"Listen with your ears and eyes and heart and your minds and your soul": Implications for decolonising consultation and occupational therapy from case studies on "Closing the Gap" policy implementation.

BACKGROUND: Including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities through consultation has been a key feature of policy implementation throughout the Australian Government's "Closing the Gap" (CTG) strategy. However, consultation often reinforces power imbalances between government and local community and can undervalue or marginalise Indigenous knowledge and leadership. Occupational therapy has a short history of examining colonial power structures within the profession, but there has been limited progress to decolonise consultation and practice. METHODS: Drawing on decolonising research methodology and positioned at the interface of knowledge, comparative case studies were used to understand policy implementation in two regions. In Shepparton, Victoria, CTG policy was implemented predominately through an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, and in Southern Adelaide, South Australia, CTG policy was implemented through mainstream state government and non-government providers in the absence of a local Aboriginal-controlled organisation. Findings were examined critically to identify implications for occupational therapy. RESULTS: Our case studies showed that policy stakeholders perceived consultation to be tokenistic and partnerships were viewed differently by Aboriginal and non-Indigenous participants. Participants identified the need to move beyond a rhetoric of "working with" Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to promote Aboriginal leadership and really listen to community so that policy can respond to local need. The findings of this research show that Aboriginal-controlled services are best positioned to conduct and respond to community consultation. CONCLUSION: A decolonising approach to consultation would shift the status quo in policy implementation in ways that realign power away from colonial structures towards collaboration with Indigenous leadership and the promotion of Aboriginal-controlled services. There are lessons for occupational therapy from this research on policy implementation on authentic, decolonised consultation as a key feature of policy implementation. Shifting power imbalances through prioritising Indigenous leadership and honouring what is shared can drive change in CTG policy implementation processes and outcomes.

Experiences and impacts of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure on remote Aboriginal families.

INTRODUCTION: Aboriginal Australians face significant health disparities, with hospitalisation rates 2.3 times greater, and longer hospital length of stay, than non-Indigenous Australians. This additional burden impacts families further through out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure (OOPHE), which includes additional healthcare expenses not covered by universal taxpayer insurance. Aboriginal patients traveling from remote locations are likely to be impacted further by OOPHE. The objective of this study was to examine the impacts and burden of OOPHE for rurally based Aboriginal individuals. METHODS: Participants were recruited through South Australian community networks to participate in this study. Decolonising methods of yarning and deep listening were used to centralise local narratives and language of OOPHE. Qualitative analysis software was used to thematically code transcripts and organise data. RESULTS: A total of seven yarning sessions were conducted with 10 participants. Seven themes were identified: travel, barriers to health care, personal and social loss, restricted autonomy, financial strain, support initiatives and protective factors. Sleeping rough, selling assets and not attending appointments were used to mitigate or avoid OOPHE. Government initiatives, such as the patient assistance transport scheme, did little to decrease OOPHE burden on participants. Family connections, Indigenous knowledges and engagement with cultural practices were protective against OOPHE burden. CONCLUSION: Aboriginal families are significantly burdened by OOPHE when needing to travel for health care. Radical change of government initiative and policies through to health professional awareness is needed to ensure equitable healthcare access that does not create additional financial hardship in communities already experiencing economic disadvantage.

Medicine communication between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and health professionals: a scoping review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review will describe strategies to support communication between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and health professionals about medicines. INTRODUCTION: Poor communication is a well-established risk factor contributing to adverse medicine events. Communication challenges are exacerbated for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples due to their poorer health status, greater use of medicines, a first language that may not be English, cultural bias and systemic racism in health services, and lower health literacy resulting from ongoing colonization. A scoping review will assist in summarizing strategies to support the communication process. INCLUSION CRITERIA: The review will consider studies describing strategies related to medicine communication between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and health professionals. METHODS: The proposed review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. The review will include all published and unpublished literature in English since 2000, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods study designs, systematic reviews, text and opinion pieces, and gray literature. Databases to be searched will include CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, Informit, Indigenous HealthInfoNet, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, and Google Scholar. Two researchers will screen titles and abstracts independently and assess the full text of selected citations against inclusion criteria. Extracted data will be presented in narrative format accompanied by tables that reflect the objective of the review.

The Benefits of Cooperative Inquiry in Health Services Research: Lessons from an Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Study.

Health services research is underpinned by partnerships between researchers and health services. Partnership-based research is increasingly needed to deal with the uncertainty of global pandemics, climate change induced severe weather events, and other disruptions. To date there is very little data on what has happened to health services research during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper describes the establishment of an Australian multistate Decolonising Practice research project and charts its adaptation in the face of disruptions. The project used cooperative inquiry method, where partner health services contribute as coresearchers. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, data collection needed to be immediately paused, and when restrictions started to lift, all research plans had to be renegotiated with services. Adapting the research surfaced health service, university, and staffing considerations. Our experience suggests that cooperative inquiry was invaluable in successfully navigating this uncertainty and negotiating the continuance of the research. Flexible, participatory methods such as cooperative inquiry will continue to be vital for successful health services research predicated on partnerships between researchers and health services into the future. They are also crucial for understanding local context and health services priorities and ways of working, and for decolonising Indigenous health research.

Codesigning informative resources for families of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who sustained a burn injury: a protocol for a participatory action research study.

INTRODUCTION: Parents of children hospitalised in a burn unit experience psychological trauma and later post-traumatic stress. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families whose child has been admitted to a burn unit encounter additional burdens through a culturally unsafe healthcare system. Psychosocial interventions can help reduce anxiety, distress and trauma among children and parents. There remains a lack of interventions or resources that reflect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's perspective of health. The objective of this study is to codevelop a culturally appropriate informative resource to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents whose child has been hospitalised in a burn unit. METHODS: In this participatory research study, the development of a culturally safe resource will build on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families' experiences and voices, complemented by the knowledge and expertise of an Aboriginal Health Worker (AHW) and burn care experts. Data will be collected through recorded yarning sessions with families whose child has been admitted to a burn unit, the AHW and burn care experts. Audiotapes will be transcribed and data will be analysed thematically. Analysis of yarning sessions and resource development will follow a cyclical approach. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) (1690/20) and the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network ethics committee (2020/ETH02103). Findings will be reported to all participants and will be disseminated with the broader community, the funding body and health workers at the hospital. Dissemination with the academic community will be through peer-reviewed publications and presentations in relevant conferences.

A realist evaluation of a community of practice for dietitians and nutritionists working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

BACKGROUND: Communities of practice have been proposed as a workforce development strategy for developing dietitians, yet little is known about how they work and for whom, as well as under what circumstances. We aimed to understand the mechanisms by which dietitians working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health benefit from communities of practice. METHODS: A realist evaluation of 29 interviews with non-Indigenous dietitians and nutritionists was employed, which was conducted over the course of two communities of practice (2013 and 2014) and follow-up interviews in 2019. Programme theory was developed from analysis of initial interviews and used to recode all interviews and test theory. The identification of patterns refined the programme theory. RESULTS: Six refined theories were identified: (1) a community of practice fosters the relationships that support navigation of the many tasks required to become more responsive health professionals; (2) committed and open participants feel supported and guided to be reflexive; (3) sharing, reflexivity, feedback and support shift awareness to one's own practice to be able to manoeuvre in intercultural spaces; (4) through sharing, feedback, support and collaboration, participants feel assured and affirmed; (5) connection through feelings of understanding and being understood contributes to commitment to remain working in the area; and (6) through sharing, feedback, support and collaboration, participants with varied experience and roles see the value of and gain confidence in new perspectives, skills and practices. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is required to test this model on a much larger scale, with communities of practice inclusive of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health professionals together, and across a diverse group of dietitians.

Patient journey mapping to investigate quality and cultural safety in burn care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families - development, application and implications.

BACKGROUND: Quality and safety in Australian healthcare is inequitably distributed, highlighted by gaps in the provision of quality care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Burns have potential for long-term adverse outcomes, and quality care, including culturally safe care, is critical to recovery. This study aimed to develop and apply an Aboriginal Patient Journey Mapping (APJM) tool to investigate the quality of healthcare systems for burn care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. STUDY DESIGN: Interface research methodology, using biomedical and cultural evidence, informed the modification of an existing APJM tool. The tool was then applied to the journey of one family accessing a paediatric tertiary burn care site. Data were collected through yarning with the family, case note review and clinician interviews. Data were analysed using Emden's core story and thematic analysis methods. Reflexivity informed consideration of the implications of the APJM tool, including its effectiveness and efficiency in eliciting information about quality and cultural safety. RESULTS: Through application of a modified APJM tool, gaps in quality care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families were identified at the individual, service and system levels. Engagement in innovative methodology incorporating more than biomedical standards of care, uncovered critical information about the experiences of culturally safe care in complex patient journeys. CONCLUSION: Based on our application of the tool, APJM can identify and evaluate specific aspects of culturally safe care as experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and be used for quality improvement.

Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Theories of Wellbeing and Their Suitability for Wellbeing Policy.

A growing interest among governments in policies to promote wellbeing has the potential to revive a social view of health promotion. However, success may depend on the way governments define wellbeing and conceptualize ways to promote it. We analyze theories of wellbeing to discern twelve types of wellbeing theory and assess the suitability of each type of theory as a basis for effective wellbeing policies. We used Durie's methodology of working at the interface between knowledge systems and Indigenous dialogic methods of yarning and deep listening. We analyzed selected literature on non-Indigenous theories and Indigenous theories from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States to develop a typology of wellbeing theories. We applied political science perspectives on theories of change in public policy to assess the suitability of each type of theory to inform wellbeing policies. We found that some theory types define wellbeing purely as a property of individuals, whilst others define it in terms of social or environmental conditions. Each approach has weaknesses regarding the theory of change in wellbeing policy. Indigenous relational theories transcend an 'individual or environment' dichotomy, providing for pluralistic approaches to health promotion. A broad theoretic approach to wellbeing policy, encompassing individual, social, equity-based and environmental perspectives, is recommended.

Community Engagement and Psychometric Methods in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Patient-Reported Outcome Measures and Surveys-A Scoping Review and Critical Analysis.

(1) Background: In healthcare settings, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and surveys are accepted, patient-centered measures that provide qualitative information on dimensions of health and wellbeing. The level of psychometric assessment and engagement with end users for their design can vary significantly. This scoping review describes the psychometric and community engagement processes for PROMs and surveys developed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. (2) Methods: The PRISMA ScR guidelines for scoping reviews were followed, aimed at those PROMs and surveys that underwent psychometric assessment. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Quality Appraisal Tool and a narrative synthesis approach were used. (3) Results: Of 1080 articles, 14 were eligible for review. Most articles focused on a validity assessment of PROMs and surveys, with reliability being less common. Face validity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities was reported in most studies, with construct validity through exploratory factor analyses. Methodological design risks were identified in the majority of studies, notably the absence of explicit Indigenous knowledges. Variability existed in the development of PROMs and surveys for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. (4) Conclusions: Improvement in inclusion of Indigenous knowledges and research approaches is needed to ensure relevance and appropriate PROM structures. We provide suggestions for research teams to assist in future design.

Integrating Trauma and Violence Informed Care in Primary Health Care Settings for First Nations Women Experiencing Violence: A Systematic Review.

It is imperative that access to primary health care services is equitable as health care practitioners are often the first responders to women who experience violence. This is of particular importance for First Nations women who disproportionately experience interpersonal and structural violence when compared to non-First Nations women, as well as the ongoing impact of colonization, racism, and intergenerational trauma. To understand how primary health care services can provide equitable and effective care for First Nations women, we explored how trauma and violence informed care is integrated in primary health care settings through the lens of an equity-oriented framework. A systematic search of electronic databases included Medline (via Ovid), Scopus, Informit, and PubMed and grey literature. Six studies were included in the review and we undertook a narrative synthesis using the equity-oriented framework to draw together the intersection of trauma and violence informed care with culturally safe and contextually tailored care. This review demonstrates how equity-oriented primary health care settings respond to the complex and multiple forms of violence and intergenerational trauma experienced by First Nations women and thus mitigate shame and stigma to encourage disclosure and help seeking. Key attributes include responding to women's individual contexts by centering family, engaging elders, encouraging community ownership, which is driven by a culturally competent workforce that builds trust, reduces retraumatization, and respects confidentiality. This review highlights the importance of strengthening and supporting the workforce, as well as embedding cultural safety within intersectoral partnerships and ensuring adequate resourcing and sustainability of initiatives.

Universal Health Coverage for Non-communicable Diseases and Health Equity: Lessons From Australian Primary Healthcare.

BACKGROUND: Universal health coverage (UHC) is central to current international debate on health policy. The primary healthcare (PHC) system is crucial to achieving UHC, in order to address the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) more effectively and equitably. In this paper, we examine the Australian case as a mature system of UHC and identify lessons for UHC policy to support equity of access to PHC and reduce NCDs. METHODS: Our qualitative research used policy mapping and monitoring and 30 key informant interviews, and applied policy theory, to investigate the implementation of Australian PHC policy between 2008 and 2018. RESULTS: Although the Australian PHC system does support equity of access to primary medical care, other ideational, actor-centred and structural features of policy detract from the capacities of the system to prevent and manage NCDs effectively, deliver equity of access according to need, and support equity in health outcomes. These features include a dominant focus on episodic primary medical care, which is a poor model of care for NCDs, and an inequitable distribution of these services. Also, a mixed system of public and private insurance coverage in PHC contributes to inequities in access and health outcomes, driving additional NCD demand into the health system. CONCLUSION: Countries aiming to achieve UHC to support health equity and reduce NCDs can learn from strengths and weaknesses in the Australian system. We recommend a range of ideational, actor-centred and structural features of UHC systems in PHC that will support effective action on NCDs, equity of access to care according to need, and equity in health outcomes across geographically and ethnically diverse populations.

Atraumatic restorative treatments and oral health-related quality of life and dental anxiety in Australian Aboriginal children: A cluster-randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: The management of early childhood caries is challenging and the impacts of its treatment on child oral health-related quality of life (COHRQoL) and dental anxiety among Australian Aboriginal children is relatively unknown. The aim of the study was to compare the impact on COHRQoL and dental anxiety after approximately 12 months among Aboriginal children treated for early childhood caries (ECC) using the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment and the Hall Technique (ART/HT: test) or standard care (control). METHODS: Consenting Aboriginal communities in the North-West of Western Australia were randomized into early (test) or delayed (control) intervention for the management of ECC. Children and parents/carers completed a questionnaire at baseline and at follow-up. The questionnaire sought information on COHRQoL using the proxy-reported Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) and the self-reported Caries Impacts and Experiences Questionnaire for Children (CARIES-QC). The test group was provided with the ART/HT care at baseline while the control group was advised to seek care through the usual care options available within the community. At follow-up, both groups were offered care using the ART/HT approach. Changes in the mean scores from baseline to follow-up within groups were evaluated using appropriate paired (t-test, Wilcoxon paired test), and between groups with unpaired tests (t-test). Multivariate regression analysis after multiple imputations of missing data used generalized estimating equation (GEE) controlling for clustering within communities. RESULTS: Twenty-five communities and 338 children (mean age = 3.6 years, sd 1.7) participated in the study (test = 177). One child was excluded from the analysis because of a missing questionnaire and clinical data at baseline and follow-up. At baseline, test group children were older (test = 3.8 years, 95% CI 3.6-4.1;control = 3.3 years, 95% CI 3.1-3.6) and had higher caries experience (test dmft = 4.4, 95% CI 3.8-5.0;control dmft = 3.1, 95% CI 2.5-3.7), but there was no significant difference in COHRQoL or anxiety levels between the groups. At follow-up, parents in the delayed intervention reported worsening of COHRQoL (70% worsening of the family impact section of the ECOHIS and 37% worsening of the total ECOHIS scale), and there was an 8% reduction in child dental anxiety among the early treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: The application of the ART/HT approaches was feasible, effective, and impacted positively on child oral health-related quality of life and child dental anxiety among Aboriginal children in remote communities. The model of care as tested in this study should be further developed for inclusion in main-stream service delivery programmes.

Implementing Universal and Targeted Policies for Health Equity: Lessons From Australia.

BACKGROUND: Debate continues in public health on the roles of universal or targeted policies in providing equity of access to health-related goods or services, and thereby contributing to health equity. Research examining policy implementation can provide fresh insights on these issues. METHODS: We synthesised findings across case studies of policy implementation in four policy areas of primary healthcare (PHC), telecommunications, Indigenous health and land use policy, which incorporated a variety of universal and targeted policy structures. We analysed findings according to three criteria of equity in access - availability, affordability and acceptability - and definitions of universal, proportionate-universal, targeted and residual policies, and devolved governance structures. RESULTS: Our analysis showed that existing universal, proportionate-universal and targeted policies in an Australian context displayed strengths and weaknesses in addressing availability, affordability and acceptability dimensions of equity in access. CONCLUSION: While residualist policies are unfavourable to equity of access, other forms of targeting as well as universal and proportionate-universal structure have the potential to be combined in context-specific ways favourable to equity of access to health-related goods and services. To optimise benefits, policies should address equity of access in the three dimensions of availability, affordability and acceptability. Devolved governance structures have the potential to augment equity benefits of either universal or targeted policies.

Parent perceptions of minimally invasive dental treatment of Australian Aboriginal pre-school children in rural and remote communities.

INTRODUCTION: Aboriginal* children in rural and remote communities in Australia have a higher burden of dental decay and poorer access to dental services than their non-Aboriginal counterparts. In the Kimberley region of Western Australia (WA), Aboriginal children experience six times the rate of untreated dental decay of non-Aboriginal children. Access to dental care is challenged by the availability and appropriate delivery of services in remote locations. This study elicited the experiences and perceptions of parents and carers who participated in a project that tested the minimally invasive atraumatic restorative treatment and the Hall technique approaches (ART-HT) to manage early childhood dental caries among Australian Aboriginal preschool children. METHODS: The core study design was a stepped-wedge, cluster-community-randomised controlled trial. Consenting communities in the Kimberley region of WA were randomised into early and delayed intervention groups. Children were clinically examined at study commencement; the early intervention group was offered dental treatment using the ART-HT approach, and the delayed group was advised to seek dental care from their usual service provider. At the 12-month follow-up, children in both groups were re-examined and offered care using the minimally invasive model of care, and parents and carers were invited to take part in focus group or one-to-one interviews. Semistructured interviews, guided by the yarning approach, were conducted with consenting parents and carers in community locations of convenience to participants. The same open-ended questions were asked of all participants, and the interviews were audio-recorded with permission and transcribed by an independent agency. Thematic analysis was undertaken, the transcripts were coded by NVivo software, and emergent themes were identified and developed. RESULTS: One-to-one interviews were conducted with 29 parents and carers (10 from five test communities; 19 from eight control communities). Interview participants consisted of 3 males and 26 females. Following thematic analysis, three main themes (and subthemes) were identified: (1) access to care (barriers, service availability, impact on family due to lack of access); (2) experience of care (cultural safety, child-centred care, comprehensiveness of care); (3) community engagement (service information, engagement, oral health education). Structural and system factors as well as geography were identified as barriers by parents and carers in accessing timely and affordable dental care in culturally safe environments; parents and carers also identified the impacts from lack of access to care. They valued comprehensive care delivered within community, underpinned by child- and family-centred care. Of equal importance was the holistic approach adopted through the building of community engagement and trusting relationships. CONCLUSION: A high level of satisfaction was reported by parents and carers with their experience of dental care for their children with the minimally invasive approach. Satisfaction was expressed around ease of accessing services delivered in a child- and family-centred manner, and that were well supported by appropriate engagement between service providers, communities and families. The findings from this study suggest a minimally invasive dental care model can be considered effective and culturally acceptable and should be considered in delivering oral health services for young children in rural and remote locations. * The term Aboriginal is inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Considering difference: clinician insights into providing equal and equitable burns care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

OBJECTIVE: To better understand issues driving quality in burn care related to equity of outcomes and equality of provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. METHODS: Seventy-six interviews with team members who provide care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in six paediatric burn units across five Australian jurisdictions were completed. Interface research methodology within a qualitative design guided data collection and analysis. RESULTS: Three themes were identified: i) Burn team members who identify the requirement to meet the specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and deliver differential care; ii) Burn team members who believe in equal care, but deliver differential care based on the specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; and iii) Burn team members who see little need for provision of differential care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and rather, value the provision of equal care for all. CONCLUSION: Burn team members conflate equitable and equal care, which has implications for the delivery of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Equitable care is needed to address disparities in post-burn outcomes, and this requires clinicians, healthcare services and relevant system structures to work coherently and intentionally to reflect these needs. Implications for public health: Changes in health policy, the embedding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander liaison officers in burn care teams and systems that prioritise critical reflexive practice are fundamental to improving care.

Developing economic measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families on out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure.

Objective Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure (OOPHE) has a significant impact on marginalised households. The purpose of this study was to modify a pre-existing OOPHE survey for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households with children. Methods The OOPHE survey was derived through a scoping review, face and content validity, including judgement quantification with content experts. Exploratory factor analyses determined factor numbers for construct validity. Repeatability through test-retest processes and reliability was assessed through internal consistency. Results The OOPHE survey had 168 items and was piloted on 67 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents. Construct validity assessment generated a 62-item correlation matrix with a three-factor model. Across these factors, item loadings varied, 10 items with high correlations (>0.70) and 20 with low correlations (<0.40). OOPHE survey retest was conducted with 47 families, where 43 items reached slight to fair levels of agreement. Conclusion The low level of item loadings to factors in the OOPHE survey indicates interconnectedness across the three-factor model, and reliability results suggest systemic differences. Impeding factors may include cohort homogeneity and survey length. It is unknown how cultural and social nuances specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households impacts on results. Further work is warranted. What is known about the topic? Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure (OOPHE) are expenses not covered by universal taxpayer-funded health insurance. In elderly Australians or those with chronic conditions, OOPHE can cause substantial burden and financial hardship and, in the most extreme cases, induce bankruptcy. Despite higher hospital admissions and disease burden, little is known about how OOPHE impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Additionally, in Australia, no OOPHE survey tools have been appropriately assessed; this includes for use with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. What does this paper add? This pilot study modified a pre-existing Australian OOPHE survey for use with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households with children. Knowledge interface methodology was used to bring together Indigenous knowledges with quantitative survey methods. This was critical to ensuring Indigenous knowledges were central to the overall pilot study across item creation, participant focus, outcome contextualisation, interpretation, and resetting dominant norms. Outcomes have demonstrated pertinent points for future work in this area, such as the complexities in developing robust, culturally safe and specific surveys, which reach ideal psychometric levels of validity and reliability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Certainly, it raises questions for current and future research using surveys in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which are generic and not purpose-built. What are the implications for practitioners? We recommend that OOPHE surveys should be developed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families from the outset, so they can include important contextual factors for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households.

Assessing cultural safety in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore how nurses and midwives (trained at Flinders University in Adelaide) from rural, remote and urban locations view the impact of cultural safety training on their practice and the extent to which they incorporated cultural safety principles into their practice. DESIGN: qualitative research study. SETTING: rural, remote and urban locations across Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Nurses and midwives who had undertaken cultural safety training at Flinders University as part of their undergraduate degree. METHODS: Participants were recruited for semi-structured interviews. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded independently by members of the research team. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The use of cultural safety principles in participants' practice, and the extent to which they were applied, was determined. Barriers and enablers to enacting cultural safety in the workplace were also identified. RESULTS: 10 individuals participated in an interview (7 nurses and 3 midwives). The Modified Monash Model was used to classify participant location with the following observed: MM1, six; MM2, two; MM5, one; MM6, one. 3 participants were from the Northern Territory and 7 from South Australia. Participants were at varying stages in their journey of cultural safety, ranging from early stages to those able to embody the Cultural Safety Principles and negotiate barriers to provide culturally safe care. Educational strategies for participants to progress their cultural safety journey were also identified. CONCLUSION: The extent to which cultural safety principles are applied in practice is diverse amongst the nurses and midwives that participated in this study, demonstrating that cultural safety is a journey and ongoing support is needed.

Yarning up about out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure in burns with Aboriginal families.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to understand the impact of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure (OOPHE) on Aboriginal families of children with acute burns injury. METHODS: Families participating in a larger Australia-wide study on burns injuries in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were approached to participate. Decolonising methodology and yarning were employed with participants to scope OOPHE for burns care. Thematic analyses were used with transcripts and data organised using qualitative analysis software (NVivo, Version 12). RESULTS: Six families agreed to participate. Four yarning sessions were undertaken across South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. The range of OOPHE identified included: costs (transport, pain medication, bandages), loss (employment capacity, social and community) and support (family, service support). The need to cover OOPHE significantly impacted on participants, from restricting social interactions to paying household bills. Close family connections and networks were protective in alleviating financial burden. CONCLUSION: OOPHE for burns care financially impacted Aboriginal families. Economic hardship was reported in families residing rurally or with reduced employment capacity. Family and network connections were mitigating factors for financial burden. Implications for public health: Targeted support strategies are required to address OOPHE in burns-related injuries for Aboriginal communities.