Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Examining the potential contribution of social theory to developing and supporting Australian Indigenous-mainstream health service partnerships

    227110_161043_PUB-VC-CAS-JG-88926-1.pdf (258.2Kb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Haynes, E.
    Taylor, Kate
    Durey, Angela
    Bessarab, Dawn
    Thompson, S.
    Date
    2014
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Haynes, E. and Taylor, K. and Durey, A. and Bessarab, D. and Thompson, S. 2014. Examining the potential contribution of social theory to developing and supporting Australian Indigenous-mainstream health service partnerships. International Journal for Equity in Health. 13 (1).
    Source Title
    International Journal for Equity in Health
    ISSN
    1475-9276
    School
    Curtin Teaching and Learning (CTL)
    Remarks

    This open access article is distributed under the Creative Commons license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6691
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Introduction: The substantial gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians has been slow to improve, despite increased dedicated funding. Partnerships between Australian Indigenous and mainstream Western biomedical organisations are recognised as crucial to improved Indigenous health outcomes. However, these partnerships often experience challenges, particularly in the context of Australia’s race and political relations. Methods: We examined the relevant literature in order to identify the potential role for social theory and theoretical models in developing and maintaining intercultural partnerships. Having identified relevant theoretical models, terms and possible key words, a range of databases were searched and relevant articles selected for inclusion. An integrative approach brought together theoretical models and practical considerations about working in partnership, to inform our analysis of the literature. Findings: Considering partnerships between Australian Indigenous and mainstream health organisations as 'bi-cultural' is simplistic: rather they are culturally diverse across social and professional levels. As such, partnerships between Australian Indigenous and mainstream health organisations may be better conceptualised as 'intercultural', operating across diverse and shifting cultural frames of reference. Theories identified by this review as useful to guide partnerships include power relations, reflexivity and dialogue, borders and strangeness and the intercultural or third space. This paper examines how these theoretical approaches can develop understanding and improve intercultural engagement between mainstream and Australian Indigenous partners in healthcare.Conclusions: Rather than viewing partnerships merely as arrangements between disembodied entities, sometimes contractual in nature, they are better seen as activities between people and organisations and essentially dependent on relationships, occurring in an intercultural space that is complex, dynamic and subject to changes in power relations. Theoretical models aiming to understand and improve partnerships indicate the complexity of building and maintaining such partnerships and stress the importance of understanding factors that can strengthen or derail their effectiveness. While the theories presented here are by no means exhaustive, they nonetheless provide a series of entry points through which to engage with the issue and expand the discourse. This approach allows the transformative nature of Australian Indigenous-mainstream 'culture' to be explored and understood in its lived expression; rather than relegated to prescriptive categories.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Delivering culturally appropriate residential rehabilitation for urban Indigenous Australians: a review of the challenges and opportunities
      Taylor, Kate; Thompson, Sandra; Davis, R. (2010)
      Objective: To review the challenges facing Indigenous and mainstream services in delivering residential rehabilitation services to Indigenous Australians, and explore opportunities to enhance outcomes. Methods: A literature ...
    • ‘Working Together’: An Intercultural Academic Leadership Programme to Build Health Science Educators’ Capacity to Teach Indigenous Health and Culture
      Durey, A.; Taylor, Kate; Bessarab, D.; Kickett, Marion; Jones, Sue; Hoffman, Julie; Flavell, Helen; Scott, Kim (2016)
      Progress has been slow in improving health disparities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Australians and other Australians. While reasons for this are complex, delivering healthcare respectful of ...
    • Closing the (service) gap: exploring partnerships between Aboriginal and mainstream health services
      Taylor, Kate; Thompson, Sandra (2011)
      Background: Although effective partnerships between Aboriginal and mainstream health services are critical to improve Aboriginal health outcomes, many factors can cause these partnerships to be tenuous and unproductive. ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.