Oral Presentation Smart Strokes Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

“If you listen you will find the answers. They may not be what you want to hear but you will get them”- an Aboriginal clinician perspective of authentic Aboriginal Community-led co-created research: the “Let’s Have a Yarn About Our Bladder” project. (106543)

Angela Knox 1 , Karen Baker 2 , Louise Morris 1 , Candice Dahlstrom 3 , Aunty Ann Williams 4 , Aunty Pam Meehan 5 , Tammy Baker 2 , Mandy Cutmore 6 7 , Lynette Lackay 8 , Amanda Styles 7 , Rachel Peake 9 , Susan Mulyk 10 , Leonie Garvey 11 , Jed Duff 12 13 , Dianne Marsden 14 15
  1. Aboriginal Health Unit, Hunter New England Local Health District, Narrabri, NSW, Australia
  2. Narrabri Hospital, Hunter New England Local Health District, Narrabri, NSW, Australia
  3. Aboriginal Health Unit, Hunter New England Local Health District, Moree, NSW, Australia
  4. Aboriginal Elder Representative from Narrabri Aboriginal Women interested in Women’s Business, Narrabri, NSW, Australia
  5. Aboriginal Elder Representative from the Uralla Elders Tuesday Group, Uralla, NSW, Australia
  6. Aboriginal Health Unit, Hunter New England Local Health District, Armidale, NSW, Australia
  7. Armidale Hospital, Hunter New England Local Health District, Armidale, NSW, Australia
  8. Aboriginal Health Unit, Hunter New England Local Health District, Inverell, NSW, Australia
  9. Tamworth Hospital, Hunter New England Local Health District, Tamworth, NSW, Australia
  10. Aboriginal Health Unit, Hunter New England Local Health District, Cessnock, NSW, Australia
  11. Aboriginal Health Unit, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, Australia
  12. Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital,, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
  13. School of Nursing and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
  14. Hunter Stroke Service, Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
  15. College of Health, Medicine, and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia

Introduction: Health-related projects typically use western medicine techniques and perspectives, therefore often fail Aboriginal people. Aboriginal clinicians live and work on community but cannot always speak on behalf of community. We outline how we achieved authentic Aboriginal Community-led co-creation research.

Methods: We applied an Aboriginal cultural lens to a three-phase co-creation framework. We conducted our research on country at Armidale, Uralla, and Narrabri. The team included Aboriginal Elders (n=2), Aboriginal clinicians and managers (n=9), and non-Aboriginal clinicians [stroke (n=2), rehabilitation (n=1), nurse researcher (n=1)]. Participants included Aboriginal clinicians (n=12), and Aboriginal Elders and community (n=24).

Results: Community consultation through yarning was used throughout the project. Yarns are often very organic. If you listen you will find the answers. They may not be what you want to hear but you will get them. Yarns were led by Aboriginal people over shared meals in places chosen by Aboriginal people. To keep participants safe, we developed a documented yarning guide and distress protocol. Through authentic engagement with Elders and community trust and respect was developed. The non-Aboriginal members continually demonstrated genuine respect for Aboriginal people and acted on advice given. This resulted in sharing of knowledge between the team and participants, despite the sensitive topic. Perceptions were discussed and group decisions made, always recognising Men’s and Women’s business. Community consultation occurred with each community that chose to participate though all project phases: developing ethics application, gaining perceptions, identifying and developing the solutions. We incorporated artwork and language chosen by community.

Conclusion: Authentic co-creation took time, but ensured the project was community-led. Reciprocity was achieved by working together to achieve common goals.

Relevance to clinical practice/patient experience: Aboriginal Community-led co-creation is a powerful and effective method for health-related projects to deliver culturally responsive solutions that are appropriate and beneficial for Aboriginal people.

Authors: in conjunction with the “Tablelands Community Support Elders Group, Armidale and Uralla” and “Narrabri Aboriginal Women interested in Women's Business”