The application of yarning as an Indigenous form of conversation
Professor Dawn Bessarab
Director, Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health, University of Western Australia
Poor communication is one of the biggest barriers to engaging effectively with Aboriginal people. Finding ways to communicate more effectively will not only improve and increase Aboriginal people’s access to services but will and can ensure their participation in receiving and providing information. For Aboriginal people to access health care, effective communication is essential to enabling good health and wellbeing outcomes and maintaining and supporting their connection and links to family, service providers and the community.
Clinical Yarning is a method of communication that enables service providers to engage with Aboriginal people and their families in a culturally safe way that is friendly and informal. The yarning framework enables service providers to engage and build relationships with Aboriginal people that are effective and authentic by applying narrative (storying) as a tool to obtain information and the use of metaphors to describe complex health conditions.
This guest lecture will:
Discuss the definition of yarning
Explore the context to using yarning and different types of yarning
Discuss the benefits of using yarning in interviews, with groups and between colleagues
Discuss the transferability of yarning to an International context
Thursday, 9th December, 2021
10am