Upon noting clear racial disparities in health outcomes for the area, a mental health and addictions department supported a trial rollout of antiracism training workshops for their staff.
This presentation will give an overview of the racial disparities data, the antiracism training itself, and the reactions from staff who completed the training. This will all be framed from an Indigenous perspective as it was positioned and delivered within an Indigenous-led model. The presenter was the first Indigenous Australian facilitator to be accredited to independently deliver the workshops in Australia and in health. This training was also delivered in a multi-racial model consisting of 3 facilitators representing Indigenous Australians (olive skin), dark-skinned migrants, and white-skinned Australians.
Themes were identified in the feedback from participants, however it is difficult to measure true impacts of the training. Observations of impacts have been based on relationship dynamics, proactive support to non-White staff and teams, and changes in behaviour/approach when working with non-White clients of our services.
The presenter is now undertaking a PhD to further explore the longer term impacts for health staff who completed this training.