Our Services
Indigenous Program
With the support of BHP Billiton, the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA is working with communities across the state to improve the services available to Indigenous people affected by breast cancer.
Breast cancer is a major health issue for Indigenous women. It is the most common cancer and a leading cause of cancer death in Indigenous women. The disease is diagnosed at a more advanced stage, and outcomes are generally poorer that in non indigenous women with breast cancer – National Breast Cancer Centre Report.
The Breast Cancer Foundation of WA established the Indigenous Program in 2003. Ros Worthington OAM, supported by Lexie Trancollino-Councillor (an Aboriginal woman and survivor from the East Kimberley region) joined forces with the Indigenous Program Officer at Breast Screen WA and the BreastScreen WA state-wide Indigenous Women’s Reference Group, to set about improving education, support and services to Indigenous women with breast cancer in metropolitan, rural and remote communities.
A new chapter in Indigenous health
A number of factors contribute to the lower rate of early detection and the lower rate of participation in treatment by Indigenous women, including a strong fear of cancer, insufficient culturally appropriate information about breast cancer and its treatments and negative community attitudes about cancer.
In July 2008, BHP Billiton generously agreed to fund a full time Indigenous Support Services Coordinator. This allows the BCFWA to offer the same support and care readily available to non-indigenous women affected by breast cancer.
The BCFWA will continue to facilitate community information sessions to educate women of all ages about the importance of being breast aware, but can now also provide direct support to women coming to Perth for treatment.
Indigenous Program
The Indigenous Program Coordinator conducts free information sessions and works with local Health Workers to educate and offer practical support to women with breast cancer.
Indigenous Health Workers play a pivotal role in the provision of culturally appropriate information and support to the Indigenous community and thus is an important position to assist in improving the imbalance in outcomes for Indigenous women with breast cancer.
The sessions create an opportunity for cooperation between service providers, community participation and partnerships between local and regional health programs.
The sessions include sharing early detection messages, how to be breast aware, statistics and the fact that it’s not all bad news, what support is available for women and their families and how the BCFWA can help, all of which can be passed on throughout the communities along with our culturally appropriate breast cancer educational booklets.
Coming to Perth for treatment can sometimes be the biggest hurdle. The BCFWA also offers support to women while they are in Perth through;
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A volunteer to meet you at the airport when you arrive
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Visits in hospital or at your accommodation
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Transport to and from appointments while in Perth
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Financial assistance
Meet the Indigenous Program Coordinator
My name is Paula Hicks and I am a descendant of the Bunjima (Pilbara) people but have spent most of my life in Geraldton – Yamatji country. I have worked for government and non government agencies mostly in Indigenous specific positions, supporting Indigenous women and families to access services in an effort to improve their health and welfare.
Community Visits
Carnarvon and Mungullah
The Indigenous Program hit the skies once again and headed up to Carnarvon and Mungullah for the first time. It was a great success, a lot of the Carnarvon Aboriginal Medical Health Service staff attending the workshop, along with plenty of other Indigenous women from the clinic and other health service providers. There were a lot of laughs to be had and plenty of good food. The trip resulted in three women identifying themselves as potentially presenting with breast cancer symptoms; these ladies will attend the CAMHS for a check-up. The overall feedback from the ladies who attended was ‘the next one will be bigger and better and we will get more family to come along because this was great’ BCFWA will make sure the next one builds on this one and that Carnarvon receives some much needed Breast Cancer education and promotion.
A Golden Trip to Kalgoorlie
The Indigenous Program Co-ordinator presented several education sessions in Kalgoorlie on June 15th and 16th. The Bega Garnbirringu Aboriginal Medical Service presentation was most defiantly the most popular and successful for BCFWA.We gathered valuable feedback and suggestions from over 35 women. This information will be used in our planning for sustainable community education sessions and program development. This session was fun and light hearted which was a nice way to kick off the sessions, Bega management went out of there way and organised some interesting and innovative games that had everyone laughing. Often breast cancer can be a very serious and scary topic for many of the women that come along, the introduction of some ‘fun and games’ was a nice way to loosen everyone up before getting into the nitty gritty’s of early detection.
The IPC is planning her trip to Carnarvon/Exmouth in the coming weeks to deliver simular education sessions at the Aboriginal Medical Services and Indigenous groups in this region. If you or your organisation would like to meet or discuss community issues with the IPC while she is in the area please contact Paula on 93243703.
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Picnic in the Park
The picnic in the park was held on the 27th October 2009 in Kings Park at the Veterans Pavilion approx 100 Aboriginal women attended and 15 non Indigenous Service providers. I was a guest speaker on the day, speaking about post diagnosis and support services available to the women and there families. My talk complimented Leanne Pilkington from BreastScreen WA and Chris an Indigenous survivor. This was a great opportunity to promote the program and the services BCFWA provides to Indigenous women and work in Partnership with many Indigenous Organisations and Women to raise awareness at a local level.
The Indigenous Pink Ribbon Picnic was a great example of Indigenous women coming together to show their commitment to breast cancer awareness. The picnic involved a collaborative effort from various health organisations including BreastScreen WA, Derbarl Yerrigan, Women’s Health Service, Cervical Cancer, Yorgum, St John of God Hospital and AHCWA.
From the picnic an exciting opportunity for BCFWA arose, in conjunction with the agencies involved with the Picnic, an Indigenous Breast Cancer Support Group will be established in Perth in early 2010. We know a group like this will make a such a difference to the women living and travelling to Perth as it will provide the women attending the opportunity to access support and guidance through there journey with breast cancer. If you would like more information or would like to attend the group please contact Paula Hicks the Indigenous Program Co-ordinator.
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Hedland - September 2009
A Community Health Expo organised by Combined Universities and Pilbra Population Health was held in South Headland on the 9th of September. The Indigenous Program Co-ordinator participated in the event and promoted breast awareness and support for Indigenous women in the Pilbara. Several women in the community and outlying areas were identified by health professionals and it’s hoped that contact with these ladies can be made and support offered. Headland Senior High School students from year 9 and 10 attended as well as 28 health professionals and a handful of community members. Overall it was a successful day and a great opportunity to meet professionals and explain what support we can offer to their community.
Jigalong - June 2009
In June I visited Jigalong, a community 170km east of Newman and with the help of Mike Plumb the Healthy Lifestyle Program Co-ordinator, I walked around the community talking to the ladies about breast awareness and the importance of mammography.
In the coming months I will be re-designing the indigenous brochures and encourage anyone wanting to be involved in the design process to get in contact with me to discuss further.
The Indigenous Program is inviting expressions of interest from community groups who are seeking practical and or financial support to run breast cancer awareness projects or indigenous breast cancer support groups, please contact me on 93243703
Karratha and Roebourne 16th April, 2009
Thanks to Fay Chechner (Pop Health), Sandra Overington, Marylin Lockyer (Mawarnkarra) and Kylie Boyd (Woodside) for assisting with the logistics and promotion in both communities. The early detection message was delivered to approximately 40 women including health workers and community members. Equipted with some knowledge of breast awareness these people will have a vital role in breast health promotion, advocacy and support.
Upcoming community visits and events
The IPC is planning her trip to Carnarvon/Exmouth in the coming weeks to deliver simular education sessions at the Aboriginal Medical Services and Indigenous groups in this region. If you or your organisation would like to meet or discuss community issues with the IPC while she is in the area please contact Paula on 93243703.
To contact the Indigenous Progam Coordinator, telephone (08) 9324 3703 or email paula@breastcancer.org.au