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Improving the Care of Indigenous People with Cancer: Staffing and Teamwork matters

Wednesday, March 8, 9 a.m.

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CICR Fireside Chat

Join various experts throughout this webinar series to learn about topics that are most important to the Indigenous community.

Improving health outcomes for Indigenous people by providing person-centered, culturally safe care is a vital challenge for the health sector. In Australia, particularly in regional and remote regions, Indigenous Australians experience poorer health across a range of outcomes. While many health services are committed to providing high quality care, they struggle with providing accessible, culturally safe care to Indigenous Australians and with recruiting and retaining Indigenous staff. Through a multi-stage, national study we identified two Australian health services as particularly high performing and innovative in their provision of cancer services for Indigenous cancer patients and their families. We will discuss how these two health services support their Indigenous staff through workforce policies and strategies and how Indigenous people affected by cancer experienced care at these services. 

Speakers

Emma Taylor
Emma Taylor
Research Officer, Western Australian Centre for Rural Health (WACRH)

Emma Taylor is a Research Officer at WACRH and is based in Geraldton, a regional town located four hours north of Perth, the state capital city. Since 2015 Emma has been involved with a national study to identify how Australian cancer services are working to meet the needs of Indigenous cancer patients. Emma has also been involved with research into developing and supporting the Indigenous health workforce, specifically the factors affecting the retention of Indigenous health professionals and students.

Sandra Thompson
Sandra Thompson
Professor of Rural Health at the University of Western Australia and Director of Western Australian Centre for Rural Health (WACRH)

Sandra is a public health physician based in Geraldton. She has broad experience related to addressing health disparities with research interests include rural and Aboriginal health, prevention and management of chronic diseases, strengthening primary health care, systems and quality improvement, and the attraction/retention of health professionals in rural areas. She has a longstanding interest in improving Aboriginal cancer outcomes and is committed to approaches that help build community capacity, develop and strengthen partnerships in health program delivery, and strengthening engagement at the research-policy interface.

Lennelle Papertalk
Lennelle Papertalk
Research Assistant and Community Engagement Project Officer, Western Australian Centre for Rural Health (WACRH)

Lennelle Papertalk, also known as Lenny, is a Yamaji woman from the Midwest Region working at WACRH as a Research Assistant as the Community Engagement Project Officer. Her role includes data collection, engaging and advocating with the community, school and local organisations, and supporting interventions within the school and the local Aboriginal community, including culturally safe programs and development and coordination. Lenny also has a Master of Social Work completed at the University of Western Australia.

Leanne Pilkington
Leanne Pilkington
Senior Program Officer with Aboriginal Health Strategy at South Metropolitan Health Service and Chair of the Cancer Council WA Aboriginal Advisory Group

Leanne Pilkington is a Bindjareb/Palyku woman from Nyoongar and Palyku Countries in Western Australia. She is Senior Program Officer with Aboriginal Health Strategy. Leanne first began in WA Health in 1982 and in the Aboriginal Health cancer space since 2005 after working in Education, Aboriginal Aged-care, Respite and Home and Community Care. She is currently Senior Program Officer with Aboriginal Health Strategy at South Metropolitan Health Service, the current Chair of Cancer Council WA Aboriginal Advisory Group and Aboriginal Cancer Lead with the WA Cancer and Palliative Care Network. She is passionate about Aboriginal health, particularly women’s health and Aboriginal cancer, especially as many family members have various experiences with different cancers.

Previous topics

Developing Cancer Diagnostic Tools in Remote Areas featuring Judith S. Kaur, MD and Marilyn Roubidoux, MD, FACR. October 26, 2022.
Genomics and Ethics in Indigenous Contexts, featuring Jessica Walker, PhD and members of the University of Oklahoma Genomics and Ethics Program for Native Students (GEN). April 28, 2021.
Indigenous Creativity and Leadership, featuring Santee Smith. January 27, 2021.
Limitations and Trends Regarding American Indian Breast Cancer, featuring Michelle Huyser, MD. October 28, 2020.
A Holistic Approach to Improving Indigenous Health, featuring David R. Wilson, PhD. April 26, 2022.
Lessons Learned from COVID-19 and a Path Toward Improved Indigenous Communities’ Health Landscape, featuring David Mattson Jr., MD. March 31. 2021.
Tobacco Two Ways: Understanding Traditional Tobacco Use, featuring Kris Rhodes, MPH. December 30, 2020.
Improving AI/AN Cancer Surveillance and Mortality Data in the US, featuring Melissa A. Jim, MPH. September 30, 2020.
Navigating breast cancer: How patient navigators improve access cancer screenings and resources. October 27, 2021 featuring Roswell Park's Center for Indigenous Cancer Research.
Sleep in Native America, presented by Melissa Begay, MD. February 24, 2021.
Environmental Cancer Disparities in Indigenous Communities, featuring Carrie Nuva Joseph, PhD. November 25, 2020
Cancer and COVID-19 in the Indigenous Community, featuring multiple experts. April 3, 2020.