Working in Partnership With First Nations Families

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

   
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Effective Term: 2024/20
Institute / School :Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Unit Title: Working in Partnership With First Nations Families
Unit ID: MIDBM2005
Credit Points: 15.00
Prerequisite(s): (MIDBM1002)
Co-requisite(s): Nil
Exclusion(s): Nil
ASCED: 060303
Other Change:  
Brief description of the Unit

This unit explores the safe and effective provision of health care in partnership with women and families identifying as Australian First Nations Peoples. The central focus is an exploration of the experience of motherhood, family development, and perinatal health of First Nations Peoples. Building a depth of understanding of the historical and contemporary influences on the social determinants of health including cultural and political factors and their impact on shaping Australian First Nations diverse communities will also be examined. This unit is underpinned by a strengths-based, family centred approach, as a fundamental principle of care. Students will apply principles of culturally safe practice of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People, based on a foundation of respect for diversity and difference, addressing individual needs of the family.

Grade Scheme: Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)
Work Experience Indicator:
No work experience
Placement Component: No
Supplementary Assessment:Yes
Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment
Course Level:
Level of Unit in CourseAQF Level(s) of Course
5678910
Introductory                                                
Intermediate                                                
Advanced                                        
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge:
K1.

Discuss Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s history, health and culture identifying strategies for delivery of effective care

K2.

Critically examine and evaluate historical, political, cultural and social influences that have led to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People health outcomes

K3.

Examine and reflect on how one’s own culture and dominant cultural paradigms, influence perceptions of and interactions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

K4.

Examine the basis of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People’s identities including cultural diversity, cultural vulnerability, resilience and place in contemporary Australia

K5.

Recognise the impact of different cultural perspectives and suggest how an individual’s understandings can influence engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families, organisations, and communities

Skills:
S1.

Employ advanced interpersonal and therapeutic communication skills when working with First Nation’s women, families, and communities

S2.

Demonstrate theoretical understanding and skills development in education and counselling for health promotion in relation to the childbearing continuum

S3.

Analyse the rationale for the development of health policies that affect Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

S4.

Critically evaluate factors relating to health inequity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous families. Explore the current efforts in closing the gap in perinatal outcomes and consider future interventions to address inequalities

S5.

Demonstrate culturally safe practice in the care of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People, based on a foundation of respect for diversity and difference and practice of cultural safety

Application of knowledge and skills:
A1.

Provide woman and family focused care of women and their babies and apply appropriate individualised strategies and care to promote recovery and well-being

A2.

Utilise critical thinking, problem solving and reflective practice skills to provide culturally safe woman/family centred care throughout the perinatal period

A3.

Critique the role of midwives in the broader context of public and primary health care provision and the impact on long term maternal and infant health

A4.

Demonstrate competence in the provision of discerning, discriminating, safe midwifery care in a variety of contexts and complexity of environment based upon the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Midwife Standards for Practice (2018) and the National Safety and Quality Standards (2017)

Unit Content:

The CATSINaM Health Curriculum Framework (2014); ANMAC Midwife Accreditation Standards (2021); NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice (2018); NMBA Code of Conduct for Midwives (2018); Code of Ethics for Midwives (2014); NMBA Decision-making framework for nursing and midwifery (2020); NMBA Decision-making framework summary - midwifery (2020); National Digital Health Strategy (2021); National Safety and Quality Health Services Standards (2019) and Federation University Stretch Reconciliation Plan have substantially informed the syllabus/content of this unit.

MODULES AND MIDWIFERY THEORY

1. Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples` history and culture

  • First Nations culture prior to settlement
  • European settlement of Australia and its impact on culture, identity and health
  • Terra Nullius
  • Colonisation
  • Clarification of differences in central concepts such as ‘holism’ and ‘family’
  • The effect of the Stolen Generations


2. Contemporary and traditional Australian Indigenous culture and identity

  • Cultural practices
  • Meanings of family, community, country, values
  • Community decision making processes;
  • Loss of country
  • Cultural loss
  • Assimilation
  • Reconciliation


3. Cultural safety in midwifery care

  • Identify one’s own cultural identity and dominant cultural paradigms, and critically examine how these influence perceptions of and interactions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
  • Concepts, theories relating to issues of social justice and cultural safety and its meaning, difference and diversity.
  • Discernment of Culturally safe practices in health with Indigenous communities
  • Cross cultural communication
  • Communication strategies for providing effective health and maternity care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
  • Cultural safety issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples


4. Health and wellbeing

  • Identify the dominant cultural paradigms of the Australian Health Care system with particular emphasis on maternity services, and critically examine how these influence perceptions of and interactions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
  • Contemporary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health issues;
  • Social determinants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health
  • Perinatal outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • Maternity and primary health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander childbearing families
  • Strengths-based approaches


5. Addressing inequities

  • Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health policies (national and state): evolution of policies from 1930’s to present;
  • National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards; Aged Care Quality Standards 1-6; Paediatric Quality Standards for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • Social and economic circumstances
  • Cultural Capability model
  • Respect
  • Communication
  • Safety and quality
  • Reflection
  • Advocacy
Graduate Attributes:
 Learning Outcomes AssessedAssessment TasksAssessment TypeWeighting
1.K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, S1, S2, S5

Exploration and analysis of important concepts of historical and contemporary social privileges and the potential influence on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes in the context of Australian maternity care

Audio visual presentation

40-60%

2.K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, S2, S3, S4, A2

Application of theoretical concepts to the context of midwifery care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families.

Written assessment

40-60%

3.S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3, A4

Satisfactory achievement of identified NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice in midwifery practice experiences. (Compulsory PASS required)

Midwifery practice portfolio - Completion of five (5) Clinical Assessment Tools (CAT) to ‘proficient’ level. Submit completed AMSAT.

S/U

Adopted Reference Style:
APA  ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:
 Standard / Competency