Building cultural responsiveness in a mainstream health organisation with ‘8 Aboriginal Ways of Learning’: a participatory action research study

Abstract

Objective: Despite much effort and goodwill, the gap in health status between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians persists. Bringing Aboriginal cultural protocols and teaching strategies into healthcare could improve the fit between healthcare services provided and Aboriginal peoples. This approach to making healthcare more accessible has not been tested in mainstream health settings. This study aimed to introduce ‘8 Aboriginal Ways of Learning’ to a mainstream health organisation and observe how learning about Aboriginal perspectives and processes shaped work-related project or program design. Methods: Program and network coordinators (n=18) employed in a state-wide health organisation joined in-person workshops and virtual sessions. Participatory Action Research methods guided the process and framework analysis transformed data. Results: Introducing ‘8 Ways’ generated conversations which went beyond deficits in Aboriginal health. Learning about cultural processes provided scaffolding to show how services and models of care can change. Conclusions: This strategy demonstrated potential to improve approachability, acceptability and appropriateness of mainstream healthcare for Aboriginal peoples. Implications for public health: Introduction of Aboriginal pedagogies were welcomed by mainstream healthcare workers as they provided scaffolding and support to plan and work in new ways. Future studies could examine outcomes on program design and access to services for Aboriginal peoples.