‘You need to be able to understand why they’re doing that’

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There’s far more to First Nations health than filling Close The Gap scripts – one Wiradjuri pharmacy student tells the AJP why early dispensing can be vital, why knowing about a patient’s pets matters and why pharmacists should be able to sign patients up for CTG

During NAIDOC Week, fourth-year pharmacy student and proud Wiradjuri woman Jesyca Pearson has told AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh shared a store of information for pharmacists.

A key issue is acknowledging the difference in cultures, says Pearson, giving a slew of tips which can help pharmacists understand not only their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients better, but patients from other cultures and with other needs as well.

“As a pharmacist we might write, for example, on our Webster packs, we have morning lunch, dinner, bedtime,” she says as an example.

“I think it’s important to steer clear of that, especially among mob patients, and instead of having those specific times have an actual time.

“So for example, 8:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM… Just so we can establish an actual time and avoid those medication issues at home because some mob might call their tea time morning tea, or dinnertime could mean lunchtime, and then we’re getting our doses at the wrong time of the day or we’re missing doses.”

Pearson also goes into the concept of cultural safety – particularly important for pharmacy as accessible health professionals.

“There’s just been a lot of distrust in the past and we’d hate for this to be ongoing, especially as pharmacist scope is expanding and we’re having such a bigger impact on our community’s health,” she says. “I think it’s very important to have the whole team trained…

“I’m a Wiradjuri woman, so I know my culture quite well, but I also know lots of other mobs have different culture and different traditional law as we call it.

“So I think as a pharmacist and as a pharmacy team as a whole, it’s important to know what land you’re practising on, know your people, know their history, and know their culture, which you do through talk.

“We always talk. You’ll find if you open up in conversation with an Indigenous patient, if you are kind, caring, open and willing to understand, most of them will be very, very appreciative to share their culture and tell you about it.

“Especially me being an Indigenous person. If I was to go and work in another state, for example, and I’m not familiar with the customs on that land, I would engage in conversation with the elders, with local people and just ask the questions, be upfront, be inquisitive.”

And there’s a lot to be learned from the international experience as well, Pearson says, such as Canadian First Nations programs which even allow OTC medicines and vitamins to be provided free of charge.

1.3—Where Jesyca’s passion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health comes from

03:45—Why NAIDOC Week matters – especially for young mob

05:00—“To First Nations people, health and wellbeing isn’t just about being healthy or being sick.”

06:21—“We got all of our medicine from the land…. And when colonisation happened, we didn’t have that.”

07:51—The key conditions First Nations people are most likely to live with

10:02—On cultural differences

11.17—What does cultural safety mean in the context of pharmacy?

12:44—Taking steps towards cultural safety

15:27—“Practising with culturally safe care in the front of your mind is essential to developing those healthy relationships and having the best outcomes for our patients.”

18:23—Close the Gap and Aboriginal Health Services

20:45—“We can sometimes forget about programs that can be beneficial to our patients.”

22:41—Program limitations, and why pharmacists should be able to sign patients up to CTG… plus what’s happening in Canada

26:55—Integrating pharmacists within Aboriginal community controlled health services

29:14—“Expanding scope is pretty essential because we’re changing.”

31:06—Encouraging more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to work in pharmacy

33:43—Inspiring pharmacists and students

38:03—How can the pharmacy profession better support and empower Indigenous leadership within the sector?

41:00—Successful initiatives in the community

42:55—”Listen to your community, engage in those meaningful conversations and get to know your patients.” Pearson talks sorry business, men’s business and women’s business

46:10—Pearson’s vision for the future

You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription.

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