Photo (L-R): Niki Mackie, Tigi Bani (middle), Elsie Whap (back), Patricia Harry (front), Grace Ward (back), Cassandra Baira (front), Tony Harry, Ruby Billy (back), Lala Barsa (front) Trent Lyon, Deanne Minniecon, Stella Boyd-Ford
Tony Harry, Patricia Harry, Elsie Whap, Cassandra (Sandra) Baira, Lala Barsa, Niki Mackie, Ruby Billy, and Tigi Bani took part in the Diabetes Australia (DA) and Diabetes Queensland (DQ) training program.
Members of the DA and DQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit delivered the program with Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) funding provided for eight participants to travel and stay on Ngarupai (Horn Island).
Diabetes Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit Exercise Physiologist Trent Lyon said a significant part of the program were the stories shared about living and dealing with the condition.
“Most importantly, the stories shared by the local health care providers was an invaluable learning experience,” Mr Lyon said.
“First-hand stories about living with diabetes were shared. Importantly, they included the challenges and benefits of living in remote areas.
“Also discussed were solutions to some limited options for healthy living. Social and emotional health and wellbeing emerged as a factor.”
One of the participants said: “It particularly affects the young ones with making healthy choices and the importance of learning from our Elders”.
“Through working with these remote communities, we are not only able to provide education and resources, but we also learned new aspects about culture which helps us to build better education programs.” Mr Lyon said.
Mr Lyon said the face-to-face diabetes education session was delivered for Healthy Lifestyle Officers, Health Workers, and Indigenous Knowledge Centre Coordinators.
“Participants came from Mabuig, Warraber, Badu, Erub, Coconut, and Murray Islands on Zenadth Kes Country,” Mr Lyon said.
“The diabetes education program provided skills for the participants to deliver diabetes education workshops with community members and their families.
“Each of the participants received a Feltman® and Feltmum® tool to assist with their diabetes sessions when back home. Feltman® and Feltmum® are diabetes education tools made by Diabetes Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO). They are designed to help health professionals explain diabetes in a way that is easy to understand and can be used with individuals and community groups, as a one-way demonstration or as a two-way interactive workshop.
NQPHN funded programs delivered by DQ with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, a priority target group for the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), due to high rates of diabetes and the need for local led support among these communities.
Credentialled Diabetes Educator and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Units’ NDSS lead Fleur Kelly, who collaborated with Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC), Health and Wellbeing Queensland, and NQPHN for the training, and co-delivered on Horn Island, said: “The aim was to upskill the local health workforce, supporting increased knowledge and confidence with diabetes messaging and to provide sustainability.”
Mrs Kelly led the development of a national NDSS train the facilitator model for Diabetes Yarning using the Feltman® tool.
The training supported the skills development of local health workers to deliver the program. Training included a two-day workshop with opportunities to build confidence by role playing the program and providing access to ongoing mentoring and support as they deliver the program in their communities.
The workshop empowered local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Care Professionals to customise a conversation with community members about diabetes.