Indigenous Women's Health Day

The mysteriously-shaped clear plastic object was passed from woman to woman. A few laughed and someone joked, ‘It looks like a duck!’ There is something very empowering about having a good close-up look at a speculum. “Seeing what’s actually done gives people a better perspective,” said Val, one of 23 Indigenous women who took part in the recent Indigenous Women’s Health Day at the Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place in Maribyrnong.

The Health Day, held on 31 August 2004, was organised through a partnership between the Gathering Place and a number of mainstream health services, including Women’s Health West, the Western Region Health Centre, ISIS Primary Care, Western Health, Western Melbourne Division of General Practice and NorthWest BreastScreen.

Jigsaw activity at the Indigenous women's health day.

Cath Shimmin from Western Region Community Health (WRCH) was one of the speakers on the day. She encouraged women to get their pap tests done by a women’s health nurse, and to tell the person doing the test if anything feels uncomfortable. Cath also saw women one-on-one in a private room throughout the event, and made many appointments for pap testing. Since the Indigenous Women’s Health Day, WRCH has held six ‘Well Women’s’ outreach clinics at the Gathering Place, offering pap testing and other services.

The event had a strong focus on pap testing, because relatively low screening rates mean that Indigenous women suffer cervical cancer at between nine and eleven times the rate of non-Indigenous women. The Western Region Koori Reference Group has identified barriers to Indigenous women obtaining regular pap tests. The issues raised include concerns with: “privacy and confidentiality; culturally insensitive and untrained staff; unwelcoming agency environment; perceived authority figures and inaccessible locality.” (2001)

Comments made by women on the day echoed these concerns. Maria said: “I haven’t had a pap smear for a while. You know what Koori people are like about going to a white doctor. I’d feel more comfortable if I had an Aboriginal doctor.” Marlene said, “I thought it was really good that I came to the day, but I don’t like going to the doctor. You just get embarrassed.”

Michelle talked about the difficulty of finding an accessible, affordable service, especially in the outer West: “There are no bulk-billing doctors in Melton at all. It’s hard if you’ve got a doctor you’re comfortable with, that knows you, and then the practice stops bulk-billing. You can go further out … but then the issue is whether you feel comfortable with them. If the doctor makes you feel uncomfortable or are rude or sarcastic you won’t go back there again. Or you’ll take a longer time to go back.”

Women also tend to put their own health last, especially where there is a cost involved. “I’ve got post-partum thyroiditis, and I’m supposed to get it checked every once in a while, but I haven’t for a year,” says Michelle. “My husband’s got diabetes, and either he comes first, or my kids come first. It’s normally the kids. My husband puts off going to the doctor, so when he’s really got to go, we put the money towards that.”

The sense of embarrassment that Marlene talked about was mentioned by other women. “These are things that as Koori women we get a bit embarrassed and ashamed about,” said Paula. “So it’s good to get stuff like sexual health out there.”

Many of the women mentioned how important it was to have women-only time set aside in the Indigenous-centred space to talk about women’s health issues. “It’s different when you’re talking amongst yourselves, and it especially has to be women-only for that type of talk to happen,” said Paula. “When we were growing up you only used Koori words to describe your private parts. You didn’t use English words. That makes it difficult when you try and communicate with non-Indigenous women on these issues.” Marlene said, “It’s good to have just women here. If we had guys, I’d be the first one to walk out. I’d be too embarrassed talking about our bodies.”

Apart from the presentation and discussion on pap screening, there were a number of other activities during the day. An Indigenous massage therapist was available to give relaxation massage. Dr Fran Bramwell, a local GP, spoke about a range of health issues for Indigenous women. There were also presentations on breast health, family violence and women’s rights.

Everyone enjoyed the chance to get together with other indigenous women to talk about health. “We learned a bit in high school, but it’s a refresher,” said Michelle. “And it’s good to know what you should be looking out for.”

Bettina also appreciated the opportunity to up date her knowledge on issues such as breast health and breast screening. Isabel said, “It’s interesting to find out more about your body.” Maria, who is newly arrived from Griffith, said it was wonderful to “sit down with so many Aboriginal people.”

Women suggested other health issues they would like to see covered at future events. These included safer sex and contraception – especially for young people, menopause, alternative therapies, parenting workshops, diabetes, cancer, emotional wellbeing and mental health issues. Paula said, “A lot of healing needs to be done in the community.”

A number of women suggested that it would be good to encourage more young women to come along to future events. “It’s important for us to have Elders around, to have older Aboriginal women in the space,” said Paula, a younger woman. “There’s also a place for young Koori women to talk amongst themselves.”

Perhaps the best outcome of the day was the way it enabled women to meet some of the service providers, to ask them questions and build the sense of trust and comfort needed to have pap tests and discuss women’s health issues. Other outcomes include a parenting group to be organised by the Gathering Place and an agreement for WRHC to provide allied health services through the Gathering Place one day per week. This is a fantastic initiative that will make a real difference to Indigenous people in the West, especially since many women currently spend up to a day travelling to Fitzroy to see a doctor they know and trust at the Aboriginal Health Service.

The team who organised the day are now planning a resource package for young indigenous people, including Indigenous-specific material on safe sex, and a brochure on Indigenous women’s health services and activities in the region. A number of the services will also be involved in an ongoing Indigenous Women’s Wellbeing Reference Group, providing support for the newly-appointed Indigenous Women’s Wellbeing Worker at the Gathering Place, Melissa Morgan.

The Gathering Place is rapidly making its mark on the West and Women’s Health West is excited by the possibility of on going collaboration with the new Indigenous service.

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Indigenous Women's Health Day