23 October 2015
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia launches prostate cancer education resources for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community
Friday 23 October 2015: Men who are part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities will now have access to new education resources on prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) will today officially launch the education resources to ensure all cultural communities in Australia have easy access to information that will help men and their families understand prostate cancer.
Three flipcharts have been specifically developed to provide men in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with balanced information about prostate health, prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment options and advice for carers and partners on how to deal with a cancer diagnosis. The flipcharts have been designed to be used in a number of settings, such as in health clinics or at prostate cancer support groups in major cities and remote communities.
PCFA has had the opportunity to create new resources and programs for prostate cancer survivors thanks to a $4 million Federal Government grant through Cancer Australia.
According to Associate Professor Anthony Lowe, Chief Executive Officer of PCFA, the launch of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources will help healthcare professionals and communities become more aware of prostate cancer and help men navigate the journey from diagnosis to treatment.
"PCFA has prioritised the development of educational resources that will help men and their support networks access clear information about prostate health and prostate cancer. We are a multicultural nation so we need to make sure we are delivering health information that meets the needs of all cultural groups," said Associate Professor Lowe.
"We worked closely with healthcare professionals and government bodies who understand the health needs and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to ensure we developed resources that provide the culturally appropriate support and information."
Dr Mick Adams, Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, is one of the authors featured in a monograph entitled, "Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in Prostate Cancer Health Care Programs". The monograph support the messages in the new resources and emphasise the need for health programs to nurture the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, and most medical health professionals, are not comfortable in discussing issues associated with sexual and reproductive health including prostate cancer. Quality information availability and awareness is crucial to early identification and decision making in prostate cancer," said Dr Adams.
The Hon Warren Snowdon MP, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Indigenous Affairs has travelled from Canberra to support the launch of the new resources.
"It is wonderful to see time and funding dedicated to creating health education resources that will help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities become more aware of prostate cancer. PCFA continues to work tirelessly across Australia and understands the need to deliver health education and information so no Australian communities are left without support," said Mr Snowdon.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prostate cancer education resources feature artwork designed by Marcus Lee, whose Aboriginal heritage stems from the Karajarri people in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
For more information about the new education resources or to access the Engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in Prostate Cancer Healthcare Programs monographs, visit www.pcfa.org.au
