Indigenous

Within your Rural Health Club you might be fortunate enough to not only participate in a RHSV, but also to conduct one in a remote Aboriginal community. Due to cultural, educational and social circumstances, the RHSV workshop may need to be adapted to best meet the students’ needs and make your visit as successful as possible. These visits will be some of the most challenging and rewarding visits that you will do but remember to apply the same principles as with your other workshops – be adaptable, interactive and remember that you love what you do!

It is also worth considering organising some cultural awareness training for your group before you go on the RHSV. You can research what is available within your state.

The differences:

Generally, the students will be far younger than those that participate in your other workshops. You will often be presenting to primary school-aged students.

In some remote Indigenous communities the school students may only speak English as a second language and converse in their traditional language.

As the students are younger, the objectives for the workshop should be adjusted. Some possible objectives, which all lead to improved health outcomes, include:
- To encourage students to stay at school for as long as possible to maximise their own education and that of the community;
- To increase trust of ‘white’ health workers in the community;
- To facilitate an increased likelihood of accessing health care through the exposure to health workers in a non-intimidating, interactive and fun environment;
- To promote healthy choices and healthy lifestyles.

The students’ concentration span may be limited so therefore the “hands-on” activities are a more effective use of time. The students will gain more from these as they are having fun and have the opportunity to communicate with you in a smaller group!

You may have to split into male and female only groups due to cultural reasons - communicate with the teacher, they will be sure to help/guide you.

Evaluation of your workshop can be difficult so you can use a simplified version of the evaluation form and help the students complete them at the end of the session.

11 Tips for presenting a RHSV in an Indigenous community:

Try to undertake cultural awareness training pre-RHSV. Click here for information on where to source cultural awareness training from.
Talk generally about health. Ask about things that might harm the heart or cause sugar sickness (diabetes) to encourage student interaction.
Talk about the common health professionals that the students have probably encountered in their own communities eg. Aboriginal Health Workers, Nurses, Doctors.
The Problem Based Learning scenario may be challenging and not as effective.
Use the teachers to help facilitate interaction.
Language barriers may be apparent in more remote communities, which is something to keep in mind.
Invite the local Aboriginal Health Worker or Nurse along to the session – a familiar face can go a long way!
Spend most of your time doing hands-on activities (plastering, strapping and stethoscopes are always winners!).
Don’t get stressed if students run-off or look like they are not interested – often they are interested but are simply shy!
Make sure you have both male and female facilitators so that if need be, you can run all-female and all-male sessions.
Read-up on the latest AFL action– it is amazing how a bit of AFL talk can facilitate interaction with even the shyest kids!