Aboriginal youth Health transitions face communication barriers
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Researchers with the Agency for Clinical Innovation’s Transition Care Network and Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing team in New South Wales, Australia, discovered that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people often struggle with the shift from children’s to adult health services.
The project involved conversations with seven young people and their parents, using a culturally sensitive method called “yarning”, a traditional form of storytelling and dialogue. Analysis of these conversations revealed a largely negative experience for families navigating the transition.
Participants consistently described breakdowns in communication as a major problem, with many reporting a lack of information about the process itself. Insufficient planning and preparation for the changeover also contributed to difficulties in accessing ongoing care. The research team applied the 8 Aboriginal Ways of Learning Framework throughout the project, emphasizing culturally appropriate methods. The findings suggest a need to strengthen the implementation of established Key Principles for Transition Care within the existing healthcare network.
These insights are now driving conversations about the value of shared decision-making, a collaborative approach where young people and their families actively participate in planning their care, as a way to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth through this important life stage.
