Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses
14 Cassia Avenue
Banksia Beach, Bribie Island
Queensland, 4507
Phone: 07 3410 7236
The National Forum for Development of Strategies to Increase the Numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Nursing, held in August 1997, funded by the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services was an historic event. Recommendations from the first meeting made a number of recommendations with implications for the public and private sectors, the higher education sector and primary, secondary and tertiary health delivery mechanisms.
The Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses (CATSIN) was founded to formally represent Indigenous nurses, with a commitment to the implementation of the recommendations.
A second meeting in August 1998 augmented the original recommendations and sought to shape an organisation of relevance to the nursing profession and to Indigenous nurses.
Acknowledgments to Sally Goold and Irene Fisher for their initial vision, to Sally Goold for her drive, enthusiasm, inclusiveness and willingness to share information.
Acknowledgment to OATSIHS for its generous funding, enabling participants to attend both national meetings. Acknowledgment also to Cathy Fasciale and Robyn Coulthard for planning and organising the meetings and for acting as Secretariat to CATSIN.
Special thanks go to Mrs Sylvia (Ingram) Scott, a Wirradjuri woman and local Elder from Camperdown, Sydney, who stepped into the role of welcoming participants, and to Auntie Jessie Budby and Aunty Beryl Wharton, retired Aboriginal Mental Health Workers, who welcomed participants in Brisbane. Thank you too, to Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue, Patron of CATSIN, for giving her time to the profession in which her long career began.
Most importantly, acknowledgment goes to each Indigenous nurse attending each meeting. The commitment and diligence of each person has ensured the outcomes are meaningful, sound and representative of an expert group within the nursing profession whose contribution has long been overlooked.
Professional Issues
The Forum states that founding the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses, (CATSIN) is the first step in Indigenous nurses claiming ownership of, setting the agenda for, and advising on, a range of issues.
CATSIN will advise State and Federal Ministers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Units, OATSIHS and state health departments regarding policy and strategic development. Implementation of specific policy should only be undertaken after consultation with CATSIN.
CATSIN seeks, as a matter of urgency, appointed representation on or to: * All state nursing registration bodies, ANF, ACDON, university faculties of nursing, federal and state health departments, midwives organisations, nurse associations, OATSIHS, state level Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health branches and chief nursing officers or ministerial nurse advisers in each state and territory.
CATSIN will lobby for:
* Recognition of the unique contributions and commitment of Indigenous nurses in the area of health.
* Acknowledgment of cultural expertise/knowledge that Indigenous nurses contribute to the health industry and nursing profession.
* The promotion and implementation of Indigenous nurse employment strategies, with particular attention given to culturally safe interview and selection procedures.
CATSIN will approach and make recommendations for funding to progress its aims and objectives to ministers of health, state and federal health authorities, nursing bodies, universities and NACCHO.
CATSIN will promote the professional issues raised by member nurses to appropriate professional bodies.
CATSIN will encourage and support Indigenous nurses' participation in nursing research, thus promoting indigenous perspectives.
CATSIN will continue to promote the status of the indigenous nurse.
Recruitment & Retention of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Nursing Students
CATSIN will raise the issue of maintaining and increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students into the nursing profession by designating student places specifically for Indigenous people.
This will require achieving commitment from:
* all faculties of nursing.
* the chief nursing officer/adviser in each state.
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and educational organisations at local, state and national levels.
* The ATSI Health Branch / office / unit in each state, each state minister for health and federal health minister.
Universities must work together with CATSIN and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to make recommendations on the development and implementation strategies and policies on the recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in nursing.
An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person is to be employed in all nursing faculties to support students.
Bridging programs must be developed and made available to all prospective indigenous nursing students.
Universities and OATSIHS are urged to examine the feasibility of distance learning in remote and rural communities, and opportunity to complete practical requirements in hospitals and communities for indigenous or non-Indigenous nursing students to gain practical experience as part of the curriculum. Long term strategies must be developed and implemented in all states which will facilitate the articulation of nursing education for Aboriginal Health Workers into nursing, particularly in rural/remote programs into nursing.
Education
The Forum makes the following clear recommendations in relation to undergraduate, post graduate and ongoing education for Indigenous and non-Indigenous nurses:
Each faculty or school of nursing will establish a curriculum advisory body in relation to the development and implementation of a compulsory component of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in the nursing curriculum, which reflects the diverse nature of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies and the effects of colonisation on our health.
This body, whose membership is predominantly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people:
* Will work to develop and collaborate with partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander centres in universities (where they exist).
* Will be part of the university's strategic plan in Indigenous higher education, in particular promoting / demanding the teaching of Indigenous matters by Indigenous people.
* Will ensure curriculum development and content relates to the Agreement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health signed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Services, ATSIC, the Commonwealth Health Minister and the state and territory health ministers. 1989, Review 1994.
In states or territories where an agreement has not been signed, the curriculum advisory body consults with:
* Indigenous community controlled health services' peak organisation;
* the Indigenous health unit within the state or territory department; and
* local Indigenous health organizations.
There is endorsement and reflection of recommendations arising from:
* National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy, 1989 and Review 1994.
* Stolen children inquiry 'Bringing Them Home'
* the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
* Expenditures on Health Services for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People. J Deeble, C Mathers, L Smith, J Goss, R Webb & V Smith. May 1998.
There is compulsory placement for all nursing students in an Indigenous community or Indigenous community health organisation, carefully and thoroughly arranged with each participating community.
Practical experience undertaken in undergraduate and post graduate nursing education must be in a meaningful and realistic combination of community and hospital settings.
There is continuous mentorship for Indigenous students.
There is targeting and filling of places in all levels of nursing by Indigenous people.
Creation of career structures recognising experience and knowledge in Indigenous health and community issues.
Acknowledgment and consideration will be given to prior learning.
Specific bridging courses shall be developed in line with the needs of Indigenous students and prospective students for entry into nursing courses, rather then generic bridging courses.