A locally led research project aimed at improving communication between health care professionals and Aboriginal patients has reached an important milestone in the Midwest, with aspirations to expand the approach across Western Australia.
The Clinical Yarning Project, a partnership between the WA Centre for Rural Health (WACRH) and WA Country Health Service (WACHS), has delivered more than 30 Clinical Yarning workshops to over 240 health care professionals across the Midwest.
Clinical Yarning is a patient‑centred communication framework that supports culturally safe, respectful conversations in Aboriginal health care.
WACHS Midwest Regional Aboriginal Health Consultant Rani Randall said the project had made a meaningful difference for both staff and community.
“Effective communication is fundamental to safe and respectful health care,” Ms Randall said.
“Through Clinical Yarning, we’ve seen health care professionals develop greater confidence and understanding when working with Aboriginal patients, and we’ve heard directly from community that these changes are being felt in real interactions.”
The project was delivered in three phases: listening to the experiences of Aboriginal patients and health care professionals, providing Clinical Yarning training and support to staff, and evaluating the impact of the work.
Evaluation results showed significant improvements in health care professionals’ skills, knowledge and confidence, alongside high levels of satisfaction reported by Aboriginal patients.
WACRH Clinical Yarning project lead Associate Professor Ivan Lin said the milestone marked an important step toward wider implementation.
“This project has demonstrated that Clinical Yarning is not only effective, but scalable,” Associate Professor Lin said.
“We now have a clear roadmap to roll this training out across Western Australia, and we are actively seeking funding to support that next phase.”
WACRH will continue delivering Clinical Yarning workshops locally while working with partners to identify how the approach can be embedded more broadly across the health system.
The team acknowledged the guidance and support of Aboriginal community members, the Yamatji community, and local partners including the Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service.
For more information, visit www.clinicalyarning.org.au.