATEGIES |
Create books that educate Jarjums about health in a culturally appropriate manner.
Promote self esteem for community members by supporting artistic and literacy skills. |
Recruite local community members for story writing and illustrating of books.
Liaise with community members and recruit
those willing to submit their work for insertion into booklets/posters or pamphlets.
Evaluate how effective Traditional medicine role may play in prevention and management
Develop, implement culturally sensitive assessment tools for Aboriginal children |
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