From left to right: Professor Mick Dodson, Dr Rosemary Bryant, Dr Michael Adams, Dr Odette Best, Dr Ray Lovett, and the Hon. Warren Snowdon, MP.
AIATSIS launches an important and relevant book, Yatdjuligin: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery, introducing nursing students to the fundamentals of health care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Speaking at the launch AIATSIS Chairperson, Professor Mick Dodson said the development of the book demonstrated the important partnerships AIATSIS maintains with other organisations for the benefit of Indigenous communities.
“We pride ourselves on our partnerships and relationships with organisations who are also working to increase awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues in the general community, while encouraging an understanding of Australia’s Indigenous cultures.,” Professor Dodson said.
“AIATSIS supported Aboriginal researchers Dr Ray Lovett and Dr Michael Adams involvement with the publication contributing their perspectives and learnings to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
“The importance of this text cannot be understated. Nurses are the largest healthcare sector in the workforce with around 350,000 in Australia. We need to be sure that nurses and midwives are aware of, and appreciate the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lives.”
The book was officially launched by Commonwealth Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, Dr Rosemary Bryant. Dr Bryant said it is a very timely and much needed resource.
“Yatdjuligin features case studies, scenarios and critical thinking questions which will challenge students to think in a non-prejudicial manner about their current and future practice as health care providers to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, the oldest surviving Indigenous culture in the world.
“It’s necessary in undergraduate education to learn of Australian history and the far-reaching effects of invasion. Importantly, Yatdjuligin exposes the inherent whiteness of the profession of nursing and midwifery.
“This text will, in my strong hope, challenge students to understand their role in the dominant discourse, as well as encourage students to examine their own individual beliefs, values and attitudes as a very necessary step to being able to practice cultural safety.”
Dr Lovett, who wrote the chapter on the history of health service provision, said that the work has the potential to impact on thousands of undergraduate nurses coming through the system in Australia.
“The most exciting part of this is that obviously there’s a need for it. It’s all Aboriginal and Torres Strait authors. We are at that stage where there’s that critical mass of us who are either in senior positions at nursing schools or in senior research positions, where we can contribute to a really important text like this.”
Dr Adams’ contribution to the book will help students develop an understanding of male specific health issues. Dr Adams said he felt privileged to be asked to co-author a chapter on gender specific issues.
“The best thing about it is we all give our experience from a different perspective. It is generated from the knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who work in the area,” Dr Adams said.
The chapter topics of Yatdjuligin include the history of health service provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, midwifery, gender, mental health, community controlled health services, caring for elders and remote area nursing.
Yatdjuligin, isthe first book of its kind in the world, is edited by Dr Odette Best, a registered nurse and senior lecturer at the Oodgeroo Unit, Queensland University of Technology, and Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice Chancellor, Indigenous Engagement at the Central Queensland University.
Yatdjuligin is a title gifted by Wakgun Elder, Ivy Molly Booth. It translates to ‘talking in a good way.’ To Wakgun people, the process of Yatdjuligin is deeply embedded in learning. It belongs to a traditional two-part process of passing on knowledge about their Country, its resources and uses.
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