Australian Indigenous

Brief communications

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Heart health training for Aboriginal Health Workers Lyn Dimer, Heart Foundation, WA

In 1997 the Heart Foundation (WA Division) and Perth Aboriginal Medical Service (now Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service) developed a training course to address cardiovascular disease amongst Aboriginal People in Western Australia. The Course in cardiovascular health for Aboriginal Health Workers (ASF Level 5) is the first of its kind in Australia and has been nationally accredited and registered. The course aims to provide Aboriginal health workers with the knowledge and skills to conduct heart disease prevention programs in their communities.

Course structure

The course consists of 55 education sessions over two weeks of full-time study. Each of the risk factors for heart disease is covered in detail, as well as several health promotion skills. Further modules focus on taking action in different settings, such as working with individuals, schools, institutions, families, communities and special groups.

Achievements

Nine Aboriginal health workers from the Perth metropolitan area completed the first course in March 1998 and received their certificates during Heart Week.

Future directions

The Heart Foundation and Derbarl Yerrigan are eager to extend the course throughout WA in the future. Presenter and participant manuals are currently being compiled.

Over the last few years small progress has been made due to staff employment in the area.

In May 2000 there was a second group of Aboriginal Health Workers trained in Cardiovascular disease through the ASF Level 5 Certificate course. The training was conducted at Albany and took in Health Workers from Albany, Narrogin, Katanning and Bunbury. It was successful with all 10 participants completing the course.

Some of the comments from the graduates were:

[Relating to the physiology and anatomy and the different diseases] "I thought that doctors were the only people to learn this"

"I now feel confident to talk to the people about their heart problems"

"I now have increased knowledge about CVD"

"The course needs to be conducted further with more people being trained"

Manual update

The trainer's manual is currently in the final stage of the draft. It will be ready for typesetting early in 2001. I am currently searching for an Aboriginal artist to complete the much needed artwork throughout the manual.

Training

A final course trial will be conducted in May 2001. It will be based at Marr Mooditj with interested applicants travelling to Perth for a two week period. Interested applicants will be sought for the Goldfields region, followed by generated interest from health workers from Albany, Bunbury and the Metropolitan area.

Considerable interest in the completed work has been received from other states around Australia. This has enthused the Health Promotions worker greatly in getting the manual completed.

Currently there are 19 trained Aboriginal Heart Health Workers in the southwest area of WA. We are looking at extending this number in the new year.

Contact details

Lyn Dimer
Ph: 08 9382 5924
Fax: 08 9388 3383
Email: Lyn.Dimer@heartfoundation.com.au

Last updated: 11 March, 2003