'Yarn with a purpose' strengthening communication in Aboriginal healthcare

WA Country Health Service (WACHS) and The WA Centre for Rural Health (WACRH) Clinical Yarning Implementation Research team have partnered to provide Clinical Yarning training to clinical health staff across the Midwest.

Clinical yarning is a ‘yarn with a purpose’. It’s a tool to assist clinicians achieve effective patient-centred communication that is more culturally secure for Aboriginal patients and their families.

The training workshops are being offered to clinical health teams including medical, nursing, allied health, and support staff such as patient care assistants, allied health assistants and nursing assistants.

Training is delivered in a four-hour workshop, or as an online eLearning program, and a two-hour face-to-face workshop that offers practice and simulation to learn and demonstrate Clinical Yarning skills.

Participating in the training will enable clinical staff to understand the common communication barriers for Aboriginal people in healthcare, develop effective communication, and learn and demonstrate Clinical Yarning approaches in patient communication.

Having completed the training, WA Country Health Service Midwest Dietitian Fran Foulkes-Taylor is championing the Clinical Yarning program.

“I believe Clinical Yarning is an essential training tool for new and experienced health professionals, as it formalises the most important aspect of our work - to build trust and understanding with our clients to enhance their health outcomes,” Ms Foulkes-Taylor said.

“Participating in the next step of research, which involved filming and getting feedback on my clinical yarning skills in-session, was highly valuable in enhancing my existing practice and identifying areas for improvement.”