There is a nationally identified need for education of Indigenous Health Workers regarding cancer, and Cancer Council Queensland has been one of the first to address the gap in knowledge about cancer and its treatments for Indigenous health professionals.
Cancer Council Queensland delivered the Cancer Care Course for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers from May 21-25, 2007 in Townsville. Successful applicants, received a bursary to take part in the Cancer Care Course, worth up to $1500. The course is held twice a year, once in Brisbane and once in Townsville, with 14 health care workers in each course.
Cancer Council Queensland’s Indigenous Education Co-ordinator, Catherine Jacka Paroz, said the aim of the course was to provide education and skills training to increase the cancer-related knowledge of participants.
“The course was designed to improve the care of Indigenous people with cancer in Queensland and help with the development of a state-wide network among Indigenous health workers caring for people with cancer,” she said.
“The health workers who took part in the course were able to learn more about cancer and cancer treatment as well as the impact of the disease.
“The new skills and knowledge these health workers bring back to their communities mean cancer patients will receive the best possible care.”
The five-day short course involved learning about cancer incidence, treatments and their side-effects, the prevention and early detection of cancer, palliative care, grief and loss as well as cancer networks available for health care workers and the services of Cancer Council Queensland.
The most recent course was held at Cancer Council Queensland office in North Ward, Townsville so participants could see the office and utilise some of the resources available to the community.
Fourteen participants attended the inaugural course for Townsville. Participants were from Cairns, Edmonton, Kuranda, Palm Island, Mossman, Ravenshoe, Mt Isa, Townsville, Bamaga, Wujal Wujal, Saibai Island and Moa Island. The mix between men (six) and women (eight) was optimal as it allowed participants to provide support to each other.
Participants also benefited from clinical visits to The Townsville Hospital Oncology Department, James Cook University, accommodation venues, and the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Service.
Participants returned to work after the course with increased skills in the area of cancer care for Indigenous Australians.
Other Cancer Councils in Australia are interested in the program we are delivering. A representative from Cancer Council Western Australia was an observer at the course. They would like to duplicate the Queensland course for their Indigenous health workers.
Cancer Council Queensland is involved in a range of strategies to try to improve the outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people diagnosed with cancer. Cancer Council Queensland is not government funded and relies solely on the generosity of Queenslanders to continue its vital work.
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