Indigenous Health – Communication and Connection

On The Wards: On The Pods Medical Podcast for Doctors

This podcast is a panel discussion on the topic of indigenous communication in the healthcare setting. Effective communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is essential for culturally safe, holistic, and appropriate healthcare delivery. Jessica Johanssen, Thomas Henry and Talila Milroy are three Aboriginal junior doctors working and training across Australia who discuss how to introduce yourself and set up your interview with an Indigenous patient, Indigenous concepts of health and wellbeing and important components of health education and management. Summary Writer: Talila Milroy, Thomas Henry Script Writers: Jessica Johannsen, Talila Milroy, Thomas Henry Interviewer: Jules Willcocks Panelists: Talila Milroy, Thomas Henry, Jessica Johannsen About Dr Jules Willcocks Jules Willcocks is an Emergency Medicine Physician consultant and the Director of Prevocational Education and Training at Gosford Hospital. His interest is in bringing out the best in people principally through mentoring and coaching. He firmly believes that wellbeing is a crucial part of this and that you cannot look after someone to the best of your abilities if you yourself are not well. He trained as an executive coach and has a particular interest in financial wellness for doctors. He is married with two boys, which is why he’s not living a degenerate life in Las Vegas and loves playing poker and fine single malt Islay whisky. About Dr Jessica Johannsen Jessica Johannsen (Ah Chee) Arrente/Yankunytjatjara woman from Alice Springs. Originally grew up in Alice Springs, went to boarding school in Sydney, completing University in Adelaide. I am currently a Resident Medical Officer in Alice Springs Hospital and I am going into GP training 2021. About Dr Talila Milroy Talila Milroy is a Yindjibarndi and Palyku woman from Western Australia and a current General Practice Registrar and Academic Registrar with the RACGP and University of Western Australia. Previously she completed her resident and intern years at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, New South Wales. Talila has a Bachelor degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Sydney in addition to a Bachelor of Science in which she majored in Psychology. Talila has three children and was the only Indigenous graduate in the class of 2016 in the Sydney Medical Program. During her undergraduate years Talila worked in the Faculty of Economics and Business at Sydney University, The Garvan Institute and Moreton Consulting. Talila is passionate about Indigenous social justice, healthcare education, and research. About Dr Thomas Henry Tom Henry is a proud Aboriginal man from Wiradjuri country in Western NSW. Tom grew up in the regional town of Mudgee “nest in the hills” and completed a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Newcastle (Hons.) in 2012. After working as a Physio for a year Tom went back to University and completed a Bachelor of Medicine in 2018. During his health training Tom worked as a tutor in Aboriginal health and continues to have a deep passion for health promotion in this area. He is currently an RMO on the Central Coast of NSW and is aiming to train in Emergency Medicine. Indigenous Health – Communication and Connection With Dr Jules Willcocks, Emergency Physician and Director of Prevocational Training at Gosford Hospital, Dr Talila Milroy, General Practice Registrar and Academic Registrar with the RACGP and University of Western Australia, Dr Thomas Henry, RMO on the Central Coast, NSW, and Dr Jessica Johannsen, RMO at Alice Springs Hospital, Australia Introductions Jess: These introductions highlight the importance of initial introductions with Indigenous patients. At the root of Indigenous culture is the ability to share knowledge through story-telling and yarning in a conversational way to talk about important topics and life lessons. It is always important to identify who you are with and where you come from to form ...