Seeding Australia's Health Care System

Currently, up to 80% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia live in urban settings, yet there is little research on nursing students' placements in urban Indigenous organisations. 

A recent study by Dr Tamara Power, Dr Carolyn Hayes, and Professor Debra Jackson AO from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, in collaboration with Dr Cherie Lucas, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy, set out to change this. 

The researchers analysed the qualitative findings from the reflective essays of eight third year nursing students, all of whom had undertaken a placement in urban Indigenous organisations.

Their research demonstrated that students who have immersive experiences in Indigenous settings emerge with a greater understanding of their own values and attitudes and increased appreciation for Indigenous Peoples and their cultures.

All the students reported experiencing profound personal and professional growth.
Dr Tamara Power

Thematic analysis resulted in three key themes. These were ‘Working with experience and uncertainty’, ‘Developing acceptance and understanding’ and ‘Becoming allies and advocates'. Every student reported experiencing profound personal and professional growth.

Using the data collected and building on Dr Lucas’s reflective work, Tamara found that despite the logistical issues of a small Indigenous population and a vast nursing cohort, it is important to ensure that all nursing students have opportunities to engage authentically with Indigenous people, in places and spaces of Indigenous authority, and opportunities to reflect on their learnings in the context of their previous understandings.

It is important to ensure that all nursing students have opportunities to engage authentically with Indigenous people, in places and spaces of Indigenous authority, and opportunities to reflect on their learnings in the context of their previous understandings.
Dr Tamara Power

Tamara concluded that providing non-Indigenous students with opportunities to reflect on their values and beliefs, and engage with and learn from Aboriginal people, breaks down barriers and challenges stereotypes and racism. 

This research aids in seeding the Australian health care system with culturally safe students, who have their heart and eyes open and are prepared to ally and advocate for Aboriginal Peoples. This without question, should be the goal of every school of nursing and midwifery.

Read the full article here: ‘With my heart and eyes open’: Nursing students′ reflections on placements in Australian, urban Aboriginal organisations (opens external site)